What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for GPS users. Participating in a cache hunt is a good way to take advantage of the wonderful features and capability of a gps unit. Individuals set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet using the geocaching.com web site. GPS users can then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they get something they should try to leave something for the cache.
How do you pronounce Geocaching?
You pronounce it Geo-cashing, like cashing a check.
Read "The Evening Sun" article about Geocaching which features Zinnware
Random House Newsletter Article
Carroll County Times Article
What is a GPS device?
A GPS unit is a electronic device that can determine your approximate location (within around 6-20 feet) on the planet. Coordinates are normally given in Longitude and Latitude. You can use the unit to navigate from your current location to another location. Some units like the one I use (Garmin eTrex Vista with Map Source Topo Software shown to the left.) have their own maps, built-in electronic compass, altimeter with profiles, navigation to destination pointer, and other utilities such as calculators, calendars and solar and lunar information. Some GPS units even have voice navigation like the Delorme Street Atlas Deluxe software I use on my lap top computer with the Delorme Earthmate GPS. Some GPS units even display your location on a 3D Topographical map like my Delorme Topo 3.0 software. I use my eTrex unit when I am hiking in the field. I use my Delorme software for car navigation and trip planning.
You don't need to know all the technical mumbo jumbo about GPS units to play Geocaching. All you need to do is be able to create a "waypoint" by entering the coordinates of the hidden cache into your GPS. The GPS or navigation software will help you get to the cache.
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