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Original poster

geo caching

42 replies

racmac · 23/07/2010 13:58

Anyone do this? Thinking about doing some local ones with the kids in the holidays.

What kind of things do you leave behind?

I have a blackberry curve or a garmin 305 both of which i think have gps so do i just put in the co ordinates on off we go?

Is it that easy?

OP posts:
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Wallace · 25/07/2010 16:03

I'll give it a try, thanks

Original poster
racmac · 25/07/2010 13:45

Wallace I click on the link to send it direct to my garmin 305 and it automatically does it

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 25/07/2010 13:24

we are doing one this afternoon which require you to find some co ordinates to put in to get cache location.....will be a challenge i think!

Wallace · 24/07/2010 18:47

racmac - how do you put coordinates in on your garmin 305?

fortyplus · 24/07/2010 18:33

We've been all over the place! It's a great way of finding a good walk when you're on holiday.

I think we've done a few hundred by now - though I don't keep track as dh and ds1 do all the website stuff.

GypsyMoth · 24/07/2010 18:22

saw a hmel family listed on one today!! thought it odd as thats where my boyfriend lives! we were at marston forest centre near bedford....found 2 there,but there are loads more

fortyplus · 24/07/2010 15:01

We do geocaching. Family nickname is Hemel Staggers (boys play rugby for Stags and we are old fogies so stager about... or something like that!)

Print off the clues before you leave!

ThatDamnDog · 24/07/2010 14:53

My top tips - look carefully on google maps before you set off so you can be sure you're not going to follow your compass and find yourself on the wrong side of a river or something. Once you get close to the cache look for the distance dropping rather than relying on the compass arrow. And if you're using a phone there's a fab application made by Trimble called Geocache Navigator which makes the whole thing infinitely easier.

Original poster
racmac · 24/07/2010 12:12

We found one this morning - finding it bit hard to get used to gps on my running watch though.

Im struggling with compass telling me its this way but i cant get to it that way - i dont want to walk miles cos the 3 yr old is aPITA

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 24/07/2010 12:01

we found one....kids were so excited!! then the second one we couldnt find,in a local wood.....gps let me down as battery died on iphone! but we had a look around.

taking along a carrier bag to each cache to fill with litter.....there was more than i like!!

a new series of 5 caches locally have just been set,apparentley 6 lots of geocachers were there at once yesterday! be interesting to bump into others

glastocat · 24/07/2010 11:42

Did you find them all?

GypsyMoth · 24/07/2010 11:11

I'm aching all over this morning from yesterdays hunt!! Across fields,through woods and over gates and stiles! Kids have only just woken up too!!

Planning a bigger hunt today......12 caches at local forest centre to discover

wideratthehips · 23/07/2010 18:20

my inlaws do this and leave things like gogos or other small toys......no sweets though!

glastocat · 23/07/2010 18:13

ILoveTiffany, I bet you'd find that one under a bridge.

GypsyMoth · 23/07/2010 16:35

lol...a clue for a local one is trip trap trolls!!! must be a mumsnetter

crunchbag · 23/07/2010 16:18

You have to put in the coordinates and then just follow the arrow on the compass. Stick to the paths, no need for bushwacking

Ilove, the church thing sounds like a multi cache where you have to find clues to discover the final coordinates. Make sure you know how to put the coordinates in your gps and bring some paper to make notes/calculations.

No hints is not unusual but might make it harder. Look for trails and piles of sticks at the end. Read the previous logs, they might have clues.

Probably best to start off with a normal cache of regular/big size.

Have fun!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/07/2010 16:13

It may be a more treasure hunty thing, using the numbers to find the next location or summat

Wilts · 23/07/2010 15:55

racmac- I have no idea, I will be leaving that to Dh

Original poster
racmac · 23/07/2010 15:37

ive just signed up - it tells me the location ie local country park - not sure when i get though how to use my gps particularly well - it has a compass thingymajic on it - do i just follow that?

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 23/07/2010 15:31

ok.....i'm in,just signed up and got the free membership!

now,i need to explain to the kids.....and we may go off tomorrow as there are a few local ones.....one without any clues,is that normal?

and something where we need to visit churches to get numbers from memorials....whats that all about? no cache as far as i know..

crunchbag · 23/07/2010 15:24

And as glastocat says, no food or anything that can leak. We have encountered melted chocolate, sticky lollipops and leaking bubble liquid.

We have a few caches of our own too, as well as a few TB's

Oh and always bring a pen/pencil to sign the logbook.

Wilts · 23/07/2010 15:12

Crucnhbag- thank you, having a caching bag is a really good idea.

I can't wait to go out now

glastocat · 23/07/2010 15:12

The main rule about trading is you should trade upwards or equal, in other words if you take something good make sure you put something good or better back. Also travel bugs which will have a tag on them are to be logged and moved on, they are not to keep! Also, no food (attracts animals), knives, over 18 anything. Its all on geocaching.com, where you should register an account so you can log your finds.

crunchbag · 23/07/2010 15:08

Wilts, we have a caching bag with a selection of goodies, toys and some other things like keyrings, note books, nothing too expensive though. But sometimes you find some real nice things in a box and then we just leave a few bits and bobs instead of 1 thing.

It's not just for kids so anything goes, I wouldn't worry about upsetting people, it's a treasure hunt, you never know what you will find

Wilts · 23/07/2010 15:07

Brilliant thanks