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What is Geocaching?

Submitted by King Boreas aka Ian on
Forums
All About Geocaching

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

 

King Boreas aka Ian

very cool

Thu, 09/02/2004 - 10:57 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

Way to go KB!

Sat, 09/04/2004 - 11:48 PM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

I just found out about
this
and I'm absolutely shocked.

Wed, 09/08/2004 - 6:48 AM Permalink
Mr. Med Hunter

Is it legal and proper to Log a TB and then place it back into the cache you found it in? Or do you have to physically move it to another cache?

Thanks for your help!

Fri, 09/10/2004 - 4:36 AM Permalink
KITCH

You can do that...

Fri, 09/10/2004 - 5:59 AM Permalink
KITCH

IAN---I now have the TB "just nuts"....do you want it???

Fri, 09/10/2004 - 5:59 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

do you have to physically move it to another cache?

no

I now have the TB "just nuts"....do you want it???

yes

Fri, 09/10/2004 - 6:30 AM Permalink
KITCH

it was really fun to see how much it has changed......I was amazed and very excited to see it.

Fri, 09/10/2004 - 6:39 AM Permalink
Mr. Med Hunter

I'm wondering if anyone knows of any kid friendly caches in the McGregor, Palisades, Aikin area for next weekend. I'm taking 5 boys out (ages range from 3 to 10) for a geocaching experience and to drop off a few travel bugs that I picked up over the weekend. Any help would be appreciated.

Mon, 09/13/2004 - 8:47 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=dafaa72c-2dbd-4dda-b1d6-2380a24ebbe0

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b524e8c8-4dbd-416c-8332-d9c8cca07e98

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=7aa5b53e-664c-44e2-96ec-beadd47ff7d6

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0a7909c9-e956-46fc-b36c-e2cef52f7cbe

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=755cf892-33ed-4171-b492-8f183c60a33b

Kid-friendly ?? Not sure, but not too tough.

Mon, 09/13/2004 - 11:11 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

I didn't know anybody else ever went to Palisades.

Mon, 09/13/2004 - 9:05 PM Permalink
Clue Master

Is that as in Palisade Head?  That is the best view in all of Minnesota IMHO.  Especially during the fall.  I couldn't get the lame ass map to work so I'll assume that it's up there anyway.

Mon, 09/13/2004 - 9:55 PM Permalink
Liquor Lady

I had the same problem, then I read this

As a Premium Member you can zoom in, zoom out, and pan maps. Caches you have found are also marked. Visit the Premium Membership page for more information on subscriber features.

Are you a premium member :)

[Edited by on Sep 14, 2004 at 03:52am.]

Tue, 09/14/2004 - 2:51 AM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

That's not an *official* page. The map doesn't work.

Palisades is near Hill City, off 169.

The cache is on private land, owned by a co-worker. This is Step Two of my premier cache: Share the Land.

[Edited by on Sep 14, 2004 at 04:31am.]

Tue, 09/14/2004 - 3:30 AM Permalink
KITCH

IAN.....I've done step 1 of that cache....and have 2nd stage print off in my car.....

been there for 6 months now.....hmmmmm.....nope...... still no energy for a drive.

 

Tue, 09/14/2004 - 5:14 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

I've still got that on the todo list. FSU*noles suggested teaming up on it a few months back, that was before the wisconsin presidents series, but now that we're done with that bunch, I'll have to bring it up again for one of the monthly geo-roadtrips we're running.

Tue, 09/14/2004 - 8:38 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

Just a couple pictures from my 500th find

Saw this sign as we were hiking ON the trails. I'm still scratching my head about it as the area we were in was part of the park, in fact this was along one of the established trails (that looks to have been there a very long time). It's a shame there's a ton of land restructuring going on there, these trails will probably all be extinct in the foreseable future.


[Edited by on Oct 6, 2004 at 12:07pm.]

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Wed, 10/06/2004 - 11:04 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

One of the trail bridges we used. The maple leaves on the ground were huge! One I saw on the trail had to be about 14" long.


