Waymarking: GPS Fun and Adventure

Waymarking is a high tech scavenger hunt to locations around the world using a GPS device. A sister to geocaching, its basic premise is to find locationless caches (places, people, things) and mark them or virtual caches (visit places that you may not even know were there) and log them. Whether you're looking for a scenic trail, historic battlefield, unique building, or the nearest place to eat, Waymarking.com will lead the way with a list of thousands of waymarks in hundreds of categories under Animals, Art/Music, Benchmarks/Measurements, Buildings, Business/Commerce, Entertainment, History/Culture, Memorials/Monuments, Nature, Oddities, Signs, Sports and Recreation, Structures, Technology, and Waymarking Games. You can visit existing waymarks and log your experiences or discover and mark your own to share with others. The basic tools required are a handheld GPS device and digital camera.

Begin by registering at Waymarking.com. A basic membership is free and provides the tools for searching for waymarks, adding your own, and keeping track of your submissions and visits. A premium membership for $30/year provides more options such as downloading GPX, KML and LOC files, adding and managing your own category, participating in peer reviews, organizing your favorites, and rating waymarks. Search waymarks by address or zip code, categories and groups by keyword, or peruse a comprehensive category directory.

If you intend to visit an existing waymark, note the requirements for logging your visit as each category may vary. You may be asked to supply an additional photo of the site with you or your GPS in the picture. You can't go wrong by posting your experiences and impressions and any additional information you learned during your visit. To log your visit, go to the specific waymark on Waymarking.com and select 'Visit Waymark (Post Log)' from the right hand column under Waymark Options. When you submit your information, you have the option to upload photos. Note that if you do not meet the requirements for logging a visit, your entry risks deletion by the waymark's author.

To submit your own discovery, find the appropriate category and note the requirements. You can crosspost your find in multiple categories if applicable. You will always be required to supply GPS coordinates, country of your waymark's location, and a short and long description. Some categories require a specific way to title the waymark, additional variables, and may include options such as additional GPS coordinates for parking, hours of operation, the URL of a related website, and condition or composition. Always gather as much information as you can about your waymark and take plenty of photos. It is a good idea to take pictures of any informational displays, not only to post, but for easy reference to use later when describing your waymark. When you have all the necessary data, go to the pertinent category on Waymarking.com and select 'Post New Waymark' from the right hand column under Category Options. Although it isn't always required, doing a search for extra details and information to add to what you learned on site will enhance your description. The object is to entice the viewer into visiting your waymark, so the more information you supply will add to the interest. If you copy any text or description from another source, make sure you cite that source. Do not plagiarize. After you complete this step, the next will be to upload photos. When uploading pictures, there is an option to add a title and description. It is not required and many people don't bother, but it allows you to add bits of extra info and orient the viewer. The final step will be to preview, and either submit it for review or save and submit it later. You will be notified by e-mail when your submission has been reviewed. A response can come in a matter of hours or a few days.

Looking for adventure? Now you're ready to grab your GPS and camera and head out on the waymarking highway!