Published: April 22, 2007 12:00 am         

Fun with ‘geocaching’

It’s an entertaining game all GPS users can enjoy. It can be as easy as visiting your local park or as difficult as climbing a mountain or diving into the ocean.

I have heard of the term “geocaching” but never really knew what it was all about. After some searching on the Internet, I learned this game is worldwide. Caches are buried or hidden by an individual, and the coordinates are posted on the Web. The idea is to find this cache, sign the log and post your success on the Web.

A cache is a hidden treasure. You never know what you could find. Caches may be small or large. A cache must contain a notebook. Beyond this the cache may have any number of things inside — money, sporting or concert tickets, trinkets, clues to a larger treasure, or lottery tickets.

The rules of Geocaching are simple: 1. Take something from the cache. 2. Leave something in the cache. 3. Write about it in the log book. If the cache only contains a log book, read the comments and leave your comment. If it contains music items like a tape or CD, take one and replace it with one of your own. If it contains tickets take a pair and then leave a pair.

The items contained within are up for grabs, but you must leave something in return, and don’t forget to sign the log.

Going on vacation to another state or country?

Check on the Internet for caches near your vacation spot. In Oklahoma today there are 3,307 hidden caches, some just a short drive away. Some caches may be within walking distance of your home. Within 25 miles of Enid there are 23 hidden caches.

There are several variations of the game to make it more interesting. The “multi-caches” give coordinates or partial coordinates to the next location. It may also take multiple caches with hints to find the final cache.

“Virtual caches” are existing landmarks. When you reach this landmark, you contact the cache owner about the landmark.

“Offset caches” can be the most difficult to find. The cache coordinates lead you to some object, from this point you look around and find some offset numbers at the marker site and then continue on based on instructions posted on geocaching.com.

What started all this was the availability of GPS units, and on May 2, 2000, the government removed selective availability from 24 satellites that circle the globe. This gave GPS users an instant upgrade. On May 3, 2000, computer consultant Dave Ulmer decided to test the accuracy by hiding a target in the woods and posted the coordinates on the web. Within three days, two readers found the cache and many more followed in the coming month.

On Sept. 2, 2000, Jeremy Irish and Mike Teague input the term geocaching, and the Web site geocaching.com was born. At this time only 75 known caches were in the world, and today there are over 3,000 in Oklahoma alone. Irish, Elias Alvord and Bryan Roth continue to own and operate the Web site today.



Outdoor trivia



From last week: Three sets of arteries provide nourishment to the white-tailed buck’s antler. The average life span of the moose is 12 years.

Your questions for this week are: What is Grizzly Adams’ real name? What major factor does the pitch of a propeller effect?



Enid Bass Club results from Carl Blackwell Tournament



With 26 anglers competing in the Carl Blackwell tournament, only 10 anglers brought 14 fish to the scales. In first was Ken Nealis with 6.46 pounds and the second big bass, weighing 2.84 pounds. Chris Johnson was second with 4.20 pounds. Troy Enmeirer was third at 4 pounds and the first big bass weighing 2.92 pounds. Richard Craun was fourth with 2.43 pounds. Madelyn Morris was fifth with 1.85 pounds.

The next tournament is scheduled for April 28-29 on Sardis Lake.



Game Day event coming up at fairgrounds



Are you looking for a way to attract big, healthy deer to your hunting site? Then you need to attend Game Day sponsored by the Farmer’s Elevator of Drummond and Ames, Northwest Veterinarian Supply and Purina.

A presentation by an Oklahoma State biologist and Purina nutritionist from Saint Louis will take place at 7 p.m. May 4th at Youth Building on Garfield County Fairgrounds. A complimentary meal will be provided by the sponsors.

Deer nutrition, feed and food plots will be discussed. For information, contact Kerby Rupp at (580) 493-2212.