[Edited by on Oct 6, 2004 at 12:14pm.]

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5002.JPG
Wed, 10/06/2004 - 11:12 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

NBJPoppa and myself with the final stage. There were tons of huge trees (and very large tree stumps, perfect geobeacons) in the park area, also tons of ferns.


[Edited by on Oct 6, 2004 at 12:18pm.]

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Wed, 10/06/2004 - 11:16 AM Permalink
KITCH

that sign confuses me....

you tresspased to get to the sign...but stay now that you've done that...

Wed, 10/06/2004 - 11:50 AM Permalink
Clue Master

That leaf in the bottom left of the bridge picture is massive!

Wed, 10/06/2004 - 12:51 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

Yeah, we got the same impression standing there reading it. Best guess I can make is the sign was outdated, and considering the amount of construction in the area (heck they're bulldozing new streets right through the mountain bike trail system) it's hard to tell who owns the land you're walking on....

I was gonna bring a leaf back, but I figured it'd never survive the train trip.

Wed, 10/06/2004 - 7:39 PM Permalink
ares

besides, its probably technically considered county property....

Thu, 10/07/2004 - 8:41 AM Permalink
Clue Master

Wow! That was fast. Grats Mucluck

Tue, 10/12/2004 - 9:36 PM Permalink
KC0GRN

Congrats mucluck!!!

Tue, 10/12/2004 - 9:56 PM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

Kitch,

Is Money Creek Micro on private property? Should I archive it?

Tue, 10/12/2004 - 9:59 PM Permalink
KITCH

 

IAN----yep it is......didn't want to tell you that........

Plus it just gets wet anyways.......

If you want a cache in that area ....stick to the bike trail or the state forest land...(is a bunch)

Wed, 10/13/2004 - 7:36 AM Permalink
mucluck

Thanks Guys!

The goal is 100 by the end of the year...we'll see if I can keep up the pace.

 

Wed, 10/13/2004 - 8:11 AM Permalink
KC0GRN

tried to TSLS, but I couldn't pry the darn trinket off.

Thu, 10/14/2004 - 7:30 AM Permalink
Clue Master

Very cool website Kitch! I especially like the concept cars.

.

.

.

.

 


[Edited by on Oct 14, 2004 at 01:50pm.]

Thu, 10/14/2004 - 12:49 PM Permalink
East Side Digger

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 3:50 AM Permalink
KITCH

is it the price that freaked you out??? or the fact that its really just weird???

Sat, 10/16/2004 - 7:27 AM Permalink
Clue Master

I have a huge trash bag full of old McDonalds toys that would be perfect for Geocaching if anybody wants it.  We were cleaning out the kids room and she said to "toss it all".  But I just feel bad tossing them knowing how handy those small toys are. Lemmy know


[Edited by on Oct 16, 2004 at 11:04am.]

Sat, 10/16/2004 - 10:04 AM Permalink
Clue Master

$10.49 huh.  I have about 40 gallons of the things and wouldn't expect much more.  I don't think that it's hard to obtain geoshit but this bag could be handy at a geoevent where it's more of a grab bag anyway.

[Edited by on Oct 16, 2004 at 12:44pm.]

Sat, 10/16/2004 - 11:43 AM Permalink
KITCH

........holy crap 40 gallons worth of trinkets..... 


[Edited by on Oct 16, 2004 at 02:47pm.]

Sat, 10/16/2004 - 1:45 PM Permalink
King Boreas aka Ian

sold

Sat, 10/16/2004 - 5:05 PM Permalink
Clue Master

k

Sat, 10/16/2004 - 7:57 PM Permalink
KITCH

I figured he'd want them...

Sun, 10/17/2004 - 10:00 AM Permalink
THX 1138



is it the price that freaked you out??? or the fact that its really just weird???

It's just weird.

Whatever trips their trigger.

Sun, 10/17/2004 - 11:40 AM Permalink