Geocaching 102

I'm sure that by now you've all seen me mention "geocaching" in several of my posts. If you are not already familiar with the term, you can learn all about the worldwide sport thru geocaching.com by viewing their "Getting Started" video, or you can purchase "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Geocaching". If you're impatient like me and want to know right now, here is my quick and dirty definition: Geocaching is high-tech treasure hunting using a GPS device. Geocachers hide geocaches (waterproof containers) with treasures (chotchkies) inside, then other geocachers search for them. The geocacher takes something out, signs the log, then places something inside in return. I know what you're thinking..."What do I want with a small piece of worthless crap?" Geocaching is not so much about finding gold, it's about the hunt! Essentially, you're a high-tech pirate...minus the rape, pillage and plunder part, of course.

Most of all, geocaching forces you to explore places where you would not have normally chosen to go. My fiancé and I started geocaching in March of 2008 during our vacation to Sedona. We were so anxious to find our first geocache! And then, we learned from reading the geocache description that it was small in size and located at an elevation of 4660 feet somewhere on Bell Rock. Oh, crap! We followed the direction according to our GPS receiver as we climbed the red rock, and after a while of searching in the hot Arizona sun...there it was...a plastic container hidden in a desert tree! We were so excited, you would have thought we just found Davy Jones' Locker. But then, we didn't have to worry about others hearing our exclamation because we were so far off the beaten tourist path. We would have never had explored this part of Bell Rock and much of the Sedona area during our entire vacation if it hadn't been for geocaching.

Following the vacation, we started geocaching in our own place of residence - Germantown, Maryland. I remember downloading the coordinates from geocaching.com for the closest geocaches near our home. I couldn't believe the number of geocaches in our neighborhood that I drove by, walked by, ran by, and merely happened by every day and I didn't even know it. In fact, I learned that there was a trailhead to the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail within walking distance of our house! I lived in my home for 15 years and I never knew there was a 16-mile trail so close-by. Needless to say, this was a dream for me and my fiancé since we are trail runners. Thank you, geocaching, for introducing us to the challenge of the find!

So, step away from your Wii, your iPhone and your cozy couch, and become one with nature as a treasure hunter - ARGH! You can tweet when you get back.

Geo out,
~Jodi...Hi-Tech Pirate and owner of "The Simple Laugh" web store

For trendy geocaching apparel and accessories, go to: The Simple Laugh Shop!