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We at GeekDad are not new to geocaching. We've covered geocaching as a great family activity, Letterboxing - the no-tech geocaching alternative, and geoocaching without a GPS. But if you're still interested in getting in to the sport, but don't know how to start or what to expect, there's a book that has what you need. And it's more than just a how-to.
Paul and Dana Gillin's book, The Joy of Geocaching, was not what I was expecting when offered a review copy. Being a fan of geocaching myself, but not as active in the sport as I'd like, I began reading what I thought would be a primer on how to get started, what equipment to get, and how to build your own cache. I've certainly read plenty of backyard astronomy books that while providing an equipment guide, viewing tips and star charts, usually don't do much to get you excited about your new hobby. I wasn't sure what an author could bring to the subject of geocaching that would really break the mold. With this book, I was pleasantly surprised.
Geocaching, for those who might not know, is an outdoor activity best described as a treasure hunt. The website, geocaching.com, hosts an index of locations all over the world of hidden caches that can be found by putting the coordinates into a handheld GPS receiver and following clues to locate the cache once you're in the vicinity. These caches are maintained by people who live in the area and are usually located in interested places. Caches in your own neighborhood will likely take you to locations you didn't know existed. And they can certainly make vacations or travel a little more interesting.
If this sounds like fun, it is. And The Joy of Geocaching ratchets up the excitement even more. Because the book isn't so much a primer about how to do geocaching; It's a book about why you should take up the sport. The book opens with anecdotes about the people who go out, GPS receiver in hand looking for adventure. Peppered throughout the book are anecdotes about some of the best caches people have created, and some of the dangerous. There are descriptions by the people who have located them, and profiles of others who are masters of the sport. Reading about them and their finds make it easy to get the itch to go out yourself to see what adventure awaits in your own back yard. Maybe it's a walk in the park. Or maybe you'll be scooting down an abandoned railroad trestle bridge 50 feet up in the air looking for a magnetic container with it's precious log book inside.
But this is not to say the book is all about the people. You will find plenty of information on how to get started, including how to select equipment that's right for you and your budget. There's also information detailing now only how to navigate the geocaching website, but also how to create an account and be an involved and active member. There's also in-depth chapters that goes beyond the equipment itself including how to plan for an outing and how to navigate when you're out in the field.
The book is well written, and does a great job at demystifying the jargon and explaining the tools and technology that made geocaching possible. They also provide plenty of reasons to get outside looking for and hopefully making your own caches. If you're interested in getting started with geocaching, look no further than The Joy of Geocaching.
