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What is Geocaching?

Submitted by King Boreas aka Ian on

Flash Intro-"Geocaching" 
6 minute Movie-"Searching for a cache" 
Basic Info

 

  • Buy or borrow a Global Positioning System receiver. A basic unit is the Garmin eTrex GPS or Magellan GPS 315. Both cost about $100 and can be found at stores such as Wal-Mart, Best Buy or online at http://www.amazon.com
  • Find a cache near you at <http://www.geocaching.com> Enter a ZIP code and the site will list nearby caches. Select a cache, such as "Geocache by Ray" or "Arboretum One" and click on its "details" button. Write down the cache's coordinates and print out the description. Use the online mapping site link at the bottom of the page to get driving directions to the location.
  • While still at home, enter into your GPS receiver the coordinates of the cache as they are listed on the Web site. Coordinates -- such as N 39 degrees 24.661; W degrees 094 14.86 -- describe the latitude and longitude of the site.
  • Follow the driving directions until you can drive no closer to the cache and park your car. Follow the arrow on your GPS receiver as it leads you to the cache. Be aware that heavy tree cover can block the GPS signal. Once you leave your car, it could take anywhere between 15 and 45 minutes to find the cache.
  • The GPS signal will fluctuate once you are within 100 feet of the cache, so from that point on, you're on your own. Check around stumps and under rock and leaf piles. Remember that almost all caches are placed above ground, so no digging!
  • Congratulations! You've found the cache. Take an item, leave an item and record your experience in the logbook. Reseal the cache and put it back exactly the way you found it.
  • When you get home, e-mail the person who hid the cache and let him know you found it. Also, post a description of your experience on the cache's online page at <http://www.geocaching.com
     Have Fun !

    GPS info ... Minnesota Geocaching Association ... Geocaching videos 

    Attachment:etrex.jpg

 

KITCH

IT really turned into a big pain in the ass....i thought it would be simple as hell....

you'd think to be able to show a locationless cache that nobody looked at from an owner standpoint for almost a year...would be easy....

NOW I got people bitching at me because I'm deleting logs since they are not right....

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 8:42 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

lol man it just goes from bad to worse. Now I'm feeling alot better about not having one.

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 8:57 AM Permalink
KITCH

ya but I got another icon under my profile page.....

I gotta buy some coins, place a cito event,find a way to get a virt, and figure out who to scam to have an ape cache!

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 10:32 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

lol talk to moun10bike, he'd know on the APE cache.

Don't forget to place a letterbox hybrid either.

Is there a problem placing virtuals?

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 12:25 PM Permalink
KITCH

REALLY HARD to get approved....

They'd rather you place an micro next too it...

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 12:29 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

I was thinking of doing a virtual on my parkway, that'd be a bummer if I couldn't get that approved, but if it's that hard, I suppose they wouldn't accept it because it's probably not what they'd deem interesting enough.

Sad though, because I walk that parkway almost every evening, and have always thought it was a nice area (not to mention an old St. Paul street car route)

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 12:33 PM Permalink
KITCH

I'm starting the process on adopting an VIRT. today...

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 12:35 PM Permalink
KITCH

You can always try....

I'd suggest this...you need the area to be cool...and you need to explain why you can't hide a micro....

this is the main reason you are now seeing micro's accross the country....

it all started when the VIRTS. got really hard to get apprvd...
We have had only one in minnesota for months now!!!

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 12:38 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

Cool Diggin4it, you'll get a nice boost to your cache numbers that evening.

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 12:54 PM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 1:28 PM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

a hint on virtuals:

a place where you can't put a regular cache: within 150 feet of RR tracks

Find one that has tracks near, and you should be set.

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 1:30 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

I'm not sure yet either Diggin4it.

Hey Ian, that purple box with the lights looks very familiar...

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 1:38 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

I wonder if you could hide a micro on a bridge over railroad tracks... probably not I'm guessin.

That same parkway I mentioned has one that crosses them. Not to mention it's a really interesting spot to view the railroad from, never been there when a trains gone by, but that'd be neat to see.

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 1:40 PM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

I recently tried to get the oldest, continuous-operating bar in Minnesota, and Bob Dylan's childhood home. Neither will "work at this time."

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 4:41 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

Whoohoo! I found Deadlock Victim at Fountain Cave. Didn't even use my GPSr!!!!

Interesting cache, and a great history lesson. I never knew about Fountain Cave before starting this cache. Now I wish it hadn't been sealed off when they put Shepard Road through, this truely would have been an interesting cave to explore.

