Geocaching.
The word sounds biz … geo what ?
Geocaching is a kind of treasure chase.
- Everywhere around the world, people hide “caches” (a little box generally containing somes objects).
- When a person hide a cache, she take the coordinates (latitude, longitude) of her cache with a GPS unit.
- She write the position on a web site (geocaching.com) with somes other informations (she give a name for this cache, write a description, some historic or interestings thinks about the place where she put it, some hints occasionnally, etc).
- Others persons (called “geocachers”), navigate over the website and check the descriptions of theses caches.
- Geocacher take note of an interesting cache and he enter the coordinates in his GPS unit.
- Geocacher go to the cache (this is the interesting part of the game - because it’s many time harder than you think).
- Geocacher sign the “logbook” (as a trace of his passage), and generally take an object and let another (some caches contain valued objects (it generally goes with the difficulty to find the cache).
- Return at home, geocacher “log” the cache on geocaching.com, that increment the number of his finds.
What’s the challenge ?
It depend of you. Any person you are, there will by a challenge for you. Yeah, because there is many types of caches, and many difficulties. By example, some caches are easy to find, but you have to respond to some questions to find the real “coordinates” (we call theses caches “mystery caches”). Others times, you have to go to multi places to find the answers (”multi cache”). In general, you have the coordinates (”traditional cache”), but you will pass a river, climb some rocks, take snowshoes, etc.
But, is there some valued price ?
Nah, are you serious ? I’ts really around twenty times i hear this question. There is objects you can trade, but sincerely the real valued price is in a couple of facts … outdoor, relationnionship, spectacular places.
Outdoor
The game is outside, not over the tv or some other new game console. Some caches require your bike, others a kayak, a climbing equipment … You will walk, [swim ?], etc. It’s good for you and for your brain.
Meets and relationship.
You can do this yourself but also with any person … it don’t necessary require to be in big shape … many families do thats with theirs childs (like my syster). I went some times with my father, and it was very cool. In general, i went with my cousin. There is somes geocaching events etc.
Spectacular places.
Not always the case, but in many times … you will discover rivers, mountains, trails, historic things, lakes, campings, etc. Many times it’s more interesting that places known.
So, if your not sure about it, just ask to others geocachers.
Here is other stuff :
http://www.geocaching.com (the official worldwide site)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching (the wikipedia definition)
http://www.quebecgps.com/
Tags: Camping