First Cache

[Agent N.]

I got my GPS in the mail yesterday and am going caching tonight with my dad and brother its a 1/1 cache, any tips for my first time?

 

please and thank you,

 

Agent N.

[+Rogue_monkey]

This may help a little.

 

1) Only use the gps till you get close then start seaching for it.

2) Print the cache page and bring it with you do you can read it over and use the hint if you need it.

3) Read the last few logs to see what other people said about the cache

4) Have fun, and if you don't find it no big deal go back later and try again.

 

Good luck and happy hunting

[+El Diablo]

When you get closethink about where you would hide it. The main thing is to have fun however. Good luck!

 

El Diablo

[+Doc-Dean]

If you are FTF (First To Find) - don't forget to do the FTF dance!

[+The Puzzler]

Trust you GPS about as far as you can throw it. Or should we say, trust the other guy's GPS about as far as you'd like to throw it. When my GPS says I am at the cache with accuracy +/- 10 m, I can easily be 20 m from where it says the cache is 10 minutes later. The GPS only gets you so close, much of the time.

[+briansnat]

1.Don't rely too much on your GPS when you get close. Many novices expect the GPS to them them straight to the cache. In reality it could be 30, 40, 50 or more feet off.

 

2.When you turn your GPS on for the first time, take it to the middle of an open field and let it sit for about 15 minutes.

 

3.If the cache is in the woods, turn the GPS on well before you enter the woods.

 

4.Read your owners manual.

[Pantalaimon]

Or should we say, trust the other guy's GPS about as far as you'd like to throw it.

So... you're saying that we SHOULD trust the other guy's GPS....

 

Because I imagine I could throw it a pretty good clip.

 

[+Robespierre]

1. Be sure you know the secret handshake in case you meet another cacher.

2. If your manual says to calibrate your gps compass, do so.

3. This is a short one, I think, so you shouldn't need much more than a trade item this time. Take a pencil, too.

4. Watch for muggles.

[+GreyingJay]

One cool thing that someone in these forums suggested is to take a known object like a rock, somewhere in a field maybe, waypoint it, walk away, and then "find" it again using the GPS. That will help you learn how far off it is, and how it behaves (i.e. erratically!)

[+GrizzlyJohn]

Allow yourself way more time than you may think you need. That will usually insure that you find it quickly.

 

I have found if I don't have much time when I go looking for a cache I never find it. But when I have alloted a lot of time I walk right up to it and find it with no problem.

[+Doc-Dean]

Be prepared! Have a first aid kit with you (or in the car) for the eventual cuts and scrapes.

 

Read this article on First Aid Kits [/shameless self promotion]

[+The Puzzler]

Be prepared! Have a first aid kit with you . . .

I'm currently 42 yr old. I have spend a good part of my life in the woods either working or recreating. I have always tried to cary good little first aid kits, just in case. But now that I'm middle aged, I have to admit, that in all my years, I have NEVER used anything from one of my first aid kits other than a band-aid or some athletic tape (which I use for treating blisters).

 

Moral: Don't sweat the first aid kit unless you are a long way from the exit, then for anything serious, cary a reliable cell phone.

[idratherbeinthewoods]

Be prepared for your second cache.

You will want to head for that one asap.

Have fun!

[PatrickD]

Pick a few other caches to do near that 1/1 cache so that if you don't find the 1/1, you can try another one. ...or so if you have as much fun as most of us do, you can go find another one without having to go home first.

[Agent N.]

thanks! I'am going to try for 2 tonight since they are only 2 to 7 miles away the next one is a 1/3.

[+SixDogTeam]

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[+okpondlady/N5PNE]

Like everyone has said..... When you get there (within what your GPS says in the RIGHT spot), Look for hiding spots, trails to off trail, disturbed grass, disturbed leaves, piles of sticks, ect. Anything that is out of "place". Above all, Have FUN!!!!!

