Free Loaner GPSr in Kimberly, British Columbia, Canada

Geo what? You either know or don't have a clue what we are talking about. Geo-caching is the modern version of treasure hunting using a hand-held GPS and is so much fun. Don't have a GPS? Do not worry, we will lend you one....with all the treasures around Kimberley programmed in!

There is a huge community of treasure hunters around the world and our beautiful surroundings is no different, lending itself to some great hiding places for these little caches. Enthusiasts hide their caches away and then upload the coordinates and clues onto the world wide web at geocaching.com for us all to go out and find them! It is as easy as that.

So all you need is a GPS (which we will lend you if required), a sense of adventure and as many willing friends and family of all ages you can must to help find the cache. When you find one you can take something out, leave a replacement item, sign the logbook and continue on to find some more because by now you will be hooked! The kids will love it, and of course they will be able to show you how to use the GPS properly!!

Make a good walk for the whole family a little more fun by finding a few of these on the way. A great way to get the kids away from their electronics on the sofa to making their electronics get them out in the great outdoors! Kimberley Nature Park is in easy walking distance from all of our condos and has a number of geo-caches hidden away waiting to be found.

We have a selection of Pet-Friendly units should you want to bring the whole family. Your pet will help hunt and can stay as a Free Guest but you must read and agree to our "Pet Friendly Guest Licence Agreement".

Rocky Mountain Accommodations: Call Anne 1.866.822.2666 or email: bookings@rockynow.com

 

Geocaching: Take Fringe Fest Adventure to the Outdoors

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Michele


We’re introducing another new way to engage with Fringe Fest this year. First it was the summer double pass giveaway contest, and now this: Fringe Fest geocaching! If you aren’t familiar with geocaching yet, learn more about how it works.

We have currently set up a handful of locations throughout the Calgary area. Each geocache contains two Fringe Festival buttons and a note with details about how to redeem those buttons for free tickets to the Fringe show of your choice. In short, you treasure hunt with your friends or family, you find our geocache(s) with Fringe Fest buttons, and then you enjoy a Fringe Fest show.

I should also mention the best part: our buttons don’t expire. This means that if you discover a Fringe Fest geocache before August 6th this year, you’re welcome to use it to attend the 2011 Calgary Fringe Festival. But if you find a Fringe Fest geocache after that date – say, later this summer or even sometime next year – the buttons it contains will still be valid for two tickets to any Fringe show and good for next year’s Calgary Fringe Festival (and beyond).

Pretty simple, pretty fun, and pretty fantastic.

If you want to give this high-tech scavenger hunt a try, why not make your debut with a search for Fringe Fest adventure? I will be regularly sharing Fringe Fest geocache IDs online, so make sure to “like” Calgary Fringe on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Happy hunting!

Rachelle
CFF Social Media Manager

 1 Vote

Join The “Center of the Universe” Hosts Geocaching Block Party

By Sean Keeley · July 26th, 2011 · REPOST

Geocaching.com is hosting a Geocaching Block Party in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood August 20, 2011. Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting activity using GPS devices. The Block Party is a celebration of the activity for beginners and experts alike. Head to the “Center of the Universe” to:

There’s tons to do at the event. Test your treasure hunting skills with geocaching - a game that will have you searching high and low for containers hidden around Fremont. Accept the five Fremont Challenges - location-based missions that require a sense of adventure, a sense of direction and a sense of humor. Send Geocaching.com employees plunging into the dunk tank (yes, it’s cold!). Create your own zucchini vehicle and race it down the Zucchini 500 Track. Pin the antenna on Signal, the Geocaching.com mascot. Play a game of interactive bingo for the chance to win some great prizes.

If you already have a handheld GPS device, create a free membership onGeocaching.com and visit http://coord.info/GC2FYVM for instructions on downloading the coordinates for the geocaching and challenge courses. If you do not have a handheld GPS, don’t worry - devices will be available to borrow on site!

The Geocaching Block Party takes place August 20, 2011 from 11am – 3pm in Fremont in the Solstice Plaza (701 N 34^th St, Latitude 47.64864 Longitude 122.348927). For more information, visit GeocachingBlockParty.com.

Best of The Bad - Legacy Trail

We went out Caching on the Legacy Trail in southern Alberta last Sunday, during the Best of the Bad Mega Event.   We had lots of fun and found some interesting caches, during our travels through the Badlands.    We also met up with other GeoCachers from all over North America and Europe, everyone was so friendly even those passing waved and honked or offering hints when we looked perplexed.

Rollling Hills and Canola Fields

*The Legacy Trail starts in Three Hills Alberta and winds its way over almost 100 miles of back country roads going through some of the most scenic and spectacular landscape in this part of the Canadian Badlands. A large number of caches in a variety of types, sizes and difficulty will be placed on the Trail. Every town, village and hamlet in the Canadian Badlands will have its own cache. Some caches will be named after local historic events and people, as well as celebrities who grew up in this area. Yes - there will be a Nickelback cache!

