Geocaching Without A Gps!

[Sir_Issac2]

Hello Everyone!!!

 

Here is my question, how many out there cache with out a GPS?

All I use is what is listed as hints from fellow chachers and look at pictures and then I mainly use Google Earth with the Geocachers.com patch file that shows where the caches are.

 

In the last two weeks I have found 4 caches without a GPS.

 

Or is there anyone out there that does this, or even better is there a name for Geocaching without a GPS????

 

Thanks,

Sir_Issac2

[+Bill & Tammy]

Guess it could be called orienteering in some sense, I found my first 35 without a GPSr and if it weren't for the cost of printer ink to spew out topos I would still probably do it.

 

It is very satisfying to locate a geocache without a unit. I always used the method of finding "geographic handrails" to point me to the cache. BTW multis really don't work well without a GPSr unless you want to make a few trips home.

[+Munin]

Or is there anyone out there that does this, or even better is there a name for Geocaching without a GPS????

Here in New England we might call someone like this "Walden Run". He's got over 2,700 finds, so I'd have to say it's possible to be quite successful without relying on a GPSr. (Heck, I don't even have 1/10th as many finds, and I do use a GPSr! )

 

You might get a kick out of his forum avatar:

[+Team Dubbin]

Here in New England we might call someone like this "Walden Run". He's got over 2,700 finds, so I'd have to say it's possible to be quite successful without relying on a GPSr. (Heck, I don't even have 1/10th as many finds, and I do use a GPSr! )

 

If you look at his bio it says

"Biography:

Just love doing this with/without using GPS."

 

I would have to say that he didn't get that many finds without a GPS.

[+GeoJohar]

I started GeoCaching a little over a month ago and I do it without a GPS. I still have less than 20 finds, but I am having a blast already.

 

I have been involved in Adventure Racing (which bans GPS) and orienteering which also only uses maps and a compass, so I consider it a little more of a challenge to get to the find without a GPS.

 

I use the clues, google maps or google earth, topos, a compass and sometimes 4 sets of eyes to make the finds.

 

I am starting to plan my first hide, but will have to be careful to provide good coords when I do. I want it to be a puzzle cache and maybe even have one stage that uses just clues or compass bearings or something. It is still in it's infancy.

 

Some day I will get me a GPSr, but for now, we do it sans r.

 

Cache on,

Johar923

[+Munin]

I would have to say that he didn't get that many finds without a GPS.

Mind-boggling as it might sound to us mere mortals, the vast majority of those finds were done without a GPSr. Never underestimate the power of raw determination. (Especially when combined with pre-trip research, topos, sat photos, and a well-developed sense of "The Force". )

[tubby and]

I used to do all of my finds without a GPS. Most caches are way too easy with one. These days I bring it with me, in case I can't find it on my own. I feel like I kind of let go of my roots (when I was caching i Europe, too hard to find and print off maps) but I'm finding my way back!! The term I coined a couple years back for caching without a GPS is "TradCaching". Some people think that caching with a GPS would be TradCaching, but I think that that would be called TradGeocaching. Caching, and finding has been going on long before there was GEO. Treasure Island has caching without the geo, among others. I love caching with a map and compass. Its amazing how you can be as precise or sometimes even moreso with a compass as with a GPS when you're out in the boonies. Keep on Tradcaching. Don't be lured by the machine. It can take some of the satisfaction out of finding a hard one. Even a lamp-post micro can be an adventure when you have your eyes up rather than looking at the arrow. I guess that I am now a Hybrid-Cacher.

Edited February 8, 2006 by tubby and

[+edscott]

I have done all my caches without a GPS. I call it GPS-Less geocaching. I also do a lot of Orienteering. They are very similar, but the techniques are somewhat different.

[+Poidawg]

Before I bought my GPS I found a few caches using Topozone. I did not log them because I was not certain I would be able to afford a GPS and continue to cache...I am also into Orienteering and I think those skills I learned Orienteering made it possible for me to locate those caches before getting the GPSr. I love both sports and only wish there were Orienteering Courses every weekend in my area.

[+edscott]

Guess it could be called orienteering in some sense, I found my first 35 without a GPSr and if it weren't for the cost of printer ink to spew out topos I would still probably do it.

 

It is very satisfying to locate a geocache without a unit. I always used the method of finding "geographic handrails" to point me to the cache. BTW multis really don't work well without a GPSr unless you want to make a few trips home.

 

Agree... Multis are tough, but you can do them with a cheat sheet and a calculator.. or just memorize the distance covered by 1/100 of a degree at your latitude. I usually don't do them in a single trip.. but it is often possible. Problems are when the coordinates take you off the map you have printed out for the first stage. Then a trip home to reprint is necessary. In a couple cases where stage1 was to answer a question that contained a number that gave you stage 2, I printed out all the logical spots around the first stage then upon getting the answer at stage 1, went to the specific stage 2 that was indicated. Lots more paper and ink, but lots less gasoline.

[+edscott]

Before I bought my GPS I found a few caches using Topozone. I did not log them because I was not certain I would be able to afford a GPS and continue to cache...I am also into Orienteering and I think those skills I learned Orienteering made it possible for me to locate those caches before getting the GPSr. I love both sports and only wish there were Orienteering Courses every weekend in my area.

 

BAOC is too far away?

[+GClouse]

I was into orienteering years ago, I used some of those skill in finding caches. I also use some of the tracking skills from my teen years.

[+halffast]

I found most of the few local caches without a gps and later had to relog them.For some reason my logs had been deleted from the cache page.I just figured you had to have a GPS to play the game.

[+briansnat]

I would have to say that he didn't get that many finds without a GPS.

Mind-boggling as it might sound to us mere mortals, the vast majority of those finds were done without a GPSr. Never underestimate the power of raw determination. (Especially when combined with pre-trip research, topos, sat photos, and a well-developed sense of "The Force". )

 

WR has been known to follow his companion's GPSes when he is with others, but the majority of his finds ARE without GPS.

 

Web-ling is another with over a thousand finds, mostly without GPS. He keeps an actual count on his page and its 70 percent.

 

For me its 2 out of 453. Tried for number three last week and searched for a while before we gave up and I flicked on the unit. Turned out we were only 60 feet away.

[Looking for Treasures]

We just got our first GPS after a few years of geocaching. We would search through the logs for "clues", and turn the kids loose to find the "treasure" when we thought we were in the right spot.