If you’re bored with hiking the same trail and want to add a little excitement to your trip, have you ever been treasure hunting. Geocaching, (as it`s commonly known) may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Geocaching, a fun day out or weekend away, out by yourself or with the family, whatever your interest, it is an exciting way of treasure hunting, next to metal detecting. Armed with nothing more than your camping equipment and a handheld GPS, a thirst for excitement, and you’re off for an adventure, and the likelihood of finding a hidden cache. So, have you ever been treasure hunting?
Here’s how it works
Geocachers go hunting for hidden treasures using GPS coordinates that are posted on the Internet by people hiding the cache,(treasure). So to geocache, you will need a handheld GPS receiver. GPS, stands for (global positioning system), and is the only way today, to be able to show you your exact position on the Earth anywhere, in any weather conditions. Satellites transmit signals that can be detected by anyone with a GPS unit. Using this handheld GPS, you can determine your location with great precision.
GPS receivers are also great for finding your way, you will never get lost with one of these receivers.
Just as important is that, you will be able to locate caches too. There are a variety of GPS units out there to choose from starting at about £150-£200 pounds, but you can pick them up a lot cheaper from places like eBay, used, for around £50-£150 but still in good working order.
Once you’ve got a GPS unit, you will need to know where the caches are hidden, and they can be anywhere. When a cache is hidden, the cache’s coordinates are submitted to a geocache website for anyone to see. Enter the coordinates into your GPS unit and you are ready to go and search for your treasure. There are more than 100,000 caches in over 200 countries,
so once you have found your first, you can try another. Armed with a GPS unit and the coordinates, how tough will it be? In urban areas, easy access is typically available in the way of roads and paths. But what about trails, hills and mountains? What if there are no roads nearby? It’s entirely possible to be within a hundred feet from a cache and not be able to see it, the cache could be across a river or one a hundred feet below a cliff, half-way down a hill behind a fallen tree, in a bush or even up a tree.
After you try to find a few caches, you will understand a number of the subtle differences of actually finding each cache. That’s the fun part. Your GPS will take you to the area where the cache is, but not pinpoint it`s location, that will be down to you to look around and find it. Once you find the cache, there are a few simple rules.
Sign the book and if you take something from the cache, be sure to leave something. I generally like the hunt, but leave everything as it is. Sometimes I will add something, but not take anything.
But what about placing a cache, that’s fun too right. Just be sure to follow the rules as outlined on the geocache website.
If you have only a couple hours to search for a cache, try to find one that is close by to your current location. If you have a couple days, take a family camping trip and make a weekend adventure out of it. Using your GPS along with your sense of adventure, you are bound to spend more time outdoors with people you enjoy spending time with. What could be better than that.
Handheld GPS Check Prices
Conclusion
Use this information above and you will get it right the first time. I hope that you will enjoy your day or weekend away with yourself or family, happy hunting, and best of luck.
