Geocaching Intro App for Travelers

 

From the Dispatch-Argus Quad Cities Online May 31, 2014:
"MOLINE - Jim and Chris Guld's Saturday evening was unlike that of many others. But then again, their lives are unlike that of many others.  Rather than relaxing on a couch or going out to eat, they helped people find hidden objects scattered around the campus of Black Hawk College with the help of satellite navigation.

It is called geocaching and is basically treasure hunting with a GPS. "

Geocaching Intro App

Geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is an outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. It is perfect for RVers with smartphones. You navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and try to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. Then you log the find and maybe exchange a trinket. There is probably a cache near you right now!

This is the official app from Geocaching.com. The Intro app is great for beginners to the game. It gives you tips and instructions on how to find a cache and what to do when you find it. I downloaded the free Intro app from the Google Play Store for my Samsung Galaxy Note 3. If you find you enjoy the game, you will want to upgrade to the paid version for $9.99.

Screenshot of the app and a shot of a cache container and log.

The app is available for Apple iOS ($7.99), Android (Free, $9.99), and Windows phones (Free). .

Lots of RVers have discovered Geocaching. You too will say, “I use billion dollar satellite technology to find Tupperware in the woods!”

• App Name: Geocaching Intro
• Author: Groundspeak, Inc.
• Price: Free (note: this is the “Intro” app, the full app is $9.99)
• Available for Android and Apple iOS and Windows Phone
• The geocaching website has plenty of good help to get you started and get the most out of your device and the game

This tip brought to you by Geeks on Tour

Geeks on Tour is a membership website with hundreds of Tutorial Videos on topics of interest to travelers, such as managing digital photos with Picasa, Navigating with your SmartPhone, and sharing your travels with a website using Blogger or with friends on Facebook. You can subscribe to our free e-newsletters, or become a paid member and be able to view all of the videos in the Learning Library.

RVing Sport Geocaching, Nets California Parks Guidelines

Geocaching--that high-tech form of "hide and seek," has been an immense hit among many RVers. It's a natural--out of doors sport that nearly anyone can do, combined with computers and other high tech gadgets like GPS units.

But California State Parks folks want to make sure there's not too much of a good thing. Last week the agency released guidelines for geocaching on State Park lands. Here are the latest, "please do and don'ts."

· Caches may be allowed where they do not affect natural, cultural and historical resources, visitor safety or other park users.

· Caches are typically not allowed or encouraged in the following State Park System units:

-State Cultural Reserve
-State Natural Reserve
-State Historic Park and State Historic Monument
-State Wilderness

· Virtual caches are encouraged and must adhere to the applicable requirements used for physical caches.

· Caches may not be buried, nor may vegetation, rocks or other features be marked or damaged in the process of placing, accessing or maintaining the cache.

· Physical caches are not permitted inside or upon any State Park facility or structure.

· Caches may not be permanently attached (glued, bolted, or screwed) to any historic structure, monument, archaeological, natural or geologic feature.

· Caches are not allowed within 300 feet of streams, marshes or sensitive water features.

· Caches may not be placed more than three feet from a designated trail.

Explaining the backdrop of the new guidelines, the state said, “We understand the popularity of this sport and the demand for it to continue,” said Tony Perez, Deputy Director for Operations for California State Parks. “Our concern is that many have secretly hidden such caches in places where repeated searches, successful and unsuccessful, have caused damage to facilities or natural areas. We are asking that visitors follow our guidelines and respect these fragile environments to insure they survive for the benefit of future generations.”

photo: Mat Honan on flickr.com