As part of building this legacy, we're offering some attendees at the Best of the Bad Mega Event  had the opportunity to stake their claim in history by naming a cache they sponsor. It's a permanent testimony that they took part in this first Mega in the new WestCan series of Mega Events. A limited number of cachers can sponsor a cache on the Legacy Trail by selecting the "Best of a Bad Deal" event registration level.*

Old Homestead in the Badlands of Alberta

I took the time to take a few photos while we cached the Legacy Trail and saw some of the amazing views that each individual cache site offered.  While the trail had lots of adventures to pursue we only found that there was a few reasons to be cautious.   I lost my balance at the top of a drop off but fortunately didn't fall into the Horseshoe Canyon.  Horseflies were plentiful but I only got one bite and the temperature was 29 C (84.2 F), but with plenty of water and a stop for Ice Tea we had no problem handling the heat of the day.  So if you decide to take on the Legacy Trail , be sure to take bug spray, plenty of water, some good shoes and a good sense of balance :)





Keep on Caching

              NG

Follow National Geocacher on 

Sources:

*   http://www.bestofthebad.ca/index.php/bad-news/164-legacy-trae

SOS Animal Rescue hosts "Geocaching with Canines" event at Midland City Forest Saturday

SOS Animal Rescue hosts "Geocaching with Canines" event at Midland City Forest
By the Midland Daily News
SOS Animal Rescue is hosting "Geocaching with Canines" Saturday at Midland City Forest, 2840 E. Monroe Road. This interactive event will allow participants to enjoy the wilderness with their dog while using clue maps and/or coordinates to find geocaches around the forest.
"Geocaching has become very popular," said Joann Taylor, SOS Animal Rescue president. "We thought this fundraiser was a perfect way for attendees to spend time with their pooch or family members while exploring one of Midland County's premier parks."
All proceeds from the event will benefit SOS Animal Rescue's Spay/Neuter Assistance Fund. The Fund is used to help offset the cost of spaying/neutering a loved pet for low- or fixed-income residents of Midland County.
"Anyone can participate, whether they have a dog or not," Taylor said. "Those who own a GPS or smartphone should bring them. However, we will provide clue maps to help everyone navigate to the geocaches."
Each geocache will have small items for those who find it. All participants will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a GPS. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and the geocaching begins at 9 a.m. The entry fee is $25 per person. For details, visit www.sosanimalrescue.org.
About SOS Animal Rescue
SOS Animal Rescue (www.sosanimalrescue.org) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, which places animals in need of homes, provides assistance to spay and neuter pets, advises pet owners about local resources for education and training, and participates in fundraising events to further our mission of reducing the number of unwanted pets in the Midland area.

Original post. http://bit.ly/MidlandDailyNews

Keep on Caching
NG

To DNF or not DNF that is the Question

My philosophy is that if I really put an effort into finding your cache, and can't find it then I will post  a DNF, if I'm pressed for time and put a half donkey effort (did I mention that this is a family friendly blog) then I probably won't mark it as a DNF but I will go back and try again when I have time.  

I heard from a Cacher the other day that they never mark DNF's as they think it makes them look inept.  I tried to explain that it was important to the CO (Cache Owner), if they are getting to many DNF,s then they will check on the cache to make sure it hasn't been Muggled.  

Part keeping Geocaching fun is to keep the caches well maintained, if we don't mark our DNF's after an honest try at the find, then how is the CO (Cache Owner) to know when things have gone awry.

What is your opinion on DNF's ?    
--
NATIONAL GEOCACHER

Geocaching is it a Game, Sport, or an Addiction?

Geocaching is it a Game, Sport, or an Addiction?

Everyone has their own personal take on Geocaching.

Let's take a look at each; first Geocaching as a game.  Games are fun and include playing pieces, the whole family can be involved, as well as, friends.  Normally games have a way of keeping score and can be played anytime day or night.  Hmmm, sounds familiar, Geocaching  is fun and includes playing pieces, such as, Tupperware containers filled with SWAG and a log book, it is also a great way to get together with family and friends, specially if those people have never geocacher before and to see their  faces when they find their first cache, OMG!

Is Geocaching a Sport?  A Sport usually includes a physical activity, a competitive element and a certain amount of skill.  How does Geocaching compare?  Starting with physical activity, simply try a terrain level 5, plenty of physical activity there!   Many people take up Geocaching for it's physical activity component and many have lost weight and gained endurance because of the sport.  Competition, well Geocaching allows you to compete with yourself, friends for numbers, puzzle solving or challenges such as http://coord.info/GC2BV7F, a challenge to find a geocache every day for 99 days (see our previous post on Challenge Caches).  Now it comes down to Skill; in Geocaching circles we call it GeoSense, at first finding even easy caches can seem monumental, but the more you GeoCache you build up an awareness of where caches might be hidden or what in the area is different than it should be so you might say you are building your Geocaching Skill just as a Basketball player gets better through repetition.  Hmmm, sounds like Geocaching is both a Game and a Sport doesn't it?

