Why was I crawlÂing through a frozen sewÂer pipe on my hands and knees in the midÂdle of winter?
I was geoÂcaching, my latÂest obsession.
If you haven’t heard of geoÂcaching, it’s a worldÂwide treaÂsure hunt using GPS to locate hidÂden conÂtainÂers called geoÂcaches. There are litÂerÂalÂly milÂlions of geoÂcaches hidÂden around the globe. When I first startÂed playÂing, I was delightÂed to disÂcovÂer that there were sevÂerÂal withÂin walkÂing disÂtance of my townhome.

What exactÂly is a geoÂcache? It can be as simÂple as a plasÂtic TupÂperÂware conÂtainÂer with a logÂbook inside to record your name. Part of the fun of geoÂcaching, howÂevÂer, is the creÂative ways in which these caches can be disÂguised. I’ve been geoÂcaching for just over a year now and some of the more than 500 conÂtainÂers I’ve found include:
- a ceramÂic gnome hidÂden inside a holÂlow tree
- a secret drawÂer built into an ornate LitÂtle Free Library
- an artiÂfiÂcial rock beneath a busy bus stop bench
- a birdÂhouse on the porch of an antique store in rurÂal Wisconsin
- a holÂlowed-out book on the shelves of the pubÂlic library where my writÂing group meets
I’ve found geoÂcaches as small as my finÂgerÂnail and as large as a garbage can, and every size in-between.

It unscrewed to reveal a tiny logÂbook inside.
Who hides all of these caches? AnyÂone can, once they’ve learned the basics of the game.
I tend to get stuck in familÂiar ruts, so for me, one of the greatÂest joys of geoÂcaching has been all the new places I’ve disÂcovÂered. I’ve been to parks and walkÂing trails in my own homeÂtown that I nevÂer knew existÂed. While I’ve been on vacaÂtion, geoÂcaching has takÂen me to hisÂtoric buildÂings, stunÂning scenic overÂlooks, and unique parts of the city I would have nevÂer othÂerÂwise disÂcovÂered. WhenÂevÂer I give an author preÂsenÂtaÂtion out of town, one of the first things I do is check to see what geoÂcaches are in the area. I always disÂcovÂer someÂthing new.


Who knew I was in the luteÂfisk capÂiÂtal of the country?

but which one?
Are you feelÂing adventurous?
It’s easy to get startÂed. All you need is a device with a GPS app, such as a smartÂphone. Go to geocaching.com and set up a free account. Then type in a locaÂtion and you’ll be shown a map of all the geoÂcaches in the area. Each geoÂcache is ratÂed with a difÂfiÂculÂty levÂel from 1 (easÂiÂest) to 5 (most difÂfiÂcult) so you can choose the degree of chalÂlenge you want.
FolÂlowÂing the map should bring you withÂin ten feet of the geoÂcache. That’s when the huntÂing begins. Is the cache inside that holÂlow stump? On the back of that stop sign? HangÂing from a tree branch? Clues in the online descripÂtion will help you narÂrow your search. And then suddenly…you spot it! I still haven’t grown tired of the burst of adrenÂaÂline I feel each time I disÂcovÂer a new cache, hidÂden to everyÂone else in the world except for me and my felÂlow cachers.

To reach it, he used a 24-foot pole we conÂstructÂed from empÂty cardÂboard tubes.
Once you find a geoÂcache, sign the log, replace it exactÂly as you found it, and then search for anothÂer. EveryÂthing I needÂed to know in order to find my first cache I learned by watchÂing this short YouTube video. Be warned, howÂevÂer. GeoÂcaching can be addicÂtive. I know folks who have found more than 20,000 caches and are still going strong!
GeoÂcaching is a hobÂby for all ages and abilÂiÂties. My eight- and eleven-year-old great nieces love the lure of findÂing the inexÂpenÂsive trinÂkets locatÂed inside some of the largÂer geoÂcaches, while retirees have told me it’s a fun way to get exercise.
Ready to disÂcovÂer a new park, a new trail, or just a new secÂtion of your neighÂborÂhood? Then try geoÂcaching! And don’t worÂry. You won’t have to crawl through a sewÂer pipe…unless you want to.
I canÂnot wait to try this! And maybe even creÂate a cache of my own that you’ll have to track down, David. 🙂
You — and your daughÂters — will have a lot of fun, Aimee! And I look forÂward to findÂing a cache hidÂden by YOU!
What fanÂtasÂtic fun, David! SeeÂing the world one hidÂden treaÂsure at a time!
WhenÂevÂer I go anyÂplace now, Lisa, I’m always lookÂing around and wonÂderÂing if there is a geoÂcache hidÂden near!