Newbie - How To Get Started?

[DN&SI]

My husband and I are new to the sport. We recently purchased a GPS and are excited to get started. Problem is: How!?! Is it best to just start looking? Is there any other research that should be done? Thanks for the help.

Edited March 16, 2004 by DN&SI

[DiverMan]

Welcome to the game. It is very addicting. You wil find that the more you do, the more you want to do. Here is a link to the FAQ's to help you get started. Also I would recommend looking through the forums for some help.

 

Good Luck and Happy Hunting

[buncho'bassets]

I just started about a month ago, so I'm not a seasoned advice giver.

 

But I started with the easier ones and made sure I brought any hints with me to decrypt if I needed to. I've been successful so far. I just had to make myself read directions carefully.....not reading them made me confused a few times.

 

Also virtuals are an easier way to get used to your GPS.

 

Happy hunting!!!

[+Brianslost]

I am also a sub-one-month veteran. I found Geocaching and just put in my zip code and went out looking. So far I am familiar with all the places I am caching but I expect things will get harder as I get farther away from home. But it has led me to some parks that I had no idea of and wouldn't have without caching. All I can say is go do it. Your not doing it wrong if you found the cache.

[+Fritz_Monroe]

While I'm not overly experienced, I'm also not terribly new. 3 months and just over 100 finds.

 

Biggest piece of advise I can give it to see if you have a geocaching society in your area. Contact them and try to hook up with one of their officers. Barring that, take a look at some caches near you and contact some of the more experienced cachers that have found your local caches. You can't imagine the difference it made for me. I found 2 caches on my own before hooking up with MDGPS and going out with mrkablooey. He showed me some techniques. Also watched me and gave a welcome hint when he saw I was getting too frustrated. Never just gave me the answer, just tried to guide my thinking in the right direction.

 

I know you have some great cachers in PA, but I don't think there is a PA organization. MD has a very active geocaching society.

 

Hope this helps.

 

F_M

[+Team Shibby]

First things first! Read the manual for your GPS and make sure it is set to use the the format hddd°mm.mmm and that the Datum is set for WGS84. This is the standard format used on geocaching.com.

 

Next is to place your GPS outside with a clear view of the sky and let it aquire its position and download important information known as an almanac. One half hour should be plenty. Once this is done, you are ready to input a set of local cache coordinates and go! While you are at it, why not make a waypoint for your house!

 

Start with easy caches or virtuals. Every cache has a rating, so start with 1/1's till you are comfortable with the all the features of your GPS and your ability to conquer caches with greater difficulty.

 

Things to make caching easier:

Print the cache page and read the last few logs. Chances are if the last few finders could not find it, neither are you...wink...wink

 

Keep a fresh set of batteries with you at all times.

 

Mark a waypoint for your car BEFORE entering the woods!!

 

Put together a caching bag. Something that will contain a small first aid kit, some snacks, trade items, Bug Spray..yada...yada...yada

 

Good luck and have fun! Kar of TS!!

[+ThePropers]

Hey DN & SI. We are also really new, and are from just over the river in Harrisburg. We've only been doing it a couple months, and have found 4 traditional and 9 virtuals. We haven't gotten out much since it's been cold and we have our 2 year old along.

 

Anyhoo, like someone mentioned, the virtuals are a great way to get to know your GPS, and there are a lot in downtown Harrisburg. We've been doing more virtuals in preparation to focus on traditionals once we are comfortable with the equipment. Plus, with our 2 year old, virtuals are just easier to do than tromping through the woods.

 

If you're interested, we're planning on doing a variety this weekend if you want to get together. Maybe do 3 or 4 virtuals and a couple traditionals in the downtown area. You're more than welcome to tag along. Just send us an email if you're interested.

 

EDIT: Just realized there's a second Mechanicsburg in PA nowhere near Harrisburg. Well, if you're from the one in Central PA, you're more than welcome to join us.

Edited March 17, 2004 by ThePropers

[+hikemeister]

Definately do read the FAQ page on the GC.com website, start with some easy (difficulty 1) caches, pay attention to how certain geocachers hide because that will help you find their other caches, in many places consider always traveling as a pair and not alone, for safety reasons, use a walking stick to poke in holes and under vegetation (to avoid snakes), and the other usual common sense things like water, cell phone, good hiking shoes....etc.

 

Have fun! That's the most important one....and have respect for other folk's caches, especially when it comes to searching while others are around. Avoid actions that will give away the location to persons who are not geocachers.

 

I always stick to one more personal 'rule' -- hide it as you found it. I look carefully at how the cache was hidden, and make sure it is placed back in the same manner, unless it clearly was not put back carefully by the previous finder. If you have left revealing foot prints, for example, brush them away -- don't spoil the fun of the search by leaving an obvious trail.

 

And again -- have fun! Welcome to this great sport.

[+scarng]

Mark a waypoint for your car BEFORE entering the woods!!

 

That's the best tip I have seen so far! Thanks I'm going to put that one on my review mirror.