What the heck is Geocaching?

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Geocaching Geocaching is an entertaining adventure game for gps users. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations of these caches on the internet. GPS users then use the location coordinates to find the caches. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is if they take something they should try to leave something for the cache.  The caches themselves are typically waterproof tupperware style containers or military ammunition cans.  Some caches are even 35mm film canisters.  The one thing most caches have in common is the logbook that visitors are asked to sign.
Whats a GPS? GPS is short for Global Positioning System and is a electronic device that can determine your approximate coordinate location (within around 6-20 feet) on the planet. Coordinates are typically given in Longitude and Latitude (which is a system I despise. UTM is better. MGRS is best). You can use the unit to find your way from your current location to another location.  My GPS and most others have screens that can give you information like, speed, elevation, distance, direction, map info with streets and topography. In a nutshell, a GPS works by recieving radio signals from atleast three sattelites orbiting the Earth.  The sattelites know thier locations in orbit because of radio signals from ground based stations, the sattelites send radio signals to GPS units in return.  The GPS calculates how far away it is from the sattelite by timing how long it takes for the signal to reach you.  These calculations give you a location on the surface of the earth in relation to where the sattelites are in space.  It takes atleast four sattelites to give you your elevation.
What else do you want to know? I could try and tell you everything but I should let the guys who started it all tell you.  Head to www.Geocaching.com for more information on Geocaching and to look for caches in your area.
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