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I finally just bought one of those smart phones and it has a built in GPS. I've always wanted to try geocaching so I downloaded the c:geo app from the Android market and tried to find a few caches. There are 3 close to my house and I've had no luck. I don't know if I'm not using the app right or I just don't know what I'm looking for. I was hoping to hook up with someone in Flagstaff who has doen some geocaching around town and could show me the ropes.

Go to Geocaching.com and create a free user name then browse for caches in your area. If you look it up on your computer, it's even more impressive. This site has more than a million caches listed around the world. I frequently combine my hiking and geocaching outings for a little more enjoyment.

mnlumberjack wrote:Go to Geocaching.com and create a free user name then browse for caches in your area. If you look it up on your computer, it's even more impressive. This site has more than a million caches listed around the world. I frequently combine my hiking and geocaching outings for a little more enjoyment.

Got that taken care of. The app I use on my phone requires registering with Geocaching.com.

Go ahead and register, it's free although there is the optional paid membership which offers benefits for the frequent (and serious) Geocacher.

I would like to mention here that the reason you got so few responses is that many hikers take issue with geocaching. They call it "geotrashing" and many do disagree with it, since usually it means people are stashing stuff in an ammo can out on a trail somewhere, and sometimes causing various issues to do with trash, new unauthorized trails being formed via trampling in a formerly pristine area, etc.

I have done a little geocaching since I have a friend who hides stuff near Springerville, but have not gotten into it otherwise. My friend tries to be sensitive about where he hides stuff. Some of his caches are right in town, in fact.

I would like to mention here that the reason you got so few responses is that many hikers take issue with geocaching. They call it "geotrashing" and many do disagree with it, since usually it means people are stashing stuff in an ammo can out on a trail somewhere, and sometimes causing various issues to do with trash, new unauthorized trails being formed via trampling in a formerly pristine area, etc.

Thanks for the reply azbackpacker, and yes, I am familiar with the Geocaching reputation, but I don't think all hikers are aware of the good stuff that the Geocachers do while they're searching for a hidden cache in the pristine areas. Formost is CITO, meaning Cache In, Trash Out. Geocaching.com places a lot of emphasis on CITO and requests Geocachers to carry a trash bag with them at all times and as they come across trash items, to pick it up and dispose of it properly. Each months newsletter often carries a CITO get-together where several Geocachers decend upon a particularly messy place and clean it up.

Geocaching is not out to destroy the environment, but wants to protect it by encouraging its members to report caches that are improperly placed and educate the younger kids (this is a family oriented adventure). Many Geocaches placed in remote areas may be visited, maybe 10 to 50 times a year, while trails within the Superstitions are visited that many times in a single day.

The Superstition Wilderness (as with other specially preserved areas throughout the world) are off limits to the placing of Geocaches and reviewers will not allow them to be posted.

I guess I better get off my soapbox now before I get myself into trouble, but Geocaching is fun and can be technically challanging and it helps keep me out enjoying the outdoors.

I had always thought it might be a good way to get kids interested in the outdoors. That is why my friend in Springerville puts out caches, in fact.

I got the hang of it now. I've found 4 geocaches around town. I'm enjoying the challenge of navigation and its renewed my interest in hiking which of late has been waning.

I bet there are a gazillion of them around Flag. I don't get tired of hiking, but I do tend to just use my GPS for one or two functions, and could stand to mess around with it a bit more.