Traditional Geocaching Basics

To get my new Blog off the ground, we'll need some elementary articles on the basics.  So, for any old cachers who start following in these early days, bear with me while I lay the groundwork for this resource.  Newbies, please read on...

The root of geocaching is simply this... someone hides a box somewhere and lists the exact geographical coordinates for the hiding place on the internet.  Someone else comes along and uses those coordinates to go to that spot and find the box.  When they find it, they sign a logbook contained inside and put the container back exactly where they found it.  Then they post on the internet that they found it.

There is no limit to the number of people who can search for and find any particular geocache.  Everyone does the same thing when they find it... sign the log and put the box or "cache" right back where they found it.  In order to make listing these caches a simpler process, the website GEOCACHING.COM was founded.  This is not the only site for listing geocaches, but it certainly is the most popular one.  A basic membership is free of charge.  You just register a unique user name and you can start looking through the listings of geocaches hidden in your area.

To search for a geocache, you need to be able to get to an exact location on planet Earth.  This is where the GPSr (Global Positioning System receiver) comes in.  Using the signals from the GPS satellite system, this receiver is able to tell you where you are on the planet.  The most accurate consumer models of GPSr are accurate to within about 15 feet.  Under perfect signal conditions, they can get you within just a couple feet of the intended spot.  Less expensive models and the built-in GPSr found in cell phones will still usually get you within about 20 feet of the right spot as long as you have a good view of the sky to receive the satellite signals.

The slight error factor coupled with many ways that the hider can camouflage the container is what makes this game so challenging.  The cache can range from a tiny container the size of your fingernail all the way up to a trunk-sized chest.  And the possibilities for making the container blend into the surroundings are endless.

After you've found the cache, you need to log back onto the geocaching website and enter a log for the cache.  The log can be as simple as, "found it" or you can ramble on with a short story about your adventure in getting to the cache or the time you spent in the cache area or whatever.  Most people love to read these longer logs, so they are encouraged.  The short "found it" logs are generally frowned upon and even considered rude by some people.  But, the content and length of any log is entirely up to the finder.  You can write pretty much anything you want.

So that's the basis of the game wrapped up in a nutshell.  Of course, there is so much more to the game, which is why I felt the need to start the Blog.  But it is important to understand the root of the game before moving forward.