How long does geocaching take

Some receivers may not hold a signal if you are under heavy tree cover, in a building or underground. If your receiver loses its signal, you'll need the map and a compass to stay on track.

Once you are within the area of the cache, you and your friend can start looking for the container. Your research comes in handy here, too. Some geocachers provide hints about a cache's location and appearance in addition to its coordinates. Geocachers take great pride and some might say sadistic glee in finding innovative ways to hide a cache.

You might find one dangling from a rope tied to a tall tree branch or wedged behind a nondescript boulder. It helps to put yourself in the perspective of the person who hid the cache in the first place -- look around for places that you would hide a cache if you were in charge. If you find the cache, you are permitted a short celebratory dance particularly if you are in a remote area. Open the cache, sign the logbook and write down any thoughts you have about the cache or the trip.

Remember to take and leave a prize if the cache has some in it. Return the cache to the same spot where you found it; moving a cache is very much frowned upon. There's always a chance you won't find the cache at all.

Perhaps your GPS receiver isn't accurate enough and the search area is too large. Maybe someone removed the cache or the person who hid the cache may have been too clever. No matter what the reason, it's important to stay positive. Almost every geocacher has a story about not being able to find a particular cache.

Whether you find the cache or not, the next step is to return home and log your experience. You should let the person who hid the cache know about the cache's condition. If you were unable to find the cache, you should tell him. He might have received two or three reports of unsuccessful attempts, which could indicate that someone tampered with the cache.

Whenever you go on a hunt, it is very important to respect your environment. Caches may be hidden in an area that is sensitive to traffic, so try to avoid disturbing any vegetation if possible.

Geocachers will tell you that the treasure hunts are a very small part of what makes their hobby so satisfying. They say that the experience of going to new places and appreciating the outdoors is reward in itself. In the next section, we'll look at what you need to do when you are ready to hide a cache of your own. So let's assume you're an old hand at treasure hunting and have racked up an impressive list of finds.

Now you want to hide your own cache for the enjoyment of others. What sort of things do you need to consider? First you should decide what sort of cache you're going to hide. Geocachers recommend that your first cache be a simple one and that you hide it near where you live.

You'll be expected to maintain the cache, so you don't want to put it in a spot you'll have trouble getting to now and again. When determining the location for your first cache, it is very important to research the area thoroughly. In general, caches should not be hidden on private land unless you have the express permission of the landowner. If you do get permission, you should make sure everyone knows that the cache is on private property.

To hide a cache on public lands, you should first contact whatever agency manages those lands to learn about their policy on geocaching. Some organizations have very strict rules for geocachers, while others forbid the practice entirely. It's very important for the pastime as a whole that geocachers are seen as cooperative and respectful.

In either case, you should pick a spot that will appeal to geocachers and give them a new experience. Many geocachers look for impressive, beautiful environments that you might not otherwise visit. To them, the journey is at least as important as the destination, and so finding a unique and interesting cache site is considered an art form. Once you have secured permission and agree to obey any rules or restrictions, you should look for a specific location within the area you've chosen to hide your cache.

Geocaches close to avenues of heavy traffic are more likely to be plundered or tossed away than those that are hidden in more remote areas. A cache should be well hidden, but not impossible to find.

The more difficult it is to find, the more likely you'll need to include hints when you list the cache on a Web site. You should never alter the environment when you hide a cache, nor should you place the cache in such a spot that seekers will have to affect the environment when they look for it.

Never bury a geocache or place it in thick brush that others will have to clear. In urban environments, you should carefully consider placement of the cache. You don't want to put your cache in a place that could cause a panic. Geocachers must also consider safety in urban environments and should avoid areas like construction sites or other risky locations.

In the next section, we'll look at how to prepare a geocache container and what you should do once you've hidden it. Geocachers should avoid using historical or archaeological sites to hide a cache. Such sites are usually carefully preserved, and the caretakers will probably not appreciate groups of geocachers tramping around historically or culturally significant spots.

The container you select should be of an appropriate size, both for the environment you've chosen and for the contents of the cache. It should also be waterproof and weather resistant, as caches are almost always constantly exposed to the elements.

Anything you put inside the cache should be in a zip-top bag. Sensitive items, like logbooks, may need to be double bagged to protect them. Think about the environment your cache will be in -- areas that are subjected to below freezing temperatures or periodic flooding may require additional consideration.

You need to label the container so that casual observers and geocachers know what it is. Labels should indicate that it is a geocache and include your contact information. Are you sure that you have submitted it?

When I submit a new cache for publication, how long will it take to be listed? Each cache that is submitted to Geocaching. It may take up to seven days for the volunteer to contact you and make your cache live on the web site. Sometimes the volunteer will need to work with you to fine-tune the listing so it can be published. We kindly ask for your patience during this review process , especially on weekends when site traffic can be high.

Two of your caches were published today, and then found. You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Increasingly popular, geocaching is a great way to combine technology with a good old fashioned treasure hunt. With hundreds of acres of countryside, we have some great places to hide the booty.

Do you like a challenge and a breath of fresh air? We have the perfect settings for a high-tech treasure hunt on a geocaching outdoor adventure. Head outdoors and become a nature explorer and discover our hidden challenges. We have lots of activities to keep you busy all year round. Don't let little legs put you off a good winter walking adventure.

We care for lots of great places to explore with ease. Coordinates are normally given in Longitude and Latitude. You can use the unit to navigate from your current location to another location.

Some units have their own maps, built-in electronic compasses, voice navigation, depending on the complexity of the device. What are the rules in Geocaching? The rules for geocaching are very simple: 1. Take something from the cache 2. Leave something in the cache 3. Write about it in the logbook What is usually in a cache? A cache can come in many forms but the first item should always be the logbook.

In its simplest form a cache can be just a logbook and nothing else. The logbook contains information from the founder of the cache and notes from the cache's visitors. The logbook can contain much valuable, rewarding, and entertaining information. A logbook might contain information about nearby attractions, coordinates to other unpublished caches, and even jokes written by visitors. If you get some information from a logbook you should give some back. At the very least you can leave the date and time you visited the cache.

Larger caches may consist of a waterproof plastic bucket placed tastefully within the local terrain. The bucket will contain the logbook and any number of more or less valuable items. These items turn the cache into a true treasure hunt.

You never know what the founder or other visitors of the cache may have left there for you to enjoy. Items in a bucket cache could be: Maps, books, software, hardware, CD's, videos, pictures, money, jewelry, tickets, antiques, tools, games, etc. It is recommended that items in a bucket cache be individually packaged in a clear zipped plastic bag to protect them. What shouldn't be in a cache? Use your common sense in most cases.

Explosives, ammo, knives, drugs, and alcohol shouldn't be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws. All ages of people hide and seek caches, so use some thought before placing an item into a cache. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache. Please do not put food in a cache. Where are caches found? The location of a cache can be very entertaining indeed.

As many say, location, location, location! The location of a cache demonstrates the founder's skill and possibly even daring. A cache located on the side of a rocky cliff accessible only by rock climbing equipment may be hard to find.

An underwater cache may only be accessed by scuba.