Hidden treasure awaits in Bismarck

By Marv Erhardt

It’s called “geocaching,” but some call it high-tech treasure hunting. This rapidly growing outdoor activity is a blend of hiking and treasure hunting using a handheld global positioning system. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and to discover scenic and interesting places. Geocaching begins with a geocacher hiding a weatherproof container at some interesting, historical, or scenic public place, often near a hiking trail. The container usually includes a logbook and a few trinkets, which serve as trading treasure. The map coordinates – latitude and longitude – of the hiding spot are determined using a GPS unit, and this information along with a brief description of the geocache is registered on the Internet at the official geocaching Web site, www.geocaching.com.

It’s easy to search the Web site for geocaches in a particular area. There are lots to choose from – close to half a million geocaches are registered worldwide. They’re located in every state in the U.S. plus 250 other countries.

Once you select the geocaches you want to find, input the map coordinates into your GPS unit. It’s also a good idea to print or make note of the other descriptive information because it includes clues. Then the hunt begins. A GPS unit will point you to the geocache, but it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be easy to reach the location or simple to find the cache. While some caches require little effort to find, others are much more challenging and require hiking for miles or navigating through difficult terrain. Some involve solving challenging intellectual problems or require you to find multiple locations to retrieve clues. A simple five-star system is used to rate each geocache regarding the difficulty of the terrain in which it’s hidden and the difficulty in finding it.

When you find a geocache, the rules are simple: 1) sign the logbook and add a few words about your adventure; 2) trade treasure (optional) – if you take something, leave something in its place; 3) secure the container and return it to its original hiding place; and 4) when you get back home, record your visit on the geocaching Web site.

So what’s the appeal of geocaching? Essentially, everyone loves a treasure hunt. If you also like the outdoors, beautiful scenery, discovering interesting or historical places, and you get a kick out of using technology, geocaching rolls it all into one package.

Geocaching is fun if you’re young, old or in-between, and it can be done as a solo activity or with a group. There is no organization to join and there are no meetings to attend. All you need to get started is a GPS unit and a little curiosity and imagination.

Most people who start geocaching are quickly hooked. Many, like me, take their GPS units with them when they travel because they’ve found that geocaching takes them to interesting, beautiful spots they wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. Often these are unique places only the “locals” know about.

About 475 geocaches can be found in North Dakota. Some of the more interesting are in a series of “themed” caches along the Lewis and Clark Trail. The Corps of Discovery spent about 150 nights along the banks of the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota. The Lewis and Clark Trail caches provide outdoor lovers with another opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Missouri River while learning about the area’s history. In these caches, in addition to the traditional logbook and trading treasure, is a copy of Lewis and Clark’s journals with marked passages referring to the areas as the explorers saw them in 1804.

There are many ways to enjoy the rich beauty of North Dakota, but one of the best ways to experience the state up close is through geocaching. Log on to www.geocaching.com to locate the geocache sites and learn more about becoming a high-tech explorer.

Marv Erhardt has placed 12 caches across North Dakota and discovered over 300 geocaches nationwide. Erhardt will be hosting the geocache event at the 2008 OWAA conference.

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