Intro to Geocaching 5: The Hunt

by Nicki Bradley | More from this Blogger

03 Apr 2006 09:32 AM

Now that you have found a local cache to search out and prepared for the trip, you are ready to head on out.

You should be able to use your map or information from the cache clue to get you to the park, trail or general area of the hunt. Some cache clues provide specific details for parking so make sure you read the clue to see if there is a specific parking lot you should use.

Once you get to your parking spot, fire up your GPS unit, if you haven't already, and head on out. Continue to watch your GPS - it will tell you if you are going in the right direction and how much further you have to travel. GPS units are accurate only up to about 20 feet - some are more accurate than others. Weather and overhead trees can also play a role. So once you get in the general vicinity, give or take 20 feet, you should begin your search.

Sometimes you will find the cache very quickly. This is particularly true of clues that are rated as easy and of boxes that are large. There are only so many clever ways of hiding a large box in a public area! But you will be amazed at the ingenuity. For instance, we have found boxes that were molded into logs that had been carved out specifically to fit a large box and then pieced back together!

Some caches will be extremely difficult to find. We needed to make several trips to a few cache locations and ask others for more hints before we finally found a few! There are others that we have never found! We are pretty stubborn, though, and it often pays off. Think outside the box, be cleaver, and have patience. Don't forget to use your "spoiler" clues, if provided, before you give up!

Once you find the box, find a quiet place to open it that won't be easily viewed by passers-by. Kids can go ahead and trade items in the box for items they brought. A good rule of thumb is to always leave something more or better than what you take. This keeps the box stocked with "good stuff." While the kids are trading, take a look at the log book. It is fun to see how often the box has been visited. Often we find caches that were already visited just moments before, unbeknownst to us! Sign the book with your "team name" or whatever name you like, date it and list what you take from the box and what you leave. Any other comments are great, too.

Replace the box exactly as you found it, or better. Clean up the area, if you disturbed it at all, and leave feeling victorious! You found your first cache! If you are like my family, you will want to head on out to find many more very soon. It is addicting!

Next we will learn how to log your find and how to find Travel Bugs - definitely not as creepy as it sounds!

Learn more about Nicki Bradley

I live in the suburbs of Detroit and I'm happily re-married with six children (3 his, 2 mine, 1 ours) ranging in age from 3.5 to 12.

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