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Cache-ing in on North Country Boredom
Posted on April 18th, 2010 8 comments Add a comment >>
Camoflauged cache
Living in the North Country, I am often told by outsiders how there is absolutely nothing to do here. These are typically statements by students I meet who hail from the city and fail to amuse themselves. But I’ve found that the North Country has much to offer to outdoor enthusiasts, even treasure-hunters.
We don’t wear eye patches. We don’t have peg legs. And we don’t say, “Argh!” Instead of a pistol and shot, we are armed with a GPS and pieces of swag. We don’t plunder so much as barter, but we are still looking for treasure.
I was recently introduced to a little sport—I suppose it’s really more of a hobby—called geocaching. Essentially, people take a GPS and romp around in the wilderness, using coordinates that will lead them to treasure, called a “cache.” These are small containers, filled with a log to mark who discovers the cache and when, and there is often times “swag”—known to pirates as “booty.”
The tokens are small, simple things left behind by past geochachers. The rule is that if you take something, you must leave something in its place.
Geocaching is a world-wide hobby
I set out for one in the town of Plattsburgh with a few friends. We typed our coordinates into our GPS and set out on our journey. Our guidance system led us through swampy terrain and rocky hills, and we are certain we went in circles. After an hour, and sheepishly passing by several “posted” or “no trespassing” signs, we decided we weren’t going to find our cache. Hint: it helps if you have a GPS device that is not intended for use in your car.
Defeated, my friends and I decided to take a break and go out to lunch. Afterwards we were back on the hunt and in search of a new cache, located less than a mile away from where we (supposedly) were supposed to have found the first one. This time we got lucky.
My, well, our first cache was hidden inside a hollow log at the base of a steep precipice. It was a small plastic
Some caches contain swag, and if a piece is taken, another should be left in its place
Tupperware container with a blue lid, holding several loose papers with names of adventure-seekers who claimed the container before us. It was filled with swag, including a small green bouncy ball, a cross, a marble, a few rocks, and other trinkets.
I didn’t take anything from this cache. Though it was little more than a plastic box with old notes and invaluable objects, it was gratifying to leave our names, waiting to be discovered by whomever follows the same path.
I propose the following to those who still believe there is nothing fun to do outside of a big city: go to the geocaching Web site, grab some coordinates, and put that GPS to work. Argh!
8 responses to “Cache-ing in on North Country Boredom”
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Jenna, thanks for the post. I haven’t tried geocaching, but it looks like fun.
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Isn’t it illegal to store (or cache) personal or private property on State Land in the Park? What’s DEC position on geo-caching in the Forest Preserve? Wilderness Areas?
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Good point Josh. In this day and age, it would make more sense that the cache be a virtual one and not a physical box. Theses caches are already listed online, it isn’t much of a stretch to have the finder take a photo of the GPS coords and location, send it in to the website and then gain access to the the cache’s online logbook. Think “facebook” style.
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Laurie May 8th, 2010 at 15:17
Nothing like taking good clean healthy fun, and putting a damper on it. Sorry..gotta give my two cents here.
I dont geocache myself..but if there is anything that gets people outside, I am for it..virtual geocashing?..why even move away from the computer?…we can all get fat and sassy sitting at the puter, doing our virtual thing. We can make it a video game? sorry..is funny to me.
If you are thinking environmental issues with leaving a little box under a pile of tree limbs, that groups of people, wander around, laughing and giggling, smelling the outdoors, appreciating the earth, carefully opening and closing the box, leaving abit of history, taking that right away is going to make a difference in the environment..the benefits outway the negatives…I am thinking that most of these people still believe in leave no trace..or at least with geo cashing..the networking they are involved with, start learning the concepts.
how about we concentrate on all the fast food containers, plastic bottles, people spending money unwisely, on things that end up in heaps, people who change their cell phone every two months, spend money on clothes, tons of outfits, only to discard and waste, throw away food and water every day.? I could go on and on.
Just my two cents…;) Not grumpy..but in a fiesty mood.
Laurie…(I take people on trips out into the backcountry, woods, peaks, forests, whatever you want to call it..)
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Laurie May 8th, 2010 at 15:32
Yes one more thing..or maybe two..:)
Education and participation in outdoor recreation is the way to go…you have to take the ‘beginners’ and gently give them bits of info, spark their interest and at the same time get them involved in just getting out there…geocashing seems to me a small part of that whole picture. We all started with a taste of the outdoors at some point, every day, week and year we learn more and more about being involved with our earth that surrounds us. I love this gift more every day..I too want to protect it…but I have no right to deny others that opportunity, even if that means maybe making a mistake or two.
I hope more and more people develop that love.I like your article jenna..and hope people continue to look for treasures…is cool concept.
Laurie -
Slow down Laurie,
I wasn’t at all implying that Geocaching should be prohibited on State land…I was just interested if anyone knew what DEC’s position was on the topic. I asked the question because I am extremely interested in Forest Preserve management.
I absolutely agree that anything that gets people outside and physically-active should be supported and encouraged. Actually, I work every day, as a community organizer, to improve physical activity and nutrition in the North Country. I’m also a NYS guide (9 years) and jump at every opportunity to introduce people to the Adk wilds.
As for virtual geo-caching, I also agree that encouraging people to spend more time in front of the computer screen is ridiculous.
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Laurie May 26th, 2010 at 16:44
Ok..Sorry Josh..didn’t mean to get fiesty..I guess..I am used to some people who would like to conserve or reserve the great outdoors for just themselves…Figured is where you were coming from.Thought i dedected that ‘tone’ in your response. If not..so sorry…
Have a good day…
Laurie -
Laurie May 26th, 2010 at 16:47
I am a NYS guide too…just a newbie..Been taking people up for many years…but just did the test last summer…
Laurie;)
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Name: Jenna Burleigh
Bio: Jenna Burleigh is a magazine major, with minors in environmental studies and French. She enjoys hiking and kayaking.
Phil April 20th, 2010 at 10:44