|
Page 8 of 8 Step 7: Logging Your Find Online  Your online log serves many purposes. It lets the cache owner know that the cache has been found, it allows other seekers to draw from your experience and it provides you with a handy record of your caching career. You'll find yourself in the years ahead looking back over your cache logs, recalling the experiences from the hunt.
You begin the process of logging your find in the same place you began your hunt—at the cache page itself. Pull the page back up on your computer screen. Make sure that you're logged in with your username and password. At the top right of the cache page you will see a series of links. The one at the top is labeled, "log your visit." Click this to move on to the logging page.  At the top of the "Post a new log" page, you will see a drop down box for the "Type of log" you're making. Logging your find is just one part of the history of your geocaching experience. There are times when you will log that you didn't find the cache and other times when you will simply post a note. Occasionally you will encounter a cache that might have a problem (perhaps it's missing or damaged or there's something dangerous or disturbing in the area) and you might post a " Needs Archived" or "Needs Maintenance" log. For our purpose, though, we're concentrating on logging your find. So choose the "Found it" from the dropdown box and move on down the page.
The next line offers you the option of changing the date you logged the cache. If you weren't able to get back to the computer for a day or so you might need to adjust this. However, we're going to assume that you rushed right home to log the cache, so just make sure the date is correct and move on. The checkbox on the next line offers you the opportunity to add a waypoint to the log. Occasionally you will find a cache where the coordinates seem to be quite a bit off (30 feet of variance or less is considered to be normal). In these occasions you might want to use this feature to record the coordinates that you got at the cache site.  The large text box below is for recording the body of your log. Your online log does not need to be an exact copy of your physical log in the cache. You'll have more time to reflect on the experience and write your online log. Feel free to share as much or as little as you like about your hunt. Most online logs will include a list of any items taken and left in the cache. This is just common courtesy for the owner and other finders. Anything else you write is up to you.
You'll notice that above the large text box there is a smiley face in a gray square. Clicking on this will pull up a new window with several different smilies that can be used to dress up your log. You can copy and paste the smiley codes into your log or type them yourself, just be sure to include the brackets (like this: [ : ) ]). Under the large text box you'll notice a checkbox that gives you the option of encrypting your log. There may be occasions when you will include "spoilers" in your logs. "Spoilers" are information that gives away a little too much. They could "spoil" the cache hunt for others who read them. If this is the case clicking this button will encrypt the log with the same Rot13 code used in the hint. Also, if need to encrypt just part of the log, click the button but place the text you want to remain un-encrypted within brackets ([like this]).  Once you're satisfied that you've told enough of your story, click the "Submit log entry" button. After it's processed and entered into the system you will be taken to a page where you can view your log. Congratulations. You've done it!
Of course, these are just the basics. As you cache more you'll pick up travelbugs and log them through the cache pages. You will upload photos that you've taken while on the hunt and you will find new ways to personalize your logs and share your experiences with others. But for now, you found your cache, you shared your experience and you're probably eager to go out and find the next one.
Glossary of Geocaching Terms Used in This Article | Nomenclature |
| Difficulty Rating | Geocaching Term A five-star rating system (in half-star increments) for the amount of difficulty that will be encountered while searching for a cache. A one-star difficulty rating means the cache is in plain sight and will likely be found in just a few minutes. The rating increases depending on camouflage and other factors in the hide. A five-star difficulty rating is a serious mental or physical challenge and will require specialized knowledge or equipment not available to everyone. This might include the ability and equipment to decrypt certain codes. As with many rating systems, the difficulty rating can be very arbitrary and can vary from cacher to cacher. Still, it's a good way to warn cachers of what they might expect when attempting a cache. ClayJar has provided a great rating system available at www.clayjar.com/gcrs
| | GCID | Technical Term Also called GCID# or GCXXXX. The GCID is the unique alphanumeric code that represents each geocache. It always begins with the letters "GC" (to designate "GeoCache" and ends with a sequentially generated series of numbers and letters. | | GPS | Technical Term/Abbreviation "Global Positioning System." The generic term for the system itself and a common term for a handheld (or any) GPS device. Some people distinguish the system from the device with the abbreviation GPSr (with the "r" standing for "receiver"). | | Latitude | Technical Term Latitude is the angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds of a point north or south of the Equator. Lines of latitude are often referred to as parallels. Personally I remember the different between latitude and longitude by remember that "lat" sounds like "flat." Works for me anyway. | | Longitude | Technical Term Longitude is the angular distance, in degrees, minutes, and seconds, of a point east or west of the Prime (Greenwich) Meridian. Lines of longitude are often referred to as meridians. Personally I remember the difference between longitude and latitude by remembering that longitude starts with "long" and these lines run longways around the earth. | | Needs Archived | Geocaching Log Type  One of the log types available on Geocaching.com. Also called "SBA" for "Should Be Archived."
Use this log if the cache cannot or should not be replaced due to outside forces (new construction, land management, or dangers). When a SBA log is posted the local cache reviewer receives notification of it and may take action to archive the cache. Use this log type sparingly and only in situations where you are certain of the problem at the cache site. | | Needs Maintenance | Geocaching Log Type  Sometimes abbreviated as "NM." Use this log type if the cache is in need of attention from the owner (ie. It has become damaged, wet, or in need of a new logbook). Use of this log type places a "Needs Maintenance" attribute on the cache page which remains until the owner posts an "Owner Maintenance" log.
| | Premium Member | Geocaching.com Term A paying member of the Geocaching.com website. Premium members receive benefits such as pocket queries, bookmark lists and the ability to hide Members Only Caches (MOC's). | | ROT13 | Technical/Logging Term  Abbreviation for "Rotate by 13 Places." Also sometimes written as "ROT-13." It is the cypher code which hints on cache pages are encrypted with. In ROT13 the alphabet is rotated by 13 letters so A=N, B=O, C=P, and vise versa.
When hiding a cache, the hint is automatically encrypted for you. You do not need to write it out in ROT13. When logging a cache the option to encrypt your log entry is available. However, any information placed in brackets [like this] will be left unencrypted. | | Reviewer | Geocaching Term A reviewer is a volunteer who works for Groundspeak by reviewing caches for publication on Geocaching.com. The reviewer works with a set of tools (maps, etc.), the Groundspeak Geocaching Placement Guidelines and his or her own knowledge of the game to determine whether or not a geocache is able to be published on the website. Reviewers are also sometimes called "Approvers," but this title doesn't adequetly describe the service they provide. | | Smiley | Geocaching Term/Slang The “Smileyface” icon one receives when a logging a geocache. “It’s all about the smilies.”  | | Trade Up | Geocaching/Logging Term The practice of leaving a cache in better condition than when you found it. By trading up you enrich the cache with more or better “swag” than the cache contained when you found it. | | Traditional Cache | Geocaching Term/Geocache Type  The most basic form of geocache: a box hidden at a set of given coordinates. Sizes range from nano – micro – small – regular – large.
| | Waypoint | Technical Term Any location marked with a GPS. The waypoint might be a geocache or it could be parking coordinates or some other point of interest. |
| | ©2005 remository.com |
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Very much appreciate the detail description. Started geocaching 2 months ago. Found this very interesting to confirm we are doing things correctly.