Modern Treasure Hunting: Geocaching

Hunting for treasures became easier in today's technological word. A new type of "hide-and-seek" is spreading with enthusiasm and fervor. Geocaching is a new game for GPS users, essentially a high-tech scavenger hunt.

The basic idea is to have people all over the world share cached GPS coordinates over the Internet. Anyone with a GPS unit, can program in the coordinates and follow clues left online to find the "treasure." Typically the item found is in a water proof container with a log book and trinkets inside. Though the items usually do not have a large monetary value, hunters have been known to find money, jewelry, books, games, wood carvings, or other trackable items such as travel bugs or geocoins.

To find geocaches in your area, type "geocaching" in a search engine and you will find various online communities where coordinates are posted for a given area. One well known site to visit is geocaching.com. A search for my home zip code quickly located over two dozen locations in my immediate area.

GPS Treasure Map

A GPS unit is an electronic device that can determine your approximate location on the earth. Though it may sound too easy using an electronic global positioning device to find an item by just the latitude and longitude, the unit will only get you about 6-20 feet from the exact location. Because it is a "hunt," the item may be stashed under a tree, in a rock, or behind a physical marker.

Changing the Rules

There are several variations to the cache hunt. An offset cache is a hunt where offset coordinates are left at the coordinate points. Multi-caches will take you to different sites, a new clue to the next site is found at each cache until you reach the final destination. Virtual caches are not physical points per se, but rather a landmark, view, or historic place. You may have to answer a question posted by the "cache" owner in order to prove that you have found the location.

Preparing for Your First Hunt

If you have never ventured out on a hunt, there are a few things you should do before you begin. First, it is always good to research surrounding area, some distances can be deceiving and you may need to prepare for elevation changes or extreme temperatures. Always take a partner with you, most caches are off the beaten path and for your safety you should always have someone with you. Be aware if the land you are on is private or public property. It is not advised to cross private property, the cache owner will probably provide clues of the proper access point. Bring plenty of water. Use common sense, be aware of wild animals and respect the terrain, if you uncover rocks, turn them back over, try not to damage the landscape. When you find the cache, be sure to return it to the condition and location where you found it. It was a closed container, make sure the lid is on tight and sealed.