Use the Geocaching.com mobile app for OpenCaching? Yep…
With all the hype about OpenCaching and how it will cause the earth to stop turning, I decided to hunt for one of these reviewerless evil creatures. No wizards attacked me, no angry birds, and no problem locating the cache. It looked fairly harmless compared to other caches I have found. But the real story was in the finding of the cache that could be of concern.
I quit using a gps two years ago, sorry Garmin. I started out using the GeocacheNavigator application for my BlackBerry, then upgraded to the Android app when I upgraded phones. Sorry iPhone folks, I need a device that also works as a phone. That being said, how can I hunt for an OpenCaching cache without a gps? It was easier then I thought.
If you open up a cache listing on the OpenCaching.com site, there is an option to download a gpx file. I simply downloaded the gpx file into my GC mobile app. I am just curious like that. After opening the GC mobile app, I opened the imported gpx file that I just downloaded and there was my opencaching gpx file. The app used its normal configuration with a traditional GC cache icon and even gave it a difficulty and terrain rating. I guess it doesn’t recognize awesomeness. After opening the file, I discovered the app would not let me navigate to the cache location. I guess it didn’t recognize the OX cache code. The adventure didn’t end there though. All you have to do is scroll to the bottom of the screen, select “View on External Map”, select Google maps and BAM! You have a navigational arrow on a google map screen.
The geocaching.com mobile app will allow you to seek opencaching.com caches downloaded in gpx format.
Steps to make this work
- Download gpx file from OpenCaching.com to your GC mobile app.
- Start your phone gps
- Open the GC mobile app
- Open your imported gpx folder
- Select the file
- Select the cache
- Scroll to bottom of app screen
- Select View on External Map
- Find the cache.
What does this mean? Bring in the pundits …
