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I Just got back from a weekend in Long Lake NY. While there i attended 3 Geocaching events. The 2010 Mid-Winter Meet and Greet Friday evening, Mid-winter Geocaching Get-Together 2010 on Saturday, and the 2010 Mid-Winter Flash Mob Event on Sunday. Along with attending these events i hiked along several trails new to me and cached with many different people. It made for a very adventure filled weekend. With Geocaching there is an adventure always near you with new caches being published daily around the world!!! If you already own a handheld gps and like the outdoors throw on some Snow Shoes and give it a try you won’t be sorry!!! For more information visit Geocaching.com
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If you are looking for a serious, yet versatile handheld GPS you might want to consider the DeLorme Earthmate. The DeLorme Earthmate PN-30 or PN-40 GPS systems have a lot to offer. The DeLorme Earthmate GPS are great as handheld GPS systems, but with the right handheld GPS accessories such as the correct GPS mounts they become automotive GPS systems; and, since they are waterproof, can also be used on your motorcycle, bike or ATV as well, and there is no worry if you get caught in the rain on a hike or geocaching expedition.
With compact dimensions of 2.43 x 5.25 x 1.5 they are easy to carry, are equipped with STMicroelectronics GPS 32-channel chipset for reliable satellite acquisition and include dual-core processor for rapid screen re-draws, even with large aerial imagery files and 500 MB of available on-board Flash memory. With both you can download data directly to SD card while in the receiver and display Navionics Charts. While only the PN-40 has a 3-axis electronic compass which performs in any position and sensitive barometric altimeter for accurate altitude readings, both versions have many other great features.
Both the DeLorme Earthmate PN-30 and PN-40 are pre-loaded with US secondary and connector roads , pre-loaded worldwide highway and major road base map and include Topo USA with comprehensive street, road and topographic detail. DeLorme Earthmate GPS even include NOAA nautical charts and are WAAS-enabled and with their rugged rubberized housing they are waterproof to IPX7 for marine use. Both the DeLorme Earthmate PN-30 and PN-40 include support for high capacity SDHC cards , available at up to 32 GB and 65K-color daylight-reading screen for visibility in any light conditions. Include the facts that they hold up to 10 tracks (10,000 points per track), up to 1,000 user-defined waypoints and hold up to 50 routes they are terrific for paperless geocaching. And who would expect them to include an almanac information on tides, sun and moon phases, and hunting/fishing conditions? Since they run on 2 AA batteries (included) or available Lithium-Ion rechargeable you can always carry backup batteries in your pack so you won’t get caught without your GPS before you get home.
What more versatile handheld GPS systems can you imagine? Whether you are interested in automotive GPS systems, geocaching or using GPS on your bike, motorcycle or ATV or for marine use, the DeLorme Earthmate GPS are dynamite handheld GPS systems not to be overlooked.
I was talking to my friend today, and she suddenly started chuckling. She and her husband had been visiting friends this week. One of her friends started talking about how their neighbor was doing something with her navigation thingy looking for stuff and couldn’t understand what she was doing or why they thought it was so much fun. My friend surprised even her husband by explaining to them that they are using their handheld GPS units looking for a geocache. Geocaching is very a popular activity in which you get the coordinates of the location where someone else hid a special waterproof container containing a log and maybe some little trinkets or geocache coins or such, then you go out and find it with the aid of your portable GPS device. It is something that is fun for the whole family to do together. She was pretty smug that, after having talked about geocaching with me from time to time, she was the only one in their group who understood what was going on. Cute. She has since started talking to them about trying it with her soon with her handheld GPS system. Maybe I can tag along, too!
According to the New York Capital Region Geocachers there are definite guidelines for where and how you are allowed to place a cache. To be sure we all are compliant and don’t cause any animosity toward geocachers in general, I thought it would be good to summarize some of the guidelines. You may remember that Geocaching is currently banned in all National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges. This includes the Appalachian Trail which is a National Park; therefore caches may not be placed inside or in close proximity to it. There are several other areas in New York State which are specifically listed as off limits to geocaching. They are listed in detail at geocachingny.org, and you may want to take a good look at this list before accidentally placing a geocache where it is forbidden. As for New York State in general, we have been asked to NOT place caches on mountain tops or right at the overlooks. Please be sure to keep caches down within the tree line.
Most land managers they talked with about geocaching insisted that all containers be labeled as a GEOCACHE on the OUTSIDE. Since that is already in the cache listing guidelines the importance of this should be stressed again. Well, now that you know some of the guidelines to follow, it is time to grab your Garmin Colorado or other handheld gps units and get out and have some fun finding all those geocaches that have already been hidden. Maybe you will even be adventurous enough to hide some of your own!
So what exactly is a geocache? Caches are typically waterproof containers which can vary in size and often contain a log book and several trinkets from geocachers who have previously found the cache. If you like you can help yourself to one of the trinkets but be sure and leave one of your own in return! Geocaching is a fun game that is played worldwide, sort of hide and seek using a portable or handheld GPS device. You will find coordinates posted on the internet of different caches in your area. There are hundreds of caches in our area alone. If you find a cache you write in the log inside it and post your finding on the web. If you should move the cache (be sure it is one that can be moved before you do), you want to then post the new coordinates on the internet so the next geocacher can look to see where you moved it to.
Be sure to be considerate of the environment while caching, and it is a nice idea to bring a bag to collect any trash you might see on your adventure. The national parks do not allow caches to be placed within them, but New York State parks have a permit system for geocaching activities. It is a great family activity so you can get your children outdoors hiking and learning and having fun together. Now get out there and enjoy the great outdoors.
I would like to share the joy of Geocaching with you. I have been enjoying this hobby for a few years now. Each and every cache I have found has been unique in it’s own way. Everything from a quick find in a parking lot to a long hike in the woods. The adventure never gets old. This hobby is for the young and old alike. For those who haven’t heard of Geocaching it basically is Modern day treasure hunting. One person or group hide a cache then others go find it using the Coordinates of the cache on a handheld GPS unit. Additional information about this hobby can be found at Geocaching.com . Geocaching is a world wide hobby. Go to Geocaching.com type in your zip code and you may just be surprised at just how many you’ll find. As with all outdoor activities please respect the areas you visit, and if you carry it in please carry it out. Happy caching.
Roadragetrx (geocaching name)
JR Akins