Geocaching is a GPS (Global Positioning System) hide and seek game, where hiders hide containers (called 'caches' or 'geocaches') anywhere in the world, record the coordinates, and post a listing on a website for hunters to seek. Hunters can use a handheld GPS unit to get close, but then must use their wits to find the cache and log the find. A typical cache can be any size and may be camouflaged, in order to make the hunt more challenging, and usually contains a logbook for the hunter to sign and usually some small trading items of little monetary value.
In May 2000 the government announced their decision to stop the intentional degradation of GPS signal accuracy. In effect, this made civilian use of GPS systems much more accurate and many times more useful than it had been previously.
On the day following this announcement the first geocache was placed by David Ulmer in Oregon. Ulmer's idea was simple:
The hider would hide a container, note the coordinates with his GPS unit.
The seeker would locate the container using the given coordinates, make a note in the logbook, then trade items.
It only took a few days for the cache to be found and reported online, and a new outdoor sport was formed.
The sport has grown considerably since its humble beginnings. At this writing there are well over •1/4 million caches hidden around the world. Odds are that there is a cach close to you. I found my first cache after discovering that one was hidden less than a mile from my home. I guess you could say that I got hooked immediately, since I have found many since then and even hidden a few.
Our family likes to go geocaching as a family activity. The weekends will usually find us in one of our local parks wandering the woods looking for caches.
Here's how we normally do it:
1. We go to GeoCaching.com or TerraCaching.com to find a good cache close to the area we want to hunt.
2. We print out the cache pages (or alternatively load it into our PDA).
3. We load the coordinates into our GPS unit and set our GPS unit to navigate.
4. We load up our cold drinks (we go caching in Texas, so we have to stay hydrated) and our trade items.
5. We drive to the coordinates and start looking. The cache listing and log entries usually have some hints and can tell us what kind of container we're looking for.
6. Once we find the cache, we log our find in the cache logbook.
7. We trade a few trade items (usually inexpensive trinkets and toys).
8. Once we get back home, we log our find on the listing website.
9. I also like to write a blog entry about our outing on my geocaching blog at CachingAdventures.com so that I can tell interesting stories about our outing that just don't fit into the regular log entries.
It's not unusual for my family to find 3 to 5 caches in one outing. Other more aggressive cachers will do 10 or 20 or more.
An enjoyable cache might be in an unknown park, an urban wilderness area, or a mind-bending puzzle. We have enjoyed getting our sedentary, internet-connected, couch potato bodies out into the great outdoors breathing some fresh air.
Finally! A good reason to go outdoors again!
There are travelers that are going to experience terrible feelings if they are in a different place. All traveler needs to have an alarm clock of some kind. No matter what if you are on vacation or if you are on business, you need to have an alarm clock with you. This is a way for us to keep track of time and not to rely on someone getting us up and ready for something.
The alarm clocks that you bring should be portable. They should be able to fit in your bags and not worrying that it will get broke. One feature should be that the numbers are easy to see and that you are going to be able to set this clock fast. You want to save yourself the time of messing with it and taking valuable time away from your trip. The feature of an alarm clock is to wake you up so that you can get to where you are going on time. You want a ring that you can hear and that will get you up and moving around.
You will find alarm clocks in different forms. Usually alarm clocks are going to be used for traveling are small. They are going to be small enough to take with you anywhere. You can find some that are going to close shut so that they are protected when you are traveling. No matter what the size of the clock, you should find a protective case come with them too.
Buying a travel alarm clock can be expensive or cost less that what you would think depending on where you are purchasing it. Depending on your taste and what you are looking for you will find just what you need. The one thing that you need to pay attention to is that it works well and that it really does wake you up.
One of the different features on a travel alarm clock is that you may be able to change the alarm ring. You can even make your favorite song as a ringbone. If you are sound sleeper, you have to have a loud ring that is going to get you up and moving. You should not pick one that has to use electricity to work. You never know when the power is going to go out.
Alarm clocks have problems too. Sometimes batteries fail and will stop the clock from working the way that you depend on it to. You need to make sure that you are finding a good alarm clock or even take a backup with you like a watch or cell phone alarm. These can be great ways to make sure that you get up when you need to.
Both Kevin Harris & Greg Hansward are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kevin Harris has sinced written about articles on various topics from Recreation And Sports, Home Management. Kevin Harris owns which is a free community for geocachers. Each user has their own blog and can submit articles and participate in forums.. Kevin Harris's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.
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