Now that you have your GPS downloaded with your optimal first coordinate, you’re ready to start searching! Let’s find and record your first geocache:
1. If you are driving, take note of where to park before you leave. This may be located in the ‘driving directions’ in your cache’s information page, or by noting the cache location on your Google map. If you have a GPS for your car, inputting the coordinate will generally (but not always) help you.
2. Take a pencil and something small to trade, if you want to exchange items. Generally, the items in a geocache are small, piñata-type toys. Do not leave food items.
3. Once you arrive onsite of approximately where the cache is hidden, use your GPS unit to take you to the exact location according to your GPS owner’s manual. In Calgary, good advice is to stay on a path until you are within 10-15 metres of the object, if possible. Also, coming from the top-down is generally easier than approaching a cache from the bottom-up.
4. Now that you are in the right location, take note of the hint you deciphered earlier. It should help you find the container. If not, don’t be afraid to poke around bushes and look underneath deadfall. Try not to cause any unwanted attention. Chances are you’ve found your container! Look inside, put your name in the log book, exchange your items and replace everything EXACTLY as you found it (if not better than you found it). Do a victory fist-pump!
5. Return home and record your very first find on the cache’s page at Geocaching.com. Remember you need to be logged in to do so. Select ‘log your visit’ in the top, right-hand corner and then pick ‘found it’ from the scroll down list. Insert any comments and click ‘submit log entry’. Check your profile ‘map it’ page. There is a happy face where the green box used to be. Well done!
Now that you’ve found your very first cache, subscribe or stay tuned to improve your game. Happy hunting!
Comments