Ever wanted to spend an afternoon seeking out a hidden treasure? Ever thought you could do it in your backyard?
That’s the premise of geocaching. It’s a free, worldwide phenomenon that has people out the door and hunting for secreted treasure, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve already heard of it. The caches can be hidden in an urban cubbyhole or on a lofty mountaintop and are rarely marked by an “X.” Instead, 21st-century treasure seekers need a GPS, Internet access and a username.
Now, don’t worry too much, it used to be that only a few dedicated woodsmen and hunting guides could afford a GPS, but now that capability has been included in smartphone technology and opens access to many more. This might be vastly different from the way Jim Hawkins looked for treasure in Treasure Island, but I reckon that would change if you met a one-legged pirate. I mean, I haven’t yet, but I suppose it’s never too late.
Since the turn of the century, people just like us have secreted away small boxes, containing mostly trinkets, and published their whereabouts on the geocaching network. That’s the premise of geocaching: a participant-driven treasure hunt in town, in the backcountry or in between. Often, the items in a geocache are toys, stickers, postcards or game tokens reflecting the flavor of the region and the people. A log tracks who has found the cache so you can read the names of those who passed through. The etiquette of finding a cache dictates that if you uncover one and take something, then you should leave something.
Never found a geocache before? Well, you’re in luck. The “Geocaching in 2 minutes” video at www.geocaching.com can bring you up to speed. Basically, a simple search to select a geocache point near you will give you latitude/longitude coordinates that you can then set as a destination, or waypoint. Sometimes a description will contain an additional clue or riddle to simplify a difficult cache. A cache might be more difficult because it has multiple stages or clues to locate it.
A search of caches in and near Durango turned up more than 2,500, many of which are in the city. Browsing through the titles, I found it easy to spot familiar landmark names such as Chapman Hill and the Lions Den. But one title caught my attention especially, the Chemical Free Parks cache.
A multistage cache near Junction Creek, this one can be found by the savvy person using just a compass. However, a free GPS app on a smartphone or a trusty old GPS itself should get you there, too. This cache has got a word scramble clue, it’s easy to access, and with some good ol’ fashion orienteering in Durango’s original organic park, it has the elements for a fun time. But what about pirates, or other “muggles,” a common term used to describe non-cachers who might stumble upon it?
You might imagine that appearing casual while searching for a cache is vital to a site’s integrity, but you never know when you’ll bump into a one-legged pirate or an ol’ scallywag with a good story. For me, those are treasures, too.
Next time I check in, it’ll be with plans of seeking riches in Yellowstone. With a 40 pound chest of gold and gems stashed somewhere in the country’s largest park, it might be time to go fishing. Check back to find out why.
Till then, happy hunting!
David Strawn is a Fort Lewis College student from Creede. This is the sixth in a series about the travels of a treasure hunter searching for the riches of humans, nature and human nature.
