Geocache Southbury!

If you're already outside being active, try adding a little treasure hunt to your day!

Living out in Spokane, Washington ten years ago, I became privy to a new activity that has its roots in Oregon.  It's called geocaching (pronounced "geo-cash-ing") and is now something almost anyone can do while they are outdoors.

The basic concept is simple.  Someone takes a bit of thoughtful time to put together a log book and some inexpensive "treasure" that gets stored in a weatherproof container that is clearly identified as being a cache.  That container then gets hidden somewhere outdoors and the location is marked geographically using GPS data.  That GPS data is then shared, usually over the internet, with anyone interested in finding it and the hunt begins!  Once a person finds it, they typically would make an entry in the log book, celebrating their successful find. 

Usually you'll find some inexpensive treasure in the box, which you are free to take, but are expected to replace it at the same time with something of (at least) equal value.  Once done, you are expected to place everything back exactly the way you found it, so the next person who's hunting for it has as good an experience as you did looking for it.  Lastly, you would go back on the internet and make a log entry online declaring that you found the cache.  It can be as simple as that.  In some cases, it can be a lot more challenging.

 Let's get into some details.  Check out the website geocaching.com.  That's the global home where you'll find local caches.  Get yourself a free membership and start exploring!  There's more than two dozen geocaches in Southbury alone.  

So you find a cache you'd like to hunt down…  Now you need some kind of a GPS device to find it.  Back in the day, the only way you could do it is to purchase a handheld GPS designed for the outdoors.  I have a nice Garmin device and love it.  But now there are apps for smartphones and iphones that give you the essentials in order to get out there and geocache.  Once you get the hang of using a handheld GPS unit to navigate around, you'll be putting yourself within feet of your finds.  Once you're at that point, it's completely up to you to start looking around for places where the cache could be hidden.

Finding the cache gets easier over time.  It took me a long while to find my first box.  After a few of them, you start to look at the woods differently and it becomes easier to make logical guesses where things could be.  You'll see on geocaching.com, many times you have the option to get a little cheat info, so you're not completely clueless as to where you should be looking.  It's all great fun and you'll find that people get very creative with where they hide caches and what they hide them in.  

I was going to write a few brief words about some basic etiquette if you've never done this before.  Rather, I'd encourage you to check out this link, which goes through some of the important basics you really need to know before you do this.   Here's the basic list from geocaching.com:

When placing or seeking geocaches, I will:

• Not endanger myself or others.
• Observe all laws and rules of the area.
• Respect property rights and seek permission where appropriate.
• Avoid causing disruptions or public alarm.
• Minimize my and others' impact on the environment
• Be considerate of others.
• Protect the integrity of the gamepiece.

If you decide that this might be fun, hop online, find a cache right here in town (they're practically in your back yard!) and start the hunt!  Once you're hooked, you'll realize that geocaching is something fun to do when you travel, too.  Then you can get hooked on travel bugs and all sorts of new stuff.  Explore, learn, and have fun!