I have LCARS to thank for this!!

So what did you find in the cache?

So if you don't get what's in the cache why bother looking? I mean the idea is just to find it and leave it, what's the point? Do you sign something to show you been there? Do you take something out and put something back in?

Yes, our game seems odd to most "muggles" but when you start doing it yourself, you find the real fun is mostly in the hunt. Also, hiding one & seeing who finds it is neat too.

You must sign the log book when you find it in order to claim it as found & so prove to others that you were actually there. The idea is also to take something tangible away from your experience and also leave something tangible of yours to signify your visit for future finders. It's sortof like a time capsule in that respect. The only real rule of trading is "Trade across or up to the ache" (IOW, don't take a brand new $30 item & leave a crappy $1 item.)

Not everyone is into the trading aspect of it so they "TNLNSL" (Took Nothing Left Nothing Signed Log) some just like to leave a signature item in caches they find as a sort-of calling card. Over time, the quality of items in a cache tends to decline so the rule is to trade even or trade up to the cache so it stays interesting for others. Why, just the other day, I found a cool gooseneck LED lamp in a cache that plugs into the USB port on your computer to light up your keyboard when your up late at night typing posts on the RTH forums.

My latest signature items are tumble polished mugglestone freeforms. They have become quite pouplar with the local cachers here on the island! I sold out within 15 minutes at both geocaching events I have attended since I got my first batch out of poilish. I now have a small cult following of would-be rock hounds who cache in my footsteps to collect the little treasures I leave behind. I enjoy reading their log entries about how excited they were to find one of my "magical muggle repelling stones", or a small slice of polished agate (that I get 2 for $3)


"Muggles" BTW, are all the "non-magical" (non-caching) people you must avoid while caching. You have to be on the lookout for anyone who may see you when you are hiding or finding a cache so they do not discover it. Muggles can be a nuissance to geocachers especially when caches are hidden in an urban setting or near a busy trail. A muggle attack can be a very awkward situation since you look very suspicious poking around in certain places and you're forced to explain what you're doing, which usually makes them more suspicious of you...

The only real way to find out of your'e a cacher is to get/borrow a GPS and give it a go for yourself.

If you give me your zip code or even better, the nearest street intersection of where you live, I will be able to tell you how many caches are within, say, five miles of your house...

Thanks LCARS for the suggestions on equipment and other advice. The 60csx looks a bit pricey for me, but the GPSMAP 60 is in my price range, or your Legend c.

The cache we found had animals in it such as small beanie babies and other plastic animals. Being our first time, I wasn't sure what to expect so we didn't take anything or leave anything. Polished rocks sound like a good thing to leave - I'll keep that in mind. I, of course, did sign the logbook.

This cache was in a city park and the hunt actually turned out to be just a hike in the woods, maybe about 0.6 mile one way. I suppose we could have followed the trails but we just went in as a straight of a line as possible through the woods. We got quite close to a deer that we didn't know was there until it bolted. When we got to within 40 feet of the cache, we noticed a young couple with a small child in a stroller. We hung back a bit waiting for them to move on, but they asked if we were looking for anything. I asked if they knew what geocaching is. It turned out they were doing the same thing and had just found the cache! Take note: You don't have to do this in rugged terrain - here was a couple with a kid in a stroller hunting for the cache! The cache was about 100 ft off the closest trail.

LCARS, when I have questions you will be the one I ask. Thanks for the offer. Only one question now: When you get to withing 20 feet or so, the GPS is no longer useful and you then just have to look around for the cache, correct?

Cher, there are 12 caches within 6 miles of that intersection.

Nine of those have difficulty & terrain ratings of 2.5/5 or less.

Oh ya, I forgot to mention FTF prizes!

Some cachers put a prize in the cache when they first hide it for the "First To Find" (& sometimes 2nd & 3rd...)

When a new cache is first listed it usually spawns a small rush of cache hunters trying to get there for the coveted FTF honor.

I too enjoy geocaching w/ the kids. We don't seem to get out much though. Now that school, baseball, soccer, gymnastics, dance is over, it's time to get back after it. Rainey has a geo she put together and keeps bugging me to help her hide it. We have a vacant lot in our area that we plan to put it in.

We also found some geo's down near Bryce Canyon Ntl Park this weekend. The kids love them. It's fun to geocache because the kids are always looking for rocks on the way to the cache!!!! Kinda the best of both worlds.

gaeteroo

LCARS-

You're welcome here anytime. Speaking of Geo's....time is a little more available now, when is the next contest and are you still looking for new teammates?? PM me if there's anything coming up.

gaetz

Just to prove that there is some overlap between geocaching & rock hounding check out this "Earthcache" I logged recently...

www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4559a06f-457d-4fd0-8a2b-3090facac0c9

It's an ancient fossil bed not too far from where I live at a place called Muir Creek. The GPS lands you right in the middle of it! Check out my log entry for June 3rd (BTW, i'm "Mushroom Doom" & my GF is "Ahhh Snake").

There are some cool photos of the fossils you can check out.
(I even collected a few "samples" for myself).

Well, no harm really, since they're lying in the intertidal waters and are constantly being eroded by the ocean anyways. Collecting isn't even prohibited there.
The way I see it, if I don't take some, mother nature will reclaim them all right?

The hard part was actually getting something out intact!
It's really well compacted sandstone so it takes a real good whack to break but a bit too hard and it just crumbles.

I got one really sweet piece & a few not so interesting fragments but when I go back next time I will try again. You have to be quick here because it's only easy to access at low tide for a few hours but we missed the lowest tide by about an hour so it was constantly coming in while we were there. We had to leave when my GF started to get paranoid we'd have to swim home. ;D