This topic contains 9 replies, has 9 voices, and was last updated by 
Pixiestix13 10 years, 3 months ago.
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Hi all! Just signed up on WGA today. I want to take my dad geocaching this summer but we’re both relatively clueless when it comes to anything beyond the basic premise of the sport. We’re in the Madison area and I thought I’d throw a few questions out there.
1. Any advice on fun beginner’s hunts in the Madison area (within a 1/2 hour drive from the city)?
2. In terms of traveling to and through WI state parks, which sites would you recommend? (Your “Top 10”, for instance!) We’re both in average shape and would enjoy hikes with a view.
3. What kinds of equipment/materials do you recommend bringing?
4. Any other advice/experiences/etiquette tips you’d like to share, I’d be glad to hear it!
I’ll continue researching, but I appreciate your input. So excited to get started! Thanks. 🙂
Welcome to the fun!!
While I have not cached in the Madison area, I know that there are many folks in the WGA that call Madison home.
I suspect they will be chiming in soon.Disclaimer : Always answering to a higher power.
2. My favorite WI State Parks in order: Amnicon, Rib Mountain, High Cliff, Nelson Dewey.
After that, they are all very good. I still have about 20+ to visit so I have a ways to go.
3. Bring more than one writing utensil. Sounds funny to say so but it is worth it. I’ve lost a pen only to make the long walk and have to sign the log with a stick or a thumbprint. A pair of tweezers is helpful for removing small log sheets. All the other tools can get added to your utility belt as you gain experience and insight.
4. When writing a log, share an experience- something you saw, felt, heard…everyone like a good story and the Cache Owners (CO) like reading nice logs about their caches. Do all you can to avoid TFTC, “Another smiley for me”, “simple find” and other logs that while maybe not meant to be offensive some across as haughty. Congrats on logging a 1D/1T…it wasn’t meant to be difficult so no need to boast you found it.
5. When you have the $$ and the inclination, go ahead and buy a handheld GPS- it will be worth the investment. You can ask our opinions on the best models but that is like asking which is better- Ford or Chevy.
Following the signals from space.
Hi! I am not in the Madison area either, but I do know one thing that helped me when I was new to geocaching–meeting other cachers in person. I still go caching alone sometimes, but it is helpful to go with others who have done it longer. I learned a lot about etiquette and finding unique caches that I had been completely missing on my own. Of course you can still go just you and your dad, but even just a meet and greet in your area would be a great way to learn more about caching and things specific to your area. Have fun!
Welcome mbrb! One type of geocache that you may not be familiar with is what is called an “event cache.”
Event caches are not physical caches; rather they are social events where geocachers meet at the designated coordinates and get credit for finding a cache (although it is actually “attending” the event cache). You can learn a lot from other cachers at these events and get to know some of the friendly folks. There’s an event cache in your area every month or two if you’re interested. The next one scheduled in Madison is happening on June 13th. The GC# is GC5TCVC.
You can see all of the event caches scheduled for the entire state at http://www.wi-geocaching.com/upcoming-events-map/
3. Bring more than one writing utensil. Sounds funny to say so but it is worth it. I’ve lost a pen only to make the long walk and have to sign the log with a stick or a thumbprint. A pair of tweezers is helpful for removing small log sheets. All the other tools can get added to your utility belt as you gain experience and insight.
4. When writing a log, share an experience- something you saw, felt, heard…everyone like a good story and the Cache Owners (CO) like reading nice logs about their caches. Do all you can to avoid TFTC, “Another smiley for me”, “simple find” and other logs that while maybe not meant to be offensive some across as haughty. Congrats on logging a 1D/1T…it wasn’t meant to be difficult so no need to boast you found it.
5. When you have the $$ and the inclination, go ahead and buy a handheld GPS- it will be worth the investment. You can ask our opinions on the best models but that is like asking which is better- Ford or Chevy.
I second all of this.
I’ve not done much caching in Madison, perhaps two dozen finds or so, so I’m not the best person to recommend something local to you. What caching I have done there, I’ve enjoyed and looking at the map, there is no shortage of possibilities.
1-A good beginners hunt would probably be the National Park series along the Glacial Drumlin Bike Trail. Lots of caches and hidden in a variety of ways. Start with http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC29G28_arkansass-hot-springs-national-park-atb and go east from there along the trail.
2-State parks are great places to go geocaching and sightseeing and just about any outdoorsy stuff you are looking to do. I have quite a few that I haven’t been to yet, but some of my favorites are Devil’s Lake, Mirror Lake, Roche-A-Cri, Peninsula and High Cliff but they’re ALL worth visiting.
3-A flashlight is good to have. Even if you’re out during the middle of the day, sometimes you need a little extra illumination to look into dark crevices. If you’re using your phone to cache, one of the best little investments you can make is to buy a portable charger. If you’re zipping around in your car, it may not be an issue, but if you’re out hiking for hours on end, using a geocaching app will eat up your battery.
