Geocaching

Geocaching can be in the city, too. Photo Credit: Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau

By Linda Hoff

Treasure Hunting, 21st-Century Style
It was an unremarkable tree stump in the vacant lot just up the street. Josh didn't remember that it had ever before drawn any undue attention. But yesterday he saw two teenagers hanging around it. The day before, it was an older dude, maybe his dad's age. Last week it was a bunch of kids. Then there was the white-haired guy and a girl of about 10. All were strangers.

Could it be a drug drop? Or something to do with spies? For sure, somebody needed to find out what was going on, and Josh figured he was the kid to do it.

It was a weekend and there were lots of people out—neighbors doing yard work, kids playing in the street. Should be plenty safe. Josh hurried over to the lot and circled the stump. It didn't take long to find the open gash on the side facing away from the street. Josh reached in tentatively, hoping he wouldn't encounter something unpleasant—like a hairy tarantula or a rabid squirrel.

He was relieved to find only a small, plastic box. Inside was some sort of logbook as well as an odd assortment of items: a Sponge Bob eraser, two lottery tickets, a cool glow-in-the-dark pen, a purple guitar pick, a deck of cards emblazoned with a Pittsburgh Steelers logo and a Jonas Brothers' CD.

What Is Geocaching?
In fact, what Josh found was a cache (pronounced "cash"), the "hidden treasure" associated with the game of geocaching. The object of this modern-day, treasure hunting game is for players to use a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) unit and their best outdoor know-how to track down the cache. Players range in age from very young children to grandparents.

A cache will always include a logbook, possibly a piece of paper or a small notebook. Photo Credit: Garmin Ltd., www.garmin.com

To get started, go to a geocaching website, such as www.geocaching.com, for a listing of hidden caches around the world. Choose one near you, then punch in the provided longitude and latitude figures—called coordinates—on your GPS unit, and you're off and running. Once you locate the cache, you will 1) trade a small, tradeable item that you take with you for one of the items in the cache, 2) write about your experience in the logbook and 3) put the cache back where you found it.

Sounds simple, right? Well, you can find some caches right out in the open, but most are well-hidden—like in a tree stump, under a rock, in a cave or atop a remote mountain. When you select the cache you want to look for, check the difficulty level, which tells you how easy or hard the search will be.

What Type of Gear Do I Need?
You don't need a whole lot of gear to enjoy geocaching—a GPS unit, a map of the area, a few small items to trade, a pen for writing in the logbook and maybe a backpack or gear bag. If you don't already have a GPS unit, you can find a selection of them at most outdoor stores. (Prices start at just under $100.) Other than that, dress appropriately for the weather and take along food and water.

What Are the Benefits of Geocaching?
Geocaching is a fun, high-tech treasure hunt that doesn't require a lot of expensive gear. But if you need more reasons to take it up—or to convince your parents to take it up with you—there are several. It's a great way to exercise and spend time outdoors. It's a terrific game for family or friends to enjoy together. It's an adventure that will allow you to develop your orienteering skills. And it provides an opportunity to hike in places you haven't been before. What more could you ask?