5. Go Find It Already 
Success! Here’s the logbook and swag we found in a cache in Wildcat Canyon.
Coordinates loaded? Check. Description on hand? Check. Swag? No? Don’t forget the swag. Most caches have a few small trinkets for trading, collectively known as swag. Pick up some at the dollar store, or our favorite place for random stuff, Archie McPhee (mcphee.com). Can’t get enough of those bacon bandages! If you want to track your swag’s journey, attach a Travel Bug to it. (Read geocaching.com/track for Travel Bug details.)
Now it’s time to get out there and find the thing. Your GPS receiver will get you within about three meters of your target. After that, you just have to look; it’s a bit like playing Hot and Cold. This is where the description and hints, if there are any, will come in handy.
6. You Found It!
Having located your cache, sign the log with the date and your geocaching.com account name. Now it’s time to give and take. Choose a piece of swag from the cache, but always replace it with something from your own swag heap. Once you’re finished, close the container back up and place it exactly where you found it. Be sure to head back to geocaching.com to log your visit to the cache. Even if you didn’t find the cache, log your attempt—that will alert the cache owner that it could have gone missing.
Ready to find the next one? Over half a million geocaches have been placed around the world, so you’re not likely to run out of choices anytime soon. Have fun!
Stash Your Own Cache
We’ll boldly hide our space-themed geocache where no cache has been hidden before.
Your geocaching adventures needn’t be limited to seeking. Creating your own cache to hide can be fun too. All you need is a suitable container, a good hiding place, and a few things to go inside. Keep in mind that if you hide a cache, you’re responsible for its maintenance. You must also have permission from the property owner to place the cache there. Your hiding place will have a lot to do with the container you choose. In the urban jungle, a magnetic key box stuck to the bottom of a newspaper stand might be just the thing. Out in the back 40, a large plastic container wrapped in camouflage tape can be readily obscured. Just be sure it’s sturdy, watertight, and free of animal-attracting smells.
Now drop in a logbook. A spiral notepad works well for big caches. For smaller containers, download and print an appropriately sized log sheet; we used one from TechBlazer’s free collection (techblazer.com/geocaching-log-sheets). Download and print a cache note from geocaching.com/seek. If a non-geocacher discovers your container, the cache note explains what they’ve found and asks that they not disturb it. Add a pen, if there’s room, and some swag, and you’re ready to hide your cache. Once hidden, note your GPS coordinates and head back to geocaching.com to post your new cache. After a volunteer reviews your new listing, it’ll be posted for the whole community. Now just sit back and wait to see who finds your cache!
