Carry on Caching in Holmfirth

WARNING - THE ATTACHED PICTURE IS A SPOILER

So, what do you do when you are trying to get a cache in the middle of a very very busy place on a Saturday afternoon when you are 45 miles as the crow flies from home. Do you decide that its too busy to complete and carry on with the next caches, or do you pretend that you are completely mad and carry on regardless.

For me and my caching companion Greta from the Bignall Boppers, we carried on regardless. Unfortunately neither of us are of a height where we find caches hidden on signs easy. I suppose if you are tall, reaching up for a nano is all in a days work but being no taller than 5', planning and rather a lot of stupidity comes in. This particular cache was hidden on a sign and the only way to retrieve this was to climb the pole...and that is exactly what I did. Easy I hear you say..well yes it was but the embarrassment factor makes it a hell of a lot harder. Like I said, a busy village, which is famous due to a popular programme filmed there and located right next to the main road by the side of the traffic lights.

The retrieval was the easy part, replacing it was a completely different matter as the magnet was no longer in place. Instead it was wedged inside a hole on the side of the pole which is there to site extra signs. So not only did I have to get it in the hole, I needed to wedge it somehow, all with 1 hand as the other was white knuckled and holding on with dear life. Luckily I was also being held up with a hand on my bottom...well it was near norridge bottom so in for a penny in for a pound!

Did I get spotted...more than likely but what the hell, I never saw anyone looking at me strangely, I was too busy with my happy hobby!

Different types of Cache that I've visited

Cache explanations courtesy of Geocaching.com


Traditional Caches - This is the original cache type consisting, at a bare minimum, a container and a log book. Normally you'll find a tupperware container, ammo box, or bucket filled with goodies, or smaller container ("micro cache") too small to contain items except for a log book. The coordinates listed on the traditional cache page are the exact location for the cache.

The general rule of thumb is, "If you take an item, leave an item, and write in the logbook." Some caches are themed, so make sure to read the description before going on a hunt.



Multi-Cache -A multi-cache ("multiple") involves two or more locations, the final location being a physical container. There are many variations, but most multi-caches have a hint to find the second cache, and the second cache has hints to the third, and so on. An offset cache (where you go to a location and get hints to the actual cache) is considered a multi-cache.



Unknown Cache or Puzzle Cache - The "catch-all" of cache types, this form of cache can involve complicated puzzles you will first need to solve to determine the coordinates. Due to the increasing creativity of geocaching this becomes the staging ground for new and unique challenges.



Earth Cache - An EarthCache is a special place that people can visit to learn about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of our Earth. EarthCaches include a set of educational notes and the details about where to find the location (latitude and longitude). Visitors to EarthCaches can see how our planet has been shaped by geological processes, how we manage the resources and how scientists gather evidence to learn about the Earth. For more information about EarthCaches, visit http://www.earthcache.org/.



Virtual Cache - A virtual cache is a cache that exists in a form of a location. Depending on the cache "hider," a virtual cache could be to answer a question about a location, an interesting spot, a task, etc. The reward for these caches is the location itself and sharing information about your visit.

Because of the nature of these geocaches, you must actually visit the location and acquire the coordinates there before you can post. In addition, although many locations are interesting, a virtual cache should be out of the ordinary enough to warrant logging a visit.



Letterbox Hybrid - A letterbox is another form of treasure hunting using clues instead of coordinates. In some cases, however, the owner has made it both a letterbox and a geocache and posted its coordinates on Geocaching.com. If there is a stamp inside a letterbox hybrid, it is not an item intended for trade; the stamp is meant to remain in the box so that visitors can use it to record their visit.




Event Cache - Occasionally, local geocachers and geocaching organizations designate a time and location to meet and discuss geocaching. After the event the caches are archived


Mega Event -
A Mega-Event cache is similar to an Event Cache but it is much larger. In order to qualify as a Mega Event, the event cache must be attended by 500+ people. Typically, Mega Events are annual events and attract geocachers from all over the world.


Wherigo -
Wherigo is a toolset for creating and playing GPS-enabled adventures in the real world. By integrating a Wherigo experience, called a cartridge, with finding a cache, the geocaching hunt can be an even richer experience. Among other uses, Wherigo allows geocachers to interact with physical and virtual elements such as objects or characters while still finding a physical geocache container. A Wherigo-enabled GPS device is required to play a cartridge. Learn more at Wherigo.com.



Now what are my favourites.....pretty hard to decide really. I've completed some fantastic Traditional Caches - generally the ones with higher difficulty/terrain ratings. Puzzle caches I love especially when the weather is dire or its evenings and I can't get out so I'll sit there at my computer and try and solve the different puzzles to get the co-ordinates. Can be very time consuming and also frustrating.

