15 Years Ago an obsession was born:
May 1, 2000
"Today, based on a recommendation from the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with Secretaries of State, Transportation and Commerce, and the Director of the CIA, the President is announcing that the United States can safely stop its intentional degradation of the GPS signals available to the public. The United States is turning off a feature known as selective availability."
~Dr. James Baker, the Administrator of NOAA
May 2, 2000
Selective Availability (SA) was shut off at 12AM. Magic became reality.
Dave Ulmer made the first Usenet post "The Great Stash Game" on sci.geo.satellite-nav.
"Now that SA is off we can start a worldwide Stash Game!! With Non-SA accuracy it should be easy to find someone's stash from waypoint information. Waypoints of secret stashes could be shared on the Internet, people could navigate to the stashes and get some stuff. The only rule for stashes is: Get some Stuff, Leave some Stuff!! Have Fun!! Dave..."
~Dave Ulmer
May 3, 2000
Dave Ulmer hid the very first GPS Stash (Geocache) in the woods near Beaver Creek, Oregon and posted the coordinates online.
"GPS Stash Hunt... Stash #1 is there!"
~Dave Ulmer
May 3, 2000, GEOCACHING was born!
Lets gather on this special day. To celebrate an event that has featured heavily in many of our lives. Geocaching was born.
Location: Corn Exchange
Upper Floor
11-13 Corn Exchange Road
Stirling
FK8 2HX
When: Sunday 3rd of May 1930 to 2100