Welcome to CarolinaCacher


Welcome to my CarolinaCacher site. I'm Randy Hefner. My caching screen name on GPSgames, Geocaching, and TerraCaching, is RanHefner. I have been caching since June 24, 2005.

You may be asking, "What is caching?" You would probably know it as Geocaching. Geocaching is the combination of technology, outdoor activities, and treasure hunting. You use a GPSr (Global Positioning System receiver) to locate hidden containers of different sizes and shapes. All cache containers will contain a log (piece of paper, notepad, or notebook) to document your finding of the cache. Some containers are large enough to contain trinkets for trading. The rule is that you take somthing and leave something.

There are many handheld GPS receivers on the market ranging from around $75 to over $400! All of them will get you started with geocaching. The more expensive ones are good for geocaching and road navigation. The two most popular companies offering GPS receivers are Garmin and Magellan.

Garmin offers a GPS Guide For Beginners. It is a little "technical", but does offer a lot of great information about how the Global Positioning System works.

The online "How To" manual, wikiHow, offers a very good guide to geocaching. This is a good article for beginners. This article takes you step-by-step from selecting a GPS receiver and how to log your find.

A good place to start is to join a local caching club. There are several in the Carolinas. If you live in North Carolina, you should join the North Carolina Geocachers Organization. This "club" is for everyone in North Carolina or anyone interested in caching in NC.

If you live in the foothills area of North Carolina, there is a group for you! The NC Foothills Geocachers is affiliated with the NCGO above, but is targeted towards the members living in the foothills.

If you live in the Asheville area of North Carolina there is a Yahoo! Group called Western NC Geocaching.

If you live in the upstate of South Carolina, there is an organization for you. The Upstate South Carolina Geocachers Association covers the 10 counties in the northwest portion of South Carolina.

There are two South Carolina state-wide geocaching organizations. South Carolina Geocachers Association and South Carolina Society of Geocaching.

Join the organization that best fits your needs and participate in their events. You will get more out of geocaching by making new geocaching friends!
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Tuesday, January 27, 2009

NC Foothills - Geitner Park CITO (Winter)

The winter CITO event for the NC Foothills Geocachers has been set. The CITO event will be at Geitner-Rotary Park in Hickory, North Carolina on Saturday, February 28th at 11:00 AM.

I have submitted the geocache listing on Groundspeak, GPSgames.org, and Terracaching. I will post the listing Terracaching in a couple days. I will keep you updated on my CarolinaCacher CITO page and on the NC Foothills Geocachers event forum.

A CITO event is a great way for new geocachers to meet other geocachers and to get tips and tricks.

There are several geocaches from Groundspeak, GPSgames.org, and Terracaching in Geitner park, so bring your GPS reveiver!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

NC Foothills Geocachers CITO events for 2009

I have submitted my schedule for the 2009 NC Foothills Geocachers CITO events to the City of Hickory Parks & Recreation department. I should hear from them soon.

The tentative date for the first CITO event is February 28th at 11:00 AM. It will probably be at Geitner Park.

I will provide updates here and on the NC Foothills Geocachers forums.