Other caching pursuits

In addition to geocaching, a number of other GPS-related activities have sprung up on the Internet. A few that you might be interested in include

• Geodashing: This is a contest in which random points are selected and players need to get within 100 meters of the location. There are no caches, hints, or terrain difficulty ratings, and the points can be anywhere on Earth. In fact, some locations can be impossible to reach. A new contest takes place roughly every month. The goal of the game is for teams to collect all the points first or to get as many as they can before the contest ends. For more details, check out www.geodashing.org.
• The Degree Confluence Project: This is an interesting project in which people use their GPS receivers to visit places where latitude and longitude lines converge. They take a digital picture, which is then published on a Web site. The goal is to map all the major latitude/longitude intersections for the entire Earth. For more information, go to www. confluence.org.
• Benchmark hunting: Benchmarks are permanent markers installed by the government for survey purposes. Over one-half million benchmarks have been installed in the United States. The most familiar type is a small, brass disk embedded into rock or concrete. The National Geodetic Survey (www. ngs.noaa.gov) maintains a list of the benchmarks and their locations. The Geocaching. com site also provides benchmark locations and lets you log a benchmark when you find one.
• GPS Drawing: This is an interesting form of art based on using your GPS receiver to record where you’ve been. For some amazing examples, check out the gallery at www. gpsdrawing.com.