You've heard of geocaching, so what IS it?

Geocaching is a walk in the park or it's a hobby, a game, an adventure, a competition, it's different things to different people. But there's one thing most enthusiasts agree on, it's fun! Geocaching is an application of the Global Positioning System, using data retrieved from the satellites by a handheld GPS receiver to locate caches identified purely by their latitude and longitude.

The location and other information about these caches is made available on a handful of websites, like geocaching.com, navicache.com, and terracaching.com. The web pages at geocaching.com describing the cache locations also describe the relative size of the container and contain an estimate of the difficulty to be expected while locating it.

A cache can be smaller than a thimble or as large as a "river horse". The most common containers used for caches seem to be 35mm film canisters or .30 / .50 caliber ammo cans. Some caches are simply locations meant to be visited and documented, often through a picture or finding out some unique bit of information about the site.

Almost all caches contain a log book of some kind to document your find. Most contain some kind of swag (Stuff We All Get) to trade. Some caches have specific themes and contain swag oriented along the theme: hot wheels cars, bookmarks, etc.

What Is Geocaching? Definition Somebody hides a cache The latitude and logitude are announced Somebody else goes to look for the cache History of Geocaching What kind of people Geocache? Where can I learn more?

Getting Started Hardware GPS Receivers (GPSr) and Accessories Manual Methods: Maps and Compasses Software Geocaching.com Tools and Utilities to make life on the trail easier

Getting Out There What will I find in a cache? (swag, log) Where will I find a cache? (terrain, difficulty) What does a cache look like?(containers, sizes, ) Who puts caches out there? (!!) What to take along

Placing your own caches Creating a theme Building a cache Selecting a site Getting landowner's permission Building the page Monitoring the results

More advanced techniques Cool functions on certain GPS Receivers Computer-based Tools Mapping a route for a weekend trip Topographic Maps Using a Compass Incorporating geocaching into other activities

Geocaching Programs CITO: Cache In, Trash Out

Geocaching Resources Web Links Books SW Tools Hardware Links Map Links

Appendix Health and Safety Poisonous Plant Recognition Poisonous Snake / Animal Recognition

Geocaching Terms and Acronyms CITO: Cache In, Trash Out WWFM: World Wide Flash Mob TFTC: Thanks For The Cache TN: Took Nothing LN: Left Nothing SL: Signed Log Muggle: a non geocacher

Introduction 1 About This Book 2 What You're Not to Read 3 Foolish Assumptions 3 How This Book Is Organized 4 Icons Used in This Book 5 A Few Closing Thoughts 6 Part I Getting Ready to Geocache 7 Chapter 1 An Introduction to Geocaching 9 What Is Geocaching? 10 Geocaching technology 10 Geocaching explained 11 Deciding to Geocache 14 Who Geocaches? 15 What You Need to Geocache 16 Geojargon: Speaking the Lingo 17 Chapter 2 Selecting a GPS Receiver 21 Understanding Basic GPS Concepts 22 Satellites 22 Ground stations 24 Receivers 25 GPS Receiver Accuracy 26 Factors That Affect GPS Accuracy 29 Discovering GPS Receiver Features 30 Shells 30 Screen display 31 Mapping capabilities 32 Memory 33 PC interface 34 Antennas 34 Batteries 35 Enhanced features 36 Selecting a GPS Receiver for Geocaching 39 Chapter 3 Using a GPS Receiver 43 Getting Familiar with Basic GPS Concepts 43 Understanding coordinate systems 44 Understanding datums 49 Understanding waypoints 51 Understanding routes 51 Understanding tracks 52 Using Your GPS Receiver 53 Initializing a GPS receiver 54 Changing receiver settings 56 Entering a waypoint 57 Navigating to a waypoint 59 Chapter 4 Using a Map and Compass 61 All about Compasses 62 Why do you need a compass? 62 How compasses work 62 Parts of a compass 65 Selecting a compass 68 All about Maps 71 Why do you need a map? 71 Selecting the right map 72 Understanding parts of a map 75 Using a Map and Compass 81 Getting familiar with basic navigation concepts 82 Orienting the map to north 83 Taking a bearing 84 Setting a course 85 Using triangulation 87 Part II Let's Go Geocaching 89 Chapter 5 Selecting Geocaches to Find 91 Defining the Types of Geocaches 92 Traditional cache 92 Multicache 92 Virtual cache 93 Mystery cache 93 Locationless cache 93 Letterbox hybrid 94 Event cache 94 Webcam cache 94 Caches within caches 94 Using Geocaching.com 96 Querying the Geocaching.com Database 98 Basic search techniques 98 Detailed search techniques 101 Looking at the Search Results 103 Viewing the list of geocaches 103 Getting information about a geocache 106 Chapter 6 Searching for a Geocache 111 Deciding What Gear to Bring Geocaching 111 Cache-related 112 Food and shelter 115 Electronic devices 117 Safety equipment 119 Getting Close to the Geocache 122 Starting Your Search 125 Search Strategies as You Near the Cache 128 Chapter 7 Discovering a Geocache 131 What to Do When You Find a Geocache 131 Opening the cache 132 Signing the logbook 133 Leaving and trading goodies 135 Heading home 137 Logging your find online 137 When You Can't Find a Geocache 140 Logging a DNF 141 Try, try again 141 Chapter 8 Hiding Geocaches 143 Deciding What Type of Geocache to Create 144 Selecting a Container 144 Ammo cans 145 Household plastic storage containers 145 Selecting a Location 147 Where to hide your cache 147 Where not to hide your cache 148 Hiding for seekers 149 Recording the location 151 Stocking a Geocache 151 Logbook and writing utensil 151 Identifying information 152 Goodies 152 Submitting a Geocache 153 Maintaining a Geocache 158 Physical maintenance 158 Online maintenance 159 Part III Advanced Geocaching 161 Chapter 9 Searching for Benchmarks 163 Understanding Benchmarks 164 Identifying Benchmarks in Your Area 166 Benchmarks from Geocaching.com 166 Benchmarks from the National Geodetic Survey 169 Finding Benchmarks 172 Starting your benchmark search 173 Documenting a found benchmark 174 Chapter 10 Organized Geocaching Clubs and Competitions 177 Geocaching Clubs 177 Why join a club? 178 Finding a local club 179 Competitive Geocaching 184 Geocaching stats 184 Organized competitions 185 Chapter 11 GPS and Geocaching in Education 187 GPS in the Schools 188 Geography 188 History and sociology 189 Ecology 189 Mathematics 190 Physical education 190 Incorporating GPS in a Class 191 Developing the curriculum 192 Acquiring GPS receivers 194 Evaluating your success 194 Educational Internet Resources 195 Part IV The Part of Tens 197 Chapter 12 Ten Internet Geocaching Resources 199 Geocaching.com 199 Navicache.com 200 Buxley's Geocaching Waypoint 200 GPS Visualizer 200 Today's Cacher 201 Geocacher University 201 Markwell's FAQs 201 KeenPeople.com 201 The First 100 Geocaches 202 Letterboxing North America 202 GPSInformation.net 202 Chapter 13 Ten Geocaching Programs 203 Geocaching Swiss Army Knife (GSAK) 204 GPXSonar 204 CacheMate 204 Watcher 205 Plucker 205 GPSBabel 205 USAPhotoMaps 206 TopoFusion 206 Index 207