Local Geocaches (and a letterbox) to scratch your puzzling itch...

Totally the climber guy. Haven't hidden any in a long time (no time anymore and Zachman10 is away at SUNY Oswego), but the last few steered clear of thorns and climbing. No real difficult puzzle caches from us, though.

Thank you Rochrach!!! After I met you at the end of the last scavenger hunt, you mentioned the cache with the Mona Lisa but I couldn't find it on geocaching.com. I did the subway cache right after the scavenger hunt, it was fantastic! Graveyard grumble was a good one too. I will look forward to getting cryptic cache and orc's treasure soon!

My geocaching user is: lifeguard4life. I have an easy cache hidden in a small park in the village of Lima (30 min south of RIT) called: "Luck of the Irish". Happy Geocaching!

Issaquah in Webster was enough tree climbing for me, thanks. :)

I was second-to-find on Subway Cache. Gotta recommend Orc's as my scariest cache ever (and that includes the one in California where there's apparently a high likelihood of poisonous snakebite...note to self, read disclaimers BEFORE caching!)

My own geocache is Watership Down in Greece. It's adorable.

I gotta say Orc's Treasure and Subway Cache are two of my most memorable caching experiences. How often do Geocaches take you underground? Also did Shilfiell's cache wayyyyyy back in 2003! Looking back at the online log ("GIANT, MAN-EATING, BLOODSUCKING MOSQUITOES"), I remember it now. We got my Dad to have a mosquito bite him so that we could squish it inside the log book, but to no avail. Just got his blood in the pages, and maybe a bit of the mosquito.

If anyone is looking for any caches to do come December, check out my annual Christmas Tree Cache. This year's will be the sixth installment of my original idea to decorate a tree with a Geocache beneath. Every year the cache is raved about, and people even come from outside the state to do it. Should be hiding it around Thanksgiving. So come out to Webster (it's been in Webster Park for the past five years) and check it out!

I've never tried anything like this, but geocaching sounds fun and I'd love to start. And Webster isn't too far from RIT... :)

Well, I think I might be asking Santa for a GPS this Christmas!! I need something to get me out of the house and into the woods!

Any GPS recommendations?

My biggest recommendation: DON'T GO TOO CHEAP. Yeah, there are GPS units out there for under $100. I don't recommend those. They just don't quite cut it. They're generally not as accurate as you need them to be. If you're not going to get into it too much, get something that will get the job done. You won't need all the bells and whistles. Definitely get a GPS with a built-in compass. If you think you're going to be serious about this, maybe go a little more pricey. Bells and whistles can be your friend. Many GPS receivers will let you store maps in them (road, trails, terrain, fishing). Some hand-held units will give you directions when you're on the road. Most of the time, you'll need to buy these maps.

My caching partner and I both use a Garmin GPSmap 60CS. I don't believe they're made anymore, but if you want to check it out, I think it is a good example of a GPS for cachers who are serious about caching, but at the same time don't want to go too expensive.

I've used a Garmin etrex legend for a couple of years and it's been fine. Well, I've dropped it so many times that I really should get a new one as I have to twack it really hard when the screen conks out. It was about $149 and the new model is $125 on Amazon.

My recommendation is to check out geocaching with someone who has done it before or as part of one of the local events. The local ADK usually has a GPS demo as part of their yearly (bi-yearly?) try out equipment events at Mendon Ponds park. On geocaching.com, you will also find local events.

As far as brands, there has historically been a split between Garmin and Magellan with each having their own loyal following. It depends on how it "feels" to you. Each brand has slightly different button positions and feel.

I don't have an iphone (sigh), so I can't comment on how good the iphone apps are for geocaching. A quick google search came up with this: iphone geocaching apps. Maybe someone can chime in if they've got experience with any of them.

The other thing to do is to sign up for a free geocaching.com membership and then check out the intro forums

Definitely stay away from "Nano" size caches in parking lots... not my idea of what Geocaching should be...

We are casual geocachers and use a Garmin eTrex Legend. It works fine for easy to medium geocaches (which is what we usually go for) as long as there isn't a lot of tree cover. In spring and fall, and in open spaces, it works very well, but in heavily forested areas in the summertime it has trouble locking on to satellites.

The better units such as the one Tazwalker mentioned have much better antennas and can "see" satellites through heavier tree cover.

It occurred to me that it might be fun to organize an introductory geocaching excursion, perhaps 3 or 4 easier geocaches in one of the county parks. That would allow someone new to the sport to try it out without having to buy a GPS receiver and figure everything out on his or her own.

I'm willing to organize something and bring a couple of lower-end Garmin GPS receivers if folks are interested.

Perhaps an experienced geocacher or two who have other GPS units might like to come along too? That would give people an idea of what some of the GPS options are.

Reply here if interested and indicate if you are a newbie or an experienced geocacher.

