Cache incentive: The sport of geocaching

Should the sun peep its shiny head above the clouds again, you might be inclined to take advantage of such a rare event and get some fresh air before winter sets in. Why, you might even fancy a little adventure and if so, we've got just the thing for technology-toting Computeractive readers: geocaching.

This exotically named activity is akin to orienteering, with participants relying on consumer versions of a military technology to pinpoint the locations of items secreted by others. In other words, it's a game of high-tech hide and seek.

Geocache catch-up
Although you may not have heard of it, we first covered geocaching three years ago. Then, the pastime was but a year old and comprised just a handful of committed players in a few places around the world.

To recap the history contained in our original telling, geocaching was born in America on 3 May 2000 when computer consultant Dave Ulmer sealed some goodies and a notepad in a container and hid them in bushes on the border of his hometown of Beavercreek.

Then, Ulmer used a GPS receiver to log the container's latitudinal and longitudinal co-ordinates (i.e. its X-marks-the-spot point on planet Earth) and posted these on a newsgroup frequented by folks interested in satellite navigation, along with a challenge for others to find his stash.

Since then, its popularity has burgeoned: at the last count there were more than 100,000 caches dotted around 200 countries. A conservative global estimate of those now taking part is tens of thousands of people, with over 5,000 geocachers in the UK alone.

Cache and cash
Despite the nature of its arcane roots, enjoyment of geocaching doesn't require specialist knowledge of satellite navigation equipment. Indeed, at its simplest the activity is little more complicated than following the directions displayed on the screen of a GPS receiver.

Moreover, where once these navigation gadgets would've weighed and cost the proverbial ton and packet, modern GPS receivers fit comfortably in the palm of the hand and models suitable for geocachers sell for a little over £100. More on these presently.

Net-nous
In addition, you'll need access to the internet, as it is here that you'll find details of all the latest caches (and later, to post details of caches you may yourself have hidden).

A cache may contain a variety of items, usually of low value. Typically, someone finding a cache will be expected to remove one item and replace it with one of their own, and log the details in a notebook included in the cache container.

When we first delved into the geocaching game there was only one website worthy of note, the aptly addressed www.geocaching.com. This is still going strong but the community driven spirit of yore has given way to a more commercial cadence (the site has an online shop that sells geocaching 'gear', in case you're in need of a T-shirt or an all-weather pen).

To our mind, GeocacheUK is a more relevant resource for UK geocachers. Though slow and rather messily designed, the site details nearly 4,000 caches around the land, allowing visitors to search for nearby locations by town or postcode.

It works very well. We used the system to find a nearby cache - a multi-part affair hidden in London's Trent Park - but must confess to getting lost approximately 15 yards from the Computeractive minibus.

If, like us, you find you need help, then we suggest dropping by the website run by the Geocaching Association of Great Britain. Here you'll find a selection of lively forums, frequented by friendly types only too keen to help geocachers who have lost their bearings.

Indeed, some of those volunteering to help Computeractive's confused 'cachers included people prompted by our original article to try out the sport.

Husband-and-wife players Alex and Kim Alexander geocache together under the name Team Slytherin. Alex told us about their first time: "We read about geocaching in Computeractive but didn't have a GPS receiver, so we pinpointed a site on an Ordnance Survey map. We drove 70 miles and arrived in heavy rain. It was a really hard walk up the dunes because of the soft sand.

"We didn't take a print-out from the geocaching website, which was a big mistake. We couldn't find the box so I called a friend who looked up the information we needed. We got soaked in the process but it was an entertaining day out!"

Since then, Team Slytherin have become prolific players, notching up 750 geocache finds in eight countries around the world.

Another Computeractive reader told us how geocaching had changed his life (no, really). Like Team Slytherin, Mancunian Pyrocacher (or Dave, to his mates) took up the game after reading our earlier feature.

He explains: "Geocaching has given me quality time with my two teenagers and I've visited places that I did not even know existed. I'm now more confident through having to obtain permission to place caches, and organising three events. I've become part of a fantastic community and met some fantastic people, and all because I read your article!" Excuse our blushes.

The confluence influence
While we're here, a complementary activity to geocaching is to be found at the home page of the Degree Confluence Project. In brief, this is the online meeting place of people who use their GPS receivers to trek to exact points on earth where lines of latitude and longitude cross - a confluence.

Once there, the intrepid types take a photo as both log and evidence of their adventure and post this, along with a description of their experiences, on the website. We say intrepid because lines of latitude and longitude know no barriers, so a confluence may lie on the top of a mountain, or in the middle of an ocean. Or in the car park of your local supermarket.

Geo gen
If all this has convinced you that geocaching (and/or confluence logging) is worthy of your walking shoe leather then you'll need to avail yourself of a GPS receiver. As noted earlier, these need not be expensive: a popular starter model is the eTrex from Garmin, which can be picked up for under £100 (a few eBay traders are knocking them out for just £80). The device has a compact and rugged design that's resistant to splashes and moisture, with a battery life in excess of 20 hours (from easily replaceable, cheap and widely available AA batteries).

If you prefer something a bit fancier then consider the eTrex Vista model (also from Garmin), which boasts clear maps displayed on a colour screen. However, these features have drawbacks: the battery life is just 12 hours and you can expect to pay up to £300.

Cache in your chips
The upshot of our first look at the world of geocaching was persuading a lot of readers to get out and try something new. Some of those readers now tell us that they're addicted to the game and, with happy side effects like improved family relationships and wider social circles also in evidence, we hope that this update will prompt even more people to give it a go.

Indeed, a number of Computeractive staff have decided to give it another go: perhaps in three years' time we'll be able to report that we made it further than the car park.

Geocaching's golden rules
As with any outdoor pursuit, practitioners of geocaching carry with them certain responsibilities. The Geocaching Association of Great Britain maintains on its website a list of 15 guidelines to which it believes geocachers should adhere. Many are simple common sense and, while we don't have the space to detail the full list, here's a summary of its key points:

• Cache containers should be marked clearly, with appropriate contact details (the email address of the person responsible for placing it, for example).In addition, the cache should contain only items that would be considered safe for an unaccompanied child to handle, in case one stumble upon the cache.
• When placing a cache, take care to avoid damage to the surrounding area. Research the location before setting out and, if need be, obtain permissions from the relevant landowners.
• Ideally, caches should be secreted in a way that will prevent non-geocaching passers-by spotting them by accident. That said, caches should not be buried and never, ever use animal habitats (holes/warrens) to conceal the goods.
• Avoid leaving any visual clues to the cache's whereabouts: footprints leading to a hiding place may spoil the fun.
• Remember that practitioners of geocaching are also the activity's representatives, so do your utmost to uphold the endeavour's good reputation.