What is a Wherigo Geocache?
Wherigo is a new way of utilizing GPS technology to play games, take tours, and yes geocache. Visit Wherigo.com to learn more about this new software.
Do I need special equipment?
Yes! To find this cache the proper way and to truly experience the hunt the way it was meant to be experienced, you will need two things:
- The Wherigo Player on Wherigo compatible Hardware or a Smartphone App for Wherigo. (ie: Where You Go)
- The "Hamster Caching" cartridge
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The Wherigo Player comes pre installed on the Garmin Colorado & Oregon series GPSr units. A version of the player is available for download for use by GPS enabled Pocket PC devices and some smart phones. Click "Download Player" to get the PPC version.
Once you have the Player ready to go, you will need to download the cartridge for this cache. Click "Download Cartridge" to get it.
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The History & Setting of this Cache:
This Wherigo Geocache was inspired a few months ago at one of our monthly Meet and Greets. On the tables was a brochure titled "Lets Go Hamstercaching!" from Geocacher-U. The "Lets Go Hamstercaching" brochure originated from a thread on the Groundspeak Forums in June of 2008.
That inspired an idea which is what you are seeing before you today. As with any of my Wherigo caches - they all start with an idea. The problem for me is taking an idea and developing a workable (and hopefully fun) cartridge. After speaking with several friends on the topic - nothing that we came up with in "shooting the breeze" would work - or it just didn't click with me. One day a thought came to me. That thought turned into this cartridge and cache.
The Experience:
This Wherigo experience is pretty straight forward and should be completed with relative ease. It was designed to be able to play the entire cartridge while in your vehicle driving. The only point you would have to exit the vehicle is if you get a flat (sorry!) or once you complete the cartrdige and are going to find the actual geocache container to sign the logbook.
The cartridge - like many of my other cartridges has a slight "twist". Nothing too hard or devious. Once you have finished the cartridge you may have the feeling that you have been "spinning your wheels" or "driving in circles" all day long.
Is logging my result any different for this cache?
Logging your results here on geocaching.com is no different than any other cache (and you get a new icon on your profile page so no changes there).
Unlocking the cartridge on Whereigo.com is not required, but it would be greatly appreciated. After you've completed the cartridge you should see a "Hamster Caching.gws" file on your device. On your Garmin Colorado or Oregon, you will find it in the Wherigo/Saves directory. You can upload this file to Wherigo.com and it will "Unlock" it, giving you credit for completing the cartridge (on the Wherigo site too). It will also help track the number of completions for this cartridge. Again not required, but I would really appreciate it if you did. You may also complete the cartridge by visiting the cartridge page on the Wherigo website and Write a Log.
Hints for this Cache:
Hints shouldn't be needed for this cartridge as it's a relative simple - possibly time consuming (should be less than an hour) cartridge. I tried to develop this cartridge with one goal - to follow the KISS principle and keep it simple. I wanted to have the least amount of code possible to make this cartridge work. Good luck and have fun.
Logging requirements:
Once you successfully complete the cartridge - it will give you a completion code. use it to unlock the cartridge on your Wherigo Profile page.
Please note - the development and player software is still in alpha stage and you may experience issues running it.
Hidden by a Bedford Brother