GPS for Dummies.pdf - Engineering Surveyor

Chapter 7: Geocaching137Submitting the cacheTime for a little advertising. It doesn’t do much good if people don’t knowabout your cache after you place it. The Geocaching.com Web site currentlyhas the largest database of caches and is where most people go to find informationabout caches. You need to have a free or premium account at the siteto be able to post your cache, so if you don’t have an account yet, go to thesite and sign up. (I promise that it’s quick and painless.)After you log on to the site, submitting a cache is just a matter of filling out anonline form about your new pride and joy. You enter things like the cache’sname (think of something creative), its coordinates, the date it was placed,and other information similar to what you find when you’re looking at a cachedescription Web page.If you’re having trouble trying to determine the terrain and difficulty ratings,head over to geocacher ClayJar’s online terrain and difficulty calculator, atwww.clayjar.com/gcrs.After you enter all the cache information, submit the form. Volunteers willcheck things like whether all the information needed is present, the coordinatesare generally correct, and the cache meets the general submissionguidelines. Keep in mind that volunteers don’t physically visit the cachebecause that would require thousands of people all over the world with aconsiderable amount of free time on their hands. The approval process cantake up to a couple of days but is usually shorter. If you’re approved, yourcache is added to the database. If you’re not approved, you’ll be informedwhy, and you can either address the problem and resubmit or discuss theissue with the staff.If you’re handy with HTML and your Internet provider supports Web hosting,you can associate a Web site with your cache. The Web site might have digitalphotos, detailed maps, or anything else that supplements or complementsthe standard information found in a cache database entry.When you hide caches, you bring along most ofthe same things you have when you search forcaches. Here are a few other things not to forget: Waterproof cache container Cache log (spiral notebook)Cache hiders checklist Pencils and/or pens to leave in the cache Resealable plastic bags Trinkets to stock the cache Notebook to record information about thecache to submit to the Geocaching.comdatabase