GeoCaching - my new hoot!
 

Any other geochachers here?

Well, it IS hunting of a sort.

I've just started geocaching with the GPS my family gave me for Christmas (a Magellan Meridian Color) and it is a hoot.

For those not in the know, geocaching is a treasure hunt using GPS receivers. You input the coordinates of a cache and then the GPS leads you to it. Caches are usually small boxes the size of ammo cans or smaller and they contian a logbook and various goodies. Once you find it, you enter your name and date, any comments and then you can take a goodie and/or leave one.

There are 97 computer pages of caches located near my home! I've been out and found five so far and gave up looking for one.

For more info go to the main geocaching WEBSITE

Yeap done it a couple of times.

Buddy does it all the time. He uses a metal detector for the final find and dig process also.

WE have the gps localtions of a couple in Indiana in lakes under water now also. So it seems to be spreading to divers also.

One as a small altoids box sealed in plastic zipper bag.

Most are off the main trails in hoosier national forest, Some are really deep inside.

Been doing it for a couple years now Rocky, it is a blast, and the best part is that I can take my daughter with me and teach her a bit about the outdoors!!

Know what you mean. I found one yesterday called "Just For the Girls" and it was created to make the game exciting for girls. It had a lot of play makeup, jewelry and the like inside.

What a great idea.

There's a one nearby that's got a Hot Wheels theme - and another with a "hunter orange" theme. Most of the ones here are stored in ammo cans wedged under boulders, so there's lots of room inside.

There are also Minis, micros and nanos - all in decreasing size. Some of the nanos are as small as a medicine capsule! Boogers to find!

I just found a multi-cache. The first part was a magnetic keyholder attached to a train trestle bridge!!

And at first my GPS was 50 meteres off!! Lookin for a needle in a haystack!!

There are 92 pages (1831 caches) within 100 miles of Mtn Home. I'd looked into it a while back but never got out. My SAR team leader said it's a good way to stay in practice with GPS and map/compass so I think I may give it a shot. At the very least I can get out and get some exercise.

Its a real good way to get outdoors and have fun :)

I recommend it to anybody ;)

I've been meaning to get started with that. I was first exposed about a year ago when I was supervising my crew on a tree pruning job in a tiny little city park under the canopy of 2 huge trees. When I was scrutinizing the detail of their clean-up, I happened across a strange container hidden in a bush along the right of way to the freeway that ran within yards of the park. I opened it up and found all kinds of little trinkets and even a few bucks! There was a note inside that people had signed and left messages on so I went on that site and found the info on the cache.

I think that would be cool to do, I'm glad you mentioned it and reminded me of it.

Its a fun hobby, takes me to new places around home that I would not have thought of.

Quite often I will look for caches when I go on a road trip, jsut something to look for while away for the weekend.

GPS?
 

Which GPS, up to $200, would you recommend? I was looking at the Garmin GPS 60. I've heard good things about Garmin and I want a new GPS before I start heading out too far. Thanks for the input.

I am using a Garmin Etrex Legend. it only has 8mb of memory, but I am able to load in maps into it, plus it works with google earth.

I don't think you could go wrong with any of the Garmin units.. I've been really happy with mine.

I have gots a Garmin GPS 76 and it werks jest fine and dandy :D

Only once have I been a FTF.

Rocky,
You're right. This is entertaining, the first cache I located was when I traveled to Minnesota last week at a wayside rest area near my home town. Picked up a travel bug and brought it back to Colorado to rack up a few miles for it. Placed it in the second found and am busy figuring out the next one. this will get you familiar with a gps unit.

MD

Edited due to inappropriate content

Rocky,
Knowing you, and the cache being just for girls, I`ll bet you left your pphone number didn`t you. :D But now that I let the cat out of the bag the rest of the guys here will be leaveing their`s too, so all you guy forget you read this, Rocky doesn`t need anymore compatition. ;)