| A Geocaching Primer |
| A Geocaching Primer |
From "Family Outdoors"
episode FAO-205 |
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Though there are variations on geocaching, the overall concept is the same for all: locating a hidden container of items through the use of supplied geographic coordinates and a GPS (global positioning system) device. In a way, a geocache may be thought of as a very short-term time capsule. There are two basic categories of geocaching: - Open geocaching means that anyone can participate. The coordinates for the location of the hidden cache are posted publicly, such as on an Internet Web site. When someone finds the cache, he indicates that he was there (such as in a log book inside the geocache container), leaving it for others to find later.
- Closed geocaching is limited to a small or specific group of people. Closed geocache endeavors can be part of a party or a camping trip, for example.
As an example of a very closed geocache, enthusiast Mark Floyd hides a geocache in an outdoor setting and provides coordinates to host John Nickel so that he may attempt to find it.What's in a Geocache? Floyd shows the contents of a typical geocache. The cache is stored in a waterproof ontainer. Contents include the following: - A log book is the most important item in the geocache (figure A). It allows each person or group of people who locate the cache to record the date on which they found it, their names, e-mail addresses (if desired) and any comments for those who may find it in the future. This keeps a running history of the geocache for all successful participants to read.
- A letter of explanation of what geocaching is all about is another crucial item (figure B). This is particularly beneficial in the event that someone stumbles upon the geocache by accident. The letter explains the concept and rules of geocaching and requests that those who find it not remove or disturb it in any way.
- Other items are basically at the discretion of the person who initially placed the cache and of subsequent participants who want to add to it. Typically these may include inexpensive gifts for those who succeed in finding the cache (e.g., a CD or book) and toys for any child participants (figure C).
The giveaway items in the cache are just for fun, since the main objective in geocaching is not a material "prize" but the journey undertaken to get there. The most significant factor in placing a geocache, according to Floyd, is the location you choose. It should ideally be a beautiful, enjoyable outdoor spot that participants will feel rewarded for having visited. A Small Geocaching Adventure In our demonstration, Floyd hides the geocache (figure D) in a mountainous location. He places it fairly in the open but off any main trail. The area is open, allowing for good satellite reception by the GPS user, and in a spot with a beautiful view of a mountain. Since he knows exactly who will be looking for this cache, he leaves a note specifically for Nickel. Once he has placed the cache, he takes a reading on his GPS and writes down the coordinates (latitude and longitude) of the location (figure E). He then provides those coordinates to Nickel. Nickel uses the coordinates given to him by Floyd, entering them into his own GPS. Entering a location into a GPS like this is known as setting a waypoint (a waypoint is simply an assigned designation of a specified location). It may be entered either automatically (by simply pushing a button that enters coordinates where the GPS is currently located) or manually (with numerical coordinates). In our example, Nickel does the latter. The waypoint is then assigned a name of your choosing (such as "home" or "camp") or an automatically generated designation. Once he enters the coordinates provided by Floyd, thereby setting a waypoint, he also sets a waypoint for his current location. The latter waypoint will help Nickel find his way back to where he started in the event that he becomes lost. Having set his waypoints, Nickel uses his receiver to find his way to the general location of the geocache (figure F). With the accuracy level on his GPS device, Nickel still had to search an area of about 50 feet by 50 feet to actually find the cache. A GPS with greater precision might have taken him right to it. In addition to helping Nickel find the cache, the GPS can provide such information as the distance he traveled from the starting point to the location of the cache, and how long the search took. Although the GPS provides precise directional information that can lead you to a geocache, it won't provide information about topography and potential obstacles unless you have detailed topgraphical maps loaded into it. You'll need to consider those types of challenges on an actual geocache hunt. Be mindful of any potential obstacles (such as bodies of water or cliffs) and watchful for hazards. Aside from that, relax and enjoy your journey and your surroundings. Technical Stuff: Datum and the Question of Flat Maps GPS devices incorporate the concept of datum in their calculations to plot exact locations. Datum draws on the concept that although maps are flat, the Earth is round and its surface curved. Different maps have different ways of representing the curvature of the earth. The calculations and formulas used in that representation must be taken into account in calculating and specifying precise locations as a GPS does. It's a complicated concept, but the only thing you need to remember as a geocacher is to make sure that your GPS is set to use the same datum as the GPS that provided the original coordinates. Commonly used datums include WGS-84 and UTM.
RESOURCES :
GPS World home page
Web site: www.gpsworld.com
Using GPS: GPS Simplified for Outdoor Adventures (A Falcon Guide)
Model: 1560448210
Author: Bruce Grubbs
Falcon Publishing Company
Website: www.falcon.com/
Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site
The official online headquarters for the sport of geocaching, including thorough explanations and lots of web links.
Web site: www.geocaching.com
or, for a direct link to their frequently-asked-questions page:
Web site: www.geocaching.com/faq.asp
GARMIN International (GPS technology)
An industry leader in Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.
Web site: www.garmin.com
International Orienteering Federation
Web site: www.orienteering.org
TopoGrafix (GPS software)
Innovative software for Garmin, Magellan, or Lowrance GPS.
Web site: www.topografix.com
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