What the F*ck is Geocaching?

What the F*CK!? | Astar | October 1, 2009 at 10:44 am

Ever sit around discussing life, love and geo-caching? We didn’t think so. Maybe you would if you knew what great fun it is! Geo-caching is basically a techy game of hide and seek that uses the world (instead of your mom’s broom closet) for the hide part and a GPS system for the seek part. From its simple beginnings in May, 2000, where caches were a tupperware-like container which contained a logbook with the cache’s history, this game has evolved into a form of expression that aims to promote the sharing of traveling experiences between those who participate.

The Hide Part:

A ‘cache’ is the nerdy-term equivalent of any object (notes, pictures, digital media, etc.) They could have just said objects, but how much more sophisticated does ‘cache’ sound? To better understand the concept of a cache, think back to elementary school when you made that time capsule. Now instead of filling it with items that showcase the human race for future-dwellers to stumble upon, the caches include items specific to people’s travel experiences. Certain terminology has been created to build twists and turns to this game. Currently, a typical cache would include:

Geocoin: a coin that is created and minted by geocachers. It is given a tracking code and hidden within the cache. Since everything found and hidden is logged on the official geocaching website, when finding a geocoin during an expedition, participants can either consult with its creator directly through e-mail or by looking at the geocoin’s personal homepage to help fulfill its purpose or end destination.
Travel Bug : a metal tag engraved with a bug and a tracking number that is attached to some other item in a cache. The finder of the bug then attaches it to an item in their own cache. It becomes a tool that links various caches together throughout the world.
Bulk : The remainder of items placed in the cache depends completely on personal taste and may include children’s toys, a disposable camera, a note explaining in several languages what the cache exactly is and photographs of places the hider wants the seeker to visit. A cache could contain just about anything. While you are not likely to find that bag of money you’ve always wanted, you will find an interesting artifact of someone’s life that you can become a part of and pass on for others to find.

The Seek Part:

The finding of a cache is achieved through the use of advanced GPS devices. Each cache’s specific coordinates are logged and seekers can check the website for caches placed in their surrounding areas. Sometimes geocachers get really crafty and create puzzles for the seeker to solve before obtaining the coordinates of their cache. Often clues to the solution of the puzzle are found through some research and logical reasoning (sounds like high school teachers figured out a way to make your life more complicated post-graduation).

Another approach is called the â€œLetterbox Hybrid where caches are part of a series. Here, you find a cache that reveals a clue which leads you to another cache, then through a series until you reach the final one. Think of those cheesy Valentine’s Day scavenger hunts guys set up for girls that begin with a note, lead them through a search around the house that end with a trail of flower petals leading up to the bed. This method is a form of delayed gratification, but if that’s your idea of fun, get your search on and don’t let us stop you.

When hiding your boxes of wonder and amazement, please note that some spots are forbidden. For example, hiding tupperware filled with pictures of Greece on active train tracks could turn into a less-than-fun situation. Make sure to check the official guidelines before you get started.

While hiding and searching for random materials may seem silly at first, geocachers are very passionate about their hobby (so passionate that they call it a sport), and are finding more and more enthusiasts around the world. Geocaching meetings and events are currently listed in areas ranging from Iowa to the Czech Republic. Hide and seek has always been exciting because of the mystery element. Remember how not knowing who you will find and where you will find them got your heart pumping? Geocaching thrives on that emotion and builds on it by adding a more contemplative traveling element.

So close your eyes, count to ten, get yourself a GPS system, embrace your inner technology nerd and set out on your own geo-caching adventure. It could be an international experience you’ll never forget.

Written By: Anna Starostinetskaya

With Contributions By: Rebecca Jablonsky

Astar

Head Writer/Editor-in-Chief of Off Track Planet. Pescatarians are not just cheating vegetarians; we're our own breed and the extra protein makes us more feisty! Rawr