A. Finding Something to Waymark

1. Which Category? - The best categories to start with might be something that you are already knowledgeable about. Someone who loves lighthouses, for instance, could start with the "Coastal Lighthouses," "Landlocked Lighthouses" or "Lighthouse Bed and Breakfasts" categories. This is a great way to combine two hobbies and leave a trail of information for other folks who are interested in the same things. Take some time to look around on the category page on waymarking.com and make a short list of categories that sound fun to you. If at a later date you find yourself needing a complete list of categories, check out the "Waytools" section of waywardwaymarking.com for handy lists and spreadsheet documents you can download for free.

Waymarking categories can essentially be divided into three types: useful categories, fun categories, and game categories.

Useful categories focus on creating a directory of services or businesses. Examples would be categories such as "Wifi Hotspots," "Visitor Information Centers," or the many business/commerce categories. For many of the useful categories it's relatively simple to find a spot to waymark. Just use a search engine on your computer or even your local telephone directory.

Fun and informative categories focus on historic, quirky or just plain odd locations that you stumble on in day-to-day life. Examples of this type of category would be "Ginormous Everyday Objects," "Odd Speed Limits" or "Muffler Men." These waymarks can be a bit more difficult to find than the useful categories, but that challenge makes the reward even greater when you finally happen upon one.

Waymarking games typically use puzzles, anagrams, or themes to create a coordinate-related game. Each game has its own unique rules of how to play, so be sure to read the category description and posting requirements completely before you start out on your quest. These are some of the most fun categories on the site; check them out in the Waymarking Games section of the category page at waymarking.com.

After you've familiarized yourself with the categories, you'll probably have thought of a place that you're ready to waymark. Here's the next step.

2. Checking for Posting and Logging Requirements - Before you head out to your waymark location, you'll first want to check the category's description page on waymarking.com to make sure that you know which information you'll be required to gather about your waymark.

First, open up the page of the category that you'd like to place the waymark in. There will be a short description and then a link that says "show additional information." Click on this link to see the category's full description. Towards the bottom of this full description you will see two headings: "Requirements to Post a New Waymark," and "Requirements to Log a Visit." "What's the difference?" you ask. Well, this waymarking terminology can be confusing at first. When you "post" a waymark, you are adding a new waymark to the category that no one else has "posted" to the site. When you "log a visit," "log" or "visit" a site it means that you are visiting a waymark that has already been posted to the category by another waymarker.

Okay, so do you see the "Requirements" sections in the category description? You'll want to jot down these requirements so you'll know what to look for while you're at the site.

Sometimes you will find something to waymark without having a chance to check what the requirements might be. This isn't a problem, however, for the greatest chance of a successful waymark posting, read the "At the Waymark Site" section below. There you'll learn about the most common category requirements. If you follow the instructions in that section you will likely be able to gather all the necessary information.

Okay, now you're ready to head out to the site and get waymarking.

B. At the Waymark Site

In this section you'll learn some tips on what information you need to gather at the site and what photographs you'll need to take. Some categories will have additional requirements, but below are the ones you will most likely need when you post or log a waymark.

1. Coordinates - This one is pretty standard. Every category requires that you get as close as possible to the location you are waymarking and record the coordinates as they appear on your GPS. Most of the time this requires walking up next to spot being waymarked and taking a coordinate reading on your GPS. At any business, building, or park, you'll want to take coordinates at its entrance, unless otherwise specified in the category description. Sometimes, though, this will be difficult. For instance, when the store you are trying to waymark is inside a mall and your GPS isn't able to receive accurate coordinates. In that case, you would take coordinates at the mall entrance nearest the store and include directions on how to get to the store once you're inside. If the site you are waymarking is on private property, then most often you'll want to take coordinates at the best public viewing spot, and in the description tell future visitors which direction they will need to look to see the waymark, and remind them that the item is on private property. If a visitor will need to walk across private property to view the waymark, you will first need to get permission from the owner for people to access the site.

There are programs online such as Google Earth, where you can put in an address and the Website will spit out coordinates for you. This is a big no-no for all but a handful of waymarking categories. The problem with these programs is that they aren't very exact. At times they can be up to a half mile off and when you're leading someone to a very specific location, or are waymarking in an urban area, accuracy can make the difference between a visitor finding your waymark or leaving frustrated and empty handed. The point of this hobby it to waymark places you've been to yourself, NOT places you found the coordinates for online.

Other Important Coordinates - Sometimes to best describe a site and make it easy for others to visit your waymark, you will need to give additional coordinates. These might include parking coordinates, trailhead coordinates, or coordinates of special points of interest. Most of the time this is optional, but sometimes the information is required, so to be safe and to help out future visitors, take the time to collect these extra coordinates.

2. Photographs - There are several different types of photos that categories might require you to upload when you post or visit a waymark. Usually, only one or two of the following are required, but to make sure you haven't missed a requirement, try to take all of these basic shots to cover your bases:

General Photograph - often the category owner will just ask for a photo of the object being waymarked. In the case of a sign or plaque, this would be a close up of the sign. For a building or structure, you would want a picture that shows the entire building.

Close Up - This would either be a picture of a detail of a large item (such as a building), or a full frame shot of a small item, (such as a birdhouse or sign.)

Wide Shot - Take a picture that shows the item you are waymarking within its general setting. This picture is very helpful when trying to visit an item like a survey marker or a sign that is very small in relation to its setting.

Sign Picture - Many of the building, business/commerce, and history/culture categories require that you take a picture of the waymark's sign to identify the waymark.

GPS Picture - For visits, and even at times for new waymarks, you will be asked to provide a picture of the waymark itself, or the waymark's sign, with you and/or your GPS in the shot. It's a good idea to take a picture of the sign or location with a person holding a GPS to cover your bases. For some reason, some people really want proof that you were at the site with GPS in hand. To save yourself the heartache of having your waymark turned down, be sure to take this shot.

Information Pictures - This type of picture isn't for posting on the site - it's just a way to save you from some note taking. Instead of jotting down the hours, price, address of a waymark or other supplemental information, you can take a quick picture of a sign that has the information posted. In fact, a great tip I found on the waymarking.com forums is to take a close-up picture of your GPS before you take the other pictures of your waymark. When you upload your pictures to your computer, have your photo editing software order the pictures from oldest to newest. This way you know which coordinates go with which waymark, and you never have to stop and input a waymark coordinate on your GPS while you're at the waymark site. It saves time, as well as wear and tear on your GPS buttons.

3. Collecting Information - In most cases, you'll be able to collect a lot of required information about your waymark online. However, it's best to take as much information from the site as possible. Things like business hours and admission prices are going to be more up-to-date at the actual place than they will be online. When you write up your waymark description, you will want to know a little about the spot you're waymarking: interesting stories, history, trivia. Talk to a park ranger, a nearby shopkeeper, or the owner of a business you're waymarking. It can make the difference between an average waymark and a spectacular one.

Next: Logging a Visit to Your Waymark
Back to the Beginner's Guide outline

Enjoy the site? Tips help keep it going!