Geocaching

**Cy4Patriots** · 02-19-2011, 06:46 PM

Any of you guys play this. I just started and found 4 tonight. Kind of exciting, there seems to be many of them in Ames. How many have you found? Good places to go?

**CyCrazy** · 02-19-2011, 07:32 PM

Well since I had to google what the heck this even was, my answer is no.

**Cy4Patriots** · 02-19-2011, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by CyCrazy

Well since I had to google what the heck this even was, my answer is no.

Yea, one of the guys I worked with was talking about it, so I decided to try it out. It is like one big scavenger hunt and is nationwide. There is around 400 in or around Ames. Most take around 20 minutes, but some are multi-caches. If you have a GPS, you might give it a try.

**1100011CS** · 02-19-2011, 08:01 PM

Would the gps on my phone work for this?

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**Cy4Patriots** · 02-19-2011, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Would the gps on my phone work for this?

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Yes, that is what I use. I also have another GPS device, but my phone seems to work the best.

There is also an App that works perfectly with the website (geocaching.com).The App is called c:geo and is free. It has a radar and a compass that puts me within 3-5 meters. You can also log your finds on your phone rather than waiting to go back home to a computer. Try it!

I have some hints for you if you want them!

**wartknight** · 02-19-2011, 08:14 PM

The guys I drink with on Wednesdays are hooked on this. A couple times when we are out they get the email and they are gone in a flash. The way they run out of the bar you'd think they are EMT's.
I've gone with them a couple times in their quest to be "first to find" and it is pretty fun.

**1100011CS** · 02-19-2011, 08:48 PM

Would the gps on my phone work for this?

Sent from my DROID Incredible using Tapatalk

Yes, that is what I use. I also have another GPS device, but my phone seems to work the best.

There is also an App that works perfectly with the website (geocaching.com).The App is called c:geo and is free. It has a radar and a compass that puts me within 3-5 meters. You can also log your finds on your phone rather than waiting to go back home to a computer. Try it!

I have some hints for you if you want them!

Sure. Think I'll try this with my son. Found the app and there's a cache within walking distance of my house.

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**1100011CS** · 02-19-2011, 08:49 PM

The guys I drink with on Wednesdays are hooked on this. A couple times when we are out they get the email and they are gone in a flash. The way they run out of the bar you'd think they are EMT's.
I've gone with them a couple times in their quest to be "first to find" and it is pretty fun.

Email? Do they get updates if there's one placed within a certain distance from them or?
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**jsmith86** · 02-19-2011, 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Email? Do they get updates if there's one placed within a certain distance from them or?
Sent from my DROID Incredible using Tapatalk

They are probably geohashing. If I remember right, geohashing sends a coordinate and a date/time.

**wartknight** · 02-19-2011, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by 1100011CS

Email? Do they get updates if there's one placed within a certain distance from them or?
Sent from my DROID Incredible using Tapatalk

THey signed up on some website and get notifications when new ones come out. Some people leave prizes at them and you can sign your name for being first to find.
Its kind of a big deal to them.
One is taking a trip to Vegas this week and plans to spend a big chunk of his time caching (doesn;t gamble)

**BigDISU1** · 02-19-2011, 08:57 PM

Going to try this for the first time coming up in the spring when the weather warms up. Looking forward to it!

**LFJ4ISU** · 02-20-2011, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by BigDISU1

Going to try this for the first time coming up in the spring when the weather warms up. Looking forward to it!

We gave our eleven old grandson a hand held GPS for Christmas. He's pretty excited to start. We live adjacent to Big Creek State Park and it appears there are many geocaches hidden quite close by.

**Ms3r4ISU** · 02-20-2011, 04:24 PM

We did some of this a few years ago, including one spot on part of the land of an I-80 rest stop. Wondered what others were thinking as we walked back of the building a ways to find the cache by some limbs near the ground. Haven't done much since then.

**MNCYWX** · 06-19-2012, 07:56 AM

Just got started Geocaching. Just introduced and having a lot of fun. It can be a good way to stay active with some that are off in the wilderness. But, Park and Grabs make it easy for those with kids or if you're looking for a quick grab.

I have about ~500 caches in my town. Gonna keep me busy for a while I can tell.

Just watch out for mugglers!

Anyone else out there actively doing this?

**colbycheese** · 06-19-2012, 08:14 AM

I used to do this pretty regularly, but haven't for about a year now. Maybe I should try again now that I have a smart phone.

When I geocached all of the time I really enjoyed how it would help me discover parks and scenic areas that were new to me, despite living close to them. It's also great for making dog walks more interesting.