Monday 20 November 2017

What is Geocaching ?


Geocaching is a hobby I am so happy to have picked up. I am so passionate about this game, it's my all-time favorite thing to do. I try to keep my hobby a secret because a lot of people don't know what Geocaching is and tend to look at me funny when I share my Geocaching hobby. I wish more people knew about the game and how to play. I believe if more people gave Geocaching a try there would be more people outside enjoying nature and exploring the world around them. There are so many times Geocaching has brought me to a local park that I had no idea even existed and never would have explored if not for Geocaching. It's opened so many doors for my family and I. You would also be surprised to how many Geocaches are hidden in your own surroundings. 

     For newcomers reading my blog I hope at the end of this you will want to set out for adventure in finding your very first Geocaching. 

Now let's get you newbies from a "Muggle" to a Geocacher. You're probably wondering what a Muggle is, it's simple anyone who doesn't play the game is a muggle. You want to make sure they don't see you finding a geocache or they may spoil the game. Be sure to check your surroundings. 😊 

History has shown that people love finding treasure. There are so many books filled with stories of treasure hunters. They always fascinated me growing up, it's no wonder I am in love with this game. Geocaching is gaining its popularity quick. It helps people experience the outdoors in a way that captures historical desire for adventure all while having fun with friends and family, or even alone if you prefer to be a Solo Cacher. Either way, you will have loads of fun and make the most amazing memories. 

Geocache find by everydayfunday Summer 2017
   Alright now, let's start talking about this awesome game.
    
   What is Geocaching? Geocaching, Geo for Earth and Cache, a term that is used for both hidden and data sorted on a computer so combine that together and you have the amazing game of Geocaching. Geocache started in 2000 when the very first geocache was hidden.This real-world treasure hunting game has grown globally ever since. Sounds like a lot of fun so far right? The goal of geocaching is to locate hidden containers which are called a geocache. All geocaches can be found on www.geocaching.com. Geocaches must be resistant to the elements of nature like rain and snow. Items inside of a geocache are usually zippered in a plastic baggy to keep from getting damaged with elements of the weather. 

Cool Fact! Geocaching.com was established in September of 2000 with only 75 geocaches posted online. Many years later and there is more than 700.000 geocaches hidden around the world and the numbers keep rising as people hide more treasure to be found. 


This is a Geocache hidden in a Bison,
 this is another form of Geocache that you can find
Where are Geocaches hidden? People will often hide Geocaches in the wilderness, parks and some urban locations accessible by the public. How a geocache is hidden really all depends on the hider. They can choose many different ways to hide their geocache. Make sure to read the description of the cache to have a better understanding of what you will be looking for. If ever you're stuck on a geocache often there will be a hint to help you out a little. Some Geocaches are easy to find while others require a little more skill. To give you an idea of where some could be hidden often Geocacher will choose a cliff side, hidden in a hollow log, magnetic caches or even underwater. A geocache is also rated on difficulty level and the difficulty of the terrain you will need to adventure in to get there. With such a large geocaching community there are so many unique caches hidden all around the world for anyone to find. 

Geo-Lingo - " Geocache " - Is usually a plastic container, you may also find a bison tube, ammo can or even a plastic bottle, it can almost be anything that is going to withstand the elements of the weather. Inside there will at least be a logbook for geocachers to sign. Remember Geocachers are not to bury the treasure but to simply hide it in a way allowing other Geocachers to find. 
Some Treasure that you may find inside a Geocache

Treasure or "Swag" can be found in some larger Geocaches. If you see something that you like you can do a " Trade " be sure to trade the item with something of equal or larger value then what you are taking. Common items that you could find will be books, toys, tools, games, camping gear, trackable items ( more on that in another post ) sometimes you can even find cash.  As much fun as it is locating the geocaching and finding it, my favorite part would be opening the geocache to see what hides inside. 

Often I'll get asked, " What's the point " Doesn't a GPS take you to the exact location? How much fun can finding treasure be if you are brought right to its location?. I often giggle back because it's a lot harder to find then it may sound. Don't get discouraged if you don't find many the first time you set out for adventure. The GPS will only take you to the Geocache's approximate location, the rest of the hunting is all on you. A GPS is accurate to about 15 meters ( 49 feet ) most of the time. Now some will have high tech GPS gadgets but unless the weather is perfect and you have the best signal you won't get closer than about 5 to 10 meters to the Geocache. Talking about accuracy you need to keep in mind the reception of the person hiding the geocache, how accurate their device was and the weather when hiding the geocache. Long story short once arrived at the Geocache location you may have more ground to search then anticipated. There may also be a lot of tree's and branches to look around which makes the Geocache harder to spot at times. 
You can always find Geocaches online at Geocaching.com, however, it won't show you how to get to the Geocache, you will need to send the coordinates to your GPS or download the Geocaching app to your mobile device that is GPS enabled. 

     Fun fact! David Ulmer, the man who hid the first geocache and got this game started states that there are 360 ways to get to any one location. Keep in mind some roads on a map may not be accessible and a map won't show you the difficulty of the terrain. 

After a Geocache has been found or not found, geocachers can post feedback and stories about their find, such as describing their experience in locating the geocache. I love sitting back at a Geocache location to read all the stories from other Geocachers, I find it's really fun to hear about other people stories who have found the very same Geocache you are holding. 
Ps: Be mindful when posting about the Geocache that you have found, be sure to try to avoid posting spoilers so the game can remain fun for everyone. 


Logbook from a Geocache we found Autumn 2017
I am so surprised at how this game is blooming into something that I truly believe will make everyone who plays happier. Geocaching has many social groups that you can find online even some tourism places have started in-cooperating geocaching as a touristic activity to get people outside exploring the world around them while enjoying a lovely vacation.  

After reading all of this,you're probably eager to get outside and start your very first Geo hunt. Head to www.Geocaching.com to start creating your FREE basic account. 😊

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog on What is Geocaching Anyways? 
Stay tuned for more. 
All photos have been taking by us on Geocaching adventures we have taken over the year. If you want to see more live updates on everydayfun we have please follow us on Instagram @everyday.fun.day 

Happy Caching! 





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