Letterboxing & Geocaching

[Amby 490]

My friend told me about these the other day and I thought it looked like fun. Was just curious if anyone on here has tried it?

What is letterboxing?

Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of treasure hunting, art, navigation, and exploring interesting, scenic, and sometimes remote places. It takes the ancient custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of a mountain to an artform. It started when a gentleman simply left his calling card in a bottle by a remote pool on the moors of Dartmoor, in England.

Here's the basic idea: Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.

Once the clues are written, hunters in possession of the clues attempt to find the box. In addition to the clue and any maps or tools needed to solve it, the hunter should carry at least a pencil, his personal rubber stamp, an inkpad, and his personal logbook. When the hunter successfully deciphers the clue and finds the box, he stamps the logbook in the box with his personal stamp, and stamps his personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook keeps a record of all its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found, in their personal logbooks.

http://www.letterboxing.org

Geocaching is a different version...

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

http://www.geocaching.com/

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What does geocaching have to do with supporting the environment?

[SteveLaura 0]

I've done letterboxing. Here's another website to find clues near your area:

Another one

Edited November 10, 2008 by SteveLaura

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

So these having nothing to do with Dogging, I take it...

[Amby 490]

I've done letterboxing. Here's another website to find clues near your area:

Another one

thanks!

my mom said one of her friends does the geocaching thing and they have loads of fun. i was checking out some of the clues and some are really hard to figure out.

What does geocaching have to do with supporting the environment?

well I don't freaking know! it was from the website. want me to research that and get back to you?

[Yaads 1]

My family and I have done tons of letterboxing. Tons of fun!

[Amby 490]

My friend was so excited about it and telling everyone and I was the only one who thought it sounded fun. They think we're dorks

I'll have to try it out soon. Someone told me it's more fun if you do it in groups because you have a better chance of finding the things.

[Ban Hammer 14,678]

amby, please send all the coordinates of the geocaches at strip clubs.

signed,

charles, almaty, and many others.

[Amby 490]

I've made a note of the request

[ScratchIt 12]

What does geocaching have to do with supporting the environment?

People (like me) who do these sort of things often take trash bags with them and pick up trash during their searches. Many are located in parks or recreational areas and it can make a nice day out for the family. Sometimes when we're sitting around wondering what we are going to do I will jump on www.geocashing.com and grab a couple of locations and we will go "hunting". You either love or hate it.

[ScratchIt 12]

My friend told me about these the other day and I thought it looked like fun. Was just curious if anyone on here has tried it?

What is letterboxing?

Letterboxing is an intriguing mix of treasure hunting, art, navigation, and exploring interesting, scenic, and sometimes remote places. It takes the ancient custom of placing a rock on a cairn upon reaching the summit of a mountain to an artform. It started when a gentleman simply left his calling card in a bottle by a remote pool on the moors of Dartmoor, in England.

Here's the basic idea: Someone hides a waterproof box somewhere (in a beautiful, interesting, or remote location) containing at least a logbook and a carved rubber stamp, and perhaps other goodies. The hider then usually writes directions to the box (called "clues" or "the map"), which can be straightforward, cryptic, or any degree in between. Often the clues involve map coordinates or compass bearings from landmarks, but they don't have to. Selecting a location and writing the clues is one aspect of the art.

Once the clues are written, hunters in possession of the clues attempt to find the box. In addition to the clue and any maps or tools needed to solve it, the hunter should carry at least a pencil, his personal rubber stamp, an inkpad, and his personal logbook. When the hunter successfully deciphers the clue and finds the box, he stamps the logbook in the box with his personal stamp, and stamps his personal logbook with the box's stamp. The box's logbook keeps a record of all its visitors, and the hunters keep a record of all the boxes they have found, in their personal logbooks.

http://www.letterboxing.org

Geocaching is a different version...

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

http://www.geocaching.com/

Trivia note: There are tons of "cashes" in Iraq now due to our military presence there.