Geocaching

Over the last several years, a new outdoor activity has been growing in popularity. It is called geocaching, and Grant County has not been overlooked.

Geocaching is an outdoor adventure game for those who use a global

positioning system (GPS) instrument; although you can play the game with just a compass, or if you are really good, with dead reckoning.

The idea is this, someone hides a cache (rhymes with stash) of inexpensive trinkets, memorabilia, whatever, and shares coordinates of these caches on the Internet. The high-tech treasure hunt yields no riches, only bragging rights.

A GPS unit is an electronic device that can determine your approximate location on the planet by tracking communication satellites. You can use the unit to navigate from your current location to another. Some units have their own maps, built-in electronic compasses, voice navigation, depending on the complexity of the device.

There are more than 98,000 hidden caches in 202 countries around the world, and close to 30,000 of those have been placed in the last 12 months. Some areas are more saturated than others.

The caches can be behind rocks or under a pile of leaves, there are many different ways to disguise a cache. Sometimes the prize might be hidden in a tree or at the base of road sign. Inside you may find just about anything. When a cache is found, most people take a moment to sign their name in the log book and leave a brief message. It is OK to take something from the cache as long as you leave something before placing the cache back in its hiding place.