WAYPOINTS! GPS NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2009

ABOUT GEOCACHING
Over 880,000 active geocaches worldwide...

STAY TUNED! WINNERS OF THE 4TH ANNUAL 2009 PHOTO CONTEST WILL BE ANNOUNCED OCT 15, 2009. Hot, Hot GPS Prizes! Thank you for all the great entries! Lots of great pics! read details

Visit Geocaching.com

This is the official geocaching site. Log on, tune in and engage. Membership is free, cache information is free, as is logging your adventures. Website: http://www.geocaching.com/

Caches

A cache is defined kind of cowboy style as a hiding place, esp. one in the ground, for ammunition, food, treasures, etc. A geocache is like that, maybe no ammo. We placed one on a Christmas Day: handmade soap. Caches are the ticket in this game. Hide a brand new one, or go find one. For the latter, if you find it, take the stuff, write a note, and replace the contents with sumpin' nice.

Be Outdoors!

You may be astounded by how close a cache is to your house. Enter your postal code on geocaching.com, then click Go!... It may be as easy as walking in the neighborhood or jumping on the bike. Plan a weekend. Go to faraway places too!

You also may be astounded by how good it feels to leave your house and get some exercise. Fresh air, sunshine, maybe wind, hail, snow or sleet. It's invigorating. An annual geocaching event happens each spring: CITO (Cache In Trash Out). Most geocachers are dedicated to cleaning up parks and natural areas - do this all the time! CITO is an opportunity to clean up with others, on this specified day.

Technical Engagement

Learn about mapping, new locations, lat/long coordinates, the vagaries of exact GPS accuracy. Consider other areas, check topography. Enjoy a challenge. Discover new horizons.

Be with Family & Friends (or not)

Geocaching is a popular activity for families and groups of friends. It's an opportunity to solve problems together, like 'where are we?' and 'I thought you said east!' It's charmingly, playfully goal-oriented. Now, it's also for solo adventurers. Or for depends-on-the-day types, it's both.

High Intrigue, Low Start-up Cost

Geocaching is a game. Many people are very clever playing it! What might seem like an obvious find is not always so, like the coordinates on slopes that seem to expand the area. There is one cardinal rule (well, a few more than one, e.g. garbage) and it is to NOT DISCLOSE DETAILS that will ruin the fun for the next person. No spoilers.

To start geocaching, you need a GPS. It need not be fancy. Prices for handheld models range from $100 up to $500 for one with advanced features. See our handheld GPS models here, as well as the factory refurbished GPS for lower prices.

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