[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Geocaching is an activity I stumbled across in the summer of 2002 after receiving a GPS as a gift for a new boat I purchased.  The concept is quite simple, however the actual finding of caches can be challenging.

It begins with a person hiding a "cache" - generally small Tupperware™ type container, ammo box, or some other watertight container.  In the container there is generally a log book for visitors to make a note of their visit, and various trinkets for visitors to trade.  The coordinates of the hiding place are then posted on the internet - Geocaching.com is the most common - over 300,000 active caches in 222 countries as of August 2006.  Other GPS users can then search for the cache using the coordinates given.

After finding the cache, the visitor can make an entry in the log book, and trade trinkets.  They may also log their visit online at Geocaching.com.  Some caches may contain a disposable camera for visitors to take their own picture - when the camera is full, the hider will develop the pictures and place then back in the cache or post then online for visitors to pick up or download.

As with anything new, there are bound to be evolutions.  One that has sprouted out of this hobby is Travel Bugs.  A travel bug is a form of hitchhiker you can track on Geocaching.com.  It is basically an item that is carried from cache to cache (or person to person) and you can follow its progress online via an attached tag that has a serial or tracking number on it.  What does a travel bug do?  It's really up to the owner of the bug to give it whatever task they desire. Or no task at all.  The fun of a travel bug is inventing new ideas or goals for the travel bug to achieve.  One bug's goal may be to reach a specific country, or travel to 10 countries.

Another evolution, or facet, of the hobby is Benchmark Hunting.  NGS Benchmarks, also called Survey control markers or disks, are disks (and other various items) that are permanently affixed at locations all over the United States to aid land surveying.  These benchmarks are part of the geodetic control network maintained by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS).  The NGS maintains a database of these locations, though much of the data is outdated. 

Why search for benchmarks?  The interesting thing about benchmarks is that a majority of them are located on mountain peaks or in plain sight (though largely ignored by the general public).  There's a certain excitement to be the first to find and document a benchmark, as well as see where others have gone through photos on the web site.  Some benchmarks haven't been documented as being found for some time, so you may also be rediscovering benchmarks as well!

I currently use a Garmin GPSMAP 60C which I find is a good, versatile, general purpose GPS receiver.  I use it not only for geocaching, but in my car and on my boat.  It has geocaching specific features, which make using it for geocaching much easier.  I can also load it with detailed topographic or street maps, depending on what area of the country I'll be using it.  It also has a neat feature, in that you can load it with custom waypoint symbols.  There is even a neat little  utility available from Garmin to transfer symbols to/from certain select Garmin units called xImage.  You can download the utility here - xImage.  I've tried searching for custom waypoint symbols on the web, and finding only a few, wound up making much of my own.  You can view/download my collection here - Custom Waypoint Symbols.

For me, Geocaching is a great excuse for getting out and doing some hiking that I probably wouldn't normally do.  Some of my fondest memories of my father was hiking in the woods with him when I was a kid.  Now that I have kids of my own, it's a great legacy to pass on, and they get to do a little "treasure hunting" in the process.

Caches I've Placed...
	10/11/6	WII-13 Satterly Landing Mount Sinai, New York
	10/1/6	WII-12 Chimney Sweep Mount Sinai, New York
	11/19/5	WII-11 Davis Sanctuary Coram, New York
	9/13/5	WII-10 National Treasure Mount Sinai, New York
	8/25/5	WII-9 Pirates of the Caribbean Miller Place, New York
	7/29/4	WII-8 Cordwood Camp Miller Place, New York
	7/28/4	WII-7 Duck Pond 1669 Miller Place, New York
	2/7/3	W2-6 Stars & Stripes Brosna, Co. Kerry, Ireland
	12/12/2	WII-5 Cordwood Landing Miller Place, New York
	10/4/2	WII-4 Manetto Melville, New York
	10/1/2	WII-3 The Forgotten War... Hauppauge, New York
	9/5/2	WII-2 To End All Wars... Riverhead, New York
	9/2/2	WII-1 Lest We Forget... Farmingville, New York
My Travel Bugs...
	2/7/3	Strathlachlan
	7/23/5	Strathlachlan II
	7/20/6	Betty, the Homing Hummer