Technology – Page 6 – Paurian Café

February 12, 2011December 7, 2018

What to bring when you geocache

If you’ve been reading this blog, you’ll notice that over the past month I’ve been posting interviews with geocachers in a “Geocacher Spotlight”. One of the questions I enjoy asking is what they consider the most important non GPS Receiver (GPSr) tool to bring with them in the field. The best answer I’ve received so far is “friends”.

Bringing people with you is good for four reasons, one of which is vital.

People bring their own perceptions to the table and with our variety of experiences, expectations and education, people will look at the hide or the puzzle in a slightly different fashion. As a result, the cache is sought after from different angles which makes finding it easier. To (almost) quote Spock, “The eyes of the many outweigh the eyes of the few.”
One is a lonely number. Sure you might hit caches faster and harder without others, but it can be dull. Sharing any good aspect of life with others makes the experience more enriching. It builds a bond with those you bring. This makes geocaching into a human experience rather than just a hunt. If you want that high-five factor at the end of the day, this is the only way to get it.
People carry stuff with them, so the more people you have, the more tools you have at your disposal. Consider backpacking across the country with a couple of friends. You only need one tent, but that tent is heavy enough on its own that other people would be needed to carry food and supplies. If a group of people have the same goals in mind and most of the people are prepared (long live BSA!) then skills and tools of the collective group will be capable of working past far more obstacles than you would alone.
The buddy system has been taught for ages for a reason. If the bad kind of unexpected happens, having another one there to help out is vital to life. It’s difficult enough to splint yourself if you break a leg, but what about getting up and hobbling to an emergency unit? You’d either need to be very fortunate to have long branches lying around that can be factored into a crutch or you’d need a good buddy nearby.

There are other “things” you could bring with you on a geocache, but none are as versatile, extensible, enjoyable, liberating or vital to the experience and its safety as another human being.

Happy caching!

February 9, 2011December 7, 2018

Geocacher Spotlight : Mondo, 30k Caches and Counting

A couple of weeks ago my family attended a geocache event where I met up with a few fabulous people. One person has nearly legendary status as he’s the 3rd ranking geocacher in the world. This event marked his 30,000th cache.

Mondo with a congratulatory 30K cache card

When he first started, back in 2001, there were only 2500 caches across 42 countries. Project A.P.E. had just recently been announced to promote the “Planet of the Apes” film remake.

It’s been nearly 10 years since then and we now have nearly 1.3 million caches across over 100 countries. If someone asked me to point out a Yoda of geocaching, I’d direct him straight to Mondo. Not that he would, but if Mondo was trying to hide his wisdom in the sport, his wide-brim bush hat, slightly stubbled chin or clay-soiled shoes would betray him… but that’s alright. He’s got an outgoing personality, a friendly smile and a great temperament to go with his adventuresome spirit.

Mondo: (MondoU2)

Paurian: How do caches and their contents differ between countries?

Mondo: I have noticed two things: First, in Hungary they wrap all containers in plastic bags. Second, I rarely find ammo cans or other used military gear overseas.

Paurian: What has been your favorite cache to find?

Mondo: The Spa at Cardo in Spain is my all time sentimental favorite. My brother took me on a caching trip there for my 50th birthday and it was quite a journey and a personal accomplishment to get to the top.

Mondo signing a log in the Australian outback

Paurian: What has been your favorite place to go geocaching?

Mondo: I do not have one favorite place…

Paurian: For you, what makes one geocache more enjoyable than another?

Mondo: I enjoy caches that are accessible by 4 wheeling, hiking, biking, on power trails and in urban areas, in that order. Caching in new areas and countries is incredibly fun. I am partial to the desert too. Heck, after 30,000 finds I think you can safely say I like them all.

Paurian: What are the most challenging caches?

Mondo: The ones that are right in front of your face and dare you to find them – these creative ones are the most enjoyable to find. Some other caches have also challenged my self-imposed/perceived limitations – e.g., fear of heights.

Paurian: What is the most helpful non GPSr geocaching tool that you take into the field?

Mondo: GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife), my personal stamper and tweezers are used the most.

Paurian: So much has changed since you started back in 2001. What do you feel has been the most significant change to geocaching?

Mondo: The explosion in the number of caches being hidden and the concomitant numbers of cachers participating have been the biggest change.

The fundamentals are the same – you hide, I seek and I hide you seek. We all walk in circles and do other dumb things to get a smiley.

Paurian: How would you describe the geocaching experience without reverting to the common “treasure hunt” terminology?

Mondo: A silly world wide game of hide and seek using global positioning receivers is what I usually tell muggles.

Paurian: Are there any particularly special experiences in your life that wouldn’t have happened if you had not discovered geocaching?

Mondo: I think the most special one was my decision to ask my then wife to be Diana out on a 4 wheeling cache/date.

Paurian: [Word to the ladies!]

