So you’ve heard about this “geocaching” thing for a while now, and you’ve finally signed up on Geocaching.com or through the Geocaching® app. You’ve done a search, selected a great cache to find, and now you’re within 30 feet of the cache. So, now what?
Here are ten tips for newbies looking for their first geocache.
1. Use your eyes, hands, and geo-senses
Use your eyes, hands, and geo-senses. Your GPS or smartphone will only get you within about 30 feet of the cache location. When you’re close, use your eyes, hands, and geo-senses to locate the cache.
2. Look for something that seems out of place
Look for something that seems out of place. Cache containers come in all sizes, shapes, colors. Look in tree hollows, under park benches, inspect that oyster shell in the forest, and yes, look in that one spot you’re 100% positive is not the hiding place. Chances are, that’s exactly where the cache is.
3. Geocaches are often disguised
Geocaches are often disguised as rocks, bricks, bird houses, or other everyday objects, so think outside the (ahem), cache-box.
4. Think like a detective
Think like a detective, “If I were a geocache, where would I hide?”
5. Geocaches should never be buried
Geocaches should never be buried, but they won’t always be on the ground.
6. Look high, look low, look around
Look high, look low, look around. Leave no bench unsearched, no stone unturned.
7. Respect your surroundings
Respect your surroundings. NEVER trample on flower beds, scale walls, or damage property trying to find the cache.
8. Check the hint
Check the hint. Many cache pages offer hints that may help you figure out where to look.
9. Check the latest activity
Check the latest activity. Recent logs from other geocachers may contain valuable information such as, “I had to lean ON THE FENCE to find this one!”
10. Be patient
One last tip: Always, always ALWAYS bring a pen!
Remember every single geocacher started out as a brand new geocacher and had to learn the ropes. And just like getting to Carnegie Hall, geocaching takes practice, practice, practice.
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