Geocaching
Geocaching is an outdoor sport that involves the use of a Global Positioning System ("GPS") receiver to find a "geocache" (or "cache") placed anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small, waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure". Geocaching is a unique take on a traditional Easter-egg hunt in that it uses two recent technologies, the GPS and the Internet.
The sport of Geocaching was made possible by the "turning off" of the Selective Availability of the Global Positioning System on May 1, 2000. The first documented placement of a cache with GPS assistance took place on May 3, 2000 by Dave Ulmer. The location was posted on the usenet newsgroup sci.geo.satellite-nav. By May 6, 2000 it had been found twice and logged once.
Geocaching is growing rapidly in popularity all over the world. As of August 21, 2004 there were 116,015 active caches in 210 countries posted on .
Geocacher is the term used for those who participate in geocaching.
Geocaches
[[Image:Geocache.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Geocache in The Netherlands]]
For the traditional geocache, a geocacher will place a waterproof container, containing a log book (with pen or pencil) and treasures, then note the cache coordinates. These coordinates, along with other details of the location are posted online. Other geocachers obtain the coordinates from the Internet and, using handheld GPS receivers, seek out the cache. The finding geocachers record their exploits in a logbook contained therein. Geocachers are free to take objects from the cache, in exchange for leaving something of similar value, so there's always "treasure" for the next person to find.
Typical cache treasures aren't especially high in intrinsic value, but often make interesting souvenirs. Aside from the Logbook, common cache contents are:
- Two Dollar Bills or other unusual coins or currency
- Small children's toys
- Ornamental buttons
- CD's or Books
- "Travel Bugs" - objects moved from cache to cache, and whose travels are logged online
There are several variations on the "traditional" geocache.
- Mini-cache: too small to hold anything more than a log book.
- Multi-cache: requires a visit to one or more intermediate points to determine the coordinates of the actual cache
- Mystery/puzzle cache: requires the seeker to solve a puzzle to find the actual cache
- Event cache: a meeting for geocachers, found by date, hour and coordinates
- Webcam: a location to take your picture with somebody else's camera
- Virtual: a location to visit simply for what is already there
- Letterbox: contains a stamp for you to stamp your own log book
Geocaching A Sport?
Some people, including geocachers themselves, don't know whether to categorize geocaching as a sport, hunt, game, activity or simply a reason to get out of the house. Some geocaches are easy enough to be called , so can it really be called a "sport"? But others are very difficult to get to like those , , , Antarctic continent or Arctic Circle.
The sport of Geocaching is ultimately a competition against yourself. For many cachers the hunt is its own reward. However friendly rivalries will arise prompting cachers to attempt to find more caches (or travel bugs) than one's "opponent(s)". There is even a certain thrill to be the first to find a newly posted cache.
Geocaching and Where's George
The use of dollar bills stamped with the Where's George URL in geocaching has resulted in a conflict of interest. Where's George intends to track the natural flow of money, which geocaching is not representative of. Therefore the Where's George site currently discourages the tracking of bills used in geocaches.
