[redsox322]

OK, so I've recently got into this hidden world of geocaching. Just picked up my first GPS unit and am totally addicted to it. Anyone know of any good sites, posts, etc. that i can refer to?

I live in southeastern MA, so if anyone knows of any good caches that involve hiking or climbing, Id love to hear about them!

[bobelle]

What is it?

[redsox322]

It's like a modern-day treasure hunt using handheld GPS units. People leave caches all over the world, mostly in points of interest. It gives you a reason to explore, and you find a alot awesome places you would have never known about before.

Geocaching.com

[bobelle]

cool

[Andrew]

so, you must some sort of GPS device to find there areas. What kind of things are "cached?"

Sounds cool as hell!

[redsox322]

Yea, it's awesome! Each person who leaves a cache posts the latitude/longitude coordinates, so you just input them into your GPS unit and you're off. Most caches have small crap that nobody really wants, but it's all about the hunt. Inside each cache is a log book that you sign, so its cool seeing all the people who have found it. Just last year Jeep and Land Rover dug up and hid vehicles all over the country. So the first person to find them won the car!

[Andrew]

I would love to get a GPS device and give that a try, sounds like a blast. Are they still rippin' expensive for a decent device?

[redsox322]

surprisingly not. I got mine at Wal-Mart for $150. Came with a USB connector, and mapping software. You want one with around 12 channels, so it'll pick up a bunch of satellites outside. Most have a built-in compass and altimeter(great for hiking). Then you can purchase Topo software and plan out your hikes from your desktop. For $150 that's not too shabby!

[Andrew]

gnarly, i'll look into it.

[redsox322]

Went for a hike on the Skyline Trail in Blue Hills today...picked up 2 caches along the way. One was hidden under some rocks on a damn steep incline, wayyyy off the trail. Awesome day of hiking/geocaching!

[Andrew]

what did you pick up? I'm soo going to try that.

[redsox322]

The first cache i took a mini-compass that fits on your keychain and left a carabiner. There was also a disposable camera in it so I took a self-photo. The second one had nothing good so i just signed the log and kept hiking. Great day overall!

[redsox322]

So for anyone that's interested in geocaching, I'm placing a large-scale mystery cache in the next month or so. It won't be easy, because it'll take you on a tour of the best hiking/nature of southern New England; going on a hunt from Rhode Island to Boston.

Ill post when I've completed it.

[Andrew]

So what, you post coordinates at one location to the next? That kinda thing?

Man, I got to try that...

[redsox322]

I'll post the coordinates to the first location...then at that location will be a cache, maybe something as small as a film canister. Inside will be coordinates or a hint to find the next location, then so on and so on.

I've done ones that will take you across a large park, but I'll be making one that takes you throughout numerous state and town parks. Should be pretty sweet.