Finding a Cache on Geocaching.com The first step of any geocaching expedition is to use a geocaching or letterboxing website to find the location of a cache. 1. Visit the Geocaching website: http://www.geocaching.com/ 2. Enter your User Name and Password in the login box found in the upper right-hand corner of the home page and click the Login button. 3. Click on the Hide and Seek a Cache button in the left-hand navigation bar. 4. In the Seek a Cache box, you can search for caches that members of Geocaching.com have posted to the website in locations all over the world. It is possible to post by Address, Postal Code, State/Providence, Country, or State. If you know the postal (zip) code of the area where you would like to search for a cache, this is an easy method of finding caches. Enter your postal code into the Postal Code box. Limit the distance you would like to travel away from the area. Click Go. 5. A list of caches in your area loads on the next page. The page provides a lot of information about each cache. Consult the menu bar at the top of the page for an explanation of the contents of each column. Explanation of Cache Table Columns Column Heading Description Distance and direction cache is located from the search location A red check in this column indicates you have found and logged this cache in the past. Icons Indicates the type of geocache. Click on the icon for an explanation of the images. For example - indicates a traditional cache containing a log book and trinkets. (D/T) D = difficulty level – on a scale from 1 – 5 how hard is this cache to find T= Terrain – on a scale from 1 – 5 how rough is the terrain you will have to cross to reach the cache. The bar icon in this column indicates the size of the cache. Hold your cursor over this icon to see a description of the size. Placed Date the cache was hidden. Description Title of the cache is a blue link, followed by the name of the member who hid the cache. The number of the cache is also listed. Each cache on the website is given a unique tracking number. It is possible to search for a specific cache on the website using this number. Last Found Date the cache was last found. The finder logs his find on the website. This can be an important clue as to whether the cache is still available. Select box. Right below the table on each page, it is possible to download a file with the waypoints of caches which have this box checked. This file can then be uploaded to a GPS device. For more information, locate the Waypoint Downloads box at the end of the table. Click on the blue – Read about waypoint downloads link for more information. This is not a necessity to locate a cache but can be very convenient. Another method for downloading waypoints directly to your GPS device. This method is the most convenient, if your GPS is compatible. Clicking this icon will open a pop-up box allowing latitude and longitude measurements to be loaded directly to Garmin, DeLorme, and Magellen devices. The first time you click this icon, you be prompted to download and install software to your computer that will allow your device to be connected to the computer and the coordinates to be added directly to your device. Click here to install software. 6. Choose a cache in the search results list that looks interesting and click on the blue title link in the Description column. 7. The page which opens contains the information you will need to visit the cache. The size, difficulty to find, and terrain are given. Notice the coordinates given in the blue box. These are the location of the cache. You can download the file, or download it straight to your GPS or phone (with the correct software or apps). There is a description of the cache location. Often you need this when trying to arrive at the location or actually finding the cache once you are there. 8. Notice the additional hints at the bottom of the page. You can decrypt now by clicking on the Decrypt link or use the key provided once you are at the site. If you decrypt now, it might be more fun to cover the clue with a sticky note so that you only use it if you cannot locate the cache after a good bit of searching. Scrambled additional clue. Click to unravel the clue. The key to unscrambling the clue is simply the alphabet lined up with the first half of the alphabet A-M on the top line and the second half N-Z corresponding on the bottom line. The letter above equals the letter below. So the clue above would be: Gnarly fallen tree. 9. It is a good idea to print the page with some logs available. Logs are the records others have recorded when they visited the cache. Printing logs will allow you to know what success others have had and any advice they might give. You will probably also want the Google map available so you can find the initial location. In the box with the coordinates click on the link to the number of logs you would like. Five is probably sufficient. This will open a page that includes the log posts and the Google map at the bottom of the page. You can print this page for your expedition. If you feel you need more specific driving directions, click on the driving directions link. This will take you to Google maps where you can enter a starting location to obtain directions to the cache. Take your directions, your GPS, and go find that cache! Take along a pen with permanent ink to sign the cache log book. You might also want to take a trinket to leave in the cache box. Microcaches and small caches may be too small for trinkets and have only a log book. Traditional size caches usually contain small trinkets left by visitors. It is ok to take a trinket, as long as you leave one. The rule is to leave something better than you take. Some persons leave a “signature” trinket, one that represents them and that they leave each time. Trinkets include things such as legos, pictures, plastic insects, etc. You might also find a trackable, a travel bug or geocoin in a cache. A travel bug looks like a set of dog tags. The bug may or may not be attached to another item. The geocoin is, of course, a small specialized coin. A person who removes a travel bug or geocoin from a site is agreeing to login to the Geocaching.com website and follow the request for moving the object to another cache. For more information about trackables, visit the Geocaching.com website and click on the Trackables button in the left navigation bar. .