Last article referred to the elements of getting started in geocaching with buying a GPS unit and setting up an account on Geocaching. com. Let’s delve into downloading a coordinate that will guarantee you a successful first hunt.
1. Looking at your ‘map it’ Google maps on your profile on Geocaching.com, you should see a few green boxes, or locations of caches, in your neighborhood. If there are none showing, use the zoom out button until you locate a few.
2. Click once on a green box (not yellow boxes, question mark, ghost, etc.) that is close to your home. This will open up a bubble with some information regarding this cache. Right now, what is important is the cache size. Find a cache near to you that is NOT the smallest size. The second most important things to consider are the terrain and the difficulty level. Try and aim for one or two stars in both categories.
3. Click on the cache name you’ve selected to open it in another window. Make sure you are logged in to Geocaching.com or else you will not be able to see the cache coordinates. Download the coordinates to your GPS unit as your owner’s manual instructs.
4. Before you rush out the door to discover your treasure, make sure you check the cache logs at the bottom of your chosen cache page. This will inform you if other cachers have found this cache recently or if the cache is missing or under repair. If the last three people had DNF’s (did not find), you may want to try downloading another cache.
5. Once last thing to consider is the hint (if applicable. Some caches do not have hints). It is recommended that you decipher the hint for your first few times out, just until you get a feel for where to look (Lot of rocks to investigate in Calgary!). Click the decipher button to the right of the clue and record. School-age children enjoy deciphering the code if you print out the page.
Subscribe or stay tuned for “How to Find Your First Geocache, Part III,” the final installment. Find out where to park, how to approach the geocache and how to log and hide your new found treasure!
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