Geocaching
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Chapter 1
An Introduction to
Geocaching
In This Chapter
ᮣ Understanding geoaching
ᮣ Finding out how geocaching works
ᮣ Discovering the benefits of geocaching
ᮣ Minimum requirements for geocaching
G
eocaching is a new, popular sport that relies on using a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver, the Internet, and your powers of observation. In a nutshell, you find some stuff, take some stuff, leave some stuff, record it all in a logbook, and have fun!
To elaborate a little more, someone, somewhere, hides a container filled with goodies (toys, travel memorabilia, costume jewelry, you name it). He or she then posts the location coordinates on the Internet along with a few clues. You visit a Web site database, get the coordinates, and use your GPS receiver to zero in on the geocache location. (Your GPS receiver usually won’t lead you directly to the cache, and this is where your powers of observation come into play in locating the cache’s hiding place.)
Geocaching is pronounced GEE-oh-cash-ing. It’s not appropriate to pronounce cache as ca-SHAY, even if you are French. So unless you want some funny looks, stick with good ol’ cash.
In a few short years, geocaching has grown incredibly popular.
Relatively cheap and accurate GPS receivers and widespread access to the Internet have helped the sport flourish throughout the world. As of April 2004, the Geocaching.com site (www. geocaching.com; one of the first Web sites devoted to the sport and currently the largest geocaching site on the ’Net) had over
91,000 active geocaches listed in its database, spread out among
201 countries. And that number continues to grow each day. That’s a lot of caches out there to find!
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8/4/04
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Page 10
Part I: Getting Ready to Geocache
Although geocaching is based on a fairly simple idea, you need to understand a number of basic things — or at least be aware of them — before you get started. That’s what this
8/4/04
9:33 AM
Page 9
Chapter 1
An Introduction to
Geocaching
In This Chapter
ᮣ Understanding geoaching
ᮣ Finding out how geocaching works
ᮣ Discovering the benefits of geocaching
ᮣ Minimum requirements for geocaching
G
eocaching is a new, popular sport that relies on using a Global
Positioning System (GPS) receiver, the Internet, and your powers of observation. In a nutshell, you find some stuff, take some stuff, leave some stuff, record it all in a logbook, and have fun!
To elaborate a little more, someone, somewhere, hides a container filled with goodies (toys, travel memorabilia, costume jewelry, you name it). He or she then posts the location coordinates on the Internet along with a few clues. You visit a Web site database, get the coordinates, and use your GPS receiver to zero in on the geocache location. (Your GPS receiver usually won’t lead you directly to the cache, and this is where your powers of observation come into play in locating the cache’s hiding place.)
Geocaching is pronounced GEE-oh-cash-ing. It’s not appropriate to pronounce cache as ca-SHAY, even if you are French. So unless you want some funny looks, stick with good ol’ cash.
In a few short years, geocaching has grown incredibly popular.
Relatively cheap and accurate GPS receivers and widespread access to the Internet have helped the sport flourish throughout the world. As of April 2004, the Geocaching.com site (www. geocaching.com; one of the first Web sites devoted to the sport and currently the largest geocaching site on the ’Net) had over
91,000 active geocaches listed in its database, spread out among
201 countries. And that number continues to grow each day. That’s a lot of caches out there to find!
05_575716 ch01.qxd
10
8/4/04
9:33 AM
Page 10
Part I: Getting Ready to Geocache
Although geocaching is based on a fairly simple idea, you need to understand a number of basic things — or at least be aware of them — before you get started. That’s what this