I absolutely love Earth Caches, Its amazing how much you can learn from just doing one cache about the history or geology of a particular area. I've also come across some amazing multi-caches that have had loads of stages but haven't been boring or repetitive.

But then again....a cache is a cache, it really doesn't matter to me what it is, it's about the enjoyment of getting outdoors and exploring new places that I never knew existed. Its also about the buzz of the hunt as well, and if you have ever seen a geocacher in action the head is down following the arrow and the closer they get, the quicker they move.....and that's still certainly the case with us.

GOTN - Ghost of the Navigator Series

Today we completed 11 caches, 8 of them belonging to the GOTN series on and around the Tissington Trail. In each of the 8 caches are clues for a bonus cache to be collected. We will find out what they are on the way round.

The weather was as usual murky, typical of the Great British Summer. We had all our kit with us and were actually wearing our waterproofs when we started the walk for a change. The dogs were wet within about 5 minutes of starting.

First cache was only around 360ft from where we parked the car on the side of the road in a layby (why pay for parking to walk 200ft less). The series was one with no clues so you have to trust the GPSr and hope that the co-ords are pretty spot on and trust your instincts as to where someone would hide a cache. This one was fairly easy and located just over a drystone wall.

Next was a fairly easy walk through open fields onto the road. There has been so much rain over the last few days that the lane was flooded. we had a short walk to the next cache however the GPS was pointing us through a church yard which really is a big no-no. So a quick rethink took us back to the road. Sometimes it just helps to stand back and take a look around and this was the case with this one. I spotted a lot of footprints in the mud by the wall and on closer inspection, there was the cache.

Next one was a bit of a nightmare, just a huge hill and with the cloud being very low you couldnt see much of the lovely countryside that I know thats around. We continued over the fields picking up the next few caches before we turned back onto the road and onwards back to the trail. By this time we were pretty wet, the dogs were soggy but happy prancing around.

We took a bit of a detour to pick up another cache along the way before heading back for the last few of the series. Most of the caches were fairly easy finds apart from 1. Not that it was a hard cache but the terrain was most challenging. The banks were really slippery and Mum came a right cropper on it really hurting her shoulder. Sometimes you really do risk life and limb if you're not careful or sensible.

The last caches in the series were uneventful and to be honest, we were glad they were finished as we were all soaking wet.

We now have the SOTN series to complete before picking up the bonus cache and knowing the terrain of the area....this is one to be left for a sunnier day.

What's in my rucksack?

My trusty companion in all of my geocaching trips has to be my wonderful camelback rucksack, but what do I carry....aside from the kitchen sink that is!

There are a few basics that I never go caching without:

The GPSr - my wonderful Garmin GPSmap 60 Csx...well I wouldn't be caching if it didn't come with me

A pen...not just a normal pen...I prefer a nice gel pen as it will write on everything

My caching note pad - to write all of the GC numbers of the caches I have visited with a brief description so I can remember them when I log them on the computer

Travel bugs and Geocoins - The trackable items that travel from cache to cache

My iPhone - not just for safety. It has the geocaching application loaded onto it, so if I'm ever stuck, I have all the information at my fingertips

Spare batteries - well I wouldn't get very far if my GPS died would I?

Caching labels - To stick in the log book's..it has my logo on with space to write a comment and the date

Money - You never know when you will pass a nice pub or a chippy

Maps - yes I might have a GPS but having a map is essential to know exactly where you are

Camera - So many beautiful places to photograph

Car keys - I wonder why???


And the not so basic stuff:

• First Aid Kit
• Head torch - for the good old night caching
• Waterproof jacket and over trousers - Love my Berghaus paclite's - lightweight and waterproof
• Bag of swaps - little things like badges etc
• Food - especially for long walks
• Mars Bars - an essential snack
• Water - carried in my camelback water re-hydration pack
• A leatherman tool and a gerber tool
• Toilet paper - well you never know when you need to blow your nose!
• Suntan lotion - (in England I hear you ask?)
• Lipsalve
• Antiseptic handwash - after all you end up scrabbling in all sorts to look for caches

For those long hikes:

• A silver heat blanket
• A rescue beacon - A little device that flashes infrared light in case of emergencies.
• More food

And in the car

• Dog food and loads of water
• Towels
• Spare clothes and shoes

I'm sure many other cachers would travel more lightly than this..or would carry different things. These are the things that I can't live without and make my caching trips easier.

I wonder what you would carry in your rucksack??????