How to Go Geocaching with a GPS

If you like the idea of searching for hidden treasure, you will love geocaching. A geocache is a hidden container loaded with booty and a log listing the names of people who have found the geocache. All you need to go geocaching are the coordinates of a geocache and a handheld GPS unit to locate the position of the geocache.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Search online for any website that has a list of geocaches in your area. A popular site is Geocaching.com.

2. Search for local geocaches by typing in your address or zip code. You will then be given a list of geocaches in your vicinity. Read the description of each geocache, which should contain the navigational coordinates, various notes about the geocache, clues about its location, a difficulty rating, and a list of people who have found the geocache.

3. Choose a geocache to search for, and enter the navigational coordinates into your handheld GPS unit.

4. Begin looking for the geocache. As you get closer to the point where it is located, start scanning the terrain for the cache. A geocache can be as small as a film canister, or as large as a five gallon bucket. Geocaches come in all shapes and sizes.

5. When you find the geocache you may take some treasure, but you should leave an item for every item you take. This way the geocache never becomes depleted, and future geocachers will always find a geocache full of booty.

6. Sign the geocache log and re-hide the container where you found it before you leave.

7. Login to the geocaching website that directed you to the geocache you discovered, and sign the log stating that you found the geocache.

8. Enter the coordinates of another geocache and go find some more treasure. Argh!

Resources

• Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator
• DeLorme Earthmate PN-40 Handheld GPS (1:100k Topographic, Detailed Street Maps & POIs)
• Jack Squat Geocoins Geotokens