If given a
choice, I always prefer to hide "real" caches. There is always a
good feeling you get by leaving something behind in an unique
location for others to find. Antarctica is a pretty neat and unique
place to hide a cache and to this date there have only been a few
placed on the continent. But while geocaching, one must respect the
local laws and if that means that you may not take or leave
anything of any type from the Australian claim of Antarctica, then
you must find an alternative. I would of loved to placed a
container somewhere near Mawson station, but since I cannot, this
has to be a virtual cache with a surprise element.
The coordinates above will lead you to a location near the
centre of the station where you'll find a number of flags plus a
post with directions and distances to various cities around the
world. To score a "find" for this cache you must have your GPS with
you, a camera, plus a friend to take at least two pictures of you.
Picture #1: At the directional post, have your friend take your
picture with you holding your GPS in one hand and your other hand
pointing to a city on the signpost that most closely represents
where you live. Alternatively, you may make your own sign out of
cardboard and write your home city and distance from this post to
it. This is the easy portion of the cache find.
Picture #2: The surprise element and the harder portion of the
cache find. Without leaving the confines of the station, your
second picture must be of one or more of the animals (penguins,
seals, etc) that live around the station boundaries. This picture
must include the animal, yourself, and your GPS and all three must
be all clearly visible. Please respect the station's guidelines for
approach distances to wild animals and do not exceed them to obtain
this second picture. The surprise is what you will find for
wildlife and where you'll find it, so if you have to wonder around
to find the ideal picture, then go right ahead! When you have
completed your cache find, you may use one of the two communal
computers available on the station to post your find and upload
your pictures.
