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Found in: “in gear” Official publication of the California Association of 4WD Clubs, Inc. July 2006. Page 26-27. By John Burnham.

            In all my years of camping, hiking, off-roading there have always been destinations to explore, see or go to. Often once you are there a keen eye will find a logbook, cards or notes left by those that preceded you. It could be a remote miner’s cabin in Death Valley, top of a peak, in one of the forest, best campsite around, but people want to say, “I’ve been here.” Who know, maybe it all started with “Kilroy was here”? How about photographs? While hiking in a wilderness park, near Los Angeles we climbed to the top of a great sandstone ridge to take in the view. Sure enough, found hidden away in a crevasse covered with a few stones, was what I thought would be nothing more than a logbook to sing. Opening the old military ammo can we found a note explaining that this was more than I had thought, with a bunch of goodies in side! It was a GEOCACHE – my first find!
            What fund! We signed the log, traded an item and went on our way. That night pulling up the website to our surprise we discovered that there are twelve caches in the park area, not just the one. There are 255,056 active caches in 221 countries. We stumbled on this one by accident but I got out my GPS and we eventually went back to on our electronic treasure hunt to find them all Some are easy to find, some the terrain is more difficult, some take detective work, many have “encrypted hints” (easy as a push of the mouse button on your computer to decrypt). There are many in backcountry that I frequent: Death Valley, Mohave Desert, all the forests, the Rubicon, and even in the city where you live! The range from a microcache of nothing more than a 35mm film canister with just a log inside, to others that are larger with assortment of trading items. There are caches set up for kid’s, CD exchanges, some dedicated to loved ones, but most are for the fun of the hunt and take you to places you may never have known existed.
            You can experience this by driving in your car, walking, easy hikes, hard hikes, off-road, on-road. It’s all in what you want to seek and find.
            The caches are rated for “terrain” (off-road would be rated as hard as you need a special vehicle) and “difficulty,” which refers to how the cache is hidden. So pull up the website www.geocaching.com and sign yourself up. This best part is: It’s FREE.
            To find the general location of a cache at the main web page, click on “HIDE AND SEEK A CACHE” on the left-hand side of the page.
Put in your zip code id you want to see what’s in the area. I’m a map kind of a guy so I scroll down to “view locale state pages (US only),” bring up California and right by “Geocaching in California” is a link to MAP. This brings up several states showing the incredible number of caches that are out there. You can zoom in, zoom out, pan and identify to the area you want.
            Now occasionally, if I am out with a group. I’ll be seen sometimes wondering away aimlessly, but I’ll have my GPS in hand, headed to a cache that the others have no idea is even there. In a planned trip up to the Kennedy Meadows area we are going to hit a few caches along the way to the trailhead, including one called “Hotel Cache.” Near as I can tell I have driven by it numerous times and was never even aware that there was a hotel and a brothel out there at one time. We will be hiding a couple of caches out somewhere in the Monache Meadows area, where you four-wheelers can come to explore and experience the area. And have a nice little hunt for a cache while you are out there and exchange a goody or two.

Off-road vehicles aren’t toys. Their use requires knowledge and common sense to operate safely.

As a 4 wheeler you are dependent upon the performance and equipment of your vehicle to get you back to camp safely.

Safety also needs to be practiced outside of the vehicle as well. Always be aware of your surroundings, especially during stuck-vehicle recovery procedures!

Wheelin isn’t necessarily any more dangerous than numerous other sports that people engage in, but it does require you to treat it with respect.

 

Minimum Safety Equipment required to participate on a So Cal 4x4 Geocachers Run

We will not be checking vehicles. We will operate on the honor system.

All vehicles driven on public highways and roads should meet all California Vehicle Code requirements

EMERGENCY BRAKE: All vehicles will be equiped with an operating emergency brake

-Cel Phone and/or CB radio and/or ham radio

-First Aid Kit (minimum-multiple sizes band aids, gauze and tape)

-Fire Extinguisher  (not stuffed in a box where it is hard to get when you really need it)

-Flashlight

-Extra Food and Clothing

-Full Size Spare Tire w/jack & lug wrench

-Roll bar, full cage or factory hard top

-Seat Belts for all passengers

-Spare Keys (in a hide-a-key on the frame)

-Tow Points (at least 1 in the front and 1 in the rear)

