Treasures Everywhere: The outside is your actual GAME BOARD!

Five times this week, I have engaged in geocaching.  Each one is different, and gives a different insight into the joy of this treasure hunt.  Here are some of the benefits I found hunting geocaches this week:

1) Found a different part of the Butte (that I have climbed regularly for the past 5 years)
2) Remembered the fallen soldiers on the top of Lazy.
3) Had a few minutes to kill, and my daughter found a tricky one in downtown Palmer.
4) Sparked an interest in a huge group of toddlers on a casual walk which became a driven hunt for treasures (Reflections Lake)

The main website for this sport is geocaching.com which is owned and operated by Groundspeak Inc.  To start on this treasure hunt you need to do just a few steps.

1.  Set up your geocaching.com account *You can use the app on most phones

     -I found that the free account was insufficient because it limits the type of caches based on the terrain and difficulty.  So, I paid the $9.99 for THREE months unlimited.  Much better.

2.  Pick out your first cache out of the many to hunt.  (using filters can pick things close to you are where you want to explore) It is sometimes good to explore the hints to see if the cache has been MUGGLED:  Based on "Muggle" from the Harry Potter series, which is a non-magical person. A geocache is muggled when a non-geocacher accidentally finds a cache, and takes it!
(this is just a little picture of the amazing number of caches in the Mat-Su Green Belt)

3.  Get your coordinates into the GPS (this is automatic if using the app) but you might need to manually enter the coordinates into a hand held gps

4.  Find the Cache.  My phone has a cute ring when it is close :) It has about a 20ft radius of where the treasure is hidden. *It can be as small as the old film canisters to a large army box the description on the website gives hints of what you are looking for.  However, there is some ground rules.  The cache cannot be buried! So, no shovels are needed at all.  But they are tricky, camouflaged, and sometimes magnetic. 

5.  Log your find/or dnf (did not find) on the geocaching.com account.  You can share your experience.

Basic GEAR:

GPS-Garmin or Smart phone

Map?

Trade items (many caches have loot and you can take an item and leave an item of greater or equal value)  *note no food/smelly items to attract bears/animals. Good article on what not to bring.

Pencil

Bug dope (or Mosquito Headnet) *I was in a buggy area that was find when walking, but when I was deep looking into the woods, I was wishing I had some bug spray.  

Bear Spray/deterrent of choice- Don't be unaware of your surroundings.  

bring kids (they find them quick if you know some :)

Basic hiking stuff be wise

There are many types of caches to find.  Some are puzzles and others make you learn about the area (Earth Caches).  All in all, it is an adventure for you to engage in.  So THRIVE OUTSIDE!