What is Geocaching?
Geocaching, is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which participants (called "geocachers") use a Global Positioning System receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache (pronounced /kę?/ like the English word cash) is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure" (usually toys or trinkets of little monetary value). Some variations of the game include a point system to enhance game play.
For the traditional geocache, a geocacher will place a waterproof container, containing a log book (with pen or pencil) and treasures, then note the cache's coordinates. These coordinates, along with other details of the location, are posted on a website (see Websites for geocaching). Other geocachers obtain the coordinates from the Internet and, using handheld GPS receivers, seek out the cache. The finding geocachers record their exploits in the logbook and online. Geocachers are free to take objects from the cache in exchange for leaving something of similar or higher value, so there is treasure for the next person to find.
Typical cache treasures aren't high in intrinsic value. Aside from the logbook, common cache contents are Two dollar bills or other unusual coins or currency; small toys; ornamental buttons; and CDs or books. Also common are "hitchhikers" (a.k.a. travelers or Travel Bugs), which are objects moved from cache to cache, and whose travels may be logged online. Occasionally, higher value items are included in geocaches, normally reserved for the "first finder", or those locations which are harder to reach.
Geocaches can range in size from "microcaches", too small to hold anything more than a tiny paper log, to those placed in five-gallon buckets or even larger containers.
If a geocache has been vandalized or stolen, it is said to have been "muggled" or "plundered". The former term plays off the fact that those not familiar with geocaching are called "geo-muggles" or just muggles, a term borrowed from the Harry Potter series of books. If a cacher discovers that a cache has been muggled, an e-mail to the cache owner is appropriate so it can either be deactivated, repaired, or replaced.
History
Geocaching is similar to a much older activity called letterboxing. The major difference is its use of the Global Positioning System. Geocaching via GPS was made possible by the "turning off" of the selective availability of the Global Positioning System on May 1, 2000. The first documented placement of a cache with GPS assistance took place on May 3, 2000, by Dave Ulmer of Beaver Creek, Oregon. The location was posted on the Usenet newsgroup sci.geo.satellite-nav. By May 6, 2000, it had been found twice and logged once (by Mike Teague of Vancouver, Washington). Today, well over 200,000 geocaches are currently placed in 220 countries around the world, registered on various websites devoted to the sport.
Origin of the name
The activity was originally referred to as GPS stash hunt or gpsstashing. This was changed after a discussion in the gpsstash discussion group at eGroups (now Yahoo!). On May 30, 2000, Matt Stum suggested to change the name "stash" into "cache" and also mentioned "geocaching" as the name of the activity
Geocaching's status as a sport
There is some debate among geocachers about whether to categorize geocaching as a sport, game, or activity.
Proponents for "geocaching as a sport" like to point out that dictionaries define sport as a "physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively." They feel that geocaching meets all those criteria.
Others argue against geocaching as a sport, pointing out that there is no clearly defined ruleset for geocaching - most participants geocache in their own manner - which means that competition cannot be measurable. Competition is also highly discouraged by a small but influential group of cachers which seems to make the term hobby a more accurate description of the activity.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocaching