Product Description

Technology can be more than just practicalit can also be fun. And fun is exactly what youll have when you try geocaching. Its a high-tech treasure-seeking game that uses the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Because geocaching combines the outdoors, puzzles, and adventure, everyonefrom kids to kayakers, and retirees to rock climberscan easily become involved. Youll join a rapidly expanding worldwide network of people who hide containers of "prizes" in the wilderness, suburbs, and even in the middle of cities, then provide clues for others to discover them.

Borrowing from the classic pursuits of orienteering and letterboxing, geocaching can be as easy as a walk in the park or as challenging as scuba diving to a hundred feet. You dont need to be an expert in electronics, navigation, or even hiking to start. With this book, youll soon understand GPS technology, know how to find your way about, and be able to prepare for your next hike-and-seek adventure!

Fellow Geocachers: Check out a great review in travelworld magazine!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #179078 in Books
• Published on: 2004-04
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

TravelWorld Magazine, Irene Nantz, July 2004
"One of the most unusual, fun books to come out in a long time...!"

Richard Niles, Today's Cacher, September, 2004
Everyone who has been touched by the magic of geocaching should...reserve a prominent place for it on their bookshelf.

Download Description

Geocaching: Hiding, Hiking, and High Tech is a guide to the relatively new, and exponentially growing, activity of geocaching. It is a treasure hunting game using handheld GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers that is now played world-wide. Invented in May 2000, there are already hundreds of thousands of people who participate, and that number continues to rapidly grow.

This comprehensive guide to geocaching covers not only the fundamental principles and points of geocaching, but also covers related topics such as wilderness navigation, hiking, and outdoor safety.

Customer Reviews

Well Done
Erik has captured the essence of the geocaching experience with personal accounts of (mis)adventure and techie how-to's. "Geocaching: Hike and Seek..." is on my recommended reading list for those who Travel by GPS.

high tech hiking
Geocaching is a scavenger hunt for big kids like you, fast forwarded to a high tech gloss. Sherman shows how enthusiasts have coalesced into local groups, all over the globe, to dive into these outdoor activities, where each player carries her trusty GPS.

Most of the contests take part in rural areas and offer a nifty excuse for exercising and socialising. Sherman gives tips on how to best equip yourself, aside of course from that GPS. These are mostly traditional common sense guidelines for anyone hiking.

One thing you can get from the book is that aside from the geocaching, nowadays pure hiking has changed. Many hikers bring along GPS for safety and convenience. Some traditionalists look with askance on this, however.

Readers might recall how GPS was originally developed by the US military, and when GPS devices were heavy and expensive. Here is yet another instance of a military spinoff that followed Moore's Law and added on popular civilian usages.

Introduction to Geocaching
As someone just starting geocaching, I found Erik Sherman's book to be a fair introduction. The meat of the book is found in chapters 6 and 7, "On the Hunt" and "In Hiding". The tips and tricks discussed show the thoughts of an experienced geocacher. The specifics in earlier chapters such as how to fold a map are simple and very useful. The instructions on how to use a compass were limited and could use some specific examples. Chapter 5, "A Good Walk", could be useful for someone with no experience with the outdoors, but are of limited value for someone with experience. The photos that are included may date the book quickly.