The Geocaching Experience

My obsession with finding capsules taped to trees

A large type geocache find

Nicole Boudine

A large type geocache find

BillyS, Online Editor

For the past few weeks I have made an effort to go geocaching every single day and log at least one find. Geocaching is game played by millions of individuals world wide that involves placing and finding small containers with logs in them that you can sign and leave your name for other future seekers to find.

The reason I geocache is because I find a tremendous amount of joy in finding a small, pill bottle sized, object after searching for so long, and leaving my name for others to find. I enjoy thinking about other people I know finding the same cache that I signed and seeing my name and recognizing it.

In some caches you can leave small “trinkets” that you can exchange with a trinket you brought. In fact, the other day in one of the caches I found, there was a small key about the same size and shape of a typical safety deposit box key. I have yet to find out what the key belongs to, but I plan to take it to a locksmith and see if I can gather any information on it. The mystery involved is half the reason I geocache as much as I do.

I am certainly not the only one who geocaches that I know, often I will go with one of my friends and make it a whole ordeal where we will spend 2-3 hours searching for various caches in our area. Searching with friends just adds a level of banter that is otherwise lost without another presence there. On top of the extra conversations, it’s easier to search for a cache with more people looking for it.

I think that, in order to find a hobby that you’re interested in, you need to try everything at least once. Geocaching is something that I believe everyone should try at least once, and determine whether its something they want to do more often or just leave alone.