GPS - Geocaching.
What is
Geocaching?
Basically, geocaching is a high-tech version of
hide-and-seek. Geocachers seek out hidden treasures utilizing GPS coordinates
posted on the Internet by those hiding the cache. Using a GPS unit, they then
trek out into the backwoods or urban jungles to find the hiding spot of the
cache. Once discovered, geocachers follow a simple set of rules: Fill out the
logbook, take something out, put something back in, and return the cache to the
exact position and condition in which it was found. It can be as simple as
walking to an open area at a local park or as difficult as searching for
multiple locations to find the final prize. Some caches have even been planted
on mountainsides or underwater! And it's growing and evolving as a new gaming
activity every day.
How GPS works & Who is behind
it ... Look here.
How do I
start?
You will need a GPS unit to help you find or mark cache
locations and Internet access for finding or sharing the coordinates. Finger
Technology offer an impressive array of products for geocachers. Check out our
quick reference guide to find out which products will aid you most. Several
geocaching websites and club sites have sprouted on the Internet. To find a
hidden cache near you or to plant a cache, you should start with
www.geocaching.com -- the first to
bring geocaching to the masses and the most comprehensive site for this
adventure-game.
Finger Technology stocks handheld GPS receivers by Garmin,
NAVMAN & Pretec.
We have simple guides here to help
you in finding your first Cache and
/ or hiding your first
Cache.
Who's doing
it?
Geocaching has grown into a worldwide gaming activity and
global community. Young and old are getting involved. Families, gaming clubs,
civic organizations and school groups are heading outdoors in search of hidden
treasure. Finger Technology even uses geocaching as a training activity to
teach its support staff how to use our extensive line of GPS products! To date
we have all enjoyed these "Training" sessions.
A little
history about Geocaching
The sport of Geocaching is a true game
of the 21st century. Geocaching is a fast growing game that can be enjoyed by
all the family both young & old.
When the GPS signal degradation called
Select Availabilty (SA) was removed by the Clinton Administration on the 01st.
May 2000, it opened up the possibility of games like this one.
On May 03rd.
2000, a container of goodies was hidden by Dave Ulmer outside of Portland,
Oregon, USA - in celebration of the removing of Selective Availability. It's
location was published on the internet. By 06th. May 2000 the cache was visited
twice, and logged in the logbook once. Mike Teague was the first to find the
container.
We have set out below some current statistics on the progress
of geocaching since that date.
| Number of caches hidden (As at "Date").
|
04th August 2005 |
| Number of active caches hidden worldwide
in total. |
188507 |
| Hidden in (Number of countries).
|
216 |
| Number of caches hidden in the UK (Number
of caches). |
7085 and growing daily !! |
| Number of logged successful cache "Finds"
in the last 7 days. |
138438 |
A short
Glossary of Terms used in
Geocaching.
Do you want a little advice about
which GPS receiver to buy to help
you find that burried "treasure"?
To discover how GPS works &
who is behind it just look here.
Geocaching Accessories are
available.
Read on to
get more fun out of your GPS receiver.
"www.geocaching.com" |
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