New geocacher needs help!

[zoey_astrid]

Hi everyone! I want to start my journey as a geocacher! I was wondering if there is anyone who is willing to show me the ropes of it all.
I am very excited about this whole new world!

Thanks to everyone in advance!!:)

[mm_dancer]

First off welcome to geocaching!
This is a great place to find help in the Kingston Area when you need it.

Hope you have a great time geocaching!

[SuperDave_GPS]

Hi Zoey:

I currently live in Ottawa, but will be moving to Kingston in mid-July. I'm confident that you'll be well versed in the field by that time, but if not, then I would be more than happy to take you out for a few trial caches.

I also make many trips into Kingston - just because - so feel free to contact me privately through the forum if you have any questions or wonder if/when I'll be back in town.

That being said, you will find that there are many fine local area cachers that "should be" more than willing to take you under their wing before letting you loose. I wish to luck in your journey. Keep us all updated on your progress, and hopefully we'll all get you meet you in person, whether at and Event, or on the trails.

SD

[mTn_biKer65]

Welcome zoey_astrid,

This site has a good Getting Started section under the "Resources" drop down at the top of the screen. You'll see other sections there as well that will come in handy once you get past the introduction to the sport.

I do have a couple of questions that may help speed up the process of getting you matched up with someone to show you the ropes.

What GPS make and model are you using?

Approximately where do you live?

Thanks

Paul

[hamburking]

Welcome zoey_astrid to this crazy game.

If you are near downtown I would be happy to meet up with you and get you started. I'm sure we could even find a cache or two! Feel free to click on my name and send me a message. My preference would be to meet someplace with computers, like Douglas or Stauffer library. Hope to hear from you!

However, you could always start like so many of us.... make an account on geocaching.com, find the nearest cache to your home, and go find it. Yes, its daunting, but you never forget your first! If you still don't know what cache to seek...go get POH (porstmouth olympic harbour). Its been a good first find for many.

[zoey_astrid]

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the replies!
Actually at the moment i dont have a GPS, thats also something i was wondering about. I welcome any suggestions on a good gps thats simple to use and effective(cost effective too lol). I actually meant to mention that in my original post.

Is there any events coming up soon so that i can go and meet everyone? Like a breakfast or something like that.

thanks guys!

[mm_dancer]

its really unfortunate! we just had an event on saturday that would have been a perfect spot to learn some tips and tricks. There is not another local event listed as of yet.

the gps unit you choose is really a personal choice, it all depends on what you want it to do, generally, but not always, the more you pay, the more features you will get.

You could start off with a simple gps such as the garmin etrex (the yellow one) its cheap, and points you to the cache with a compass arrow. if you want a little more than that, you could go for an etrex legend (blue one) which also comes with a basemap and the ability to add maps as well, many geocachers like this feature as it makes getting to caches easier (if you have the maps of the area) other gps's like the etrex summit have whats called an electronic compass, which will point you to the coordintes whether you are standing still or moving (normal compass is only accurate when moving.) a little higher in the price range would be the gpsmap series, the 60 or the 76 are units that ive seen several cachers use. im currently using a gpsmap 60cx and love it. there are more units that are quite high in the price range like the colorado and the oregon, that allow you to load the entire cache description into the gps (with a premium membership)

hope you have a great start to caching, and like mtn_biker65 said if you give your general location, like which end of town or which small community, there may be a cacher right near you that may be able to help you out!

mm_dancer

[zoey_astrid]

Oh right!

I live in waterloo village, behind where herbies was.

[hamburking]

First, I suspect that zoey_astrid might actually be Hypocorism trying to stir things up.
I'm on to you mario...

But just in case I'm wrong:

I have no hesitation to recommend the garmin etrex (yellow). It commonly retails (on sale) for $69. Sometimes you can get refurbished units for even less. I bought a garmin GPS 60 on ebay for $40 (delivered). There are deals to be had. Stick with Garmin...just my opinion.

There are plenty of caches you can find without a GPS. Ktownhiker, a local, set a good example by finding his first 10 caches (including prowling princess) with no GPS.

I think you could find BIG RED BOX with no GPS. Its close to home, an easy find, and not a micro. Use the maps (links at the bottom of the cache page, just before the logs) to zoom in with satellite images to see exactly where to search. Urban caches are not too hard to find this way. But you will need a GPS before heading off to the woods where the real fun happens. Other caches you can find without a GPS would be POH, WHAT THE POINT, and even KINGSTON.

[mm_dancer]

hamburking, just a correct that big red box is now a micro, the bigger containers were muggled.