Is there a way to plan a journey and geocaches in advance?

[ch1984]

Hi there..

 

I was wondering if there is a way to choose geocaches to find in advance of a journey from A to B.. I'll be doing a 3hr drive from East to West in Ireland and instead of the passenger constantly refreshing the app as we're en route, I'd like to have an idea of all the geocaches on the way over and plan them etc.. is there any easy or simple way to do this?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Chantelle

[+HHL]

[...] is there any easy or simple way to do this?

[...]

 

As a Member: No

PMs go there: https://www.geocaching.com/my/userroutes.aspx

 

Hans

[+fuzziebear3]

Sure! It is always a great idea to plan your journey, pick target caches and be prepared.

 

I would use my computer so I have a nice big screen, and bring up https://www.geocaching.com/map

Enter the area you would like, ie Ireland

 

Now you can see all of the caches, and where they are relative to your route.

Scroll along your route, and pick those with that are in the correct area, bring them up and see their terrain and difficulty, read the page, etc.

Find the ones that you like and perhaps print them out or make a note of them.

 

If you were a premium member, you could add them to a list, or use caches along a route to help pick them, and then you could download them with a pocket query.

[+HHL]

Even as a Member you may use a third party app like GSAK to check what caches are along the route:

 

 

Hans

[+thebruce0]

If you'd like to use GSAK, you have even more options, as you can create a database of selected caches that you can export to whatever manner your device could accept. (simulpost! see HHM above )

 

It's definitely much easier as a premium member with features like pocket queries and a more capable advanced search. Assuming you are PM, I'd suggest this (methods I used while planning my trip to Iceland):

 

* Look for highly favourited caches first, highlight ones you'd be interested in

* Find popular touristy locations and see if there are any caches nearby (often there is a lot of helpful information about the site either in the cache listing or its logs, like parking, access, photos, etc)

* If you're interested in stats, search out some rarer cache listings you may not have any where your home (this is the best chance to have some rare experiences for you) like higher terrains, or specific attributes

* As you build a list of caches you'd like to visit, keep track of how they're laid out on the map, and prioritize those that are or will be close to what your route will be like.

* Be wary of best times of day to visit the caches - if your schedule won't line up then you'll have to skip it or adjust your timing.

 

I suppose a direct road trip will have different planning strategies than planning for a flexible vacation in a region, but you can treat your road trip route as the region

 

Always plan in extra time, because if you want to take photos, that'll eat up more; and the last thing you want to do is feel rushed at every stop. Be ready to have caches you're willing to scratch off the list if timing doesn't allow it; prioritize the stops.

 

I found, especially in Iceland, geocaching to be a much more fleshed out and informative vacation-planning resource than most generic tourist-idea-blogs

Edited January 17, 2017 by thebruce0

[+edscott]

I just enter the coordinates at the beginning of my trip and go to that map. Pick out a couple to do there, then move about an hours drive toward my destination and find another group to do there. Continue as necessary. A quick stop and a short walk every hour or so is a good even without the added bonus of a cache or two. Another angle, if you are interested, is to try to get one in every county that you pass through, but that may take more time than you have to spend on your trip.

[+hzoi]

You can certainly do it manually; do a map check ahead of time on the computer, note geocaches that you want to attempt on your route, and then go point to point.

 

As a premium member, as others have pointed out, you could create a bookmark list or plot a route and save those to the app so you could later access them even offline.

[+geocat_]

I like to do it the "old fashioned way". Basically, I make a bookmark list. Then I simply use the map view along my planned driving route. Depends on how long of a trip and how much time I have as to how many, how far off my route, or what types of caches I look for, but when I see one, I put it in the bookmark list.

 

For example, I drove from Ohio to Alaska last summer. A very long route so I didn't want to keep stopping for random caches. I viewed caches on the map using various filters like caches with tons of favorite points, caches that would fill my month placed (Jasmer) holes, webcams, Virtuals, etc. Project-gc.com has some additional ways to do this easily in map views.

 

Yes, it takes some time, but it a great way to find very interesting caches or caches with some value related to challenges (challenge caches or personal challenges).

[+Cache O'Plenty]

Have fun in Ireland! As you set up your routing, be sure to check on the counties you might travel through. Ireland is set up as 5 separate counties, much like the US and it's states. As such, there is no souvenir for "Ireland" but there are souvenirs for each county. We visited Ireland and found caches for "Dublin" as we didn't know about the county setup. We were within a mile or two of the next county and missed it because of the way it's set up. Here are the 5 counties: Connacht, Dublin, Leinster, Munster, Ulster

[Pup Patrol]

I like to do it the "old fashioned way". Basically, I make a bookmark list. Then I simply use the map view along my planned driving route. Depends on how long of a trip and how much time I have as to how many, how far off my route, or what types of caches I look for, but when I see one, I put it in the bookmark list.

 

For example, I drove from Ohio to Alaska last summer. A very long route so I didn't want to keep stopping for random caches. I viewed caches on the map using various filters like caches with tons of favorite points, caches that would fill my month placed (Jasmer) holes, webcams, Virtuals, etc. Project-gc.com has some additional ways to do this easily in map views.

 

Yes, it takes some time, but it a great way to find very interesting caches or caches with some value related to challenges (challenge caches or personal challenges).

 

The OP is not a Premium Member.

 

B.

[+narcissa]

Have fun in Ireland! As you set up your routing, be sure to check on the counties you might travel through. Ireland is set up as 5 separate counties, much like the US and it's states. As such, there is no souvenir for "Ireland" but there are souvenirs for each county. We visited Ireland and found caches for "Dublin" as we didn't know about the county setup. We were within a mile or two of the next county and missed it because of the way it's set up. Here are the 5 counties: Connacht, Dublin, Leinster, Munster, Ulster

 

Does the site only grant souvenirs for those ones? Ireland has many more counties than that...

