Geocaching Two - Variations on the Treasure Hunt

Variations of Geocaches:

The basic, traditional cache consists of a container with a log book and trade items.

Multiple caches, working like the old time treasure hunt wherein each set of coordinates contains directions to the next until the final location where the log book and treasure lie.

Offset: Similar to the multiple cache except for variations in the stops. The coordinates may lead to a sign with digits on it such as a date which match the coordinates for the next location

Mystery/puzzle: A puzzle must be solved which will give the cacher the necessary information to be able to set up the coordinates.

Letterbox Hybrid: Geo-caching was developed from Letterboxing an activity which has been in practice about 150 years. Letterboxing depends upon clues being deciphered to identify landmarks. Or the clues are hidden in a story to be found and compared for the coordinates. Devoted letterbox hunters carry their own rubberstamp to mark the logbook and keep a personal logbook.

Virtual: Coordinates for a spot that doesn’t lend itself to sheltering the treasure box. A photo of you at the site, plus an email to the cache hider with pertinent information such as the wording or date on a nearby sign. Benchmarking has the hunters locate a survey market set up by the U.S. UGS. Earthcaching doesn’t contain the traditional treasure, but is verified by naming geological information such as nearby fossils or the local environment.

Webcam: Again, no physical treasure box but the coordinates lead to a public webcam. In lieu of signing the log book, the hunter can be required to get their image from the webcam to verify the find.

Locationless/Reverse. This works more like an old timey scavenger hunt. The directions are to locate something such as an old barn (any old barn) The hunter records the coordinates for the find, take a picture if possible and logs the find. Usually, hunters are not allowed to log the same location as a legitimate find.

Moving/Traveling. As with the basic geocache, the coordinates lead to the treasure. The hunter logs the find, trades trinkets and hides the cache in a different location. Certain ‘traveling’ toys in caches could come under the ‘moving’ description

Event: A gathering attended by geocachers is ‘salted’ with temporary caches for the vent only. The term event cache can also be used to describe the event, such as Cache-In Trash-Out Events where the hunters gather to clean up trash in an area as a coordinated activity, either locating little hidden caches or recognizing the location of the event as a find. Geocaching.com or TerraCaching.com or Navicache.com are just a few of the websites that can help you find out more about geo-caching and having fun with some of your technology.