Treasure Hunting with the Family

My family headed out for a treasure hunt last week. We walked down a trail that was so dusty it was like taking a shower in dirt. To top it off, it was hot and muggy -- you know, like the Pennsylvania weather we have been having -- and the dust just laid on our skin.

Less then five minutes into the treasure hunt, I ended up with my 5-year-old son on my shoulders for the 1.5 mile trek and then back.  

As we arrived at the X on the map, we noticed there was no treasure around.  That’s because it was 20 feet in the air, up on a cliff.  So we found another trail to take us to the top and, Bam!, there it was. Our treasure was in a softball-sized container called a Geocache.

Geocaching is a new adventure to me, my wife and our two sons. Just hours before our little adventure, I was sitting at my brother’s house listening to him explain Geocaching.  He went into detail on how long he has been doing this, the equipment needed and the most important tool -- the website to get all the information needed to find the caches: http://www.geocaching.com.

Geocaching may be new to me but it has been around for awhile. My brother recalled how he has been doing this 10 years, and that there were only a handful of spots he could visit for geocacheing.  Now they are everywhere. Within two miles of my house there are 20 or so geocaches.

My family and I have done a handful of geocaches since our first one last week. Most of them have been near our house. This gives us time to get home from work or sports, have dinner and go out for some family fun.  We enjoy this time we’re together because it gives us time to talk and be with each other. It is good exercise for the entire family and we can walk or ride a bike to some spots. And, since geocaching is a world-wide event, you can travel to any town -- or country -- and find these treasures.

My family and I will continue to enjoy each others’ company while traveling through Pennsylvania. As we go to our favorite fishing spot, hiking spot or swimming are we will take our GPS and take a little bit of time to see what treasures we can find.

For more information on Geocaching and the history please visit the site http://www.geocaching.com.

Tips to Follow

• Safety first.
• Respect private and/or posted property.
• Wear appropriate clothing.
• Always return the cache site to as good as condition or better than it was when you found it.
• Practice “CITO” – Cache In, Trash Out.
• Do not divulge geocache locations to “muggles.” Individuals who have no knowledge of geocaching and who are there for ulterior motives are called muggles. If someone is watching you search for a cache or find a cache and you know you are being watched, do not pick it up until you are sure you are no longer being watched. Caches have been known to disappear or be vandalized by muggles. Keep geocaching a fun sport for everyone who wants to be involved. Don’t give up information that would allow others to ruin it.

Source: Geocacher Darrell Richards

Geocache Speak

The following are some of the words and acronyms in a geocacher’s dictionary:

• GPS or Global Positioning System — A system of satellites that work with a GPS receiver to determine a location. This is what geocachers use to find their hidden caches.
• Cache — Pronounced “cash”; a hidden container filled with a log book and pencil or pen and possibly prizes. Caches often were used by explorers, miners, etc., to hide foodstuffs and other items for emergency purposes.
• Waypoint — Waypoints are named coordinates representing points on the surface of the earth, or may be marked in a GPS unit as a beginning point. Geocachers can use them to find their way back from where they started. This would be an example of digital bread crumbs.
• Geomuggle — A non-geocacher. Named for the “muggle,” or nonmagical person, of the Harry Potter book series. “Usually this term is used after a non-geocacher looks puzzled at a geocacher making circles with their GPS receiver, or when a non-geocacher accidentally finds a cache. Geomuggles are mostly harmless,” said geocacher Darrell Richards.
• Travel Bug or Hitchhiker— An item that is placed in a cache and has instructions to travel to other caches.
• Latitude — Latitude, along with its counterpart longitude, creates a waypoint. Latitude is the angular distance north or south from the earth’s equator, measured through 90 degrees.
• Longitude — Creates a waypoint, with its counterpart latitude. Refers to angular distance measured on a great circle of reference; the arc or portion of the earth’s equator intersected between the meridian of a given place and the prime meridian and expressed in either degrees or in time.
• Spoiler — A spoiler gives away details of a cache location and can ruin the experience of the hunt.
• TFTC — Thanks For The Cache!
• TFTH — Thanks For The Hunt!
• TNLN — Took Nothing, Left Nothing. Found in cache logbooks for folks who enjoy the thrill of the hunt more than the contents of the cache.
• TNLNSL or TNSL — Took Nothing, Left Nothing, Signed Logbook or Took Nothing, Signed Logbook.
• FTF or First To Find — Usually found on online forums or written in the online or physical logbooks.
• CITO or Cache In Trash Out — Geocachers who take a bag with them on their hunts and pick up trash along the way.
• Datum — Used as a basis for calculating and measuring. Datums are different calculations for determining longitude and latitude for a given location.

Types of Caches

• Traditional Cache: Usually a container — such as Tupperware, an ammo box or a bucket — and a log book; often other items left by geocachers. The rule of thumb is: “If you take an item, leave an item and write in the logbook.” Some caches are themed, so make sure the item you leave behind fits the collection.
• Multi-Cache: Involves more than one location, with clues or coordinates leading to each cache. Last stop usually is an actual container. An offset cache, which involves you going to a location and getting the hints to a cache, also is considered a multi-cache.
• Event Cache: Organizations that geocache or local geocachers plan an event and give a time and location where to meet. Can be trash clean-ups, dinners or just a get-together.
• Cache In, Trash Out Event: While out geocaching, geocachers pick up litter and properly dispose of it. Events are larger and involve and benefit the community.
• Mega-Event Cache: As the name suggests, these caches are attended by more than 500 people. Often annual, they attract geocachers from all over the world.
• Mystery or puzzle caches: Called the “catch-all” of caches. Involve puzzles to solve before determining coordinates, which are not actual locations but reference points.
• Earthcache: Designed to teach about a unique geoscience feature or aspect of the earth. Includes a set of educational notes and details about where to find the cache.
• GPS Adventures Maze Exhibit: Traveling educational exhibit that teaches about navigation, GPS technology and geocaching.
• Virtual Cache: No container; the location is the cache itself. Nothing normally traded except photos and experiences.

Source: www.geocaching.com