Newbies Guide To Geo Caching

Newbies’ Guide To Geo-Caching Caz Mockett BarCampSheffield2 November 2008

What is Geo-Caching?
Geocaching is a sport which started in 2000
It’s basically high-tech treasure hunting
Users log in to www.geocaching.com to find the location of hidden caches around the world
Once they know the co-ordinates, they must go out and find the box
Once found, you sign the logbook in the box
And log your find on geocaching.com

Geocaching.com
You must have an account on geocaching.com in order to find out information about the caches
It’s free for basic membership
Premium membership costs $30/year which gives you extra features
Each cache has a reference Waypoint such as GC1H6HY

Seek A Cache
To find a cache, enter your location/post code:

Seek A Cache
Search Results come up as a list:

Seek A Cache
Or you can view them on a map:
Click on the Cache Name for more details

Seek A Cache
If you aren’t logged in, you get:

Seek A Cache
If you are logged in, you get:

Types of Cache
There are quite a few different cache types:

Common Types of Cache
The most common is a Traditional Cache
Full co-ordinates are supplied
It’s one box to find and log
Multi-caches
These specify the co-ordinates for the first cache
Find the first, and co-ordinates for the next cache can be found in the box, and so on
Mystery Caches
Solve a riddle or look for specific clues
These give you the cache co-ordinates

Common Types of Cache
Event Cache

Cache Sizes
There are five sizes of cache. The most common is Regular (eg Ammo can):

Cache Sizes
Good sized sandwich/lock & lock boxes are also classed as Regular :

Cache Sizes
Smaller sized sandwich/lock & lock boxes are classed as Small :

Cache Sizes
There are also a lot of Micros about (eg 35mm film pot):

Cache Sizes
And then there’s the evil little Nano – usually magnetic – and very well hidden:

Cache Sizes
Here’s a Nano from the wild, showing its log book wound in the lid:

Hiding Places
Caches can be hidden in many places, but some of the most common are:
In bushes

Hiding Places
In trees – can you spot this one?:

Hiding Places
Under bridges – watch out for Trolls:

Cache Location Hints
You often get an extra clue to help
Could this be the crock of gold at the rainbows end?

Cache Location Hints
Dave may be down the drain, but the cache isn't!

Logging Your Find
So you’ve found a cache – what next?
Sign the logbook you find inside the cache
Make a note of the cache Waypoint
Log your visit online at geocaching.com

Understanding The Logs
Each log entry has a little icon next to it
Found The Cache
Did Not Find (DNF)
Note – eg dropping off a Geocoin
Needs maintenance – if the log is full, etc
There are other acronyms which you will see:
TNLN = Took Nothing, Left Nothing
SL = Signed Log
TFTC = Thanks For The Cache
FTF = First To Find

Trackable Items
As well as regular swap items, you may also find special trackable items in a cache
If you find one, you can remove it – but they are not for keeps – you must put it in another cache as soon as you can
There are several types of trackable items that you can log on geocaching.com
Geocoins (GCs)
Travel Bugs (TBs)
Trackabulldog – a kind of hybrid between the two

Trackables - Geocoins
Geocoins (GCs) each have their own unique tracking number engraved on one side
They are often issued to commemorate an event
The owner can give the coin a specific “mission” – ie visit caches near rivers

Trackables – Travel Bugs
Travel Bugs (TBs) are tags which can be attached to another item
They still have a unique tracking number
The owner can give the TB a “mission” too

Trackables – Trackabulldog
Trackabulldogs are geocoins which think they are Travel Bugs!
It’s still the same principle with them having a unique number on the back
It’s just a different name – just to add to the confusion!

Trackables – Logging
Just like logging your visit to a cache, it’s important to record when you move a coin from one cache to another
Geocaching.com lets you remove, place or discover a geocoin
Log a Remove when you take a coin out of a cache
It will then appear in your inventory
Log a Place when you put the coin in a new cache
If you don’t take a coin, you can log it as Discovered if you record the tracking number

Trackables – Logging
Your Trackables page will look like this:

Equipment - iPhone
You can get started with geocaching if you have an iPhone or other GPS-enabled mobile
Groundspeak have made a Geocaching App for the iPhone. It costs £5.99 from the App Store
You can just use the Maps application, but its much more long-winded

Equipment - iPhone
The latest version of the App lets you log in to Geocaching.com so you can find extra caches if you are a Premium Member
Future versions will let you log your finds directly from your phone
For the moment, it’s just an easy way for you to find caches close to your location

Equipment - iPhone
If you have switched on Location Services in settings, you will get a list of caches close by [not indoors!]
Selecting the cache name will display more info about the cache
You get the location, hint & description, plus a button show you a rudimentary compass

Equipment - iPhone
You can also use the Trackables tab to look for a specific Geocoin or Travel Bug

Equipment - iPhone
Once you have selected a cache to find from the list, pressing the Map button will place a red map pin where the box is located
Your job is to get your blue “I am here” blob to coincide and then you are at the cache location
Now all you have to do is rummage about and find it!

Equipment - iPhone
If you don’t have the Geocaching App, you can still find a cache by manually inputting its co-ordinates into the Mapping application
Geocaching.com provides them in a different format to decimal, which is the easiest to type in
You may find the Waypoint Conversion page helpful

Equipment - GPSr
If you have £150+ to spend, you might consider getting a handeld GPSr such as this Garmin eTrex Vista HCx

Equipment – eTrex Vista HCx
Once your GPSr is warmed up, it will indicate how many satellites it has a fix from, and show you your current co-ordinates
You can walk about until the co-ordinates shown match the published of the cache
Or you can use some of the built-in caching features to help you out

Select the Find > Geocache menu
It then displays a list of the nearest geocaches which you have previously saved to the unit
Selecting the Waypoint number provides more details:

Pressing the Go To button will display a Compass for you to follow
Or if you select the Map option instead, you are given an arrow and path to the current cache
By default, the eTrex only ships with very basic maps
More detailed topgraphy can be bought on MicroSD

So Why Bother Geocaching?
It gets you out and about – often visiting really interesting places you might not otherwise go to

So Why Bother Geocaching?
It’s a lot of fun to do with friends, family etc – and can be combined with the daily dog walk too!

But Be Prepared
For mud, nettles, brambles and creepy-crawlies!

But Be Prepared
To get lost, frustrated and confused! Take a map!

But Most of All
Have fun
Enjoy the outdoors, but respect the countryside code
Caches are usually placed on public land, but occasionally you may find one on private land (placed with the owner’s permission) – so respect their property too
Get the bug – it’s addictive 

So What’s Hidden Locally?
There are one or two hidden in the city centre
Why not join us for a cache hunt later?

Newbies Guide To Geo Caching

by Caz Mockett on Dec 02, 2008

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