 

Karen

[+cachew nut]

Since you are starting fresh, you have no bad habits yet. Start by forming good habits.

 

Get used to noting the time you found your cache and include it in your logs. By doing this, others who find the cache on the same day will know how close they came to meeting you on the trail.

[+MickEMT]

Take the time to get used to using your GPS first. TAKE SPARE BATTERIES!!!

Have Fun

Check and see if there is an "event cache" in your area, you'll get the chance to meet other geocachers who can help you.

Mickemt

[Agent N.]

we printed a map of the area, fallowed the GPS until around 50ft and looked for all the possable hiding places,and........ did not find it lol. I'am going to read all the logs (not just a few of them like last time) and try agian sometime soon

[+Gaddiel]

we printed a map of the area, fallowed the GPS until around 50ft and looked for all the possable hiding places,and........ did not find it lol. I'am going to read all the logs (not just a few of them like last time) and try agian sometime soon

Don't give up. Our first hunt was similar, but you'll get the hang of it soon enough. Enjoy your wide-eyed enthusiasm!

[+Doc-Dean]

My first hunt was a DNF also. A big let down but just keep trying. You'll get the hang of it.

 

Also don't forget sometimes they are just gone and no amount of looking will help.

[+The Puzzler]

we printed a map of the area, fallowed the GPS until around 50ft and looked for all the possable hiding places,and........ did not find it lol.

By the way, thanks for starting a fun string.

 

When I can't find a cache upon arriving at the coordinates and looking in all the obvious places (~80% of caches are found this way), I start walking/searching a very specific search pattern.

 

1) I spend several minutes with the GPS backing off and walking toward and/or around where it thinks the location is. This gives me a rough idea of the spot the GPS claims the cache should be. I then select the center of the most probable GPS location as the starting point for my search pattern.

 

2) Then, depending on the nature of the terrain, I start either an outwardly increasing spiral search pattern or a zigzag (from the center out 10 m north then 1 m west, then 20 m south, 1 m west, 20 m north, 1 m west, 20 m south . . . repeated until you have searched 10 m west of center and then repeated again east of center if not yet found).

 

A ridgid search pattern essentially clears an area so you don't end up looking in the same spot over and over again and keeps you from missing the not-so-obvious. If the 20 m square around the cache doesn't work, I will often pull out my GPS and see if it still claims the same "center". Often it doesn't, and so I can then extend the search pattern in the indicated direction beyond that already searched.

 

Good luck. The worst part is when you find the cache in a rather obvious spot right where you looked the last time . . . generally due to good camaflage painting it seems.

 

Have fun and welcome to the sport.

[+RatFace]

[CODE]
Check and see if there is an "event cache" in your area, you'll get the chance to meet other geocachers who can help you.

[/code]

 

Lurking through this one because I just got my GPS and haven't yet gone caching. I have been wondering about meeting up with people in my area, Hudson Valley, NY. How do I find events? Do you need to be a premo member?

[+Renegade Knight]

I've never found a good rule for finding caches. Sometimes I trust my GPS and look where it says, when I should of looked where my instincts told me. Sometimes I trust my instincts when I should of trusted the GPS. So if one doesn't work try the other. Not much help eh?

[+Renegade Knight]

... How do I find events? Do you need to be a premo member?

They will show up in your nearest caches listed based on their coordinates. You don't need to be a premium member, unless the event organizer made it a members only event. So far that's happend once that I know of as an experiment.

[+Robespierre]

In these forums, you'll find regional sections. Find yours and post there.

[idratherbeinthewoods]

1. Be sure you know the secret handshake in case you meet another cacher

 

Anybody care to explain the "secret handshake"??

[Tahosa and Sons]

Moral: Don't sweat the first aid kit unless you are a long way from the exit, then for anything serious, cary a reliable cell phone.

WRONG ! I helped pack out a DOA, because his cell phone wouldn't transmit from the canyon he was in. Just be wise and let someone know where you are at, and give them a map and the estimated time of return.