GEO-CACHING How To's & Terminology

This section will be very usefull to novices & perhaps even seasoned Geo-caching enthusiasts! We thank our Esteemed Researcher (unpaid help is always esteemed :-), Peter's Wife Karen for the hard work she has done in compiling this information. First we will start with some terminology.

Cache Types

This is the original cache type consisting, at a bare minimum, a container and a log book. Normally you’ll find a Tupperware container, ammo box, or bucket filled with goodies, or smaller container ("micro cache") too small to contain items except for a log book. The coordinates listed on the traditional cache page is the exact location for the cache.

The general rule of thumb is, "If you take an item, leave an item, and write in the logbook." Some caches are themed, o make sure to read the description before going on a hunt.

A Multi-Cache ("multiple") involves two or more locations, the final location being a physical container. There are many variations, but most multi-caches have a hint to find the second cache, and the second cache has hints to the third, and so on. An offset cache (where you go to a location and get hints to the actual cache) is considered a multi-cache.

A virtual cache is a cache that exists in a form of a location. Depending on the cache "hider," a virtual cache could be to answer a question about a location, an interesting spot, a task, etc. The reward for these cashes is the location itself and sharing information about your visit.

Because of the nature of these geocaches, you must actually visit the location and acquire the coordinates there before you can post. In addition, although many locations are interesting, a virtual cache should be out of the ordinary enough to warrant logging a visit.

A letterbox is another form of treasure hunting using clues instead of coordinates. In some cases, however, a letter box has coordinates, and the owner has made it a letterbox and a geocache. To read more about letterboxing, visit the Letterboxing North America web site www.letterboxing.org

Occasionally, local geocachers and geocaching organizations designate a time and location to meet and discuss geocaching. After the event, the cashes are archived.

These are caches that use existing web cameras placed by individuals or agencies that monitor various areas like parks or road conditions. The idea is to get yourself in front of the camera to log your visit. The challenging part, however, it that you need to call a friend to look up the web site that displays the camera shot. You will need to have them to save the picture to log the cache. If you’re a tech-head you could use your wireless modem and save the image yourself on your laptop.

The "catch-all" of cache types, this form of cache can involve complicated puzzles you will first need to solve to determine the coordinates. The only commonality of this cache type is that the coordinates listed are not of the actual cache location but a general reference point, such as a nearby parking location. Due to the increasing creativity of geocaching this becomes the staging ground for new and unique challenges.

Friends before heading out on a Great Geo-Caching Adventure, get yourself a nice cup of either Hot or Iced coffee from the nice folks below! Their product is truly exceptional and dito for the service!

This next section will deal with TRAVEL BUGS. No they are not harmfull, you do not catch them while hunting for a cache, however do be carefull with the water of the locale you may be in LOL. Travel Bugs are something that will create a bit more of excitement during an adventure, the last cache that we went to a couple of days ago contained not 1 but 2 travel bugs, Karen was just beside herself in discovering those! One of which wanted to go to Arizona, where Peter & Karen reside (those guys are known as The RangeRiders in the Geo-caching community), this bug was a small tagged RED Jeep toy, it is racing against a Yellow Jeep, the goal is to get to Lake Havasu AZ first. Here, I'll let Karen give you the skinny on Travel Bugs, Karen if you please!

A Travel Bug is usually a dog tag that is attached to a "hitchhiker," or an item that travels from place to place. If you found a Travel Bug the first thing you need to do is "grab" it online so you can add your own story to its journey.

In order to log your find and "grab" the bug you first need to locate the Bug’s tracking number. The number is normally on the dog tag that is attached to the item, with exception of USA and Moun10bike geocoins which are tamped on the coins. Make sure to write this number down before dropping the item in another cache. You’ll need it to locate and "grab" the bug online.

Each Travel Bug has its own web page. To visit the page, either visit the cache listing where you found the cache, or visit the Travel bug home page and use the search tool in the upper right hand corner of the page. If you use the search tool, enter in the tracking number in the supplied box and click the search button to reach the Bug’s page.

