Geocaching Etiquette - The Compleat Geocacher
What do you take with you when you go geocaching? Just your GPS and a pen? You might be missing out on a whole lot of fun. And also missing an opportunity or two to either help a fellow cacher, or add to your caching experience.
So, in an ideal world, what is a complete geocaching kit?
There is an old forum discussion on Groundspeak over here.
Also have a look here.
These are not rules, nothing is mandatory - you are free to play the game any way you wish - as long as you follow the Groundspeak Rules, which can be found here.
A Daypack / Small Backpack
First you will need a 20 litre or 30 litre daypack - these are available at most outdoor stores at very reasonable prices. While getting it, also get some caribiner clips and hook these on to the bag - they will come in useful for hooking up all sorts of stuff (such as your GPS and a penlight torch). Make sure the bag is a comfy fit and has waterbottle pockets on the sides.
Now - what goes into this bag?
Mini First Aid Kit
At a minimum you should carry some plasters, lipbalm, tissues, antihistamine ointment, antiseptic ointment, sunscreen, a small bandage, tweezers, and some aspirin or paracetamol. Put all of this into a small lock 'n lock container.
This way, you will be protected against mozzies, nettles, thorns and small cuts and scrapes.
Cache Repair Kit
There is nothing more frustrating than finding a cache where the logsheet is a messy pulp, or choc-a-bloc, or there is something else wrong with the cache.
Into another small lock 'n lock container, put the following items - electrical / duct tape, a magnet or two, spare logsheets of various sizes, some absorbent cloth (for drying wet containers), an assortment of cable ties, short pencils, some ziplock bags of different sizes, a pencil sharpener.
With the above you should be able to make an emergency repair in the field and earn the gratitude of the Cache Owner.
This website has a large selection of logsheets and all can be downloaded free of charge.
Protective Gear
It is a good idea to take a raincoat or anorak, a hat, cap or beanie, and a reflective jacket, especially if it is going to be a full day of caching or a long trail. Some wet-wipes always come in useful.
Other goodies
A bottle of water and/or rehydrate. Add your snacks if it will be a full day.
A leatherman tool or similar is extremely useful for fishing out stuck logsheets, unscrewing rusted lids, and also for doing cache repairs.
Carry a head torch and a hand torch, especially for looking into those frustrating rock crevices.
Don't forget your camera and spare batteries. Another very useful addition is a mini-tripod so that you can take a picture of yourself (or the full group) with the camera's self timer.
Then you need a spare pen and/or pencil. You never know when you are going to drop your pen over that cliff or in long grass.
A pair of braai tongs is indispensible for grabbing those hard to reach caches. It gives you an extra 45 cm of height (or reach).
Add to this a 50 cm piece of 'bloudraad'. Very useful for fishing caches out of tiny places. Use the leatherman for bending a hook and for straightening it afterwards.
Don't forget spare batteries for your GPS! Flat batteries here can cut your day horribly short!
Now you need to add some swag if you intend trading, and don't forget to take along your Travel Bugs and Geocoins.
A small personal notebook can be used for noting TB/GC numbers in and out of a cache, plus other notes on each cache to assist with your logging when you get home.
If you are going to be scratching around under rocks and in crevices, then a pair of gardening gloves introduces an additional safety level.
A hiking pole is also a useful extra along the trail. You won't believe how it helps when crossing streams and climbing (or descending) steep sections of trail.
OK, now that you have all of the above, you are ready to tackle almost any trail and should be able to cope with anything that the day throws at you - from the dreaded nettles to a soaked logsheet.
Enjoy your geocaching day!
The caches in this series are:-
- GC3QACA - Geocaching Etiquette - Hiding a Geocache
- GC3QE60 - Geocaching Etiquette - Submitting a new Cache
- GC3E5N1 - Geocaching Etiquette - The Cache Hunt
- GC3Q7RH - Geocaching Etiquette - Online Logging
- GC3729Y - Geocaching Etiquette - The Compleat Geocacher