What is the small blue thingy dangling under the birdhouse?
It is a container for a geocache log. Players who discover the cache (pronounced CASH) enter their player name and the date on the log. Then the cache is rehidden and ready for the next searchers.
What is Geocaching? It is a high-tech treasure hunt. Using a smartphone, or a handheld GPS, participants can drive, bike, hike, or even swim, boat or climb to designated hiding places called caches. As well as signing the log, finds or DNFs (did not find) are also logged on the internet. Many larger caches include trinkets known as “swag.” Caches may be film canisters, Altoids tins, Tupperware, or even cleverly repurposed items such as rocks or pinecones. Others are virtual, where the Cache Qwner (CO) just wants to share a special place. Still others are Travel Bugs – items trying to make their way to a designated location.
All age groups have enjoyed geocaching since its inception 20 years ago. On May 1, 2000, President Bill Clinton ordered GPS signals be made available to the public. On May 3, Dave Ulmer, a software engineer from Portland Oregon, hid a 5-gallon bucket with a logbook and trinkets and posted the coordinates on the internet. Less than 5 days later, caches were hidden across the U.S. and as far away as Australia. Today, there are more than 3 million caches in 191 countries on all 7 continents, even Antarctica. More than 642 million caches have been logged since the game began. The popular website www.geocaching.com lists over 18 caches in Rio Vista alone.
Geocaching is fun for the entire family and is a pandemic safe activity. It gives everyone a chance to ‘get out of the house’ for a while. Cachers enjoy venturing to new locations and discovering new sights, while getting fresh air and exercise.
Caches come in all shapes, sizes, and hiding places. When a new cache is placed, information including location coordinates, difficulty and terrain rated from 1 (easy) to 5 (difficult), a description, and usually even a cryptic hint are posted on websites like geocaching.com and apps such as C:geo. You can also find comments posted by previous finders that are often helpful in your search.
If you would like to join the millions who enjoy Geocaching and finding hidden treasure, here are a few ideas to get you started …
- Go to a Geocache listing site and sign upfor their FREE account. Try one of these: Geocaching.com or Opencaching.us.
- Search for Geocaches by area, postal code, address, etc.
- Start with a Geocache that has a difficulty 1 to 1.5, terrain 1 to 1.5, and is a regular size. Also, look at the logs to make sure the cache is currently active.
- Use your GPS device or smartphone to guide you to the hidden container.
- Sign and date the log using the player name you chose when you signed up for your account.
- Re-hide the container where you found it.
- Log the cache on the Geocaching website and include your comments.
An excellent website and geocaching information resource is www.geocacherscompass.com/how-to-geocache. The site includes ‘how to’ videos, FAQ posts by other geocachers, and much more.