GEOCACHING

Updated 2012-02-10

I discovered geocaching in the spring of 2001 and was hooked immediately. Here was a new hobby that involved two of my favorite things - technology and the outdoors. I found my first cache while visiting in Edmonton in July although by then I'd already hidden two near home. Cachers and caches have become more numerous around home since then and today there are about 350 caches within 100 km, 51 of which are my own.

There have been 3530 total finds logged on my geocaches as of 2012-02-10 (link)
My Caching Karma is 3.02 (3530 / 1167)

The Most Recent Find was Logged On 2012-02-09 By
mtncatt at GCN3PR - NRIPE - Micro - YLHDAB

Why PDOP's as my handle? Position Dilution of Precision (PDOP) relates to the accuracy of a GPS fix. It's the technical equivalent of the accuracy figure shown on most recreational GPSr's. My first job working with GPS involved a mapping grade receiver which required a PDOP of less than 4 for submetre accuracy and of course ''lower is better''(used to be my forum title). It seemed like a good fit for geocaching.

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Geocachers along the Yellowhead (16) Highway have added special designations to caches close to the highway to allow them to be easily found in searches on the Geocaching.com website. This is intended to help cachers traveling the Yellowhead easily find geocaches that can be done quickly from the highway. A search now (2010/09/05) returns 221 caches with the 'YLHD' designation. An Alberta geocacher, Wavector, also maintains a public bookmark list of the these caches in Alberta (108 as of 2010/09/05) which will allow you to download them in a pocket query.

Most of these caches will display the logos below. If you would like to add a logo to your cache page copy the blue text below the logo and paste it into the Short Description or Long Description field. Be sure to tick the box for The descriptions below are in HTML on the cache page. Also you must add YLHD to the cache name for it to show up in the search.

<CENTER> <A HREF= "http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?key=YLHD&submit4=Find"> <IMG SRC= "http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/95415534-1a56-4167-ba76-55c3414c5128.jpg"></A> </CENTER>

For Yellowhead caches in Alberta add YLHDAB to the cache name and use the logo below.

<CENTER><A HREF= "http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?key=YLHDAB&submit4=Find"> <IMG SRC= "http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/13747719-ac5b-4c61-a775-4574922e1576.jpg"></A> </CENTER>

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Another unique Alberta geocache is GC43F3 the Brass Cap Cache which is a roving virtual. You will be searching for a specific Brass cap survey monuments and to log a find you need to e-mail the numbers that are stamped on the cap and the year it was placed, a description of its location or a photo. New caps are posted regularily and previous caps can be logged too. LOC and GPX files of all the Brass Cap coordinates can be downloaded from this link. To check for caps near you have a look at my Google map (with topo). Are you a GSAK version 7 user? I have a couple of macros to help you track and organize your cap finds and show the the true acuracy of your GPS compared against the coordinates of the caps. If you're interested have a look here.

Parks Canada Welcomes Geocachers: Come Explore With Us! announced 2007/09/28 (link)

Like many other geocachers I've found that caching takes me to sites I never would have seen otherwise. It's a good way to find those out of the way special spots normally known only to the locals. Although I'm a firm believer that it's not about the numbers sometimes it's fun have a look at what we've done. That nifty little summary at the bottom of my profile is generated by GSAK using a macro written by rutson and Lignumaqua

For more about geocaching visit the FAQ at Geocaching.com. Also please see the caches I've placed in the Hinton area.

I support Cache In Trash Out and pick up litter whenever I'm caching, hiking or hunting. This is an opportunity for Geocachers to help clean up the parks and other cache friendly places throughout the world. Through the volunteer efforts of the Geocaching community, we will all help preserve the natural beauty of our outdoor resources. Together, we can make an enormous difference with just a little effort.

Caches I've Placed

Click here (or see below) for my caches with the great GoogleMaps scrollable/clickable interface. The map also shows a few of the local trails I have caches along.

(with thanks to)

My Travel Bugs

Groundspeak Travel Bugs Call it a slow moving Pony Express, or a way to follow the migratory path of inanimate objects. Travel bugs (or hitchhikers) hitch a ride from cache to cache with geocachers and their travels can be followed online. If you give a lift to a travel bug please place it in another cache quickly so that it can continue on it's way.

The problem with Travel Bugs is that a lot of the time they're not logged properly or kept or simply lost. I'm zero for six for surviving bugs and won't be buying any more. I do still try to help any bugs I come across toward their goals whenever I can.

Mountain Bug - Released 2002/06/10 - Last Log 2007/05/19

South Bound - Released 2002/01/18 - Last Log 2004/02/14

Tri-Coastal - Released 2001/12/15 - Last Log 2006/03/30

Myotis Migration - Released 2004/04/04 - Last Log 2006/08/30

Pachyderm Migration - Released 2006/02/02 - Last Log 2008/08/12

Cache In Trash Out Perpendicular Migration - Released 2003/05/16. The original bug was lost in 2004/11/26 in a cache in Florida. Since the original met a grim fate I have assigned this TB to be auto-mobile. If you see it, "discover" it but please don't take the carrier ;o)

Note: The decal has suffered some damage (the third digit is a two).

Geocaching Links

Calgary Area Cachers Home Page Resources, articles, tips, opinions, helpful aids, etc, etc, related to the sport of Geocaching within the Calgary area.

GeoCaching Edmonton Edmonton's GeoCaching community...welcome!

Red Deer Geocachers Red Deer's GeoCaching Forums

GP Geocaching Welcome to the Peace Country Geocaching Website and Forums!

The Geocachers' Creed The Geocachers' Creed is a voluntary set of guiding principles designed to orient new players to the ethos of the geocaching community and to guide experienced players in questionable situations, so that everyone can enjoy geocaching.