What is Geocaching?

Technology has helped us to develop many new pastimes or even innovate on the older ones. People have different hobbies these days that range from trekking, picnics and even treasure hunting. Though old time treasures of gold and silver may be a tough bet, if you love hunting for treasures, then you can try the modern version of treasure hunt called geocaching.

What is geocaching? To put it simply, it's a new way to have old adventures! It is actually hunting for treasure with the aid of technology. The treasure can be anywhere and on any corner of the earth. All that geocachers really have are the coordinates of the treasure and a handheld GPS unit along with a taste for adventure. They need to find this cache with the help of their GPS device.

Any one on the internet can hide a cache in any part of the globe. Then these people post the coordinates of the location of the cache on the internet. Therefore in order to find this cache or "to geocache" a GPS or a Global Positioning System receiver is needed.

With the help of GPS, you can get to know where you are exactly on any given point in time regardless of the weather or the terrain. This position mapping is done with the help of about 24 satellites that are situated at a height of about 11,000 miles from the Earth's surface. The signals transmitted by these satellites can be received and interpreted with the help of a GPS receiver.

Besides knowing your exact location, you can also find the geocache. You can choose from a number of models when it comes to GPS receivers depending on your budget and requirement.

Geocaches are located at about 100,000 positions in 200 different countries of the world! Sounds amazing doesn't it? The person hiding the cache submits the coordinates to the website (www.geocaching.com), which can be accessed by everyone. All you need to do is to feed the coordinates into your GPS device and then get going.

If you are a newbie, then this might sound pretty simple to you. However, appearances are deceptive. You may have the coordinates and your GPS device. But do you know the terrain or the weather of the place? Sometimes caches are hidden places like a crocodile infested river (sounds scary, doesn't it?) or a tall mountain that doesn't have a road. So that's where the challenge lies.

You need to use your brains and brawn to get to the treasure. As you start locating more and more caches, your understanding of the game will increase manifold. The rules are simple. Once you find the cache, you need to record your visit in the logbook with the cache.

If you like something from the cache and want to take it, then you need to replace it with something else. You can even try placing a cache at the locations of your own choice and then challenge the other geocachers by posting the coordinates on the website.

So what is Geocaching? Geocaching is an amazing activity since it not only challenges you physically but also tests your strength and mental powers!

Top--->What is Geocaching?

Back to Geocaching

Home--->GPS Navigators