Geocaching is the art/sport of using a handheld GPS receiver to locate the hiding spot of hidden caches.
A geocache (pronounced GEE-oh-cash) is a small (hopefully waterproof) container containing at least a log book for you to sign when you find it. Caches often contain small items - trinkets, toys, key-chains, coins, etc - and cachers are encouraged to trade. We call this stuff "Swag".
Here's how it works from the beginning...
A cacher will find an interesting spot, scenic view, new park or anything else that others would probably like to discover for themselves. They'll hide a cache nearby - usually under a log or among some rocks - but never buried. The cacher will then use a GPS receiver to get the exact latitude & longitude coordinates at that spot. Those coordinates are loaded into a website where other cachers can use them to find the new cache.
Even with "exact" coordinates and the latest hardware, you can only get within 20 feet of accurate so finding the caches can sometimes prove quite challenging. The cache hiders don't always make it easy either employing any manor of concealment from camouflage to carpentry. The cache containers themselves range from the size of a film canister to 5 gallon buckets and everything in between. Small Tupperware® or Lock-n-Lock® containers are common as are military surplus ammo cans.With over a million active geocaches world wide, there's probably a few in your neighborhood. If you have a GPS & are curious to give geocaching a try, head over to geocaching.com and sign up. Come on back here for personal recommendations on which caches to visit. Geocaching is a free activity and, if we have anything to do with it, it always will be. You have nothing to lose except your ignorance of that great location right around the corner.
