Yes, geocaching. Thanks to my friend Kiri’s bad influence (actually just a ‘blog post on her part, but…) I am now interested in geocaching. …and when I say ‘interested’, I mean this could become an obsession like so many other things in my world.

Geocaching, also referred to as a global positioning or GPS stash hunt, is a recreational activity in which someone “buries” something for others to try to find using a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. The pursuit can be thought of as a GPS-enabled treasure hunt. Usually, a geocache consists of a small, waterproof container that holds a logbook and inexpensive trinkets. Participants are called geocachers. (Definition from Information Technology at Johns Hopkins Institutions).

I have already found 3 geocaches in the Moab area, and there are many, many more. I have one that I can’t seem to locate, even though it is extremely close to my house, and I am very frustrated by this. I put the coordinates into my GPS, and it leads me to where I am supposed to be, but there doesn’t seem to be a geocache there, though the website has assured me that there IS one there.

The very first geocache I found was GC19B4X (aka ‘A Simple Cache’). It is located in Moab. Geocaches are a secret thing, and you aren’t supposed to let people see you finding/digging/uncovering one. This one was difficult in that respect, because it is a pretty easy one to find, and is close to a road. I can’t tell you where it is or what it’s near, but here are a couple pictures of the cache itself:

This picture is after I ‘left my mark’ on the log. I believe this is called a ‘microcache’. There is really no room in it for any trinkets, or even a writing utensil. The website description usually tells you if you should bring your own pen. There is always a log, sometimes big enough to write your thoughts, but the 3 I have found so far have only been big enough to write your name.

The website I joined is www.geocaching.com, and I like it. It gives fairly detailed maps, with all the geocaches logged with them listed on the map. You can download the coordinates and information right to your GPS, which is very handy (they only support Garmin GPSs at this time, however).

You can participate in geocaching even if you don’t have a GPS. In fact, when I told my mom about it, she said that she and my dad had accidentally stumbled upon one while visiting a waterfall in Idaho last spring. Rich also says he has found several accidentally around Moab while out bicycling. Barb joined the geocaching website, and found her first geocache last night, without the aid of a GPS.

I think it is a really great thing to do, it’s fairly safe, it’s fun, and it’s free. If any of you are already members of geocaching.com, or feel like joining now, my username is katemail13, and I’d love to be your friend!

Thanks for reading! Join me in my newest obsession!