GEOCACHING PROBLEMS

BY JOHN ALBERTO

As technology improves, compasses and maps become satellites and global positioning systems (GPS), and basic sports such as orienteering and letterboxing evolve into more technologically advanced forms.

One of the best examples of this trend came on May 3, 2000, when Dave Ulmer of Beaver Creek, Ore., started a worldwide phenomenon known as geocaching.

Geocaching is the search for hidden containers, called caches, with the use of a GPS rather than a compass or another traditional navigation device.

HISTORY

According to the Web site geocaching.com, which calls itself the "Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site," Ulmer initiated the first geocache by leaving a bucket full of prizes in the woods near Beaver Creek. He then posted the GPS coordinates of the location on the Internet so that someone would hopefully discover the cache.

Within three days, Ulmer's cache had been found twice. After this, the concept spread quickly, and other people began to hide and search for caches.

The original name, "Great American GPS Stash Hunt," was deemed to be controversial due to the negative connotations of the word "stash." Ideas for a new name began to spread, and the activity became known as "geocaching."

VARIATIONS

Geocaching is now a popular activity on all continents, including Antarctica. With the increasing popularity of geocaching, many variations of the activity have begun occurring.

A traditional geocache features a container that includes a logbook, and there is only one set of coordinates involved in locating it.

Participants can also enjoy a multistage geocache in which there are many checkpoints where coordinates are hidden. These coordinates need to be followed to reach the final cache, which includes the logbook.

Another type of geocache is the "Cache In, Trash Out" (CITO), in which participants clean up trash while searching for their caches. This goes along with one of the key principles of geocaching--respect the environment.

GETTING STARTED

Unlike letterboxing, which uses hints and clues, geocaching mainly relies on the use of GPS coordinates.

New geocachers can start by visiting geocaching.com. From this site, participants can register to become members for free and can search for geocaches in their areas by giving their postal codes.

Geocachers can begin geocaching individually or can find groups of geocachers in their areas to join.

John Alberto is a rising senior at Stafford High School.

Although geocaching is popular among GPS enthusiasts throughout the world, many people do not know what it is. These people are called "muggles" by the geocaching community.

Often a "muggle" will not know that an item he happens to discover is a cache, and he will take it or vandalize it. When this occurs, the cache has been "muggled."

Another problem that geocachers face is that hidden caches are sometimes seen as threatening. Caches have been mistaken for bombs numerous times and have caused public areas to be temporarily closed down as a result.

One such incident occurred in Ottawa, Canada, where a cache was hidden near a road. The road was closed for four hours so that authorities could investigate.

This was also a problem in Provo, Utah, when a cache was placed outside a police station, causing the station to be closed for an hour and a half.

Thus, geocachers are advised not to place caches in public areas where they can be seen as threatening. Caches also should not be placed on private property.

--John Alberto

Date published: 6/19/2009

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