Fri, 06/04/2004 - 9:43 PM Permalink
KITCH

I'm a little ticked off on the "laker" game....this resetting thing...ticks me off....

How in the hell am I supposed to get all of them in my hands now....

grrrr...

As for the Get Sauced Nite cache starting point ...I'll try to get the boys to nail down a start time and point on Monday!!!

Great to see some people coming!!!

Sat, 06/05/2004 - 11:25 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

Opps, scratch that thought, I was thinking the event was on Tuesday, thought I might have a schedule conflict, but it worked itself out. Now I'm group caching Tuesday and Wednesday night.

That'll help the ol cache numbers, as I didn't get a single cache in today.

Sat, 06/05/2004 - 7:50 PM Permalink
KITCH

OK...parking is on the site and the pre-event caching is on the page...

Mon, 06/07/2004 - 10:23 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

Man I've had a bad rash of DNFs lately... Course half or more of em are CAG hides, but still..

liked Whatsagps's The Tree Rat Nest @ Island Lake Park, but I wasn't able to reach far enough in the tree to get the cache! Not sure how I'm gonna get that one out, unless I gow an extra foot or something. That or else take some climbing gear...

Tue, 06/08/2004 - 11:48 AM Permalink
KITCH

whatsagps is a treerat...climb climb climb...he is a nutball I've been more then happy to have him on a few caches....

some of these are just outta hand...but makes me feel like a little kid again at least....WHY the heck else would you climb a tree....

Tue, 06/08/2004 - 12:11 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

Hmmm.. wonder if he was in on that Elmo 123 cache then.... If not, that's one he'd definately enjoy.

Guess I'll have to add tree climbing gear to the pack if this kinda stuff keeps up.

Tue, 06/08/2004 - 12:16 PM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

So, after the Sauced event, I placed 15 new caches. I hate mosquitoes, wet feet, and funky worms that got under my shirt. Spending half the day in soaking wet jeans was a treat too.

Thu, 06/10/2004 - 2:23 PM Permalink
Liquor Lady

sounds like fun to me ;)

Thu, 06/10/2004 - 2:32 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

15, that 500 has gotta be comin up quick!

Thu, 06/10/2004 - 7:49 PM Permalink
KITCH

he said last nite he's at 497

Fri, 06/11/2004 - 5:20 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

Cool! Got a little something in mind coming up soon, should be fitting.

Fri, 06/11/2004 - 10:37 PM Permalink
KITCH

see ya....I'm going to the "mother of all breakfests in wisconsin"

going with s4xton and silentbob for the weekend...

 

baseball,drinking, caching, and more drinking...

 

more caches in bars....hmmm...did i say drinking...

Fri, 06/18/2004 - 4:31 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

Happy Trails!

Bummer on my end, I gotta cut back on the caching this weekend, will be celebrating my 200th next week!

Fri, 06/18/2004 - 8:34 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

 

Mon, 06/21/2004 - 6:05 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

Cool Ian!

Mon, 06/21/2004 - 8:44 AM Permalink
THX 1138


I could use some help from you geocachers.


I'm going to the aunts cabin this weekend near Siren WI, and I thought I'd try to find a couple caches while I'm in the area.  I went to geocaching.com, but didn't find any in Siren.  Wondering if any of my esteemed colleagues knew of any near by or on the way?

Wed, 06/23/2004 - 4:28 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

Do you know the zip code?

Wed, 06/23/2004 - 4:33 AM Permalink
THX 1138

Not off hand, but I can find out.

Wed, 06/23/2004 - 4:33 AM Permalink
THX 1138

54872

Wed, 06/23/2004 - 4:34 AM Permalink
THX 1138

Nevermind.

Using the zip code brought up a bunch of caches.

There were just none listed under the city of siren.

Wed, 06/23/2004 - 4:37 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

Kitch has a few nearby.

Wed, 06/23/2004 - 5:43 AM Permalink
KITCH

The two that I have on GANDY dancer trail are really NICE.

Thu, 06/24/2004 - 5:47 AM Permalink
KITCH

does kinda suck to be in minnesota against geocacher "rickrich" when games like this comes around....he's just tooo goood...he has programs set up that tells him when the website updates with the new clue that sends an email of the change to his cell phone....

http://www.magellangps.com/en/news/releases/viewRelease.asp?id=312

Santa Clara, Calif. (June 24, 2004)

Begin the game...
Throughout the summer, thousands of friends and families in America will enjoy fun and adventure in the great outdoors — hot on the trail of a fictitious criminal mastermind and searching for secret locations where treasures await. The Magellan® “Cache Her If You Can” GPS Adventure is a geocaching game that sends amateur crime-solvers on a weekly quest for clues in 30 cities across the U.S., competing for grand prizes.

