[hoohaa]

Anybody do this?

A friend of mine has recently got me interested and it seems like it would be an interesting thing to do, especially carrying the camera and seeing the great outdoors while doing it.

I mean, heck -- a fun Saturday: doing some geocaching, finding some falls in the area and getting photos. Sounds like a blast!

Anyway, I'm curious as to if anyone else does this and maybe some thoughts? I've never done it and will likely wait until the weather breaks some to mess around with it.

[backpacker]

I use to geocach
But people were finding them and destroying the cach or removing it. When I was a scout leader we hid 2 and both of them were removed. Now at least in my area you have to be a paying member to get the cords for the better ones. Most likely I'll get back into it because my niece's (2 &4) like to hike with me and this would be fun for them. Only problem is they live near Newark, a 2 hour drive for me, but we'll still do some when the weather changes.

[Matt]

I have been invited to geocache a few times, but I'm not sure... is it fun? I'm the kind of person that gets frustrated looking for things (wallet, cell phone)-- I wonder if when I can't find the cache, I'll start ripping apart the forest like I do with my office.

[backpacker]

Matt
yes it's a lot of fun and if you go with someone that's done a few of them they know where to look and how to find the cach. Most of them are short walks. When I first stated it was hard to find the cach my GPS would get me 20 to 30 feet away but if the person that hide the cach gps was off 30 feet and mine off 30 feet then that puts me within a 60 foot area . You know what to look for after your first 3 or 4 finds.
Jim

[Matt]

so what kinds of things did you find? What did you stuff in the box?

[hoohaa]

I have been invited to geocache a few times, but I'm not sure... is it fun? I'm the kind of person that gets frustrated looking for things (wallet, cell phone)-- I wonder if when I can't find the cache, I'll start ripping apart the forest like I do with my office.

I've personally never done one, but I know what you mean about getting frustrated. It seems like fun because it's exercise and it's also a way to do some photography and hang with a friend or two.

I'm just hoping all the coordinates and the hints put me at least close and I can go from there. I don't mind searching a little, but I don't want to search all day.

As for what you said about what to put in and take, looks like (from my research) it all differs. Personally, I'll be happy just checking out and signing the logbook. Maybe carry some trinkets and such with me. I'd like to purchase a couple of the trackable coins to put into the holders and see what happens to them.

[backpacker]

You can find or put in just about anything, or should I say anything is fair game. Most of the time you'll find little trinkets, collectibles, coins, bills, buttons, ruber stamps, hand carved items, rope, stickers, and the list goes on. You don't have to put anything in but if you take something out you should put something in. TB (travel bugs) are fun to watch and move if your heading in their direction. All caches will have a log book and you should sign the book at the least. The container size will be anywhere from a 35mm film can to a 9x13 tupperware container, all containers should have a weather tight lid and some will state their a geo cach. I use to put in 25 feet of red white& blue braided rope that I made.

Here is the link to the home page if you enter your zip code in the upper right corner you'll have pages of hiden caches in you area I belive it's a 50 mile range starting with the closest to the farest. I just did mine and their is 1049 caches in my area.

http://www.geocaching.com/Default.aspx

[Brenda]

That sounds like so much more fun than I thought that it was! I counted 60 caches within 25 miles, and I even recognized a few of the cachers' names! Who knew?

[Matt]

Alright, I'm going to give this a try in the summer... I'm going to order a few NYFalls Keychains to stuff in there. I guess I should buy a GPS that's more modern - mine is from the 90's

[hoohaa]

I, too, am waiting for warmer weather. Or at least without snow on the ground. Probably won't wait until summer, but sometime when it's actually sunny and not blaring down the white stuff!

[hoohaa]

I went out this past Saturday with a friend. Searched and found five of them. Really fun time. We're hoping to go out for a few hours Thursday and then probably again Saturday (weather pending, of course). The snow got in the way a little, but wasn't too bad. Didn't bring my camera out, but plan on having it with me from here on out. And hoping it'll lead me near some waterfalls.

On another note, I gotta get rolling with some covered bridge things soon. Tough time of year at work with all the postseason stuff. Hoping once everyone is out, I can settle down and catch up on some posting!

[hoohaa]

For those looking to get into this, I highly recommend it. I've been having a blast. Going out this weekend and am hoping to actually have more than my point-and-shoot with me to take some photos. There's some great places in New York. I've seen a couple listings that have caches near waterfalls and covered bridges!

[Matt]

1778 in my area
I think I'll wait until it's a little less muddy around here.

I wonder if I should set up a NYFalls Geocaching section and sponsor some caches

[hoohaa]

I'd be all about helping with that section of the forum, Matt. I'm getting totally addicted to this hobby (got a hand held GPSr in the mail today!) Lots of fun! (I'm actually working on a geocaching story for the quarterly magazine my paper owns, too).

[hoohaa]

1778 in my area
I think I'll wait until it's a little less muddy around here.

I wonder if I should set up a NYFalls Geocaching section and sponsor some caches

Given this a try yet, Matt?

It's way addicting. I'm still waiting for the weather to stay good so I can mix caching and hopefully some waterfall/covered bridge photos! But with the price of gas, I have to plan well to make sure I stay in the same area to do everything in one day!