Waypoints and Contacts

[+DzyMsLizzy]

Hello, all!

I recently received the caching supplies I ordered, and I was reading the cover of the log book, and have a couple of questions.

 

1) "Waypoint." Is this supposed to be the actual destination point of the cache, or a marker along the way? When I took a Coast Guard boating class, a waypoint was defined as an interim point en route to the final destination. It sounds as if the definition here is a bit different?

 

2) "Hidden by" and "Contact." I assume (yes, I know what that spells!) that the first should be our screen name as we use it here on the Geocaching website. But what about 'contact.' ?? I am leery of putting any personal information such as address or phone number out where "most" anyone can find it, whether by design or accident. What are we supposed to put on that line?

 

Thanks for your help and clarifications on these questions.

 

Cheers, Liz

[+Chrysalides]

1) "Waypoint." Is this supposed to be the actual destination point of the cache, or a marker along the way? When I took a Coast Guard boating class, a waypoint was defined as an interim point en route to the final destination. It sounds as if the definition here is a bit different?

Waypoint usually means coordinates for a location. Edit : if you're referring to the logbook with yellow cover, write the coordinates, or leave it empty.

 

2) "Hidden by" and "Contact." I assume (yes, I know what that spells!) that the first should be our screen name as we use it here on the Geocaching website. But what about 'contact.' ?? I am leery of putting any personal information such as address or phone number out where "most" anyone can find it, whether by design or accident. What are we supposed to put on that line?

"Hidden by" would be your username, yes. I'd put "contact me through my geocaching.com profile" under contact (or just "through geocaching.com"). Or an email address if you prefer.

Edited December 10, 2014 by Chrysalides

[+defamily]

When our logbooks said waypoint we sort of assumed it was for caches with multiple stages (for example if it is a three stage cache the final could say waypoint 3) but we usually leave ours blank.

[Keystone]

1. The "Waypoint" blank is for the cache's GC Code. This aids in identifying the cache if someone comes across the container without knowing which cache they've found.

2. "Hidden by" is for the cache owner's geocaching account nickname, like DzyMsLizzy.

3. "Contact" is for the cache owner's contact information; some are comfortable putting their phone number here; most use a generic email address ("Lizzy123@gmail.com", not "Elizabeth.Realname@comcast.net").

[+Chrysalides]

1. The "Waypoint" blank is for the cache's GC Code. This aids in identifying the cache if someone comes across the container without knowing which cache they've found.

I think the OP might be referring to this, in which case there is already a box for the name and another for the GC code.

 

[Keystone]

Thanks, Chrysalides.... I was going by memory. With that example, "Waypoint" means the coordinates for the cache container holding that logbook. Personally I always skip writing down the coordinates on my container or logbook. Coordinates change!

[+jellis]

I think Waypoint would be the GC # It is also shorter then putting the whole set of coords and easier to look up especially if it is a puzzle or multi.

 

edit saw the picture. Waypoint could also be a stage. I just wouldn't put the coords on them but others might because it helps if the cache was moved

Edited December 10, 2014 by jellis

[+samuel123abc]

You could also write some kind of waypoint near the cache where there is a cool place to discover for example. Just an idea

 

/Samuel

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Maybe it's just me but in the context of geocaching I consider a waypoint to be the the lat/long coordinates and an identifier (typically the GC code or cache name). For the purposes of labeling a cache (on the log book and/or the container) I'd enter the GC code for "waypoint".

[+hukilaulau]

Just to add to the confusion: Under "hidden by" you can put anything you want on the cache page. It will still come up under your official geocaching name when you hit the link but sometimes you might want to use a different key name for, say, your mystery caches. A few years ago I started saying "A cache by HUK" just because it was easier than typing "hukilaulau." I also have one that I placed on April Fools Day that says by "herringbone". I've seen several hiders use different names this way.

[+MountainWoods]

...

1) "Waypoint." Is this supposed to be the actual destination point of the cache, or a marker along the way? When I took a Coast Guard boating class, a waypoint was defined as an interim point en route to the final destination. It sounds as if the definition here is a bit different?

...

I think you are recalling the definition of a via or via point. As others have pointed out, a waypoint is any point (using coordinates) on the globe. Waypoints can be used for many things, of which via (points) are just a subset of the usage for waypoints. They can also be used for destinations, or for just about anything you can think of that would pin point something.

 

An entirely different game was constructed using waypoints (again, any location) and landmark (something notable) and calling such things a Waymark (and the game, Waymarking), as a coined term.