February 2, 2011December 7, 2018

Geocacher Spotlight : College Cacher

Geocachers come from all walks of life from babies stuffed in backpack carriers to people older than your grandma. I think it’s safe to say that of all stages of life, few of our single-years are as active as those in college.

Lia Steinberg is a remarkable student at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication (you practically need a degree to put that entire phrase in a conversation). She’s a consistent Dean’s list achiever and is a Barack Obama Scholar, so she’s so busy you wouldn’t think she has time for any extra-extracurricular activities… but she happens to be a geocacher. She even maintains the blog College Cacher where the college-aged geocacher can garner tips and ideas.

Paurian: As a repeating Dean’s list broadcast journalism major, a Barack Obama Scholar, and a very active participant in extracurricular activities, do you consider your experiences with geocaching an augment to your overall life or as more of a relaxing hobby?

Lia: As a busy college student, I rarely have a moment to relax and do the things I truly enjoy. That’s why geocaching is the perfect hobby for me. I can take ten minutes out of my usual routine and do something exciting and adventurous. If I have an hour before my next class, I can whip out my GPS and find the nearest cache without taking too much time out of my day to have fun. It’s a great way for me to unwind and enjoy my surroundings even on the busiest of days.

Paurian: Your blog is really great for young and first-time cachers, with videos, helpful tips and interesting polls. What prompted you to build it?

Lia: Last semester, I took a class called Online Media that focuses on building an online identity and visual communication. For an assignment, we were required to start a blog about a hobby or interest that we felt we could be an “expert” in. I thought geocaching was the perfect subject to blog about because not many people are familiar with the hobby and thought it would spark some interest. Even though the blog was required for a grade, I did not view it as such. I thoroughly enjoyed blogging and sharing my adventures with people who share the same interest. Now, even though the class is over, I still continue to blog as much as possible.

Paurian: What was your first geocaching experience?

Lia: My first geocaching experience was about a year ago with my boyfriend. I heard about geocaching on another blog I read and it really amazed me how there were so many caches in my area that I never knew existed. I immediately tracked down the nearest one and found it about 15 minutes later. The rest is history.

Paurian: What types of swag do you consider cool … what about lame?

Lia: I really enjoy finding travel bugs because I like to see where they have traveled to. I don’t really find the toys or coins very thrilling, although I still don’t mind if I find them because it gives me an idea of what kind of people have found it before me.

Paurian: What is the most helpful non GPSr geocaching tool that you take into the field?

Lia: The most useful non GPSr geocaching tool would definitely have to be tweezers. They have saved my butt a few times when I simply cannot retrieve the log book if it’s squished inside a micro. Otherwise, just having someone else to help find geocaches is great because they sometimes give you a different perspective that you might not have thought of.

Note: Lia has a helpful list of extras on one of her blogposts titled “Geocaching Essentials” .

Paurian: Do you or your friends have any experiences or thoughts on caching with the non-groundspeak services, such as terracaching.com, navicache.com or Garmin’s opencaching.com?

Lia: I have never heard of those websites before, although now you’ve sparked my interest to check them out!

Paurian: What is the collest geocache hide you’ve ever gone after or heard of?

Lia: The coolest geocache I discovered was just a couple weeks ago when I was visiting family in Tampa, FL. The GPS took me to an old shed located next to a baseball field. The size of the container was not specified the hint was “not a glue.” As I was searching near an electrical box, I noticed a pipe coming from the ground with a gardening hose attached. I pulled the pipe right up from the ground and found the cache inside. So clever!

Paurian: As mentioned before, you’ve got great advice all over your blog for newbies. To date, what one post do you feel has been the most helpful.

Lia: I try to keep my posts interesting for new geocachers as well as for the well-experienced. I think my post labeled “The Thrill of the Hunt” pretty much sums up my entire view on geocaching. It gives my opinion about why geocaching is rewarding and fun, as well as gives special tips on how to have a pleasant experience.

Paurian: What excellent feature/element/idea/thing would you like added to the geocaching experience?

Lia: If I plan on geocaching all day, my preferable mode of transportation is a bike. A bike with a geocaching GPS on the handle bars would be amazing because I always get annoyed at having to stop all the time to see where the GPS wants me to go.

Paurian: You mention on your blog how you introduced a good friend to geocaching. How many others have you personally introduced to the world of geocaching and which was the most memorable experience?

Lia: I have introduced many of my family and friends to geocaching and it has been such a fulfilling experience for me to enjoy my surroundings with the people I love. Caching (in my opinion) is way more fun with a friend than doing it alone. I have always loved to hike with my family, and now we can have something to hike to besides a beautiful view. Also, through my blog, my fellow classmates and professor were very interested in learning more about geocaching. They couldn’t believe a hobby like this existed and I feel passionate about sharing my new favorite hobby with people who are eager to discover it as well.

You can read more about her geocaching adventures and pick up tips and advice that appeal to any age (you don’t have to be in college) at her College Cacher blog.