Updated May 11, 2013.

Question: What is Handicaching?

What is handicaching, and how is it different or the same as geocaching?

Answer:

Handicaching is the term used to describe geocaching for the disabled. Handicaching is a way to describe the activity as it relates to disabled participants who have a variety of disabilities. The individuals may use walking poles, scooters, wheelchairs, powerchairs or other types of assistive devices, or they may be able to walk by themselves.

Handicaching is a hobby that is steadily growing in numbers. There are a number of groups that are specifically for the handicapped geocacher around the world. A website dedicated to this activity is Handicaching.com, which affords users a rating system that they can use to describe a variety of variables at the cache site. For example, the rating includes the distance from the nearest parking area to the cache site, the route surface, the slope, obstructions and the height of the cache. This information is valuable to disabled participants who have never been to the area where the cache is located and/or may be traveling alone.