28 September, 2007 |

How to post a letterbox on geocaching.com

On the AQ boards someone asked about how they could increase traffic to their letterboxes. Here's one way that you can definitely pick up traffic and also increase awareness of letterboxing in your community. Use google maps and geocaching.com

Get the starting waypoint using google maps:

My example: Klondike Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA

1. Go to google maps and
2. Do a search for Klondike Drive Fairbanks AK.
3. Click on the "link to this page" link. It's located just above the map on the right hand side.
4. You will get this url: http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=Klondike+Dr,+Fairbanks,+Fairbanks+
   North+Star,+Alaska+99709,+United+States&ie=UTF8&cd=7&
   geocode=0,64.837240,-147.877150&sll=49.891235,-97.15369
   &sspn=25.369388,59.765625&ll=64.838192,-147.877135&
   spn=0.008156,0.029182&z=15&iwloc=addr&om=1
5. Notice in the url that you get the latitude longitude coordinates. The numbers are 49.891235,-97.15369 49.891235 is the North coordinate (i.e. the latitude) -97.15369 is the West coordinate (i.e. the longitude)
6. Write down the coordinates. You'll need them to post the letterbox on geocaching.com

Important update: I haven't posted a new letterbox in awhile, not since the Spring of this year, so I forgot a very important point. You not only need the waypoint for the starting point, you also need the waypoint for the location of the box. This is required so the reviewer can check to see if it meets guidelines (at least .1 miles/161 meters from another cache, not on prohibited property, not in close proximity to active railway tracks or military areas). You could in many cases, still get the location of the box using google maps. The coordinates for the box location are not posted when the letterbox goes live, they are just needed for reviewing purposes.

Posting your box on geocaching.com:

1. Now go to the geocaching site http://www.geocaching.com and set up a free account.
2. Next go to the Hide and Seek A Cache page.
3. Then click on the fill out our online form link.
4. Fill out the form and when you get to the 'Coordinates' section choose Decimal Degrees from the drop menu and put 49.891235 in the north coordinates box and 097.15369 in the west coordinates box (you don't need the minus sign)
5. In the "long description" it would be a good idea to let geocachers know what a letterbox is and that you do not want trinkets left in the box and add "Please do not take my stamp, leave it in the box." Here's an example of what I write - the message has served me well.

This is a letterbox, there are no trade items.
BYOI: bring your own ink.
Recommended colour: black

I have placed my hand-carved stamp in each of the boxes. Bring your own ink (Crayola washable markers make great ink tools if you don't have an ink pad).If you carry a letterbox "passport"/journal, use the letterbox's stamp to stamp your passport. If you have a signature stamp, please stamp the log book.If you do not have a stamp, leave a drawing (stick figure drawings and happy faces would be just fine, you do not have to be a Picasso or a Da Vinci, or a sticker or a fingerprint or pawprint, or try a nature print using a leaf or flower as a nature stamp, and sign the log. Stamps are cheap at Michael's and scrapbooking stores or make your own with an eraser and an exacto knife. Join the fun!Please, don't take my stamp!

Note: It's also very important to put a note in your letterbox. Not all people read the cache page carefully so they'll need another reminder when they open up the box. Here's the note I leave:

Please leave the stamp in the box. No trades. If you carry a letterbox passport, take an impression of the letterbox's stamp. If you carry a signature stamp, leave an impression in the logbook.

Once you submit your letterbox it'll take about 3 days to be reviewed and approved. Then it should only be about a day before you get your first finder.

Your comment:

Name (required)

Mail (requried)

Website

What is the sum of 6 and 9?