[Pup Patrol]

Have fun in Ireland! As you set up your routing, be sure to check on the counties you might travel through. Ireland is set up as 5 separate counties, much like the US and it's states. As such, there is no souvenir for "Ireland" but there are souvenirs for each county. We visited Ireland and found caches for "Dublin" as we didn't know about the county setup. We were within a mile or two of the next county and missed it because of the way it's set up. Here are the 5 counties: Connacht, Dublin, Leinster, Munster, Ulster

 

Does the site only grant souvenirs for those ones? Ireland has many more counties than that...

 

1.2. List of Available Souvenirs

https://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=792

 

Ireland

 

Connacht

Dublin

Leinster

Munster

Ulster

 

B.

[+narcissa]

Have fun in Ireland! As you set up your routing, be sure to check on the counties you might travel through. Ireland is set up as 5 separate counties, much like the US and it's states. As such, there is no souvenir for "Ireland" but there are souvenirs for each county. We visited Ireland and found caches for "Dublin" as we didn't know about the county setup. We were within a mile or two of the next county and missed it because of the way it's set up. Here are the 5 counties: Connacht, Dublin, Leinster, Munster, Ulster

 

Does the site only grant souvenirs for those ones? Ireland has many more counties than that...

 

1.2. List of Available Souvenirs

https://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=792

 

Ireland

 

Connacht

Dublin

Leinster

Munster

Ulster

 

B.

 

Oh, weird. Not a souvenir person so I had no idea. Surprised I haven't noticed drama threads about it like some other places without souvenirs!

[+NYPaddleCacher]

Have fun in Ireland! As you set up your routing, be sure to check on the counties you might travel through. Ireland is set up as 5 separate counties, much like the US and it's states. As such, there is no souvenir for "Ireland" but there are souvenirs for each county. We visited Ireland and found caches for "Dublin" as we didn't know about the county setup. We were within a mile or two of the next county and missed it because of the way it's set up. Here are the 5 counties: Connacht, Dublin, Leinster, Munster, Ulster

 

Does the site only grant souvenirs for those ones? Ireland has many more counties than that...

 

1.2. List of Available Souvenirs

https://support.Grou...=kb.page&id=792

 

Ireland

 

Connacht

Dublin

Leinster

Munster

Ulster

 

B.

 

Oh, weird. Not a souvenir person so I had no idea. Surprised I haven't noticed drama threads about it like some other places without souvenirs!

 

That may be because GS split the country into provinces, not counties, and included Dublin as a separate Province. If someone finds a cache anywhere in Ireland they'll get one of the province souvenirs.

 

[+HHL]

[...] We visited Ireland and found caches for "Dublin" as we didn't know about the county setup. [...]

 

Having a smart Index (Poi based) on my Garmin makes it a snap to check counties (Landkreis or LK in german) in the field:

 

 

 

It's very easy now to search for the nearest County, PMO caches, a cachetour with at least a desired number of tour caches, caches from a specific owner, ... etc.

 

Hans

Edited January 18, 2017 by HHL

[+thebruce0]

For my other recent big local road trips I've printed out maps of the route and highlighted the locations of target caches, marking out detours and whatnot; I suppose that's an 'old fashioned way'. Mainly because it's nice to just have the paper right there and not have to worry about going back to a digital device all the time just for static information

[+GrateBear]

Not sure what I'm missing here. I always do "Find caches along a route". To make life easy, I set it for .25 miles on either side. Works like a charm. Of course, you have to be a premium member

[+thebruce0]

Oh it's easy to just get every cache; more work to filter and decide on specific caches to target though. Many different strategies to choose from

[+hzoi]

Not sure what I'm missing here. I always do "Find caches along a route". To make life easy, I set it for .25 miles on either side. Works like a charm. Of course, you have to be a premium member

 

The OP is not a premium member, so they do not have access to the "caches along a route" function, or bookmark lists.

[+WearyTraveler]

I'm also planning a trip in the near future. I want to grab a few caches as well as fill in a few challenge requirements...

 

I'm using the find caches along a route - that works rather well for me. But where I have an issue is I need to find a cache with more than 50 watchers. I can't figure out how to determine the watcher count other than manually click on each cache. Is there a macro or search feature that can grab the watcher count?

 

Thanks!

WearyTraveler/ Charlie

[+MartyBartfast]

I'm also planning a trip in the near future. I want to grab a few caches as well as fill in a few challenge requirements...

 

I'm using the find caches along a route - that works rather well for me. But where I have an issue is I need to find a cache with more than 50 watchers. I can't figure out how to determine the watcher count other than manually click on each cache. Is there a macro or search feature that can grab the watcher count?

 

Thanks!

WearyTraveler/ Charlie

 

I'm sure there's nothing on Geocaching.com which will allow you to find caches with a certain number of watchers. There may be a macro available for GSAK, but as that's a number could vary wildly by the hour and I'm not even sure the API provides the value, so I suspect you will have to check manually.

[+thomfre]

To us, planning is just as important as logging. It gives us time to read cache descriptions, look at maps, figure out where to park and everything like that before leaving the house. It removes a lot of stress when we're out caching. I've even made my own (API-enabled) trip planning site.

 

We always print out lists like the one below here, it gives us a nice plan to follow, and a nice place to make notes of what happens along the way. As suggested earlier, a the map page is a really nice tool.

 

[+kunarion]

Is there a macro or search feature that can grab the watcher count?

Try sorting by Favorites. Caches with many Favorites tend to have a lot of watchers. You may need to make special PQ to cover a larger area, for the purpose of finding a highly watched cache.