Updated February 2015: new pictures of recent caching (scroll down)!
GEOCACHING is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, using GPS-enabled devices and then share their experiences online.
The caches are placed by other players, who will typically use a container large enough for a log sheet (to sign that you found it), and a few small trinkets, to make it feel like finding a hidden treasure. The cache owner will use their GPS to note the exact coordinates of the cache (latitude and longitude)
They'll post the coordinates on-line, with other information about the cache, and maybe some hints to help find it. Then others can load the coordinates into their own GPS units, and try to find the cache! The normal protocol upon finding it is to sign the log, take one of the trinkets, and then to leave a different trinket of similar value.
Anyone can play...all you need is a way to locate lat/long coordinates. Typically people will use a real GPS receiver, though recently it's become possible to use a smart phone. Gaye's iPhone has a $10 application on it that lets it act as if it's a GPS, and it points us to locations just fine. How does it do that, without really receiving GPS satellite signals? It actually triangulates its position from nearby cell phone towers!
Gaye got turned on to geocaching by a friend, and then took Dan on a hunt, and he got hooked, too. Now we try to go find a geocache or two every time we go somewhere new!
all images © 2011, 2014 dan bullock except as noted
permission granted for non-commercial use