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Page 5 of 8 Step 4: Getting to the Cache Before you leave home you should make sure you have the following: - A pen with which to sign the cache's logbook.
- The printed out cache page.
- Some items to leave in the geocache.
You should also leave a note with someone to let them know where you're going and when you intend to be back. The Geocacher U Pocket Guide To Finding Your First Cache  | Everyone can use a little cheat sheet every now and then. This pocket guide keeps a few of the tips from this tutorial close at hand for your first few hunts. Just download, print, cut and fold. Fill out the front side with information about the cache you're searching for. Use the tips on the inside during your hunt, and use the back to keep a record of your finds until you can get home and log them online. Click here to download this .pdf file.  | It's time to hit the road. Set your GPS to the navigate screen and let the arrow guide you. Hopefully you're somewhat familiar with the area you'll be traveling to, so you will be able to watch the road instead of the GPS for the drive to the cache location. As you approach the location the cache is hidden in, chances are the roads will take you to within a quarter mile (.25) of the cache. If you're in a state park or other recreational area, begin looking for a convenient parking spot. Otherwise begin looking at the roadside for an area to pull off to continue your hunt on foot. The cache page itself might have parking coordinates. You may want to enter these into your GPS in the same method you entered the cache location and follow them to the parking coordinates. Once there you can switch your GPS to take you to the cache coordinates. If parking coordinates are not provided it is a good idea to mark them yourself. This is especially important if you have a long hike ahead of you and might get turned around in the woods. Now it's time to hit the trail. Normally the trail you take will be fairly well marked. Again, the cache page itself might tell you where to start. Make sure you have a good fix from the GPS satellites (your arrow seems to be pointing consistently in the same direction) and head down the trail. Note: be sure to keep your GPS on the navigation screen. There will be other times when the map screen might be helpful, but for this find the navigation screen should provide you with everything you need.  Most trails will wind quite a bit as you travel through the woods. You'll notice your GPS arrow pointing in all different directions as you continue down the trail (maybe even behind you). It's important that you stay on the trail for as long as possible. Keep watching the distance indicator on your GPS to see how close you are getting to the cache. When it's down to only a few hundred feet (maybe as much as .15 mile or so) it's probably time to leave the trail. Your arrow might even be pointing at a right angle to the trail. This is a good sign you're going to have to leave the trail and find your way to the cache.
Step carefully. As soon as you leave the trail you will find yourself stepping over around and through a lot of vegetation and hazards that weren't on the trail. Be careful to watch for poison ivy or other dangerous plants and watch for fallen logs or roots that might trip you up. It's also important that you take a good look at your surroundings so you will remember your way back to the trail. As you move towards the cache, keep checking your GPS screen. You will notice that you're closing in on your target. When you are within 50-60 feet of the cache, stop for a moment and look around. Your GPS might need a few seconds to "catch up" with you. Watch the distance indicator to see if it drops a few more feet. As you continue on you will want to watch the area around you as much if not more than the GPS.
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