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Geocaching:
OUTDOORS AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY
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| Global
Positioning System (GPS) |
What
is geocaching
In a few words,
geocaching is the treasure hunt of the 21st century. This
sport consist of finding a "cache" (pronounced "cash")
or treasure, hidden by others practitioners of the sport using a GPS
receiver and a set of coordinates that indicate its location. The place where
the "cache" is hidden determines the difficulty and the
levels adventure you will have to face.
Origin
and history
The GPS or the
global positioning system is composed by the NAVSTAR network of 24 satellites
from the US Department of Defense. These satellites send
continuous positioning signals and in base of these signals a GPS
receiver can determine your position by triangulation with a precision of up to 15 meters, depending on the geometry of the satellites
at that moment.
Before May
2000, the GPS signals were intentionally degraded +/- 100
meters to avoid its use for military purposes. Then, the US Government
decided to suspend degradation (called Selective Availability),
in a way to encourage the use of the GPS for civil and peaceful
activities throughout the world.
This not only benefited
the traditional use, such as air and land navigation, telecommunications,
mining explorations,
etc., but also made room for this new sport called Geocaching.
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| Sanctuary
of Nature Yerba Loca |
The first
"cache" was placed by Dave Ulmer close to Portland, Oregon, US. on
May 3, 2000. Three days later, two people read about cache in the
newsgroup sci.geo.satellite-nav, and found it. They later registered
their
names in the log. This is how geocaching was born.
The
sport and its rules
It is
difficult to say if Geocaching is a sport, or simply an outdoor
activity, as it depends on where the cache has been hidden. The search can be a
short walk, or an expedition across difficult terrain, where
specific skills in mountain climbing, kayaking, orienteering, etc,
are needed.
As a new sport
the rules are very simple:
- Obtain the coordinates
and the description of the cache that your going to search for
in a geocaching community, for example
www.geocaching.com.
- Find the cache.
- Take a gift
from the cache.
- Leave a
gift in the cache.
- Register
your visit in the logbook.
- Log your
"finding" in the geocaching community.
Besides enjoying
the adventure of searching, the landscape, the place, and the outdoor
activity, you will receive a gift from an unknown person and leave
a gift for another stranger.
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| Route
5 South |
Given that it
is a sport for the whole family, you should only leave safe and appropriate
articles. Don't leave alcohol, drugs, explosives, rap
music, political or offensive material,. etc. Food is also inappropriate as it causes the
"cache" to be destroyed by the ubiquitous rodents or other
local inhabitants.
There are
distinct types of caches and the list is open to the creativity of
the participants. Some examples are:
- Traditional:
usually composed of a plastic box with gifts and a log of visitors.
- Multi-cache:
the first cache gives the coordinates (or part of them) of the
second cache, and the second contains the coordinates of the third and so on.
Also, multiple caches are used to give clues on the location
of the final cache.
- Virtual Cache:
This cache generally corresponds to an existing landmark, such
as a statue or gravestone. To register your finding you
must respond a question about the landmark as a proof that you
were there.
The
equipment
Not much equipment
is required to practice geocaching. A handheld GPS is enough,
you can buy one in the internet for US$ 100 - in its most basic
models -, add a good pair of shoes and a healthy spirit of adventure.
If you
search for caches on difficult terrain, consider taking adequate
equipment. There are caches that require special abilities like
mountain climbing, scuba diving, or may even require an overnight
stay in the wild.
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| Radal 7 Tazas
National Reserve |
It is
advisable that you take a map and a compass to establish the most appropriate
route.
The
search
The search of
a cache is initiated in a geocaching website, where
the coordinates and the description of the caches of your area are
found. Normally, you have to locate the cache on the map and go find
it following the GPS directions, but take into consideration that the GPS indicates the
direct route disregarding the
terrain features. For example, a cache could be located half a mile
away, but a cliff will make us take a 2 mile walk.
Once you have found the indicated area with the GPS, the cache will
be in a radius of 15 meters. From there on, it is necessary to look
in areas in where it could have been hidden.
Some caches can be found easily and others may require various
attempts to find them. In any case, don't get discouraged,
enjoy the journey and the search.
The
reward
You can find
all types of things in a cache. Small toys, books, foreign money,
music, ornaments, in short whatever some stranger has gracefully left
behind as a present. Nevertheless, the reward for many is simply
finding the treasure, the adventure of getting there, to a place that
otherwise you'll not have visited. Likewise, the
possibility of making a gift to someone that we will never
possibly know and whose path crossed with ours for an
instant, through a goodie and piece of paper.
The
spirit
Geocaching is
an activity practiced generally by lovers of nature and outdoor
activities. The search is rather an excuse to get out more, know
new places, be in contact with nature and develop sporting abilities.
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| Radal 7 Tazas
National Reserve |
This
ecological spirit of geocachers make them carry a plastic bag to pick up
garbage found on the way and remove it from
the wild areas.
Practice the leave no trace philosophy. Take care
of nature and stay within the trails to avoid impacting the
virgin areas. For more information about "leave no trace"
visit the LNT site.
Where
to Practice
Although the
sport is very recent, nearly 340.000 hidden caches exist in more that
130 countries around the world. The numbers in South America are growing, with about 500 caches
(as of Nov, 2006 ) and Chile being the most developed geocaching country with around 165. We hope that soon more
gocachers will unite us.
Geocaching is
not solely about searching, but also hiding caches. For more
information on how to hide caches, refer to Geocaching.com.
You can search geocaches in Chile,
from Geocaching.com with the link below :
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| Rapa
Nui (Easter Island) |
Recommendations
- Take the
same precautions that you would when you go on a hike or trekking
trip.
- Advise or warn someone about your travel itinerary
- Take a map, water, sun protection and a flashlight in case the
night catches you in the way.
- Do not underestimate the time for the trip. The
distance of the GPS indicates a direct route.
- Choose a cache in accordance with the difficulty and your
abilities as well as the people who are accompanying you.
- It is convenient that you familiarize yourself with the area
through a topo map and identify the possible obstacles and
dangers.
Conguillio
National Park
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| Links |
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Geocaching
Sites
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GPS
and Software
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Collaboration
of
M. Costa ( updated Nov 2006 )
mcosta@gotolatin.com
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Español
&PhAut=M.+Costa)
.&PhAut=PortaldeChile.com)
