Modern Day Treasure Hunting

 

 

Have you ever dreamed of finding hidden treasure – following a map to the secret location of valuable bounty?  Then you, my friend, are a prime candidate for the fairly new sport of Geocaching.  Perhaps the treasure you’ll find really isn’t very valuable, but the experience and exercise you’ll get is.

 

What is Geocaching?

 

Someone hides a cache and logs the coordinates onto the website Geocaching.com.  You visit the site and make note of the coordinates, follow them with your GPS, and look around until you find the cache.  It’s as simple as that.  Well, it’s a little more complicated, but that’s the process in a nutshell.

 

Who can be a Geocacher?

 

Anyone can participate in geocaching.  Young or old, active or sedentary.  Yes, I said sedentary, because many of the caches are located in urban areas or in areas of mild terrain.  Geocaching is a great activity for people looking for fun ways to exercise, other than going to the gym or plodding on the treadmill at home.  And the whole family can geocache together.  Kids love the suspense of the hunt and excitement of discovering the hidden treasure.

 

Where can I Geocache?

 

Almost anywhere!  There are currently 234,833 caches in 220 countries.  To find caches near you, just visit the website and type in your zip code.  No matter where you are, there are undoubtedly numerous caches just waiting to be found.  Caches have been hidden in cities and at the top of mountains, in parks and on private land.  Each cache log on the website provides information about the location, including ratings for terrain and difficulty (as in how easy it is to find once you get there).  You can choose to visit the caches that best fit your level of physical and searching experience.

 

What equipment do I need?

 

The only piece of equipment that you need to invest in is of course a global positioning system device, or GPS.  Entry-level GPS units can be purchased for under $100, however it’s probably worth spending a little bit more to make sure you get some good features.  We use a Garmin eTrex  Legend, which can be found for under $150.  We can log our coordinates, track our travel time and distance, and even determine our average travel speed.  More advanced units have color screens and highly detailed maps, and can run well over $300.  Basic functions are easy to learn, and as with all technology it seems that kids catch on real quick.  In fact, you’ll probably have a difficult time prying it out of your kid’s hands to get a look at it yourself.

 

No other complicated equipment is needed to geocache, though you’ll want to wear good shoes for walking or hiking, dress accordingly for the weather, and make sure you’re properly prepared if you’re setting out on a long hike.  An extra set of batteries is always a good idea, too, since a dead GPS is of no use.

 

How do I find a cache?

 

Once you’ve visited the website and selected which cache you’d like to visit, log the coordinates into your GPS.  You’ll then be able to see how far away your destination is from your current location, and the direction you’ll need to go to get there.  Start moving in that direction, and before you know it you’ll practically be right on top of it.  That’s when the real fun begins.  GPS units are only accurate to a certain point, so once you’ve reached the vicinity of your cache your task turns to looking around and finding the hiding spot.  Most caches are pretty well hidden, and some are downright stumpers!  Don’t feel too bad if you aren’t able to find a cache on the first try, though that doesn’t happen too often.  After you’ve done a few, you’ll start to think like the person that hid the cache, and it will get easier to spot even the most well hidden caches.  Part of the fun is being a stealthy sleuth, especially if the cache is in a high traffic area.  Geocachers are always wary of giving away their activities to non-geocachers, lovingly referred to as muggles.  Unfortunately, caches are occasionally stolen or vandalized.

 

What will I find in the cache?

 

It depends on the size of the cache.  Microcaches, as their name implies, are very small, so may have nothing more than a note explaining what it is.  There may be a piece of paper for you to sign to log your visit, but nothing more.  Most caches are bigger, however, and hold a variety of items.  You’ll usually find a small notebook to log your visit, and some pencils or pens.  There are often a number of small items, or the treasure, if you will.  This could be anything from magnets to batteries, coins to gum machine toys.  Geocaching etiquette requires that if you take something, you leave something behind, and hopefully it’s something of equal or better value.  Chances are you won’t find any gold bullion, but you might find some nifty odds and ends.  If you’re really lucky, you’ll find a cache containing a travel bug or geocoin.  Travel bugs are metal dog tags; typically they are attached to something such as a small toy (Star Wars figure, koosh ball, etc.).  Geocoins are – well, coins.  They each have a serial number, and their travels can be tracked on the website.  If you take one from the cache, you are then required to drop it off in another cache to help it on it’s way.

 

Anything else I need to know?

 

There are no doubt plenty of details I’ve left out here, but my aim is just to give you a quick introduction to geocaching.  I haven’t covered hiding a cache, which I consider to be more of a 200 level activity that requires commitment, continued maintenance, and has its own set of etiquette rules.  Fortunately, there are websites and books that you can refer to if you’re interested in learning more about geocaching.  The most important thing to remember is to get started, and have fun!

Resources

 

Geocaching.com

http://www.geocaching.com/

 

Also, check to see if there is a local geocaching group in your area.  Many states have associations with regular activities and opportunities for meeting other geocachers.

 

Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching – Jack Peters

 

Essential Guide to Geocaching, Tracking Treasure with Your GPS – Mike Dyer

 

Geocaching Handbook – Dave Ulmer

 

Garmin GPS units

http://www.garmin.com/outdoor/products.html#basic

 

Magellan GPS units

http://www.magellangps.com/en/gpsAdventures/outdoor/