Handbook

Geocaching

An outdoor recreational activity in which participants use a GPS receiver to hunt for containers of various shapes and sizes (called geocaches, or just caches) hidden all over the world. Learn more on Wikipedia.

The Geocacher's Creed

As I hide and seek geocaches, I will:

• not endanger myself or others;
• observe all laws and rules of the area;
• respect property rights and seek permission where needed;
• avoid causing disruption or public alarm;
• minimize my and others' impact on the environment;
• be considerate of others;
• protect the integrity of the game pieces.

The Geocacher's Creed is meant to orient new players to the ethos of the geocaching community, and to guide experienced players in unclear situations, so that everyone can enjoy geocaching. The full text with examples lives at www.geocreed.info.

Glossary

Geocache/cache/GC

-- a box or other container that holds at least a logbook

Geoswag/swaps

-- trade items found in larger caches

Muggle

-- someone not into geocaching

Muggled

-- (of a geocacher) caught by a muggle while retrieving or replacing a cache; (of a cache) removed, scattered, or stolen by a muggle

BYOP

-- Bring Your Own Pen/Pencil

CITO

-- Cache In Trash Out -- an initiative encouraging picking up litter while caching

CO

-- Cache Owner

DNF

-- Did Not Find

FTF

-- First To Find

GPS

-- Global Positioning System

GPSr

-- GPS receiver

TFTC

-- Thanks For The Cache

TN

-- Took Nothing

LN

-- Left Nothing

XN

-- eXchanged Nothing

SL

-- Signed Log

GZ

-- Ground Zero -- the cache's hiding spot

You can find a more complete list here.

Container Sizes

Per Groundspeak's guidelines on container sizes, they fall into the following categories:

• Micro -- Under 100 ml. A standard 35mm film canister is a typical example. Usually holds just a logbook and a small pencil -- sometimes not even that.
• Small -- 100 ml or larger, but always under 1 L. Comes in all sorts of shapes.
• Regular -- 1 L or larger, but no more than 20 L. Examples: a large food-storage container or an empty ammo can, roughly shoebox-sized.
• Large -- 20 L or larger. Example: a large plastic bucket.
• Other -- Check the cache description for details. Most often this means a nano cache -- a tiny container (under 10 ml) holding just a small rolled-up strip of paper as its logbook.
• Not chosen -- No size was picked because it's a virtual cache or an event -- there's no physical container to find.

Whatever container you use, it must meet a few important conditions: it must be 100% waterproof and durable enough to survive extended exposure to the weather. Plastic (sturdy, good-quality plastic) or stainless metal are recommended. Glass jars aren't a good idea -- glass breaks easily, and even a durable metal lid will rust and let water in eventually. Pipes aren't recommended either: they can contract and draw in water during winter, and they closely resemble pipe bombs, causing alarm if found by a muggle. Medicine bottles, gum containers, and similar plastic packaging that isn't watertight and breaks down easily in sunlight and heat should also be avoided, as should any non-stainless metal container such as perfume or coffee tins.

Difficulty and Terrain Ratings

Geocaches are rated with stars from 1 (easiest) to 5 (hardest) in two categories: difficulty and terrain.

Difficulty rating

• easy -- The container is uncovered or in an obvious spot and easy to recognize as a geocache. Takes no more than a few minutes to find.
• average -- The container is hidden among a few likely spots, or well camouflaged to blend into its surroundings. Can take up to half an hour to find.
• challenging -- Well hidden among several possible spots, with camouflage that could pass for part of the surroundings. Will challenge even an experienced geocacher and can take over an hour.
• difficult -- Very well hidden among many possible spots, or camouflaged to genuinely look like part of the surroundings. A serious challenge even for an experienced geocacher, and may take several visits to find.
• extreme -- Finding the container is a serious mental or physical challenge requiring special knowledge, skill, or equipment.

Terrain rating

• wheelchair accessible -- The trail is paved, short (under 1 km), and fairly flat. Someone using a wheelchair should be able to reach the container.
• suitable for young children -- The trail is marked and no longer than 3 km, with no sharp elevation changes or heavy overgrowth.
• not suitable for young children -- Suitable for most adults and older children, but may be longer than 3 km, off-trail, through overgrowth, or with steeper elevation changes.
• experienced enthusiasts only -- Likely off-trail, through heavy overgrowth, with steep climbs and descents, or longer than 15 km. May require an overnight stay.
• requires special equipment -- Requires specialized equipment (diving or climbing gear, a boat, a 4WD vehicle, etc.) and the skill to use it -- without it, reaching the cache is extremely difficult.

Half stars

There are no official definitions for half-star ratings -- they mark an in-between level, left to each cache owner's judgment. For example, a 1.5* terrain suggests a very easy walk (easier than 2*), but the cache still isn't wheelchair accessible. Or a 2.5* difficulty might mean camouflage that could easily be mistaken for part of the surroundings, but with only a few possible hiding spots.