On May 1, 2000, President Bill Clinton's executive order to discontinue "Selective Availability" allowing users to receive a non-degraded GPS signal globally was executed.
On May 2, 2000, at approximately midnight, eastern time, the switch controlling "Selective Availability" was thrown. Twenty-four satellites around the globe processed their new orders, and instantly the accuracy of GPS technology improved tenfold. Tens of thousands of GPS receivers around the world had an instant upgrade.
On May 3, 2000 Dave Ulmer placed the very first geocache, The Original Stash, a black bucket, in the woods near Beaver Creek, Oregon. Along with a logbook and pencil, he left various prize items including videos, books, software, a can of beans and a slingshot. He shared the waypoint of his "stash" with the online community on sci.geo.satellite-nav, and Geocaching was born.
We're delighted to be able to say that we logged GCGV0P, (Original Stash Tribute Plaque) in 2015 and have therefore visited the site of the first cache ever set. We've also visited Geocaching HQ, bagging the cache in their office and also completing the Geotrail around the area (so satisfying to slap a Needs Maintenance log on a cache set by Groundspeak!) so I suppose you could say that we're addicted to this wonderful hobby.
We'll be celebrating 20 years of geocaching in a local taverna at Kourion Beach; we hope that you'll be able to join us and that you'll stay long enough to make it a proper party - there will even be cake!
This event was originally published for 2 May 2020 but in common with many other countries around the world Cyprus was on strict lockdown and Groundspeak took the decision to postpone all events - we've now rescheduled for Saturday 4th July 2020.
Community Celebration Events - 2020
This Event is part of a limited release of Community Celebration Events to celebrate 20 years of geocaching. Geocachers hosted events between May 2, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Learn more about Community Celebration Events on the Geocaching Blog.