Browse Books

Reviewer: Kevin F. Cullen

This title is one of a small, but growing number of books available on the topic of geocaching, a hobby that involves searching for hidden caches, usually with the help of a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. Geocaching was invented in 2000, though Sherman points out that the pastime is related to a number of other hobbies, such as orienteering and letterboxing. Because geocaching is so new, and was born out of an online community, hobbyists have, until recently, had to rely upon the Internet and other geocachers to learn the rules and master the nuances. This book provides a single source for rank novices to get started enjoying the sport, even if they have never touched a GPS receiver, or hiked further than their mailboxes. The first chapter provides an interesting brief history of geocaching, and acts as a marketing pitch for the sport. Chapter 2 describes the varieties of caches, and the online resources used to find and log available caches. After this, it becomes clear that Sherman is providing more than just the basics of geocaching. Sherman should be commended for chapter 3's fairly accurate, if confusing, guide to GPS technology. He points out that an understanding of the underlying technology makes a GPS user and geocacher much more likely to reach a destination. The next chapter explains the basics of land navigation, maps, compasses, and coordinate systems. Again, Sherman deserves credit for explaining why a GPS receiver isn't very useful without these complementary tools. (Many GPS hobbyists and novices incorrectly think that a GPS unit can replace a map.) At times, the book reads like an idiot's guide to day hiking. Appendix B is a guide to outdoor safety for the urban novice, while chapter 5, "A Good Walk," details what to bring on a hike; it even includes a brief description of hiking footwear, and discusses the pros and cons of various winter clothing. The work is clearly targeted toward those with absolutely no knowledge of the outdoors or navigation. Even so, it is a wonderful introduction to an obscure hobby. Readers should select chapters to fill the gaps in their knowledge about navigation, GPS, or hiking, rather than read it cover to cover. I had never tried geocaching, but I am an experienced hiker and mountain biker, with training in GPS, map reading, and land navigation techniques. After scanning chapters 2 and 6, I had a solid enough understanding of geocaching to begin searching for geocaches with no difficulty. Online Computing Reviews Service