Geocaching

Armed with expert advice from Masher, I have finally taken the plunge and purchased a GPS unit. Until now, I’ve been a determined luddite on the subject of GPS, insisting that a map and compass is sufficient and that GPS really is one gadget too many.

Then I remembered that there’s no such thing as ‘one gadget too many’.

Actually, I’d been looking at Google Earth and one thing led to another. It’s far less expensive to buy digital Ordnance Survey maps than it is to buy the paper versions at £7.00 a pop and as I’m in the process of updating my current library I thought that digital was probably the way to go. The digital versions also have the advantage of having 3D fly-through modes so you can get an impression of the relative sizes of hills, valleys and mountains. Also, the premium Memory Map software comes with quite detailed aerial photography, which I find fascinating. And, as it’s possible to print the maps (onto waterproof paper if you’re so inclined) it seemed an obvious choice.

Once I’d made that decision, the prospect of linking up to a GPS unit became quite inviting. As soon as I understood that I could plot out routes beforehand and also download my routes back onto the computer at the end of the day I was pretty much sold.

Lastly, prompted my Masher’s Blog entries, I took a look at Geocaching. Having spent many hours searching remote rural locations in search of ‘Letterboxes‘, I was intrigued by the 21st Century variation on this treasure hunt game. Boxes are hidden all over the world and I managed to track down five at the weekend, aided by my swish new Garmin eTrex Vista CX!

I’ve ordered digital maps of the Lake District and am really looking forward to plotting my walks and transferring them to the GPS. Poor old Wainwright would turn in his grave at the thought of all this technology up on the fells but you can’t stop progress. Can you?

So, Geocaching, it’s the new black, or something.

Links:
geocaching.com

Tags: geocaching