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- Friends of Parks and Trails - NEWSLETTER – November 2008 - Page 3 -

(Treasure….continued)

Geocaching and hiking go hand in hand. In an afternoon, you can find neat spots that are close to home and previously unknown to you. Or, if you are travelling to another area anywhere in North America, you can find out information on caches there and do some real exploring. You can explore nature, find out about local history, and experience terrific scenery that is a bit off the beaten track. Most caches are on relatively easy terrain or on a decent trail so it can be a great family activity. All kids love treasure hunting, almost as much as the big people! And, it is relatively inexpensive to enjoy. Once you have your GPS, there are few other costs. Most cachers practice “CITO” which is “Cache In, Trash Out”. Cachers worldwide help maintain the natural beauty of our outdoor resources by picking up any litter they might find on their way into a cache. Some geocaching clubs even have special cleanup days for their area.

If you aren’t familiar with GPS or this high-tech stuff and are interested in geocaching, feel free to give me a call (365-9983) There are a few of us in Friends of Parks and Trails who can show you how these things work and maybe we could go and find some treasure! Once you’ve found your first cache, you will be hooked.

Rick Johnson

A typical GPS receiver showing the satellites it is picking up. Other screens will show your location and the distance and direction to your treasure cache.

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