Once you reach the Travel Bug listing, you will need to write a log to let the owner know you found it. By logging the find you are also "grabbing" the Travel Bug and putting it in your account’s online inventory. This will ultimately allow you to drop off the Travel Bug in another cache.

If the Travel Bug is listed as being in a cache, you will have two options, retrieving it from the cache or grabbing the Travel Bug. If you took it from the cache listed, use that option. Otherwise choose to grab the Travel Bug. Both logs require the tracking number, so keep the tracking number handy for the Bug you plan to log.

Once you have successfully grabbed or picked up the travel bug, it will remain in your online inventory until someone else grabs it from you and you place it in a cache.

This site will help you acquire gear such as clothing, footwear etc.. for your adventures.

Now that you got that Travel Bug, what the heck do you do with it? Karen, you're up again!

Once you log that you have either picked up a Travel Bug or grabbed it, you can drop it off into a cache. Like the real world, the cache listing acts as a virtual container allowing you to drop off a Travel Bug.

If the Travel bug has a goal, please try and follow the goal as best as you can. If the goal is to move the Travel bug to the west coast, don’t put the Travel Bug in a cache farther east.

Since you found a cache, you might as well kill two birds with one stone! Visit the cache listing for the cache you found and placed the Travel Bug.

If you already logged your find, don’t panic! You can still post another log note.

As you normally log a find, click on the link to log the cache. You will need to log in first.

After entering any text for your find, below the text box is a list of Travel Bugs in your inventory. You can either select one Travel Bug or hold down Ctrl on your keyboard and select all the bugs you want to drop off in the cache. Once you are ready, click the button to submit your log.

The Travel Bugs will transfer from your inventory to the online cache listing.

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This next section is devoted to the explanation of BENCHMARK HUNTING, I will admit that it took me a couple times of re-reading the article before I understood what it was about, but then I consider myself a simple man with simple brain LOL, Peter & Karen on the other hand are old hands with this technical stuff. However I felt that perhaps many of you would also enjoy getting this information. Professor Karen, if you please!

What is a benchmark? Beats the heck out of me! Ok' I'll sit down and be good!

Geodetic control points are permanently affixed objects at various locations all over the United States to enable land surveying, civil engineering and mapping to be done efficiently. These objects are usually metal disks, but can be any other object that serves as a control point.

There are two general types of these control points:

In the surveying profession, the term benchmark is applied only to the vertical control type, but for sake of discussion on the Geocaching website, both vertical and horizontal control points are commonly referred to as benchmarks.

These markers are part of the geodetic control network created and maintained by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS). The NGS maintains a database of these locations. In the database, each geodetic control marker has a PID (Permanent Identifier) number, and a datasheet of information about it. Although much of the descriptive (how to find it) data is outdated, the surviving markers remain vitally important to the conduct of our nation’s commerce.

The interesting thing about benchmarks and horizontal control points is that a majority of them are located in plain sight (though largely ignored by the general public). Searching out these locations and documenting them allows others to share pictures of the various areas where they are placed. There’s a certain excitement to be the first to find and document a control point, as well as seeing what others have found through photos on the website’s benchmark gallery. Some of these points haven’t been visited and documented as being still in existence in a very long time, so you may also be rediscovering long neglected objects of American history as well!

One essential and A MUST HAVE item in order to participate in this GREAT HOBBY, is a GPS UNIT. You can find them at many locations, at many prices. If you enjoy the convenience of shopping on line and get not only AWESOME PRODUCTS but also GREAT SERVICE,check out the link below, you WILL NOT be disappointed!

 These were taken on 4/16 & 4/17, when Peter & Karen came to visit us and took us on our very first Geo-Caching adventures, we had a BLAST!

        MOOSENOSE BROTHERS PALM SPRINGS CA 4/17/06

"The Groundspeak Geocaching Logo is a trademark of Groundspeak, Inc. Used with permission." Please make the "Groundspeak, Inc." part of the statement a link to our home page (http://www.groundspeak.com).

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