An Overview of Geocaching
Geocaching is a relatively new and growing
hobby for outdoor enthusiasts. The core principle of Geocaching is
the use of a GPS (global positioning system) reciever to track
down and locate hidden containers all over the world. These
containers, known as caches, vary in size and contents. A
geocache will generally contain a logbook to record your discovery, and
most contain small items, trinkets, toys, CDs, books, etc. that are
available for trade by anyone who finds it. Geocaches can be found
in almost any public place, such as parks, beaches, forests, shopping
centers, and even in urban settings. The very places you
frequently visit may have a cache waiting to be discovered! For
example, within a 50 mile radius of our port, there are approximately
2,500 active caches, with new ones being added each week.
Geocaching is a sport/hobby that encourages outdoor activity,
creativity, and instills a sense of adventure. The novelty of this
modern treasure hunt makes it popular for pirates of all ages!
Many of the Pirates of the Lost Cause have gone "caching" at one
point in time, and a handful of us participate on a regular basis.
In the spirit of Captain Kidd and pirate folklore, the thrill of the
search for buried treasure is not lost on our crew!
History
The technology behind Geocaching was first developed in the 1980s by
the US Department of Defense. The global positioning system is a
series of satellites that have the capability of triangulating the
position of any point on Earth within a few feet of accuracy.
Early in the history of the GPS, the signals generated by these
satellites were scrambled so only the US government could take advantage
of the accuracy of the system. Early GPS users could expect
approximately 300 feet of error with their receivers due to this
selective availability. On May 1st, 2000 the Clinton
administration removed the selective availability from the GPS
satellites, making the system accurate up to 6 feet on any given
location on Earth. Now civilians using a GPS receiver could locate
something as small as a bucket full of goodies in the middle of the
woods, and that is exactly what Dave Ulmer did on May 3rd, 2000.
Soon after the first "stash" was planted, the first geocaching
newsgroups appeared on the web. Today,
Geocaching.com
has over 300,000 caches available for enthusiasts to find in over 200
countries all over the world.
How do I find a Geocache?
To find a cache, you need to purchase a GPS reciever, which ranges in
price from $100 to $1000. Most of the basic models have all the
features you need to get started. In addition to the unit, you
also need access to the internet. Once you are ready, sign up on
Geocaching.com and search the
site for caches in your area. Each cache will contain details,
coordinates, and usually a hint as to how it can be found.
Next, you program the coordinates into your GPS and off you go!
Getting to a cache location can be easy with the use of a road map,
which is also provided on the site. When you arrive near the site,
just follow the arrow displayed on the GPS, and it will tell you how far
and which direction you need to go. The challenge begins when you are
within the final 30 feet of the cache! Since your GPS
receiver does in fact have a small degree of error, you will need to
search the general area for the final location of the cache.
Caches can be hidden in any number of places, depending on the
creativity of the hider. Caches can be found hiding under piles of
sticks or rocks, hanging from trees, wedged in a stump, in sewer drains;
just about anywhere. Part of the thrill of the hunt is discovering
new and unique ways people hide their caches.
Once you find a cache, be discreet while opening it. Make sure
nobody else is watching you - many caches disappear because people who
are not aware of the game will walk away with the box, ignorant of the
fact that it is
supposed to remain in place. Inside a cache, you will find a
logbook and various trinkets. The primary thing you should do when
you find a cache is to sign the log. You can leave your name and
date, and if you feel so inclined, a detail of your experience. In
addition to the log, you can feel free to swap an item you are carrying
for another. The universal rule is that trade an item of equal
value or greater, or take nothing at all. Sometimes a cache will
contain a travel bug. This is not an ordinary item; it is
an item that has a goal to travel between geocaches, and is logged on
the geocaching website. You can identify a travel bug (TB for
short) by a dog tag attached to the item.
After a day of caching, be sure to go back to
Geocaching.com to log your
finds on your account. Don't be too surprised if it becomes an
addiction! Enjoy your new hobby, and if anybody asks, tell them
you're a modern pirate.
Our Caches
Our scurvy crew has taken the liberty to hide a few
caches of our own around our home port. Feel free to click the
links below to learn more about each one:
Pirate of the Lost Cache (planted by Brahm) - a
two-stage cache in Lansdale
Vande Special 2 (planted by Luminista) - a micro cache in Lansdale
Smiling Buddha (planted by Luminista) - a traditional cache in Chalfont
4-Micro
(planted by Brahm) - a micro cache in Lansdale
Ye Must Like Pirates (planted by Brahm) - a mystery cache located in ?
Pirates' Pot Luck (planted by Luminista) - a micro cache in
Lansdale
Michael-Ro (planted by Brahm) - a nano cache in Montgomeryville
The Bates TB Motel (planted by Luminista) - a traditional cache
in Chalfont
Pirate's Pot Luck (planted by Luminista) - a micro cache in
Lansdale
Crew Status
Below are the current stats of various members of the
crew who geocache. These are updated every time a member finds or
hides a new cache.
Brahm's Stats:
Luminista's Stats:
Harth's Stats:
Catherine's Stats:
Click here to see photos from some of our geocaching adventures.
