Garmin GEOCACHING introduction

introduction to

GEOCACHING

© 2001 GARMIN Corporation

GARMIN International, Inc.
1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A.
Tel. [phone] or 800/800.1020
Fax [phone]

GARMIN (Europe) Ltd.
Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, SO51 9AQ, U.K.
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]

GARMIN Corporation
No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan
Tel. [phone]
Fax [phone]

All rights reserved. Except as expressly provided herein, no part of this guide may be
reproduced, copied, transmitted, disseminated, downloaded or stored in any storage
medium, for any purpose without prior written consent of GARMIN Corporation.
GARMIN Corporation hereby grants permission to download a single copy of this
guide onto a hard drive or other electronic storage medium to be viewed for personal
use, provided that such electronic or printed copy of this guide contains the complete
text of this copyright notice and provided further that any unauthorized commercial
distribution of this guide is strictly prohibited.

Web site address: www.garmin.com

GARMIN and TracBack are registered trademarks and may not be used without
the express permission of GARMIN Corporation. Geocaching.com is a copyright of
Grounded Inc.

September 2001 Part Number 190-00252-00 Rev. A Printed in U.S.A.

Introduction

Did you know that there are hidden treasures waiting to be found
tucked away in the mountains, forests, waterways, deserts, cities or parks
near you? How would you like to have a treasure map that tells you where
they are buried? Do you have a place that you would like to share with
others, but just need to give them an incentive to get there? The answer for
adventure is a new and growing outdoor activity called geocaching. “Geo”
for global and “caching” as in fi nding a hidden treasure.

What is geocaching?

It has been called everything from high-tech hide-and-seek, global
scavenger or stash hunting to a modern version of the
classic Easter egg hunt. Geocaching is an entertain­ing adventure game for GPS (Global Position­ing System) users. (For more information on
what GPS is, download our “GPS Guide
for Beginners” from the GARMIN manu­als web site.) All you need to get started
is a GPS unit and an Internet connec­tion. Participating in a cache hunt is a
good way to take advantage of the won­derful features and capability of a GPS unit
and to get outdoors to see new places. The
basic idea is that individuals and organizations
set up caches all over the world and share the
locations of these caches on the Internet. GPS users can
then use the location coordinates to fi nd the caches. Once found, a cache
may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. If the visitor takes
something from the cache they are asked to leave something for the cache.
For some, the biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of
a place that they have never been.

So what’s in a cache?

A cache can come in many forms, but the fi rst item should always be
the logbook. In its simplest form a cache can be just a logbook and nothing
else. The logbook contains information from the founder of the cache and
notes from the cache’s visitors. A logbook might contain information about
nearby attractions, coordinates to other unpublished caches, and even jokes
written by visitors. If you get some information from a logbook you should
give some back. At the very least you should leave the date and time you
visited the cache.

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Larger caches typically consist of a waterproof container— like a
waterproof box or plastic canister— placed discreetly within the local
terrain. The container will include the logbook and any number of more
or less valuable items. These items turn the cache into a fun treasure hunt!
You never know what the founder or other visitors of the cache may have
left for you to enjoy. Remember, if you take something, it’s only fair to leave
something in return. Items in a cache could be (but are not limited to):
Maps, books, software, hardware, CDs, videos, pictures, money, jewelry,
tickets, antiques, tools, games, toys, pens, mementos, trinkets, etc. It is
recommended that items in a cache be individually packaged in clear
zipped plastic bags to protect them. Dangerous items like explosives,
ammo, drugs and alcohol should never be placed in a cache. Respect the
local laws. All ages of people hide and seek caches, so use some thought
before placing an item into a cache. Food items are always a bad idea.
Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have
been chewed through and destroyed because they contained food items.

How do I get started?

You will need a GPS unit to fi nd or mark cache locations and Internet
access for sharing or fi nding the coordinates. GARMIN offers an impressive
array of products for the outdoor enthusiast on the go. You can visit our
web site at www.garmin.com to fi nd information on a unit that suits your
lifestyle. The online dealer locator can help you fi nd a dealer near you to
purchase a unit.

Once you have a GPS unit, you will need to get on the Internet
to start fi nding cache locations or report a cache that you have created.
We recommend starting at www.geocaching.com, which lists thousands
of caches across the U.S.A. and around the world! At geocaching.com you
will also fi nd details and helpful hints on fi nding and creating the daily
growing number of caches. There are also
user forums, cache notes, pictures of some
caches, or notes of other people’s experiences
fi nding the cache. Some may be visible from
20 feet away, while others in heavily traveled
areas may be buried under some rocks.
Caches are rated by diffi culty and terrain. You
could need climbing gear or special equip­ment for some, or a comfortable pair of walk-

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GEOCACHING.COM

ing or hiking shoes for others. The location and complexity of a cache
demonstrates the creator’s skill and creativity.

Finding a cache

After you get the coordinates online and enter them into your GPS, you
are ready to get started on your adventure! GARMIN 12-channel units have
an accuracy of less than 15 meters (49 ft.), and less than 3 meters (10 ft.)
on WAAS-capable models, which will allow you to get close enough to start
searching for the cache. Even with the cache coordinates and a GPS unit,
there can still be a bit of searching involved. Since the GPS navigates in a
straight line, or “as the crow fl ies”, you may have terrain obstacles to navigate
around. The most direct path is not always the best path! As you head
towards the cache coordinates, your unit will display the range and direction
(bearing) to the spot. It is also a good idea to take a regular compass
with you or get a GARMIN unit with a built-in electronic compass.
Once you get closer, you can start searching for the cache using the
online description or optional clues.

When you fi nd the cache, you should simply sign the logbook
or take/leave an item. Be sure to return the cache to its original
condition and location for the next adventurer. Since GARMIN units have
TracBack® technology, which is like an electronic breadcrumb trail, you can
use this feature to retrace your steps back to your starting point. Please
be environmentally conscious and try to leave areas as you found them.
For detailed instructions and tips on fi nding and creating a cache, see
www.geocaching.com.

Start the fun!

Geocaching is rapidly gaining popularity as an entertaining and even
educational outdoor activity. Whether for family fun, exercise, outdoor edu­cation or the thrill of the hunt, there is a “global gameboard” just outside
your door. More caches are being placed and found every day with untold
treasures just waiting to be discovered. Get off the couch, get a GARMIN, get
outdoors and get into the fun. Happy caching!

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Our Customer Commitment

GARMIN International aims to enrich the lives of
our customers, suppliers, distributors, and employees by
providing the very best products that offer superior qual­ity, safety, and operational features at affordable prices.
While our immediate success has resulted from develop­ing innovative products for a variety of markets, our
long-term success is based on our commitment to sup­port our customers after the sale. We are winning over
new customers with quality products, tremendous value,
superior service, and we are working hard to create more
loyal GARMIN supporters for many years to come.

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© 2001 GARMIN Corporation

GARMIN International, Inc.

1200 East 151st Street, Olathe, Kansas 66062, U.S.A.

GARMIN (Europe) Ltd.

Unit 5, The Quadrangle, Abbey Park Industrial Estate, Romsey, SO51 9AQ, U.K.

GARMIN Corporation

No. 68, Jangshu 2nd Road, Shijr, Taipei County, Taiwan

www.garmin.com

Part Number 190-00252-00 Rev. A