What is Geocaching?

Geocaching is the hottest new sport to attract thousands of international players. Featured in hundreds of news stories around the globe, geocaching is a worldwide, high-tech treasure hunt using Global Positioning System receivers and the Internet.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) enables people to pinpoint specific geographic locations accurately anywhere in the world using a GPS receiver. Once a person has hidden a treasure (or geocache) and recorded the location, another player can locate the geocache using his or her GPS receiver.

Geocaching became feasible in May 2000 when then US President Bill Clinton signed the executive order to turn off selective availability of the governmental GPS system. Until then, GPS was only accurate to within 1000ft for everyone except the US military. With a flip of the switch, selective availability was turned off and GPS instantly became accurate to within 30ft or less for all GPS users. When this happened, a man named Dave Ulmer realized the potential of this new accuracy for a treasure hunt sport. The next day he hid a "geocache" containing several items in the woods near his home and practiced finding it from several directions with his GPS. After convincing himself of the new accuracy of the GPS, he posted the coordinates of his geocache on an internet USENET group and the sport of geocaching was born.

From that point on, geocaching has grown to well over 200,000 caches hidden in 210+ countries, and most likely one or more are hidden near you. In addition, there are new variations of the game being started frequently, some combine geocaching with orienteering, or using traditional treasure hunt methods to find the numbers that make up the final geocache coordinates, or... on and on. Geocache sites vary in difficulty ranging from sites you can reach with your car, to sites that require mountaineering skills to reach. The difficulty is determined by the person placing the geocache.

There are very few official rules for geocaching but there are some guidelines that the geocaching community hold in high regard. For example, if you take something from the cache you should leave something else in the cache. Some geocaches are themed; coins, yo-yo's, or playing cards for example. Some are just a collection of interesting stuff, and some are only a logbook to enter your name. Another rule is that you can not damage the environment or force people to violate trespassing laws in order to reach the geocache. So far, the sport has been well policed by it's participants.

There are very few items you need to get started in geocaching. The two essential items are access to the internet and a GPS. Additionally, you should still carry a good map and a compass if entering a remote area (you never know when those batteries will die). Finally, if you are heading into the wilderness to find the geocache, you should equip yourself the same as you would for any other outdoor adventure. As your interest in the sport grows, you can purchase mapping software and upgraded GPS units to better manage data and find new caches.

Hopefully you are now interested in trying geocaching or at least interested in learning more. In either case, check out http://www.geocaching.com. There you can learn more about the sport, or just enter your zip code in the search box to get a list of geocaches in your area. Print out the info page, load the coordinates into your GPS, and head out on your first hunt.

Geocaching is definitely one of the hottest outdoor activities around. Geocaching can be enjoyed regardless of your age or physical ability. Just select a cache consistent with your physical ability and outdoor skills. Geocaching is also a great family activity. Mom and dad will be glad to be out of the house and the kids can combine their techno skills with some good outdoor activity and adventure.

Now get out and have some fun!