Treocaching = Geocaching in trees

Originally posted by Treeman
I have NO GPS experience. I know of it but do not have a unit. Is it possible to put a cache up in a tree and have coordinates so someone can climb up to get to it? I hear these GPS units can get you close. Does it need to be visible or can there be a description of the tree's diameter and species to clue climbers in? Please tell me what is possible.

Peter, you could do it however you wanted. The idea is that you'd get "cache" of something, maybe a bundle of climbing gear, then you go hide it somewhere.........anywhere in the US (world?) and note ALL information about how to find it.

Then you'd post the information somewhere (here) and we all go find it. You could simply post the lon/lat coordinates, or you could give more info.

What jake is referring to....

In an open field, the GPS unit can get you to within 10 or 20' of the cache. In the forest or a ravine or downtown surrounded by big buildings or in my apartment (etc) your GPS unit cannot communicate with as many satellites out in space, so it can't be QUITE as accurate, maybe within 100' of the cache. Jake is saying to use coordinates of the tree as the edge of the forest (one to which we can be quite exact) and put a note up there that says, "Okay you've made it this far, now to find THE cache, head NW 600' until you get to a stream, start walking down stream for about 7 minutes then you'll see 2 logs laying side by side across the stream. The second log is actually pointing to a 100' oak tree maybe 30' across the other side of the stream. You'll know the tree because about 7' there is a 3' tall maple tree growing out of a small hole in the trunk. Cross the stream and look up and you'll see a yellow box filled with goodies. Hope you brought your big shot!"



Something to that effect. It sounds like fun, actually. Fun for YOU to go out and put it up, fun for anyone who tries to find it.

I think I'll do one. I'd store it in something like a PELICAN CASE

I've spoken with some geocacher's. Sometimes the cache is something silly, a box or oreos or something like that...it's all about the process. But sometimes the cache is worth thousands of dollars and brings people from around the world to hunt it down.

Fun stuff.

love
nick

Thanks for your thoughts NickfromWI! I think I will look into a REI course on how to use a GPS device.

A brush up on compass skills would help too. Using compass directions could couple another skill while maintaining a high degree of acuracy. This is surely already done, no?

The cache needs to be in either a metal box- empty amunition box, or a round plastic cut section of PVC pipe. My experience with Pelican boxes is that animals tend to chew the edges. It is amazing how sharp teeth can be.

About the cache. Can we explore some ideas here? It can not be paper, because condensation takes place inside the box. It needs to be something unique- a prize of stature a climber could show off. Sort of like a badge of courage and skill.

I understand that it is proper for others to leave something in exchange too. Is that correct? Ideas are needed here to get started.

For the part of the trek that involves compass and map work on the ground, which incidentally is called "Orienteering" and for which there is already a large association of groups around the U.S. that has competitions, maybe we could use some of their rules or ideas to help improve those skills or give us ideas and get to the cache quicker or in a more organized way.
Check out the following site:
http://www.us.orienteering.org/
They have great competitions for all skill levels and age levels and with GPS and compass and maps.
Lots of gear too! --for you gearheads!-haha.

http://www.letterboxing.org/

This is a place where someone hides a box and then just describes how to find it, no GPS or compass needed.

http://www.geocaching.com/

Thought I would put this in.

I have a Garmin Etrex Vista

Seems that using GPS coordinates to inventory our favorite trees is being done on the commercial level.

See this link: http://www.arborprousa.com/products.htm

Wonder if Icabod is in on this???
-Ej-

^ city of vancouver uses that software to catch homeowners that cut down their trees without a permit. BIG FINES too!