Handheld GPS Systems - Geocaching
Geocaching is an exciting new outdoor recreational activity that requires the use of handheld GPS systems.
Essentially, its a game of treasure hunting. Someone hides the "cache", typically a container holding some
item of interest and a log for keeping track of who has found said cache.
Once the cache has been hidden its coordinates are uploaded to a website whose purpose is listing caches, and
prospective cache hunters can then download the coordinates and go in search of the hidden booty. The reason
you want a handheld is that many times the caches are hidden in hard to find, out of the way places where you can't
take a vehicle. For example, a rock climber may hide the cache in a crevice on the side of a cliff face.
There are now over a million caches known to be in existence and the number is growing every day. If you
love a good puzzle or mystery, and have a love of the outdoors this is really something you should try
out!
Another interesting development are the wealth of sports applications that are now available from handheld GPS
systems. We've touched on hunting on the previous pages, but let's talk for a second about golf.
The Garmin Approach G5 GPS-Enabled Golf Handheld gives you green information on US Courses. You are
presented with a view of each hole that is reminiscent of popular video games, with water, sand, fairways, rough
and green accurately depicted in a crisp display. As you move around, the unit of course updates itself so
that you are constantly presented with up to date yardage for club selection!
Other units are constantly coming out with apps for new sports. For instance there are handheld GPS
systems with apps for skiers and snowboarders which have maps of runs for popular ski resorts.
There are apps for joggers and cyclists that report pace, calories burned, grade and distance! The
Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch is a very popular and highly rated model in this
category.
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