Twelve-year-old Aaron Mayes’ eyes bounce back and forth between the Lowrance handheld GPS and the shoreline on the far side of the bay. Then suddenly, his right arm shoots out like a gunslinger as he points to a rocky beach. Were he a pirate, he might have said, “Avast ye maties, yonder lays the booty.” Instead, he says, “I think it’s over there.” Mike Lucas steers the
25-foot Sun Tracker Regency pontoon toward the spot where Aaron indicates and gently beaches it. The crew spills out of the pontoon, following 12-year-old Camren Qualls (who has just siezed the GPS) like he was the Pied Piper. Fanning out, they keep their eyes open for the hidden treasure.
LET’S BEGIN
Finding one of these caches can be either very simple or extremely “evil,” depending on how well it’s been hidden. The crew, which also includes Mary Groman, is looking for a site on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Mo. To get started, they go online to www.geocaching.com and click on “Hide & Seek A Cache,” located toward the top of the left column of the home page. After filling out the free registration, the address of the Bent Hook Marina at Big Cedar Lodge — where the trip originates — is entered. Then they click on “search for caches with Google Maps” at the top. Once there, after moving the cursor around, a site called “Brushy, Brushy” is located only a few miles from the marina. When you’re looking for a cache, prepare to be amazed at how many sites you’ll find that are right around the corner. Although the vast majority are land-based sites that you can drive or hike to, if you have a decent-sized body of water nearby, chances are excellent that you’ll find caches hidden on islands, or a short hike inland from a shoreline, as in the case of Brushy, Brushy.
Since this is everyone’s first try at Geocaching, starting with an easy one makes sense. Brushy, Brushy is rated 1.5 out of five stars for terrain and one out of five stars for difficulty (how well it’s hidden). In case this site has been stolen, moved or is too hard to find, a second cache is located near Table Rock Dam as a backup.
ALMOST THERE Aaron and Camren use the coordinates on the Lowrance iFinder GPS to lead the way on the search for the cache site Brushy, Brushy.
Where Is It?
The coordinates for Brushy, Brushy are listed on the website page, and it takes just a few minutes to load them into the Lowrance iFinder GPS, which retails for less than $100. The website also includes a brief description of the general area where the cache can be found and the type of container in which it’s located. Searching for the cache is a large part of the fun, so you might avoid reading the log entries posted by others at the bottom, which can contain “spoilers” or overt clues that make finding the cache too easy. In the log entries, you’ll see a host of icons. The number next to the smiley face means 23 groups have found Brushy, Brushy. A frowning face means the opposite. Most caches will give clues that are concealed by a code to give you the choice of whether or not to read it.
To read the clue immediately, click the “encrypt/decrypt” tab. The code key is listed, so it’s printed and taken along with the scrambled clue in case the crew needs a little extra help during the search without revealing the clue beforehand. One log entry warns that there’s a lot of poison ivy in the area, which is a valuable thing to know beforehand.
The Hunt
So, you’re thinking all you have to do is just walk to the coordinates on your GPS, and there it is, right? What’s the big deal? This will occur only on the easiest sites. Most caches are well-hidden, not only to provide the hunter with some sport, but also to prevent “ muggles” (non-Geocachers) from inadvertently finding your cache and taking it. Many sites are “ offset,” or not located exactly at the coordinates listed, and will be identified in advance. Some sites take you to a series of clues you must follow to find the actual cache. The toughest finds are called “evil” caches and are ingeniously hidden, requiring the hunters to process the sort of investigatory skills seen on the TV show CSI.
Once the pontoon is beached, Camren indicates that the cache is only a couple of hundred feet away, and everyone fans out to try to find it. After walking up a dirt path, Camren stops and says, “It’s 10 feet from here.” Everyone starts scanning and a glint of silver shines from underneath a pile of rocks. “Stop! Nobody move,” yells Mike. Good call, because surrounding the cache is a lush stand of poison ivy, which they avoid when retrieving the duct tape-covered PVC pipe.
What’s a cache?
The caches themselves vary widely from large military ammo canisters to Tupperware kitchen containers and small 35 mm film canisters, and even some “virtual” caches that are nothing but the GPS coordinates, which take you to an interesting location. A typical cache would contain trinkets such as CDs, pens, compasses, key chains, collectable pins, toy cars, small dolls, or any assorted inexpensive “ swag” people might like to own. The one at Brushy, Brushy is a little run-down and contains just a few items like a bobber, a rusty flashlight, a couple of dollar bills and some change. The boys take a dollar each and fill in the spiral “logbook” before leaving a new Matchbook car and a nice fishing lure. Always strive to leave something of equal or greater value than you take, and never put food in a cache because many wild animals have a keen sense of smell and will trash the site. Obviously, since kids often participate, don’t leave things such as alcohol, drugs, knives, or risqué items in them either.
After you’ve become a regular, you’ll want to hide your own caches, which you can post on the Web for others to find. It’s your responsibility to maintain or replace the cache if it gets damaged or stolen. Make sure to follow the guidelines for where to place them because some locations (like environmentally sensitive areas, historic sites, or places where security is an issue) are off-limits.
CHECK IT OUT You never know what you might find in a geocache.
THE THRILL OF THE CHASE
So why do people Geocache? The whole idea is to get out and participate in a fun activity the whole family can do. But more than that, it’s a sport that requires you to use both mind and body as you hike around trying to discover your hidden treasure. Most caches are placed in areas of interest and beauty to make the actual journey the real fun of Geocaching. It’s also a great sport you can do along the way during a long drive to help break the monotony of travel. On family vacations, it’s a fun, low-cost activity to keep the whole family entertained at your destination. Be forewarned, though — it’s an addictive hobby that spurs people on to try and find as many caches as they can. There are many noted Geocachers who have located more than 5,000 different caches. However, such a long journey begins with your first hunt.
The GPS Era Begins
The sport of Geocaching was made possible on May 2, 2000, when the U.S. government allowed
new instructions to be sent to 24 GPS (Global Position-ing System) satellites circling the globe,
allowing civilians to receive the same accurate signals as the military receives. Prior to 2000, a
GPS could only take you within several hundred feet of your desired location; now, it can take you
within 10 feet or so, paving the way for Geocaching.
The Basics
The best way to become familiar with the sport is to click on the “Getting Started” section at the top left of the home page at www.geocaching.com. Here you’ll find a section called “The Geocaching FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).” The basic procedure is as follows: You locate a cache, take something out of it, leave something in it, and then write an entry into the log book found within. Geocachers also post their pictures and write vivid, action-packed narratives of their experiences on the website, which also provides rookies with a good idea of what to expect. To give you an idea of the scale of worldwide participation, in any given week, according to the website, hundreds of thousands of log entries are posted for the estimated 450,000 geocache sites scattered everywhere.