4-Don’t forget to stop and take a look around once in awhile. Seriously. Some people seem to run from cache to cache and take little notice of anything else. They enjoy what they’re doing, so I’m not saying it’s wrong…but some of the best experiences I’ve had while caching have been the times I’ve not been caching and just sitting on a log somewhere, listening to the quiet of the woods. Treat caching as your “me time”.
Such great advice! Â There really isn’t a lot for me to add except that geocachers tend to be a friendly and helpful bunch as long as you’re respectful of the game. Â If you have more questions, feel free to ask them here and someone will give you some advice. Â I hope we see you at some of the WGA events.
As for the state parks, I think my favorite is Devil’s Lake or Interstate SP’s. Â The ones in Door County, especially Rock Island, are especially cool because of the peninsula. Â Ooh, Harrington Beach is so beautiful too! Â And the rock formations at Rocky Arbor are just awesome. Â The big waterfall at Willow River is pretty impressive.
My favorite spots near the Madison area would be GCYQAX, GC212ZC, and  Cave of the Mounds.
Not all who wander are lost. -J.R.R. Tolkien
The best advice for a new cacher is to learn. So many things now are instant gratification and not taking the time to savor anything. One complaint about some newer cachers is that they are here today, gone tomorrow. They try the phone app, dabble a bit, then move on to something else. Like any lasting activity-interest-hobby, one needs to learn about it, to experience how it works, to practice it, to find out why they enjoy it.
Take the time to learn about geocaching… the dos and the don’ts, the history, the possibilities, the options. Learn that there are no containers to look for at the listed coordinates of EarthCaches, virtuals, and mystery caches. Learn how to write a good log that others, especially the cache owners, will enjoy reading. Learn about skirt-lifters and nanos and guardrails and fake rocks and “stickoflage” and geobeacons and trading up or even and leaving no trace and how to close container lids securely. Learn what is required to log a smiley on each cache and then do it.
Learn what types of hides there are and which ones you enjoy looking for. Learn what makes a good cache and a good cache owner. Learn which places give you pleasure when visiting. Learn to think outside the box. Learn your physical limits. Learn that there is more to caching than numbers. Learn to respect the land, the land owners and stewards, the game pieces. Learn to share your knowledge but not give away spoiler information. Learn that you don’t need to find every cache or place one every 528 feet. Learn to be polite. Learn when to move on. Learn when to call it a day.
Learn about ticks and mosquitoes and water hazards and thin ice and deep snow and poison ivy and stinging nettle and to take along a first aid kit. Learn about good footwear and warm jackets and rain gear. Learn to be prepared. Learn that you don’t know everything. Learn to be open to new ideas and to consider tried-and-true ones. Learn that cachers come in all shapes and sizes and ages and experience levels and personalities.
Learn that just when you think that caching is everything, there is so much more to life than caching.
The best advice for a new cacher is to learn. So many things now are instant gratification and not taking the time to savor anything. One complaint about some newer cachers is that they are here today, gone tomorrow. They try the phone app, dabble a bit, then move on to something else. Like any lasting activity-interest-hobby, one needs to learn about it, to experience how it works, to practice it, to find out why they enjoy it. Take the time to learn about geocaching… the dos and the don’ts, the history, the possibilities, the options. Learn that there are no containers to look for at the listed coordinates of EarthCaches, virtuals, and mystery caches. Learn how to write a good log that others, especially the cache owners, will enjoy reading. Learn about skirt-lifters and nanos and guardrails and fake rocks and “stickoflage” and geobeacons and trading up or even and leaving no trace and how to close container lids securely. Learn what is required to log a smiley on each cache and then do it. Learn what types of hides there are and which ones you enjoy looking for. Learn what makes a good cache and a good cache owner. Learn which places give you pleasure when visiting. Learn to think outside the box. Learn your physical limits. Learn that there is more to caching than numbers. Learn to respect the land, the land owners and stewards, the game pieces. Learn to share your knowledge but not give away spoiler information. Learn that you don’t need to find every cache or place one every 528 feet. Learn to be polite. Learn when to move on. Learn when to call it a day. Learn about ticks and mosquitoes and water hazards and thin ice and deep snow and poison ivy and stinging nettle and to take along a first aid kit. Learn about good footwear and warm jackets and rain gear. Learn to be prepared. Learn that you don’t know everything. Learn to be open to new ideas and to consider tried-and-true ones. Learn that cachers come in all shapes and sizes and ages and experience levels and personalities. Learn that just when you think that caching is everything, there is so much more to life than caching.
Well said.
Welcome to the addiction. I haven’t cached in Madison, but I’m always up for a road trip.
~ **~ All posts are my opinion and do not in any way reflect the opinion of the WGA Board of Directors ~**~
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