What do you use in addition to your GPS to locate the site?

[BevS97]

We are using a Etrex GPS, and I normally look up the coordinates in google maps to get an idea of where we are going, but once we are out in the field, I just wander with the GPS in the general direction it's pointing. We are starting to wonder if we should carry Ordnance Survey maps so we can find public footpaths? (We are in the UK, this may be different in other places). Or are there models that have footpath maps built in?

 

Or do you all just go with the wander and hope for the best? We just did one recently where fortunately we were on the correct side of the river, but if we'd chosen the wrong path at the start we would have ended up unable to reach our destination, so I am starting to think we need better planning!

[+StarBrand]

Planning is good.

 

I tend to follow the compass arrow on most caches and it works well enough but on occasion I miss the obvious trail to follow. Be careful of maps and too much planning however, maps can show you the cache is on the west side of a stream when it is in fact on the east side.

[+EEeee!]

It's very helpful to look at the Google Maps that are available via the geocaching site. They allow you to see the relationship of the cache to things like rivers and roads and buildings in the area.

 

I almost always print out the Google map showing the cache locations to bring with me on the hunt.

[+Cub Pack 197]

I own a Garmin NUVI (car unit) from before I discovered geocaching. It allows me to punch in lat / long and gives me turn by turn directions to the general area.

 

In some trips, I never even get the handheld out.

 

The point raised by others is a good one. On one search I parked and got out only to realize I was on the wrong side of a large bayou with the nearest crossing a long walk in either direction.

 

I like the quick map from the cache listing and for some I will take a quick look at the aerial photo.

[+J10fly]

Lotsa luck! JK..well actually yeah I do. But I also use my Nuvi 350 to get me there in my truck first.

[royswkr]

I do a different style of caching than most people but you asked...

 

When I hunt any cache above trivial I plot the location on a USGS topographic map (similar to Ordnance Survey). I use a road map to get to the parking spot, and the USGS or a map of paths in that particular park to get nearby, then the description or hints to look for Y-shaped tree or whatever.

 

Did you notice what's missing? I have not looked at the GPS at all, may not even have one with me. I find it far more natural to wander around looking for a Y-shaped tree, if I wanted to spend the day looking at a little screen I would buy a GameBoy and stay home :-)

 

If however you use a GPS to zero in once you are in the correct area you will reduce percentage of DNF

[crawil]

What else do I use? My wife, son and daughter! They often find it before I can! When I'm out by myself, 1/1's often stump me - with the Team, we move much more quickly.

[+trooperdjb]

I've done it both ways, impromptu caching where I just go look (well have the caches all loaded on GPS and the cache pages on PDA) or more detailed planning. I have had a couple where I either missed the obvious path and buswacked a long way or was on the wrong side of a significant obstacle. Now usually if it's a more wilderness type cache I like to look at the aireal photos and get a feel for the area and also once I'm off road switch the mapset from CN to TOPO. For my area at least MapQuest (linked from GC.com) has much better resolution on the imagry.

[+Blaidd-Drwg]

I follow the compass arrow and trust my keen cacher's sense. That works about 75% of the time. In the 25% that don't work, I get to enjoy a long walk, maybe with some bush wacking. Life is grand and part of the challenge of geocaching is getting to the site. I'm also one of those that thinks parking coordinates should be banned.