Geocaching Handbook

Ten years after it all began, geocaching is still going strong. Both the number of geocaches and the number of geocachers are in the millions, in more than 100 countries, and continue to grow. This fascinating, high-tech yet family-friendly outdoor activity—which combines aspects of treasure hunting, cutting-edge navigation, and exploration—may be the fastest growing new sport on the planet. But there is much more to geocaching than what most people know. This revised and updated edition of The Geocaching Handbook covers everything the aspiring geocacher needs to get started, and it provides plenty of information to help practicing geocachers take their skills to the next level. Learn how the game began—in a foreword by its founding father, Dave Ulmer—and discover how to: • Select a cache listing and begin your hunt for the treasure • Buy a GPS receiver and use it to navigate to the cache • Create and hide your own cache for others to find • Practice backcountry safety and geocaching etiquette • Play other geo-games, such as "Are U Nuts?" and "Geodashing" • Connect with other geocachers through clubs and geo-events

Layne Cameron is an avid outdoorsman who has authored or co-authored four books and more than 300 articles for national magazines and newspapers. The Hoosier native has enjoyed assignments ranging from riding and mapping Indiana's mountain bike trails, ballooning New Mexico's red rock canyons, ice fishing Minnesota's walleye-laden lakes, and barefoot water-skiing Florida's tea-colored waterways. Cameron's first exposure to geocaching was a January 2001 brief in Outside magazine ("If You Hide It, They Will Come.") Later while mountain biking, Cameron witnessed a GPS-toting hiker--his first geocacher sighting--who at first glance seemed to have lugged along a five-gallon bucket. After further inquiry, Cameron discovered the treasure seeker had just performed the exchange ritual and claimed a small prize. Cameron works as a media relations manager for Ball State University.

(1) Foreword by Dave Ulmer, the Founding Father of geocaching (2) Intoduction (3) Geocaching: The Global Sensation (4) Let's Go Geocaching (5) GPS Units (6) Creating Caches (7) Geo-Games (8) Backcountry Safety and Outdoor Etiquette (9) Geo-Happenings (10) Clubs and Web Sites (11) Cachionary 1.0 Glossary