My kids and I have been doing this for about three weeks now. This is seriously a lot of fun!

www.geocaching.com

 

I haven't done it, I don't have a GPS, but it does look like alot of fun. What all have you found?

 

 

Very funny...

 

You don't really find much. I guess the whole point is really the adventure. The caches are generally trinkets and small toys that you trade. There are also trackable items like geocoins and travel bugs that you can move from cache to cache.

 

Anyone got a short summary of geocaching for the lazy? That link didn't really explain much.

 

+1 i never even heard of geocaching...

 

I heard about it on the news a while back. You can go search for stuff hidden anywhere by GPS, like a treasure hunt. I'm pretty sure just cheap toys and things, like Water said are put in stuff like 50 cal. ammo cases, stuff like that. I don't really know alot about it but the gnomes that hide this stuff are pretty crafty. All just for fun I think, use GPS, go to the corrdinates and the loot is all yours.

How do people/GPS know where the things are, do they use trackers or just list the corrdinates on the site?

 

I've been geocaching a few times. My wife and my sister inlaw take the kids and go about 2 times a month. She has her GPS sporttrack mapper, and we started doing this about 4 years ago. It's fun when you've got the kids with you cause they can pick out some cool tokens that will amuse them all the way home.. Kinda like treasure hunting for the sake of treasure hunting. I've seen some pretty elaborate hiding spots too. You just have to learn your gps and watch out for ticks. LOL.. Good fun for the whole family..

 

Well said....for the noobes, here is the deal:

- Geocaching is a treasure hunt-type game. There are thousands of members all over the world that play.

- After signing up with a user name and pasword, you will now have access to the site.

- While at home, traveling anywhere, or just plain looking for an area to geocache, you log onto the site, find the local caches in your area, and start hunting.

- You can look in three different ways:
1 - Findd the cach location on the map and head that way. The site will give you clues and you can read blogs from other people who have looked or found it.

2 - Use an auto GPS

3 - Use a hiking GPS. Most Garmen units will upload the caches directly to your gps.....this is what I have.

- When you find it, you log that you found it.

The site grades the difficulty of each cache. The easy ones still require effort. The hardest ones are nearly impossible and could take all day. Some have a mystery to solve.

 

Also some hints on things to leave in the ammo/ cache box.

1. Key chains from whatever beach you were at.
2. Mini screwdiver kits. (they're cheap)
3. matchbox or hotwheels cars.
4. costume jewelery.
5. The content is endless but, please do keep it family friendly.

You don't want to put anything offensive, even if you think it's harmless. Most of us who geocache are very family oriented, so keep it simple, and always put something back if you take anything at all..

Also, if you want to start your own box. Army surplus stores have ammo boxes dirt cheap.

And don't go thinking your gonna find anything elaborate. This is hidden treasure but it's hidden to be found by some else. You won't find any silver or gold.. Maybe..

 

This sounds like a lot of fun. I really think I'm going to give it a shot.

 

At first I thought it was kinda senseless. But once I tried it with a few people I found it to be great fun. You can actually meet people in the woods, Normal people doing the same thing as you, Not like those guys in that movie in them there woods on the river in georgia.

One thing I have found to be a little bit of safety concern in my state is, when you dig a hole and bury something, you loosely cover it with surrounding leaves and such. There's a void there. And it may stayed covered up for a while. You must be prepared for the occasional Black widow nest. Here in the south that is what a widow looks for. Cool dark recess in the ground. Just like a water meter in your front yard. If you live in the southeast you know what you'll see down there. Wear some gloves or just be cautious.. Widows can give you a very nasty bite..

 

I will be taking the kids tomorrow.

 

Let us know what you find.. Also what you put in..