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The Fun of Geocaching - Text and photos by Marion Littlefield
 A real hang-up cache |
 "Virtual" cache at old cementery |
 Henderson Viewpoint Cache |
 Maj seeking the cache |
 Powell Point Geocache view |
 View from Powell Point |
 "Under the Table" Cache |
 Grand Staircase Overlook Cache |
 Overlook Cache looking south |
 View from Overlook Cache |
Geocaching was really born when the Select Availability was removed by the
Clinton administration in 2000. By removing the (SA) GPS systems in the public
hands became accurate enough to play a new game in town. Today geocaching has
grown to thousands of sites in 180 countries.
What is geocaching? Is it a game or hobby? To us (my wife and I) it's an excuse to get out and see places in a new light. For example, hundreds of people have been on Powell Point and we hadn't untill we started geocaching. Someone asked me, "You have lived in Tropic all your life and have not been on Powell Point?" I replied, "No because there are no fishing holes there!"
My wife says it's something for folks to do when there's no water to fish in.
What is a geocache? It may be a container (waterproof) that someone hides, usually on public land. They use a GPS receiver to note Latitude and Longitude, and registering it on the geocaching.com website. Once approved by the Utah administrator, the cache will be posted and geocachers who want to be notified of new caches will be sent an e-mail.
Perhaps the fun of it is to be notified when someone finds one of your caches and tells of their experiences finding it.
What's in a geocache? Mostly (excuse me) JUNK! The real treasure in the new hi-tec game is what you find around the cache. If you look at the Utah page and enter your city or Zip Code you will see all the locations within so many miles of your house. Read a few of the logs and you will see what a fun game it is; the user names are part of the fun. Some geocachers have found hundreds of caches and have hidden many themselves.
While there are different types of caches, the traditional kind are fun. For obvious reasons there are some places a physical cache is not allowed so you will be asked some questions which when answered will verify you have found the cache.
There are many answers on the website to any questions one may have on how to get started. There are also other forms of hunts such as Benchmark hunting and "cache in and trash out."
GPS receivers are now available for around $100. And you don't need the latest and greatest to play. Some practice in learning how to enter the location and push GOTO and you are on your way for some great fun and seeing some of the greatest scenery in the world.
Cache on!