The ABC's of Geocaching

W is for Webcam

I had thought about doing W is for Wherigo but I haven't quite figured out how to create one yet.  When I do understand more of how to create one I may replace this cache with a wherigo, but for now lets learn about Webcams.

There are four Webcams in Iowa and we are blessed to have so many.  There are currently 99 Webcams in the United States including disabled Webcams.  If the ones that are currently disabled end up being archived there will be less.  Webcams have been grandfathered, which means that the ones that are there will stay there as long as they are up and running and there is a CO that is watching over them.  Once a Webcam gets archived, it is plain and simple, it's gone forever. 

It used to be in order to log a Webcam you had to have a friend on a computer take a screen shot when they saw you.  Now, with cell phones it is much easier to take the photo that is needed.

Our first Webcam was the Giraffe Cam in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  You needed to be in the picture along with a giraffe, which can be tricky, because they are not necessarily in the spot to capture them as well as yourselves in the photo.  We also were lucky to get the Webcam on Pearl Street  a couple years later located in Boulder before it was archived.  Now this is the only Webcam left in Colorado.

We currently have logged nineteen Webcam caches including this one located on the Ames campus.  On any geocaching trips we make if there is a Webcam along our route we go for it.  On a recent geocaching adventure to Montana for instance we logged the only Webcam in South Dakota and both the Webcams in Wyoming.  Montana does not have any Webcams.

If you have not been to any Webcams yet I would encourage you to do so.  Just like the Virtuals and Earth Caches the Webcams will take you places you may have not gone to otherwise.  

Be Safe