Recently in another thread about hobbies someone mentioned Geocaching. I was like WTF is Geocaching. Apparently it is a type of hobby I guess where people with GPS devices look for hidden things. Sounds simple enough but I bet geocaching in AZ or some such state with lots of land to cover would be quite hard. Anyway, it looks really fun, but I have a couple questions.
I got this not too long ago as a gift and love it, but see no real use for it. I do a lot of fishing but I could never really get lost.
Mrs.Phlosphr thought I would like it alot, and I do, especially now that I found geocaching…
So for you geocachers. Will my gps work for geocaching?
What else do I need? Do I need to invest hundreds in topo-maps?
All you need is that GPS, and suitable clothing depending on where the cache is located. Go to www.geocaching.com if you haven’t already, that’s where most of the geocachers log their caches.
When I go looking for one, I bring some small trinket to leave in the cache, maybe some ziploc bags in case water has gotten in the cache, and I print off the cache page in case the cache is harder to find than I thought.
Benchmark hunting is fun too, check it out while you’re there.
No way I have a benchmark on my property. I wonder if people will be tramp’in through my woods? Not that I mind really there’s a lot of it back there. I tried to get it up once with my rock hammer and it didn’t work.
That unit can accept downloaded maps from Garmin’s MapSource software. That might be a handy addition to have. I have both the “Roads & Recreation” and “Topographical” CD sets and they can be handy.
Another great hobby that uses compass, orienteering and home-made stamps is letterboxing: www.letterboxing.org
Basically, you follow clues to a hidden box, which contains a unique stamp that you enter into your book, then you stamp a book that is contained in the letterbox and replace it. Lot’s o’ geeky fun
It sounds like the game that hams (amateur radio enthusiasts) play where someone hides a radio transmitter and the others have to find it. Maybe this has a name too…
I used to go foxhunting years and years ago. It was geeky but cool. You have no idea the sort of looks you get from normal people who see a bunch of geeks with small directional antenna and headphones chasing through the outskirts of Melbourne, trying to find a radio transmitter.
Foxhunting and geocaching are very different things (though similar in that finding a hidden “something” is the basis of the activity.
My sis & bro do a lot of geocaching. All you need is a decent GPS and access to the geocaching.com site. Look for sites in your area.
For foxhunting (amateur radio type), you have to have a directional antenna setup to locate the transmitter. This could have practical applications, like most ham radio functions (i.e., locating an illegal station, etc.)
I know it is illegal, I did not really try my hardest to get it off. I was just having a little fun, and I did not touch the disk itself. So don’t think it is FUBAR or anything like that. I naild the rock next to it a couple times thats all.
Side note, how are benchmarks secured?? Any one know.
And from looking at sunstones website - very nice by the way - it appears there is already a cache on or near my property. I have close to a hundred acres and a good 50 of it abuts a state park. I’m going to go find it this weekend with Mrs.Phlosphr. We have been looking for another fun thing to do…
You also know that they measure change in elevation with those right? You could cause some real problems , they may think that something drastic happened to the earth right there with you moving it that whold 0.001"! I should walk over to the next building where the UGS is and tell on you! I think they are secured by cement, though I have never tried myself to take one apart.
They can do all that?? Maybe we are talking about something else. What I am talking about is a little 3 inch diameter disk secured to a large stone. It appears to be made of copper but not sure??
Amazing the stuff you find out from this place. I just looked on geocaching.com and found two geocaches just yards from my flat. One’s at a 16th Century pub, the other in St Etheldreda’s church.
I also learned I can see the largest stained glass window in London from my bedroom. They need to clean it more often.
Well I was kind of joking about the 0.001", I really don’t know but I think it’s either 0.1" or 0.01" so yes they can do that. Surveyors use them to benchmark their plans. It’s been a long time since I took surveying so I can’t remember. And yes it’s the same thing, I think there was a thread a year ago about them and had a lot more info there. I can’t seem to find it now though.
I think they are secured by cement, though I have never tried myself to take one apart.