Geocaching

[Enigma]

It seems we have a new family hobby, as Becky and Cassy just tried it for the first time at a Sparks event.
Our first foray for one in the park behind us only found splinters in the tree it was supposed to be in.
Any pointers for us total newbs? This will be a great exercise to use the Garmin 60csx which has been quite unused, that and her android cell phone with whatever apps it has.
The cell seems to have the advantage with "live" updates, while the dedicated gps unit has to be plugged in and upload current info?

 

[AJAEbj42]

Before I head out camping, I simply download some geocaches to my Garmin for the area I'm in and go hunt for them while we're out. Kids love a treasure hunt! Bring some trinkets to exchange once you find the cache. You'll get the idea of what's typical. Downloading is pretty quick, about 10 seconds for each one counting mouse clicks.

There are probably some just around the block where you live!

Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site

 

[Enigma]

2/5 on some of the neighbourhood ones this afternoon.

 

[wussyPup]

Any pointers for us total newbs?

Jeff, I've been caching with my daughter for almost 8 years. I go through periods of addiction where I need to cache everyday, and periods of complete abandonment, but I always seem to come back to it...

Although there are a lot more people hiding and finding caches now, I find that that the quality of hides is declining. I suggest you start off by hunting caches that were hid several years ago, are medium sized or larger, have many finds (and few DNFs) and have been found recently by someone with few finds (like your girls).

Once you've found a few, you will get better at spotting the subtle signs that indicate a hidden cache; little geo-trails that lead only a few metres off a main trail towards an old stump or log; small piles of bark/branches/rocks that don't "quite belong".

Cacheing is a lot of fun and will take you to many beautiful places that you might otherwise miss.

-Steve
(BoosPeople on Geocaching - The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site)

 

[steverb]

i have 2 out there that are nice finds. my user name on geocaching steve 69