Not All Who Wander Are Lost. Some Are Just Geocaching.

I have been introduced to something new and I couldn't be more excited. Well... new to me anyway. I may be late to this party, but in truth I don't care! It is so freaking awesome! In the spirit of discovery and exploration, I give you... geocaching! According to the official website, geocaching is a "real-world treasure hunt that's happening right now, all around you. There are 2,526,091 active geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide."

Doesn't that just get you totally amped up!?! I mean, seriously.... global treasure hunting! What could be more exciting than going off in search of some hidden treasure? Before I get overly excited and start hyperventilating, I should point out the "treasure" will most likely be a Scrabble tile, or a sticker, or a plastic toy, as well as a log for you to sign. Geocaching is truly about the search; not the contents of the "treasure chest". With that said, if any pirates, marauders, or late 18th-century explorers have been eagerly reading this entry in hopes of discovering the location of buried doubloons, I apologize and ask that you not ransack my home in an act of revenge.

To play, participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. These locations have been established by other geocachers and logged in the global database, which you can access online at www.geocaching.com or by downloading the app to your phone. When I first launched the app I was blown away by the sheer number of caches within walking distance of my location. The next morning, when I arrived at work, even more cache sites were revealed. Areas I have walked or driven past countless times were actually secret hiding places for boxes and containers, some there for many years, which people from all over the country, and even the globe, have searched out and found. It felt as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a secret world that was right in front of me the entire time.

My first cache did not take long to find. The site was within walking distance of my office, so I thought I would check it out during my lunch break. The data provided for the cache site includes, along with the coordinates, a description, the level of difficultly, the terrain level, the relative size of the container, and a hint.



Logging my first cache!

As I began surveying the area I believed the cache was located, I did become moderately aware that I might look a bit ridiculous. You are, after all, poking around in places (public place in this particular instant) that might cause a passerby to question your level of stability. Those self-conscious feelings fell quickly by the wayside the second I wrapped my fingers around the pill bottle size cache! It was really there! The wave of excitement rushing through me was something I hadn't felt in a long time. More to the fact, that such a simple, almost child-like, game brought me that much joy was a refreshing and invigorating experience.

The cache contained a few small pieces of paper rolled up in a plastic Ziploc bag. Upon reviewing the Activity Log for the cache on my phone App, it was apparent that the hiding spot was quite susceptible to rain, and over the years the log had been replaced a number of times. What moved me most was this "maintenance" was conducted by the individual geocachers who found it, not the original creator. In a "pay-it-forward" type mentality, the people participating in this activity care enough to make sure the integrity of this hidden object is properly maintained so the next person who comes along may experience the same excitement and joy.

My first cache!

I opened the log and added my Geocaching handle and the date on the next available line. then examined the "treasure"!It was a small Scrabble tile. Since this was my first cache I really wanted to have a keepsake, but the rules of geocaching require a trade of something of equal or greater value. Having nothing on my immediate person, I walked back to my car to see if I could dredge up something from the glove box or between the seats. I hit pay dirt when I found this small plastic parachute toy I must have gotten from the dentist or stolen from a toddler (but seriously, where I got it isn't important, okay! Let it go, Elsa, just let it go!) It was perfect. I made the swap, resealed and replaced the log, and careful put the cache back exactly were I found it. Then I walked away, completely hooked, and excited to begin my next search.


To learn more about geocaching, please check out www.geocaching.com or watch the video below! Happy Hunting!