A Geocaching Adventure

I had one hour off of work, just enough time for a mini-adventure in my current city of St. Augustine, FL. Below is a slideshow documenting my adventure to find the cache known as "Redneck Fishing Hole." Unfortunately being new to Flickr, the photos are a little out of order, but you catch the drift. I literally went through step by step on how to get started geocaching.

For this adventure I used the built in GPS on my BlackBerry Curve to help me along my travels. After a comfortable hike to the coordinates listed on this humid day, under a palmetto tree I struck gold! To my dismay there were no sign sheets or a logbook in the cache, but I logged it in my personal logbook. Feel free to view the photographs and let me know what you think! I'll keep you updated on my future geocaching adventures.

What Is Geocaching? An Introduction

Need a hobby? Something to interact and bond with others in the great outdoors? Geocaching is the answer!

Geocaching is a way to bond both technology and outdoor lovers. It's the ultimate treasure hunt, a game that is played worldwide. The basic idea is to use a global positioning system (G.P.S.) to help locate "treasure chests" (known as 'geocaches' or 'caches') planted by fellow geocachers. Below is a video that best describes the concept:

As with all activities like this, there's lingo that every aspiring/ or interested cacher should know in order to discuss their adventures. (found from Geocaching).

In General:

• Cache – A box or container that contains, at the very least, a logbook
• Geoswag – The items that can be found in some larger caches.
• Muggle – A non geocacher that is in some way preventing you from finding a cache.
• BYOP – (Bring Your Own Pen/Pencil) The cache in question lacks a writing device for the logbook.
• CITO - (Cache In Trash Out) and refers to picking up trash on the hunt.
• CO - (Cache Owner) The person who is responsible for maintaining a cache, usually the person who hid it.
• DNF – (Did Not Find) Did not find the cache container being searched for.
• FTF – (First To Find) The first person to find a cache container.
• GPS - Short for Global Positioning System also occasionally refers to the receiver itself

Logging Your Adventure:

• TFTC - (Thanks For The Cache) This is often used at the end of logs to thank the cache owner.
• TFTH - (Thanks For The Hunt or Hide or Hike) It shares the same purpose as TFTC, but can also be used when the cache was not found.
• TN - (Took Nothing) no trade or traveling item was removed from the cache.
• LN - (Left Nothing) no trade or traveling item was added to the cache.
• SL - (Signed Log) used when the participant visited the cache and signed its logbook.

Location Description:

• GRC - (GuardRail Cache) used in the description on where a cache may be hidden.
• GZ - (Ground Zero or Geo-zone) refers to the general area in which a cache is hidden.
• ICT - (Ivy Covered Tree) used in the description on where a cache may be hidden.
• LPC - (Light Post Cache) used in the description on where a cache may be hidden.
• PLC - (Parking Lot Cache) used in the description on where a cache may be hidden.
• POR - (Pile Of Rocks) used in the description on where a cache may be hidden.
• UFO - (Unnatural Formation of Objects) a pile of material that obviously did not form naturally and is a likely cache hiding spot.

Don't get too crazy, geocachers have a code of ethics of which is expected to be upheld. Most of them can be found on The Geocacher's Creed which directly states:

• I will not endanger myself or others.
• Observe all laws and rules of the area.
• Respect property rights and seek permission where appropriate.
• Avoid causing public alarm or disruption.
• Minimize my and other's impact on the environment.
• Be considerate of others.
• Protect the integrity of the game pieces.

Sounds like fun, right? In the following posts I'll discuss geocaching in pop culture, keeping it green, the best gear and of course a documented event of my own adventure right here in the nation's oldest city!

Works Cited:

"Geocaching." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. .

"Geocacher's Creed." When Placing or Seeking Geocache. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. .

"Geocaching." Geocaching. Groundspeak Inc., 2010. Web. 24 Oct. 2010. .