Can't imagine I'm the only geocacher here.

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the hobby of geocaching, including personal experiences, challenges faced, and the enjoyment derived from the activity. Participants share anecdotes about their geocaching adventures, the conditions under which they have searched for caches, and the integration of geocaching into hiking experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses excitement about starting geocaching and mentions finding a travel bug.
  • Another participant indicates they have tried geocaching but do not engage regularly.
  • A different participant shares their enjoyment of winter geocaching, highlighting the challenge of finding caches under snow.
  • One participant notes they have heard of geocaching but have not explored it, suggesting it seems fun and mentioning the use of Google Maps for navigation.
  • A participant recounts a negative experience with geocaching during a summer heat wave, leading to a decision to discontinue the activity.
  • Another participant recalls reading about a geocacher who found a land mine, suggesting potential dangers associated with the hobby.
  • One participant describes a challenging geocaching experience that involved a three-day backpacking trip, emphasizing the rewarding nature of finding a cache in a historic crash site.
  • A participant mentions that searching for geocaches can enhance the enjoyment of hikes, particularly in scenic mountainous areas.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants share a variety of personal experiences and opinions about geocaching, with no clear consensus on its appeal or challenges. Some express enthusiasm while others recount negative experiences or lack of interest.

Contextual Notes

Participants' experiences vary widely based on personal preferences, environmental conditions, and the specific locations of geocaches. Some mention the potential dangers involved, while others focus on the enjoyment and adventure aspects.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in outdoor activities, hiking, or community-based treasure hunting may find the discussion relevant.

brewnog
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Can't imagine I'm the only geocacher here. Anyone else in?

We started this weekend, picked up a travel bug already.

www.geocaching.com
 
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I've done it before, but it's not a regular thing for me.
 


On and off. Never bothered to actually log any finds. Winter geochaching is fun - there's the extra element of having to find stuff that's potentially buried under feet of snow.
 


I've heard of this but never really looked into it. Looks fun. I think I can use google maps on my blackberry for this.
 


I tried once, in Summer, in a heat wave, in shorts and t-shirt. After spending 10 minutes in 4 feet high nettles, looking for a cache hidden under this bridge:

geocaching_bridge.jpg


I decided I am no longer interested.
 


I remember reading a few reports where a geocacher ended up finding a land mine or something.
 


My hardest find* involved a 3 day backpack over the Mahoosuc mountain range in Maine/New Hampshire, traversing the most difficult section of the Appalachian Trail, and then bushwhacking off-trail through fairly dense forest that left me with more than a few minor scrapes and cuts.

I was going to do the backpack (minus the bushwhack) anyway, but finding the cache - in the wreckage of a DC3 that had crashed into the mountainside half a century back - made the hike especially worth it.

* There are somewhat easier ways to get to this cache, but this time, the cache was not the primary objective, just a nice bonus.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=52191ef6-bb1d-4e5e-bbf4-8d659782f1db

One of my pics from the crash site:

jsehps.png
 
Last edited:


I haven't done it in quite a while, but looking for geocaches in an area you plan on hiking through anyway does add more fun to the hike.

So does a hike in search of a crash site. Especially in the mountains near where I live. Most of the crashes involve a pilot trainee that didn't quite pass the test of clearing the mountains. Most of the hikes involve some spectacular views.
 

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