Aer, there are geocaches all over. I wouldn't be surprised if there are some on the RIT campus itself. If you go to geocaching.com you can search for geocaches close to your zip code or your coordinates if you know them.

We were introduced to geocaching a few years back when a dinner guest mentioned a "world wide treasure hunt using GPS and the internet." When we checked, we discovered that there was a cache in some nearby woods, about 1/10 of a mile from our house. We'd walked by there dozens of times and had no idea it was there.

We would definitely be interested in something like this. I have been researching differerent GPS receivers to give Santa some advise, but believe hands on is the best way to learn.
We are newbies but very very excited to try our first geocache!

I would be interested and my guess is that Colin would be too. My husband has a GPS but I'm not sure how good of one it is. I'll have to check on the model and get back to you guys.

Foster Family, I would definitely be interested in some kind of introductory geocaching excursion (as a newbie, as previously indicated). As far as GPS units are concerned, I have a Garmin Nüvi that I use while driving? Not sure if that would work at all...

My hubby and I would be interested. We've never done geocaching before but it sounds like fun.

Aer, your Nuvi might help you in cases where the cache description includes coordinates for parking. Unfortunately automotive units won't help with off-road things like hiking or geocaching (some MAY have a geocaching mode but mine doesn't so I'm not sure how well that would work.) GPS receivers suitable for hiking are the best ones for geocaching.

I am in!

Thanks for the helpful suggestions!

I'm a newbie - obviously- and am very interested in a group demo of sorts to be introduced to this fun! Count me in and let me know when it's going on!

Foster Family: We could help out depending on when it is.

We use a Garmin 60CSx, a Palm Treo 700P, or an Etrex. The 60CSx I love for all but downloading the texts which the Palm can do. The I-phone is used by my brother-in-law. It is useful for reading text on the fly and finding what caches are nearby but the accuracy seems lower.

For a fun puzzle cache, we just did this one:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=b7f5a1c1-d2d0-4a5...

It is a puzzle we had not seen before, but you can buy books of them.

Oooh geocaching! If anyone is going out and feels like having an extra person along let me know! I haven't been in a while. I just moved to Rochester about a month ago and I don't think I'd want to go geocaching alone!

Foster Family -- add me and my husband to the list of newbies who would be interested in a hands-on demo day. We've actually talked about trying geo-caching for awhile but have been stuck on the 'what kind of GPS would we need' question. Dave and I enjoy hiking and biking all over the area and adding geocaching to the mix would be an easy and fun dimension to our excursions. Of course, we would want a GPS that has access to hiking trails as well as regular roads and parks.

I am trying to organize a geocaching excursion for sometime this weekend (Nov 7 or 8). Stay tuned.

In the meantime, here is some recommended reading to introduce you to the sport:
http://www.geocaching.com/about/
http://www.geocaching.com/about/finding.aspx
http://www.geocaching.com/resources/

You will not need a geocaching.com account to participate in this excursion. If you decide to continue with geocaching in the future, you can create an account later.

If we go this weekend, can it be Sunday?

The geocaching expedition will be this Sunday, Nov 8, at 1pm, at North Ponds Park in Webster. Find it here: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:officia...
We will meet in the parking lot for North Ponds Park - park near the restroom building (which is closed for the season.)

We will look for 4 geocaches, two easy and two harder. Please dress as you would for hiking with suitable footwear and layers. You can expect to get a little dirty! If you have a GPS unit, please bring it.

This expedition will be cancelled in case of rain. Check here before heading out if weather looks iffy.

Thanks in advance to PTIWatcher geo585 who will be assisting.

Thanks to Foster Family and other organizers! We are looking forward to it!

I'll be around this weekend. I'm actually staying at home this weekend because my roommate at RIT has the flu. Gotta be out of Webster by 3 or so, but I can help out if you like. Shoot me a message if you would like any help from me. I might just show up anyways.

Unfortunately I won't be able to make this one, but look forward to any others coming up...

Our family would like to participate. Will an iphone work as a GPS? Thanks for organizing it!

Thanks for doing this! I will do my best to be there with my husband and the GPS unit that he uses on his boat. We'll see if it works for geocaching!

An iPhone will work as a GPS, but I believe that you may need the geocaching app. Go ahead and bring it and we'll see what it can do. In any case we expect to have a several GPS units there.

Thanks for putting this together! It was fun, and I enjoyed meeting all of you!

Thanks a lot! Can't wait to do more. would never have thought to look in a pinecone!

Hey. Just letting everybody know that my annual Christmas Tree Cache was just hidden today. Barring problems with the location (I'm pretty sure it's all good), it should be up within the next couple days. Cache is Christmas Tree Cache 6 by Tazwalker & Zachman10, and it is in Webster Park. Check it out if you get the chance. It's always well received and is very family friendly.

Edit: Here is the link for those who are interested.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ecbe18f2-96da-495...

Thanks for the reminder! We always look forward to this cache each year.