Interview with CharlesIsland, Geocacher, Pt2.
Thanks for joining us for the second part of out interview with CharlesIsland. In this part, he tells us about the most unusual cache he’s seen, an gives us some tips for getting into the sport.
How did you get involved in Geocaching? Offset caches are a variation on multi-caches. They are listed as a multi-cache when selecting a cache type. They are not found by simply going to some coordinates and finding a cache there. With the offset cache the published coordinates could be of an existing historical monument, plaque, or even a benchmark that you would like to have your cache hunter visit. At this spot, the hunter looks for numbers or information already appearing on the marker or on some part of the marker or site (geocachers NEVER deface public or private property). The geocacher is then able to manipulate these numbers or information using instructions posted on the cache page to continue the hunt. What’s the most difficult find you’ve ever made? Most unusual location? What’s the weirdest cache item you’ve found? Are there any hidden opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts you’d like to share with my readers? What’s the most important thing to look for in gear? Any Hints or tips for someone just getting into the hobby? A big Thank you to Charles Island for taking the time to answer My Questions!
April 16th 2007 is my birthday for Geocaching. I was really into myspace at the time and enjoyed finding many friends from HS on there. One of them, who goes by the name of Traeumer, wrote me a recap on what he had been up too over the past 12 years. In his recap he mentioned geocaching as a hobby of his. When I first saw the word I thought, “what is geocaching?” He then sent me the link to the site. I was reading the web page when I came across information explaining that you could download an application to your cell phone and then be on your way to your first cache. So I downloaded it and played with it a little bit. One feature allows you to pull up all the caches around you based on the exact spot you are standing on the planet. I started this query and several popped up. One of them was within 2 tenths of a mile from my home. I put my son in his stroller and then we walked to the cache. My first cache is known as a “multi-cache” Here is an explanation right from the site:
There are many variations to multi-stage caches. The most common is that in which the first container or waypoint contains or provides coordinates to the next location. Another popular variant is a series of multiple waypoints, each of which provide partial coordinates for the final cache’s position. Please provide the coordinates of all stages of the multicache. The posted coordinates are for the first stage. Use the “Additional Waypoints” feature when submitting the multi-cache coordinates for the other stages. If you don’t want the coordinates for the rest of the stages displayed, be sure to mark them as “hidden”. Doing this will hide the coordinates from view by anyone except the owner and website volunteers.
The first stage of my first find was a plaque that had several dates on it. This plaque marked a historical neighborhood nearby. You had to use the dates on the plaque to subtract from cords given on the cache page. The end result is the final cords. I went to another plaque and it was raised from the ground, made of metal. Under it was a magnetic box (like the ones you use to hide keys under your bumper). Inside was a little log book where people had been signing their names for quite some time. I added my name (CharlesIsland) to the list and returned to box just as I found it. I couldn’t wait to find my next one!! 4.5 months later I’m still caching with 285 finds and 60 hides. My goal is to hit 500 by years end.
I would have to say the most difficult find I have made was recently in Canfield, Ohio at the fairgrounds. It was also an FTF. FTF means First To Find. Once a cache is first published this is the bragging rights that some cachers pride themselves on. At this time I only have 4 FTFs. Each cache page also has what is called a GC code. You can use this code to find a cache page or reference one. To read more about my most difficult find and favorite FTF go to this GC code on the website: GC15905
Wow, now thats a tough one. The more you geocache the less unusual the locations become. At this point I would say that one of my own geocaches has to be one of the most unusual I have seen. I haven’t seen another one like it yet. It is an abandoned sewer drain. It’s base has been filled in with rock, so you can only climb down the steps that protrude from the inner concrete and step off onto the rock base. Once you hit rock bottom your search begins. There is only a 4-5 foot radius in which you can search and the opening at the top bottlenecks into an even smaller opening. This cache is one of my FEAR FACTOR Caches and plays on the fear of claustrophobia.
Again the more you cache the more items you will discover. The first weird item that comes to mind is a TB that I recently found. It is a huge cylinder FUSE from some huge piece of equipment or vehicle or something. It has a TB dog tag attached to it and its mission is to travel around. People have taken many pics of it and placed it on its website. I am bringing it with me to myrtle beach and hope to find a cache to place it in there.
The biggest hidden opportunity in the Valley that I have found is in the Boardman area. Its a nature preserve named “Kyle Woods“. A fellow cacher showed me this place and I have since placed several caches in this preserve (with the permission of the ODNR). Its pretty flat and has a 3/4 mile loop in a hardwood forest. You will find a nicely mowed grass path at the beginning and then you will transition into a beautiful wooded area to return to a mossy path and then the original path. There are some amazing trees here and some have been blown over exposing amazing root systems over 10 feet high. I go hear often and practice something we cachers call C.I.T.O. (CACHE IN TRASH OUT) We bring a garbage bag and clean up the area as we are caching or hiking. Sometimes we even C.I.T.O. events where local cachers get together and spend the day picking up garbage in a targeted area. We like our playing field to be clean. I have been working on a C.I.T.O. that will consist of several areas that I have noticed in my travels around the Valley. I also want to place several caches around these areas and launch them on the day of the clean up. This way those that show up can truly cache in and trash out. Each event that you attend shows up as a found cache on your website. So if all you do is come and clean up you still get the find for the event.
Read the forums before you buy a GPS
If you have a cell phone that will work with the application, give that a try. Of course I am biased. However, it is a $10 per month charge as to several hundreds of dollars for a GPSYou might also like
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