On May 2, 2000, the US government removed selective availability on 24 satellites, thereby improving the accuracy of GPS technology around the globe. The very next day, Dave Ulmer, a computer consultant, wanted to test the accuracy by hiding a navigational target. The idea was simple: Hide a container and note the coordinates with a GPS unit so that the finder could locate the container with only a GPS receiver. He placed a bucket with logbook, pencil, and various prize items in the woods near Beavercreek, Oregon, and shared the waypoint with an online GPS users’ community. Within three days, two different readers read about his stash, used their own GPS receivers to find the container, and shared their experiences online: the hobby of geocaching was born. Sales of 144 geocaching t-shirts financed a dedicated web presence and improved hosting facility for the growing geocaching site and listing service later that year.
I came to the game early in 2007 and was immediately addicted to the combination of treasure hunting and outdoor exploration. Caching has led me to numerous adventures from one end of the state to the other. I’ve snorkeled for earthcaches in the Galapagos, cached by mule in the Grand Canyon, and, of course, lifted too many old lamppost skirts, and everything in between. What I especially love about the game is that there are so many various facets that appeal to completely different types of people – there are those who love powertrails and others who prefer a difficult hike in search of a single cache, those who collect and trade geocoins and signature name items and others who ignore the swag altogether, those who cache alone and those who gravitate towards megaevents, and, of course, those who hate and those who love puzzles: for the latter group, here is a thematic one for you. Whatever your take, we all share a love the game that Ulmer originally named the"Great American GPS Stash Hunt.”
You are solving for N 42 27.XXX W 076 26.XXX.
You can validate your puzzle solution with certitude.
15 Years! Happy Anniversary, Geocaching!