Well, I'm sitting here very early on a Sunday morning waiting for my DW to get up so I thought I'd be creative. Here are some things to help you if you decide to take up our geocaching hobby:
1) Before choosing a cache to find, check the
Difficulty and Terrain ratings. This is a 5-star rating system with 1-star being the easiest and 5-stars the most difficult. Newbies probably don't want to attempt anything with a Difficulty rating above 2 or 3. The Terrain rating depends on your physical condition and mental attitude about long or hard hikes, climbs, etc.
2) Check the
size of the cache. Micro caches can be difficult to find, especially when first starting out.
3) A
Micro Cache can be very small and may be very difficult to find. Some of these have driven cachers crazy in our area! They can be so small that they may hold nothing more than a very small slip of paper as a log sheet. Bring your own pencil or pen to sign the sheet! They can be magnetic key holders; little cylinders hidden in hollowed out pinecones; fake rocks; tiny containers dangling from fishing line; and other devious type things. They are also used as "clues" for Multi Caches. Clue caches may not be "containers" at all, but things like flat metal markers; tags on posts; etc.
4) A
Regular Cache is a container that is large enough to hold a log of some type, a pen or pencil, and small "swag" (trade items)
at a minimum. They can be 4"x4" Tupperware type containers or larger; ammo boxes; or any other type of weatherproof container that can be disguised somehow. As I mentioned in an earlier post, we have found an ammo box that could have held a half-dozen volley balls! As you cache, your "geosenses" will improve. Soon, you will start to recognize the small "paths" that lead up to caches; the pile of rocks near the tree; the hollow knots of trees; etc. Look for the obvious and the not so obvious. If something seems "out of place", it probably is.
5)
Multi Caches are caches with more than one "stage". Some have as few as 2 stages while others may have 5 or more. The stages leading up to the final cache container are usually small and hold the coordinates for the next stage. Remember: clue caches may not necessarily be a "container" but could be something like a rock with coords written on it with a permanent marker.
6)
Virtual Caches, depicted by a small, smiling ghost figure, are not containers at all. Instead, they are objects of interest that are permanently in place, such as a statue of a famous person. There are several at WDW. To log them, you usually have to email an answer/answers to a question/questions to the "owner". Some require a photo of you near the cache site.
7)
Swag is a term used for trade items. When a cacher finds a cache, he/she signs the log and is allowed to trade swag one-for-one. It isn't considered proper etiquette to take something without leaving something, although you won't be punished for doing so.
Most swag amounts to Dollar Store type trinkets although First To Find prizes can be more elaborate. Many cachers have a "signature item" that they leave in caches they find, such as buttons, awareness bracelets, carabiners, etc.
8) A
First To Find (FTF) is something some cachers really cherish. This means they were the first to find a new cache. It can sometimes mean getting up at 3:00 am and heading out into the woods! We have a local cacher with over 250 FTF's! Some caches contain a "special prize" for the FTF, such as a lotto ticket.
9) A
Travel Bug is an item that travels from cache to cache. They can be purchased on the geocaching site. A TB consists of a metal "dogtag" with a unique serial number and a small piece of chain, like a keychain. The owner attaches an object of choice to the TB, gives it a name, and logs it in on the geocaching TB site. He/she then places it in a cache. Other cachers then take the TB's out of the caches and move them to another cache. Their movements can be tracked on the geocaching site. Some TB's travel around the country or even the world! We currently have one in Texas and one in Oregon. There are even special caches out there called Travel Bug Hotels that are meant especially for TB's. We have one here that looks like a doll house, with furniture and everything. When we found it, Mickey Mouse himself had stopped for a visit. The cacher who was with us took MM and has probably moved him along by now.
10)
Muggles are people near a cache site who are not cachers. It is best to be discrete while caching. That does not mean you can't explain the game to a passerby who may see you and ask what you are doing. However, there are those out there who may want to ruin the game by taking the cache after you leave the area, for whatever reason.
I guess that covers the basics. I hope this helps you understand what our hobby is about. Caches can be hidden in parking lots of places like WalMarts; in city, county and state parks (NOT National Parks); and other public access areas. My DW and I prefer the ones hidden in the woods as opposed to the parking lot caches but that's personal preference. If you have any other questions, post them and we'll try to help you out.
Have fun and good caching!
Ok can someone explain this to me? My husband tried, and well my husbands idea of stories is to forget the beginning or the end, soooo I am not following what this geo cahce thing is? Anyone...anyone
You can find a decent GPS for about $100. I found one for $99 at Bass Pro Shops and am very pleased with it.
