GC257XJ 10 Years! Kingston, Ontario (Community Celebration Event) in Ontario, Canada created by mm

This cache has been archived.

mm_dancer: Didn't realize that I hadn't archived this yet, thanks to everyone who came out, the weather held up and the event was lots of fun.

GC257XJ ▼

A cache by mm_dancer and Bluesaway Message this owner

Hidden : Sunday, May 2, 2010

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

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.

For GPS enthusiasts, this was definitely a cause for celebration. Internet newsgroups suddenly teemed with ideas about how the technology could be used.

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

Within three days, two different readers read about his stash on the Internet, used their own GPS receivers to find the container, and shared their experiences online. Throughout the next week, others excited by the prospect of hiding and finding stashes began hiding their own containers and posting coordinates. Like many new and innovative ideas on the Internet, the concept spread quickly - but this one required leaving your computer to participate.

Within the first month, Mike Teague, the first person to find Ulmer's stash, began gathering the online posts of coordinates around the world and documenting them on his personal home page. The "GPS Stash Hunt" mailing list was created to discuss the emerging activity. Names were even tossed about to replace the name "stash" due to the negative connotations of that name. One such name was "geocaching."

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It's A Celebration!

Geocaching has grown and evolved in Kingston and Area. From 1 single cache and a few cachers to over 400 caches and about 100 cachers.

This event is to celebrate the 10th anniversary of geocaching, and to learn about the history of geocaching in the Kingston Area.

This event will begin at the posted coords, this is the trailhead for the KP and Rideau trails. You will have to stroll/ride/walk/run/hike a section of the well groomed KP trail to get to a gathering spot where we will enjoy some snacks, chat and celebrate 10 years of Geocaching. Please arrive between 12:00 and 12:30, (noon) you will get the most out of the experience if not everyone shows up at the same time. The event will be 10 themed, more information to be posted about this so please check back.

Things to bring:
Good Footwear
A pen or pencil
Dress for the weather
Water and snacks

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