Found exclusively at www.magellangps.com, “Cache Her If You Can” is the second annual web-based contest hosted by Thales, global provider of Magellan GPS consumer products. Running from June 24 to September 1, 2004, the game showcases geocaching as an ideal outdoor recreation activity for people of all ages.

“We were delighted by the excitement that thousands of people expressed during our 2003 treasure hunt, so we decided to do it again but with a detective-story twist,” said Karen Carbonnet, vice president of Corporate Communications for Thales’ navigation business. “Our geocaching adventure offers something for everyone, and is the perfect activity to encourage kids, parents and friends to grab their Magellan GPS receivers, get out of the house and enjoy some family fun and adventure while taking in the natural beauty of the great outdoors.”

The Magellan “Cache Her If You Can” GPS Adventure also sets the stage for the introduction of Thales’ new Magellan eXplorist™ 100, eXplorist 200 and eXplorist 300: compact, vibrantly colored GPS receivers that deliver more advanced features, more powerful performance and more value. Priced affordably at $99, $149 and $199 respectively, retailers are calling the eXplorist series the ideal choice for geocachers.

About the Game
In the contest’s fictional storyline, the “Magellan Detective Agency” enlists the contestants as agents to assist in foiling the sinister plans of the notorious “Stella DeCache” and her devious henchmen of “Organization X” before they are able to disrupt the game of geocaching.

To play, and be eligible to win, participants will need to have access to a GPS receiver and register at www.magellangps.com where, each week, the Magellan Detective Agency will post a series of clues. With this evidence, contest agents will use their investigative instincts to narrow down the possible locations where they’ll carry out their next mission.

The final clue for each mission will provide the exact latitude and longitude coordinates for contestants to enter in their GPS receivers so they can use it to guide them to a secret “cache,” a black, briefcase-like container hidden above ground on public property, like a park or forest. The first person to find the cache case and the top-secret reward document inside wins a grand prize plus some of the cool items they find in the cache container.

Grand prizes vary from cache to cache and may include trips, outdoor adventure products or vehicle navigation gear packages sponsored by Thales and other leading outdoor gear manufacturers, service providers, retailers and publications, including: Tecnica, Princeton Tec, Nalgene, Camping World, Gregory Mountain, Woodall’s, the Good Sam Club and Trailer Life Directories, plus Camping Life, Trailer Life, ATV Sport, Rider, and Trailer Boats and Snow Goer Magazines. For complete details on game rules and prizes, see the official game website at www.magellangps.com.

Thu, 06/24/2004 - 12:35 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

yeah, nothing like trying to beat rickrich to a ftf, I've basically given up on that venture. If it's the same with this contest, and only the first finder gets the goods, that'll be tough. But I'll keep an eye out anyways, maybe ol rickrich will be outta commission the day it pops up.

Thu, 06/24/2004 - 1:08 PM Permalink
KITCH

NICE JOB JOEL!!!

Sun, 06/27/2004 - 10:03 AM Permalink
Clue Master

Looks great!

a tip of the hat to KC and the gang

Sun, 06/27/2004 - 10:10 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

On a lighter note, I was just informed that the KB 500 cache has been approved.

I'm truly honored. Thanks Joel

While it's not required to partake, alcoholic beverages will be in abundance at #500, a one-time "do it or lose it" affair on July 28th. Should be just the thing to lure a few more coolerheads over to the Dark Side.

Tue, 06/29/2004 - 4:39 AM Permalink
KITCH

While it's not required to partake, alcoholic beverages will be in abundance at #500, a one-time "do it or lose it" affair on July 28th. Should be just the thing to lure a few more coolerheads over to the Dark Side.

!!!!!!!

I know whats UP!!!!!! NICE!!!!
and I "feel" honored as well!!!!!

Tue, 06/29/2004 - 5:09 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

Sounds interesting. Is that the "In the hall of the mountain king"? I saw that on your profile and thought it sounded interesting, just by the name, but it hasn't been approved yet.

BTW, I have a new prototype micro container sitting next to me that's undergoing waterproof testing. If all goes well, I'll have it placed this evening.

Can't wait for the reaction!

Tue, 06/29/2004 - 8:39 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

nah, that one got pushed back awhile. however, my letterbox hybrid is awaiting approval.

Tue, 06/29/2004 - 12:04 PM Permalink