Geocaching – or searching for geocaches – is a modern form of treasure hunting and based on GPS (the Global Positioning System.)
What is geocaching?
Geocaching was founded some 15 years ago in Oregon, America, when Dave Ulmer recorded the first hidden GPS-located cache.
Now thanks, in the main, to Geocaching.com, the fun outdoor activity has spread worldwide with more than two million caches hidden in urban and rural locations.
Treasure hunters sign up to the site and look for a route to a cache in their own area or somewhere that they are visiting.
There are easy geocaching walks and much more challenging routes and each are graded so you can choose one to suit.
Anything else to know about geocaching?
A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook with a pen or pencil.
The geocacher enters the date they found it and signs it with their established code name. After signing the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it.
The caches also contain small treasures. If one is removed it must be replaced with something similar.
You can also become a geocache “hider”, as well as a “seeker”.
Who is geocaching for?
Everyone. All ages and fitness levels.
When can I do it:
Year-round.
The cost
Basic Geocaching apps are free but there are extra options with various subscriptions.
More details about geocaching
See geocaching.com.