On May 2, 2000, at
approximately midnight, eastern savings time, the great blue
switch* controlling selective availability was pressed. Twenty-four
satellites around the globe processed their new orders, and
instantly the accuracy of GPS technology improved tenfold. Tens of
thousands of GPS receivers around the world had an instant
upgrade.
The announcement a day before came as a welcome surprise to
everyone who worked with GPS technology. The government had planned
to remove selective availability - but had until 2006 to do so.
Now, said the White House, anyone could "precisely pinpoint their
location or the location of items (such as game) left behind for
later recovery." How right they were.
On May 3, one such enthusiast, Dave Ulmer, a computer consultant,
wanted to test the accuracy by hiding a navigational target in the
woods. He called the idea the "Great American GPS Stash Hunt" and
posted it in an internet GPS users' group. The idea was simple:
Hide a container out in the woods and note the coordinates with a
GPS unit. The finder would then have to locate the container with
only the use of his or her GPS receiver. The rules for the finder
were simple: "Take some stuff, leave some stuff." On May 3rd he
placed his own container, a black bucket, in the woods near Beaver
Creek, Oregon, near Portland. Along with a logbook and pencil, he
left various prize items including videos, books, software, and a
slingshot. He shared the waypoint of his "stash" with the online
community on sci.geo.satellite-nav: N 45° 17.460 W 122°
24.800
On April 21st, 2001
Milkman & Sportchef hid what is now the oldest active cache in
Brevard County...Monkey Madness GC767. That is why we have
decided to host this event in the very park this cache is
located...Wickham Park.
This event will take place at or near the
above coords. The event will start at 9:00 am and will last an hour
or two. We will provide some donuts for those interested. If you
would like coffee or anything else please bring your own. This will
be nothing more than a casual meet & greet. No games planned,
no raffles, no huge meal served just some cachers getting together
and celebrating 10 years of geocaching. Bring your own chair as we
will not be renting any pavilion. There are plenty of caches in the
park and surrounding area to keep you
busy.
So make plans now to join
us for a fun filled morning of fellowship then off for a fun day of
caching for anyone that chooses to do
so.
There
will also be a special coin minted for this event. There will be a
limited supply of these
coins.
Hope to see everyone there! 10 years and
going strong.
Event date May
2nd.
Event time: 9:00
am
There will be a special prize for any
cacher that comes to this event that started caching in 2000 or
2001.