Geocaching: Hike and Seek with Your GPS 
asked by bethness on November 17, 2006 5:34 PM
GeoCaching: Hike and Seek With Your GPS is a guide to the relatively new, and exponentially growing, activity of geocaching. It is a treasure hunting game using handheld GPS (global positioning system) receivers that is now played world-wide. Although invented in May of 2000, there are already hundreds of thousands of people who participate, and that number continues to rapidly grow. GeoCaching: Hike and Seek With Your GPS covers not only the fundamental principles and points of geocaching, but also covers such related topics as wilderness navigation, hiking, and outdoor safety. The reason to buy this book is that it combines "how to" information - the necessary technical background in GPS, navigation, and hiking, along with some history of the geocaching activity as well as some narrative spots that give readers a sense of why they should get involved. The person who expressed interest in being the technical editor is well regarded in geocaching circles and highly knowledgeable and will ensure that the information is as directed to practical use as possible. This book is a comprehensive guide to geocaching, a leisure activity using GPS technology for a high tech treasure hunt game. It is the only book out on something that has been growing at exponential rates since its introduction in 2000 and that has received wide coverage on television, on radio, and in newspapers and magazines. It is particularly popular with extreme sports and high tech aficionados.
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Erik has captured the essence of the geocaching experience with personal accounts of (mis)adventure and techie how-to's. "Geocaching: Hike and Seek..." is on my recommended reading list for those who Travel by GPS.
reviewed by artdealer on November 26, 2006 5:59 AM
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Geocaching is a scavenger hunt for big kids like you, fast forwarded to a high tech gloss. Sherman shows how enthusiasts have coalesced into local groups, all over the globe, to dive into these outdoor activities, where each player carries her trusty GPS.
Most of the contests take part in rural areas and offer a nifty excuse for exercising and socialising. Sherman gives tips on how to best equip yourself, aside of course from that GPS. These are mostly traditional common sense guidelines for anyone hiking.
One thing you can get from the book is that aside from the geocaching, nowadays pure hiking has changed. Many hikers bring along GPS for safety and convenience. Some traditionalists look with askance on this, however.
Readers might recall how GPS was originally developed by the US military, and when GPS devices were heavy and expensive. Here is yet another instance of a military spinoff that followed Moore's Law and added on popular civilian usages.
Most of the contests take part in rural areas and offer a nifty excuse for exercising and socialising. Sherman gives tips on how to best equip yourself, aside of course from that GPS. These are mostly traditional common sense guidelines for anyone hiking.
One thing you can get from the book is that aside from the geocaching, nowadays pure hiking has changed. Many hikers bring along GPS for safety and convenience. Some traditionalists look with askance on this, however.
Readers might recall how GPS was originally developed by the US military, and when GPS devices were heavy and expensive. Here is yet another instance of a military spinoff that followed Moore's Law and added on popular civilian usages.
reviewed by lauren on November 29, 2006 6:31 PM
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As someone just starting geocaching, I found Erik Sherman's book to be a fair introduction. The meat of the book is found in chapters 6 and 7, "On the Hunt" and "In Hiding". The tips and tricks discussed show the thoughts of an experienced geocacher. The specifics in earlier chapters such as how to fold a map are simple and very useful. The instructions on how to use a compass were limited and could use some specific examples. Chapter 5, "A Good Walk", could be useful for someone with no experience with the outdoors, but are of limited value for someone with experience. The photos that are included may date the book quickly.
reviewed by potato on November 29, 2006 7:36 PM