How about an Addiction; Wow! That's sounds a bit far fetched, but let's look at it anyway.  An addiction can be classified in a number of ways but let's use this one for now.  An addiction is the seeking out of a pleasurable feeling or experience resulting from a substance or ACTIVITY.   i'm sure no one will disagree that Geocaching is an Activity, but does it cause enough pleasure to have one seek the experience over and over again. sure looks like it to me when folks are eager enough to repeatedly go out and find thousands of Caches individually.  I must also confess I am a Geocaching Addict, the other day I had to go over to the hospital to get a portable Heart monitor, I'd had a few heart hiccups, on the way home I scored 4 more Caches.  Does the pleasure of searching for and finding Geocaches warrant being  labelled an Addiction, you bet it does.

In summation I think you will all agree Geocaching is and Game, Sport and Addiction!

Keep on Caching!
   Bill
B&CJones on Geocaching.com

Challenge Caches

Tonight was the monthly get together (Meetup) (Mashup) (Event) called "Pizza and Beer",tonight was themed Challenge Caches. Unfortunately, Ricki's Restaurant in Northhill Shopping Centre, Calgary, our usual haunt was renovating and although they expected to be ready for us they weren't and an emergency plan to move to a nearby Denny's Restaurant was put into effect.  All went well thanks to our Host OBA ( One Bad Ant), who is the unexpected author of this blog post since I have utilized some of her material.  

Challenge Caches, have requirements that have to be met before you can log the cache as found; we have a number of them in Calgary, Alberta.

99-day challenge - Calgary, Alberta
Alberta Alphanumeric Title Challenge
Alberta Alphanumeric Hider Challenge
100 Alberta Cachers Challenge
Alberta Lonely Cache Challenge
The Bingo! Challenge
The "Cache Every Day of the Year" Challenge
Unknown Baker's Dozen Challenge
2010 Monthly Challenge

Here's a bookmark of other types Challenge caches, there are as many types as there are creative cachers! Email me your favorites and I'll update the list.Challenge Cache Examples

So ...
Do you love them or hate them? Do they go on your ignore list?
Do they add to or detract from your caching experience?
What strategies have you found to meet the challenges?

How can we help each other meet the challenges?

By: One Bad Ant and B&CJones

Keep on Cachin'

My Journey To Jurassic Bush

Started my trek to Jurassic Bush from what seemed to be a normal paved road even though it seemed at bit muddy.  When my GPSr indicated an easterly direction, I dismounted my sturdy ride Murano and headed down a dirt road toward a large mountain to my right. Along the road I noticed large clumps of what I considered to be clumps of mud off some 4x4 or was this the giant feces of a long lost creature?  

To my left was a fence area, I could not see inside and there seemed to be occasional loud noises of unknown origin coming from within. I was starting to get a bit spooked!   When at the end of the fence I was almost over come, by one of the foulest odours, akin to Natural Gas.  I forged on through the thicket of briar and bush, thinking I was getting close keeping  one looking for denizens of the Jurassic era, I commenced to turning things over and looking under things and checking things above my head to no avail.  I travelled further onward when I came upon some strange tracks it the mud.  With mixed emotions I followed these tracks, as I came down a hill and around a corner I found to my dismay, a great orange Dinosaur.  In awe an aprehension I approached carefully and managed to maneuver around unseen to my goal the Cache.  Quietly I opened the cache, signed the log then replaced it in the exact position it had been found.  I slowly backed away and scrambled through the mud, wood and briars to the safey of my trusty ride which waited patiently for my arrival.
http://coord.info/GC1YGJ8

Keep on Cachin'

GEOCACHING WHAT THE..... ?

Are you just getting started in the activity of Geocaching? Perhaps you've just heard about Geocaching and have decided to do some research before getting involved.  You are probably like most of us when we first heard about Geocaching, we thought what a strange thing to do look for little containers of stuff.  I mean really, how many of these Cache things could possibly be out there anyway, the quick answer is over 1.4million according to Geocaching.com the Official Global GPS Cache Hunt site.  Another comment by the non-initiated is, "It can't be very popular because I have never heard of Geocaching".

Geocaching is probably one of the worlds biggest secrets, even though nobody is trying to keep the secret.  At the time of the writing of this post Geocaching.com reports have over 5 Million registered Geocachers worldwide, that's a lot of people busy at a secret activity.  

Can you just imagine how many caches that many people could log as found each month? I will again use numbers from Geocaching.com; for example in the last 30 days 5,578,529 have been logged.  I'm sure you are with me, when I say that it's amazing that 1.4 million people hunting around neighborhood parks, wilderness areas and even in the centers of some of our biggest cities go unnoticed.

If you have already found your first cache, then welcome to your new obsession!  If you just doing you initial research on the subject of Geocaching then here are some links explaining Geocaching.  

http://www.geocaching.com/guide/default.aspx

http://www.geocaching.com/videos/default.aspx

I look forward to seeing you out caching soon.  

Happy Caching

  Bill

    B&CJones