GPSr

A friend of mine, recently suffered a broken GPS (whilst out caching) and is looking for a replacement. Misguidedly, she asked for my advice, which started me thinking.

There are a number of methods of finding caches, which I will try to summarise.

Naked Caching
The title is a bit of a cheat (similar to the Naked Chef - who kept his kit on). Using geocaching.com the target cache is looked up and it's position noted on streetmap. The cache printout and a print of the OS map is then taken to ground zero. Usually, especially for the easier hides, this method along with the hint, should locate the cache after a short search.

E-trex
The stand alone GPSr. This was how it used to be done (in the good ol' days, when I started). The co-ordinates are loaded into the GPSr (Global Positioning System Receiver) either manually (lots of room for error), directly from geocaching.com or from GSAK (geocaching swiss army knife.) The basic GPSr devices do not allow for cache descriptions so the paper printout is still needed.

PDA
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have many uses in geocaching. At a basic level, a program such as Cachemate can be used to store the cache details, removing the need for the paper printout. A fairly basic, cheap, Palm handheld can be used for this.
If the PDA has a built in GPS (or can use an external bluetooth GPSr), we can move another rung up the ladder and use Memory Map (or strictly speaking Pocket Navigator) to display one's position on an Ordnance Survey map. When correctly configured, a click on the cache symbol will bring up the relevant details in Cachemate. This applies only to Windows Mobile devices.
Certain mobile phones (running Symbian software - e.g. Nokia N95) can perform a similar feat using ViewRanger software.

Mobile Phones
As mentioned above, certain mobile phones can be used to help locate geocaches. The iPhone has an app. and for most platforms, I believe, Geocache Navigator can be used. These approaches utilise the inbuilt GPS and download the cache information, directly, from geocaching.com so may cost unless you have an unlimited data package for you phone. This approach is great if you find yourself with some spare time but you don't have your regular kit with you. The accuracy of the GPS may not be a good as a dedicated unit. Usually, the record of your find, or otherwise, can be uploaded straight into geocaching.com.

Mapping GPSr
Many, newer and more expensive GPRs units, have either built in maps or have the facility to load maps onto them. More information can be added to the waypoints providing cache descriptions and hints. The top-end devices, such a the Garmin Oregon, can even have OS maps (but they are prohibitively expensive). With an Oregon, you can load upto 1,000 caches (enough for even an all dayer) complete with descriptions, past logs and hints. On the map, you can navigate to the trail head (with turn by turn instructions) then switch to Geocaching mode to home in on the cache. When approaching GZ, you can switch to the compass and go for the kill. Once found (or not, as the case may be), a push on the touch screen will record your attempt along with any notes you wish to attach.
Back home, all the day's field notes can be uploaded to geocaching.com which make the whole logging process so much easier.

Conclusion
As you can see, there are many methods to be employed to locate those elusive caches. As is so often the case, it's very much horses for courses.
Personally, I use my N95 with ViewMaster to get an overview of the area and to locate footpaths etc. and my Oregon to actually locate and log the caches.
I would be very interested to hear how you do it.

Team Butter Fingers

Oh the embarrasment!

Last Sunday, I did the excellent "Follow the Arrow" series of caches between Coughton and Alcester, which I really enjoyed. However, the fist cache I visited, well, here's my log entry...

2912. What a start to a morning's caching. Found the cache easily enough but as I went to retriev it, it fell from my (butter) fingers and hit the ground - bounced and disappeared from view accompanied by a splash!

I crossed over and followed the path down to the river to see the cache bobbing past. I followed it downstream and was going to head it off at the wier but luckily, it got stuck in some tree roots and I was able to rescue it.

On the good side, I can confirm that the container is waterproof.

I signed the log and very carefully put it back.

Thanks for the cache and the riverside walk!

... which was bad enough; although I did manage to rescue that one. A while back, some may recall, I dropped half a magnetic nano in my van and it was never seen again (the nano not my trusty stead.)

Today, in deepest Earlsdon, I was fumbling around for another magnetic cache - a key box this time (does anyone know a cheap source for these?) when I...

reached in, felt the cache, then felt it fall ! And of all the places where it could have fallen, it landed in the one place which is inaccessable. I'm really sorry.

What am I to do? I'm tryng to avoid ICTs as it is. If I add magnetic caches to my "don't touch these caches with a barge-pole" list I'm going to severly limit my choices. Perhaps, I could add a small net to my caching kit and position it under any magnetic caches I find. Maybe an elaborate electro-magnet affair so that I could suspend the cache in mid air (it would have to have that buzzing werr-werr sound.) Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Now how do I apply a GSAK filter for caches that are already at ground level?

Up North

After our 72 cache-fest back in March, during the debrief, we agreed that it hadn't been to bad and that one hundred caches in a day, on foot, was do-able.

The UK Mega series was chosen in March ahead of the Blackburn Letterboxes which was our next objective. Our researcher (Stokesy) got to work and found us a route which would give us that elusive ton. Word went out of the impending expedition and, with a week to go, we had nine members (and one in support!)

05.15hrs (yes, that's in the a.m.) I received a call informing me that Stokesy was on his way. I was picked up, bleary eyed, and we were away heading north. One good thing about being up so, so early is that the M6 is almost empty and we made good time arriving at our rendezvous just before seven thirty. Obviously, Graham was already there!

We said our welcomes and kitted up, before setting off for them thar hills. The weather looked very promising, so much so that many elected to leave heavy waterproofs behind (a decision we did NOT regret.) The terrain was gentle and we soon started bumping up our tally. We did waste a little time on a couple of DNFs, but were on target. We were having such a good time that wwe hardly noticed as the terrain changed and were acsended onto the moors for some cracking views.

As the day wore on, and the numbers increased, it became apparent that we may have bitten off too much and with aching limbs we decided to call it a day at eighty four. Some were a little disappointed at not reaching our goal but, hey, 84 caches in a day is not bad going.

Although, we did not achieve the hundred (this time) we all had a great day out in great company. All achived new PBs (I know it's not about the numbers) and at least one member is chomping at the bit for another attempt at the ton.