Geocaching!

[abm234]

Originally Posted by eranslow

We tried this last summer and couldn't find anything! Lol but I definitely think we'll try again this year. I bought the app from geocaching.com (I think?!) it has a compass in the app so it's all conveniently together


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Erin there are definitely some easy to find ones in our neck of the woods! We haven't gone yet this year but last year we found quite a few!

[eranslow]

Originally Posted by abm234

Erin there are definitely some easy to find ones in our neck of the woods! We haven't gone yet this year but last year we found quite a few!

Awesome!! We tried up in Wisconsin last summer and it was quite an experience

btw Amy - we really should try to meet up sometime!


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[rach3975]

We walked a trail this weekend and decided that next time we need to try geocaching. I think we're going to go in a couple of weeks.

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[mpatry]

We tried once but had no luck. I'm thinking we need to try again this Summer

[Jen22]

Originally Posted by MamaBee

So, it's our first 60 degree day since like September and I'm starting to think what we are going to do this summer... and also catching up on Switched at Birth on Netflix and they are talking about geocaching...

Now I know many of you have done this... so help! How do I get started? What do I need? Where/what kind of little trinkets do I get to put in the little boxes? Books.... apps...GPS... what do I need to know/get???

I'm totally hooked, lol. Actually grabbed 3 caches today. I still use the C:Geo app on my phone. I thought about getting an actual GPS, but honestly - I don't feel the need. Maybe just for battery time - being able to geocache ALL day instead of around 4 or 5 hours at most (until my phone dies). The app is free, so I didn't have to invest anything there.

I did upgrade to the premium membership last year on geocaching.com. Loved it because I could organize the list of caches based on when they were last found, the newest ones listed, etc. I find I'm more motivated to go find one when I can see the new ones listed or see what people are finding recently.

As for trinkets - just think small. A toy car, mcdonalds toy, a toy necklace, a pencil, key chain, a quarter or dime -- anything small and not expensive (these aren't very water tight often, and the elements can destroy stuff that inside). I usually head out with a back pack and a handful of items. And a pen - always need a pen lol.

It's so much fun - great exercise. Plus, you get to see some really neat sights & places that you might otherwise never know existed That's one of the rules of hiding them - to try and pick a place that has a unique story, means something to you, etc.

[Sarah8914]

We started letterboxing last summer and I love it! I haven't ever been geocaching, but I hear they are similar in idea and sometimes overlap.

With letterboxing, you have clues to find the box and in the box is a stamp and log book. You also bring a stamp and logbook. You use the stamp you find in your personal book and then use the stamp you brought in the log book you find. We had a great time as a family doing this last year!

[mpatry]

Well we've now got the geocaching bug! We went out yesterday with my brother who just learned about it and we found 7! One in a paid entry park that we went to (you walk down then back up the trail with viewing areas for 7 waterfalls! I won a free seasonal pass for our family.) Then when we got back home we went back out in our area and found another 6.

I love using c:geo, but my brother has an iphone - any iphone app suggestions besides the geocache.com one? And hubby used a compass app on his phone that helped alot, will have to ask him what it's called.

[Jenn Barrette]

We meant to get into this last year, but our summer just seemed so busy Going to make it a goal for this year.

[julifish]

Have any of you ever set up a cache? I think that part could be really fun. Any tips?

[lingovise]

I used to do Letterboxing in college... which is sort of like the artsy grandfather to geocaching. I really loved it!!

we just bought a motorhome, so we're looking to get our family started with GeoCach this summer as we'll be hitting loads of states parks and such. I'd love it if I could get by without a hand held GPS. do most of you use and like the C:Geo app??

any other tips for a newbie?

[KristinCB]

Originally Posted by lingovise

any other tips for a newbie?

You might get frustrated.. and swear a bit if the cache is hard to find.. so please make sure you film/record that for us to see!

[Jen22]

Originally Posted by lingovise

do most of you use and like the C:Geo app??

any other tips for a newbie?

All I use is the C:Geo app. The downsides -- it eats your cell battery up pretty fast. I think I can get 3ish hours without charging. If you want to spend a whole day caching, you'll need a way to charge it through out the day (so if you're driving around - you can charge during). If you plan on parking and just hiking to a bunch without driving - I'd have a back up battery or some way to charge it away from your car.

I notice when I get far away from civilization, I can lose GPS intermittently. I honestly have NO clue if an actual GPS will do better. From what a couple friends have told me - they have the same problems, so something tells me it would happen no matter what I use. You can store the cache for offline use with C:Geo, and that's been my trick. I'll store the info and that way I can head to it whether my GPS wants to work or not.

Also -- read the logged finds. They can hold hints sometimes. And they can also let you know if it hasn't been found recently. That way if you can't find it, then you won't get frustrated since other people can't find it either.

Take a pen. Take some tiny trade-able stuff. Take a flash light & tweezers if you happen to remember

That's all I got - novel done

[Stacey42]

You will lose your phone GPS signal regularly under tree cover. At least we do. I use the app and I like changing the map view to terrain so I can see the ground cover and not just a grey grid. That way if I lose contact with the GPS & can't tell how far away I am I can at least work out where I need to be from the terrain.

Take a multi tool with you. You will find it amazingly useful.

[adi&co.]

you guys are making me want to do this with my boys!!

[KristinCB]

totally do it adrienne! it's such a great family activity we didn't do any last year really but we will this year for sure

[Saar]

I heard so much fun and great stuff about geacaching. Hope to do it too someday! Sounds like a lot of fun.