What is Geocaching?

Geocaching has become one of my favorite past times and I will be talking about it on this blog quite a bit so I thought it might be good to introduce the concept to you, the blog readers. You’re out there, aren’t you? :)

• “Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world.”

Hmmm – that sounds pretty technical. I like this definition a little better:

• “Geocaching is a game that uses a multi-billion dollar Department of Defense satellite system to find Tupperware^®1 hidden in the woods.”

Mother Hen said it well, as quoted by the Cape May County Herald:

• “Geocaching is hiking with a purpose.”

Simply put, geocaching is a high tech treasure hunt. Someone finds an interesting place to go, sometimes in a park, sometimes in a state forest and sometimes in an urban area. They² will then hide a cache in the location and determine its position with a GPS. The position is posted on one of the listing web sites, generally geocaching.com, (other sites just have not caught on). Another cacher will then try to find the cache using the GPS coordinates and any other information the first cacher may have provided on the web page.

In its basic form, a geocache is a small water proof container with enough room to contain a pen and a log book and some trinkets of nominal value for trade. Though as you get into the sport you will find there are many twists and variations on the theme.

Thoughtfully placed geocaches will take you to someplace interesting. There are over 200 geocaches hidden in the Wharton State Forest. Some are in memorable areas that you might not otherwise go do.

• Carranza Memorial
• Alloway’s Rock
• Quaker Bridge
• Deep Run – Long Hike
• The Swamp Monster

You can certainly cache alone but I have found that caching with companions can be more fun. I find small groups of two or three cachers work best as it is easier to communicate the “ground rules” for the group to prevent confusion. Larger groups tend to wander and get out of control as everyone has a slightly different view of how to cache. For instance when someone in the group finds the cache what should they do next? Should they grab the cache, proclaim their find and do a little “happy dance” or should they quietly step back until everyone in the group has a chance to find it. Tougher to get everyone on the same wavelength the larger the group becomes.

So that is a really quick introduction to geocaching. In future blog entries I hope to share some of my adventures and discuss some of the hot button topics. You would think with something with the very simple rules of “find the cache, make a trade, write about it in the log” would not have much room for argument but you would be surprised. For now just remember it is a game and remember this quote, “See the sights, Find some caches, Have fun!”

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Notes:

1. Tupperware^® has been used since the inception of the game in 2000 due to its widespread availability. Lately Lock&Lock^® containers have come into widespread use and are proving their worth as waterproof containers. And then there are always the classic military surplus ammo cans which are the ultimate water proof containers.

2. So bring me up on charges of using improper grammar. In our politically correct era, the correct pronoun should have been “He/she” or better yet “She/he”. I find it difficult to write out he/she or she/he as just it looks clumsy and its to obviously politically correct. This is one of those cases when English begs for a singular, third person, gender neutral pronoun. There probably was one long ago but alas, no more. Lately the use of “they” as a singular pronoun has become more accepted. That will be my convention for this blog. For further information, check out this article from wiki. Don't feel compelled to use "singular they" in your postings. Its just my preference. You have your preferences as well and I hope that we can all peacefully coexist on this blog.

Comet Holmes

Comet Holmes suddenly brightened in late October to become an object visible to the naked eye. So this intrepid hobbit just had to go have a look. Last Saturday (11/1/07) I headed out to the Atsion Ranger station in the Wharton State Forest with star charts in hand to see if I could spot this comet. This spot seems to work out well for me as it is close enough to home and far enough from the lights for some casual star gazing. There is an open field behind the ranger station with a reasonable view of the sky. Just don't run over the herd of deer that call this place home late in the evening.

The comet was high in the north east sky in the constellation Perseus. Star gazing when I was in the scouts came in handy as I was able to spot Cassiopeia, you know that big W in the sky, not the big W at the end of It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. From there I spotted the comet before I recognized Perseus. Something was not right about that one star. It was fuzzy and it wasn't twinklin' - all signs that its something other than a sign. I got out the binocs and sure enough - it was the comet.

(Image from wikipedia)

The comet looked like a dim fuzzy star. If you try to think back to times when we watched the stars to tell the seasons for planting and harvest you can imagine the awe our ancestors must of felt when a "guest star" suddenly appeared to shake up the order of the heavens. Comets where once thought to be bad omens. To me its just another one of the glories and mysteries of God's creation.

I remember trying to spot Halley's Comet on its last return in 1986. I never did see that one. I finally spotted my first comet in 1996, Comet Hyakutake . Comet Holmes reminds me somewhat of my first comet - just a fuzzy star. Not at all like Comet Hale-Bopp the next year which was visible over city lights and had a visible tail.

If Comet Holmes follows its past history, it had a similar sudden brightening in 1892 when it was discovered, then it may be visible for the next couple of weeks. The comet is currently in retrograde motion so it will be doing a loop in Perseus for some time to come.

So go check out the comet. Some fun star gazing to be had!