Are there any Geo-Cachers in the forums? For those who aren't familiar, Geocaching is a sport, game, whatever, where you use your GPSr to find caches hidden by other users. It's good practice for you and your GPSr and incorporates excersize for your body and your mind. www.geocaching.com We go under the name "Team Geo-Yontz"

yeah and if you are in CA area tad gear hides their gift certificates and you can geocatch for prizes...

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Matt

I've found a few, and also couldn't find one. It's a good excuse to go for a hike. For survival skills, it might be more valuable to do it without a GPS, and just use a topo map and compass. If I do it more, I'm going to train my dog to help sniff it out. I'm sure with a little practice, she'll figure out the game and will detect the scent trail of other visitors and go right to it.

That would be cool. I am below you on the East Coast though! Diablo, the one who makes walking staffs (staves?) has been known to place certificates for a free staff in a cache here and there. I haven't found any really awesome "prizes" yet. I do it mainly for the hunt. My daughter loves the trade though.

You mean having my GPSr and a backpack full of batteries isn't good enough survival practice???? <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I'm not saying I've done it without a GPSr. I'm just suggesting it might be a good exercise in orienteering, which is a good skill to have when you run out of batteries, or want to preserve your batteries when you have to hike out of trouble. I'm not sure if the topo map will get you close enough though.

I started this winter. We have to use a map, a compass and The Force to find some caches too. Many caches are in wooded areas were you have difficulties to get any reception at all. We have a monthly meeting for the regional adicts. It tought me a lot about the use and limitations of the GPSr. Apart from that it´s great fun and an easy way to find beautiful and interesting places. In some cities geocachers create a sightseeing tour. A fellow cacher tried one and found it much better than tourist guides.

I had a prize hidden inside the statue once and police came running up thinking I'm planting a bomb but the officers were cool about it. It was a 8 foot statue that had an empty 2 inch pipe running thru it as a support. Since it was elevated you could reach underneath and just grab a film container that was inside the pipe. It only had few marbles and a sign up sheet so when cops saw it they just laughed. But it is addictive and fun.

Matt

The topo maps are frequently not accurate enough. Features like streets and streams are usually out of proportion. It could be a good practice to go by the topo as close as possible and then use the GPSr when you think you´re there.

I received one of El Diablos hiking staffs as a prize for finding my 100th cache, customized with my geo-name(JoeyBob), date, and name of the cache. He also made one for my oldest son. Great work, I highly recommend his work.
I recently found #200, definitely a low profile cacher!