Data Hacking

266 Part IV — Playtime
Look for the Unnatural
This is a common cache giveaway that most geocachers (both cache placers and finders) don’t
spot. When they hide a cache, most geocachers disturb the area around the cache, but this isn’t
all. Geocachers will use materials they find to cover the cache; rocks or tree bark are common.
The thing to notice is materials that are out of place — for example, bark from a different tree
(this is most noticeable when the wrong bark is used to cover a cache hidden at the base of a
tree) or a rock that’s different from the other rocks in the area. Of course, this advice is not
going to be of much use to you if the hider is devious and has camouflaged the cache well.
Learn to spot things that are “out of place” and recognize signs of disturbance.
Geocaching Hacks
Now it’s time to look at geocaching GPS hacks. These hacks are designed to get you to the
cache quicker and let you spend more time geocaching and less time messing around.
The following sections outline my recommendations, in no particular order.
Go Paper-free
Nothing beats paper-free geocaching. Running around with a GPS in one hand and a sheaf of
papers in the other hand not only really slows you down but is totally inefficient. In effect, you
are taking data that is in digital format (on the PC) and converting that into an analog format
(paper). This means that everything you do from that point on (taking waypoints and loading
them onto your PC, decrypting the cache clue, copying waypoints to your GPS, etc.) involves
reconverting the data into a digital format (by manually reentering it). This is time-consuming,
boring, and prone to human error. Remaining digital is therefore far better.
Here’s how you can do that . . .
First, you need a portable computer. There are numerous kinds incorporating all sorts of features,
but they fall into two camps based on operating system:
Microsoft Pocket PC (Windows-based)
Palm
Which is best? Well, that’s a matter of choice, but I have found that I get greater functionality
and flexibility with the Pocket PC–driven devices. In addition, they accommodate a greater
range of software while I’m on the move.
Once you are paper-free, you will need software to help you geocache. Several programs are
available that can help you.
GPXSonar
License: Free
Operating system: Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 and later