If youre tired of hiking the same trail or picnicking at the same park, then Geocaching may be exactly what youre looking for. Geocaching, pronounced gee-o-cashing, is the high tech version of a treasure hunt. Armed with nothing but a handheld GPS unit and a thirst for excitement, youre off for new adventures and the likelihood of finding a hidden cache.
Heres how it works. Geocachers seek out hidden treasures utilizing GPS coordinates posted on the Internet by those hiding the cache. So to geocache, youll need a handheld GPS receiver. GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is the only system today able to show you your exact position on the Earth anytime, in any weather, anywhere. GPS satellites, 24 in all, orbit at over 11,000 miles above the Earth. The satellites transmit signals that can be detected by anyone with a GPS receiver. Using the receiver, you can determine your location with great precision. But just as important, youll be able to locate other things too, such as a geocache. There are a variety of GPS receiver models to choose from starting at about $100.
Once youve got a GPS unit, youll need to know where the caches are hidden ...