-Tow Strap (no metal hooks, no chains)

-Water

-tool box
Allen wrenches, Pliers, Electrical tape, Duct tape

Adjustable wrench - small & medium,

3/8" drive socket set

3/8" to 3/4" and/or metric 8mm-19mm

Standard & Phillips screw drivers

Open end/box wrenches

3/8" to 3/4" and/or metric 8mm-19mm

Zip ties (multiple sizes)

Assorted sizes bungee cords

-spare parts

Hoses and Belts

Fuses

Motor Oil, Gear Oil

Stop Leak

assorted nuts and bolts

Snow Runs only - 2 tire chains that fit (4 are better)

Okay, we’re finally on the trail!

You’ve smartly positioned yourself behind a more experienced trail rider, one who is driving a similarly-equipped vehicle as yours. Hopefully, you’ll be able to pick up some useful pointers from this seasoned veteran, and get a pretty good idea of your own vehicle’s capabilities by watching how his/hers performs. You shift into 4WD, big grin on your face . . .

First and foremost, always be in control of you vehicle! Generally, the slower you go, the more control you will have. Going downhill use the transmission and the transfer case to regulate your speed. Shifting the transfer case into 4-lo will make you go much slower than 4-hi.

Always be aware of your surroundings. Unlike highway driving, the trail is going to be full of obstacles (rocks, ruts, trail debris, etc); otherwise, what would be the point of going off road?! Look over your hood and memorize the various obstacles approaching in your path. In addition to watching out for all the obstacles on the trail, you will also have to ensure your vehicle clears obstacles on either side of and above the trail (rocks, canyon walls, hanging tree limbs, etc). Also, besides keeping a safe distance from the other vehicles in your group, you may encounter other vehicles traveling in the opposite direction, which you will have to navigate around. Faster-moving vehicles (ATV’s, dirt bikes, etc) may come up from behind, wanting to pass. Be courteous--find a place to pull over and let them go around you.

-Do not follow too close.  Especially important on hill climbs and technical sections. Let the vehicle in front of you completely finish the hill climb or technical section before you start.

-Do not drive in the dust cloud created by the vehicle in front of you. It is not good for you, or your vehicle, and limited visibility can cause trail mishaps.

-It is your responsibility to make sure the vehicle behind you knows which trail you choose at all Ts, Ys and +s.

-If you don't see the vehicle behind you for an extended length of time, STOP and wait until you can see it. If necessary, go back and look for it!

-Do not lag too far behind without letting the vehicle in front of you know why.

-Less experienced drivers should follow more experienced drivers paying attention to the lines they choose on the tough sections.

-Don't hesitate to ask for a spotter. A spotter can properly position your tires for you to help avoid any body or undercarriage damage.

-If we stack rocks so that stock rigs can make it over an obstacle, the tail gunner needs to un-stack the rocks.

-If you get stuck, let someone know ASAP. If you become stuck or otherwise immobilized, immediately announce your situation over the GMRS or CB. Or honk your horn . . . or flash your lights . . . Just get the attention of someone. Hopefully, the person in front of you is keeping the person behind them in sight, and will stop if you appear to be in trouble.  BTW, do not be embarrassed about getting stuck. There are three types of trail riders who find themselves in this situation: those who have been stuck in the past, those who will get stuck in the future, and of course YOU, who’s stuck right now!

So Cal 4x4 Geocachers Rules of Conduct

I hate rules. Absolutely hate them.

However, they are a necessary evil.

#1 (It's the biggie) Absoulutely Positively NO drinking and driving. No 2nd chances on this one. If you D&D on a run you will never participate with the group again.

#2 Minimum Safety Equipment. Everyone will need it in their vehicles. We will operate on the honor system.

#3 Tread Lightly. Stay on designated trails. Trash in-Trash Out plus some. We need to be stewards of our great country if we want the next generation to be able to recreate in our forests and our deserts.

#4 Friendly dogs are welcome. They should not delay the run. Any unfiendliness towards people or other pets earns a ban. In camp owners will pick up the scat. In camp dogs should be leashed during meal times.

Although everyone is welcome to participate in our group, there will be certain runs that the require specialized equipment. The run leader will set guidlines for each run.

-It may take a few minutes for the last rig on the run to park. Please make sure that the members of the last rig are involved in the hunt for the geocache.