Treasure, treasure everywhere

Updated Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 4:33pm by SaraKaplow

There is hidden treasure in Sandusky, and I know where it is. 

You can, too. And all you need is a computer and a GPS device. 

The hidden treasure is a geocache, a small, waterproof box container hidden by someone else who is a keeper of secrets. In it is nothing more than a few trinkets and a roll of paper, stashed somewhere in downtown Sandusky.

Geocaching is a fun, relatively cheap way to have some adventure in your own backyard (sometimes literally). The basic gist is that you get online, search for caches in your area, program your GPS to the coordinates of a cache, and then go find it. Caches are often hidden in neat places that other people have discovered and want to share. They can require a lengthy hike, some all-terrain trekking, climbing, jumping and more than a little bit of sketchy behavior. 

The process is simple enough. Using geocaching.com, I found about a half dozen active caches around downtown Sandusky.  I loaded up the coordinates provided on the site onto my portable GPS (nothing fancy, just the one I have to keep me from getting lost when I'm driving around), grabbed a pen (always carry a pen, just in case), a trinket to leave in the cache (you don't have to, but it's a nice idea), and off I went. 

The coordinates were easy enough to find. Keeping in mind that it's a major faux pas to be discovered by "muggles," I tried to look as natural as possible, but I'm pretty sure it just looked like I was plotting to burgle the buildings around me. Finally, I sat down on a bench, reached into a bush, and pulled out the cache. 

It was exhilarating. I felt like a secret agent.  I left my trinket and took one that was already in there, left a note in the log (a must, and the reason for the pen), re-stashed the cache and then skedaddled, feeling like I was in on a really great inside joke. 

The best part was, I spent no money. Even if you don't have a GPS, you can pick up a suitable one for around $100 on ebay or at an outdoor sports store, and it will probably come in handy even if you don't get into geocaching. There are enough caches in the area that you won't have to spend tons on gas, and since each cache is hidden in a different location, you'll end up with a different adventure each time. It's also a great way to get outside and discover the area, and a fun group or family activity. Furthermore, it's something you can do anywhere; wherever you wander, there are sure to be caches in the area just waiting to be excavated. 

One of the more interesting aspects of geocaching, and something to try if you're willing to spend a little more cash, is trackable objects. Serious geocachers purchase these items, often looking like coins or medallions, which they can track from cache to cache. Using fellow cachers as transportation, your little bug could end up on the other side of the globe, and you can check out where it is online whenever you want. 

So for a little adventure with little impact on your wallet, join the world-wide network of geocachers. Who knows, there might be buried treasure right in front of your eyes.

Some key geocache lingo: 

GPS - Global Positioning System, used to find the spot of the cache. 

Cache/Geocache - An object hidden for the purpose of being found by other cachers. 

Muggle - Taken from Harry Potter, this is a  non-caching person in the area. Try to wait until there are no muggles around to make the find. 

Multi-caches - A cache that involves two or more locations, the final location being the main prize. Usually, a hint in one cache leads to another cache, and so on until the final container is found. 

Microcaches - Little tiny catches, usually in a film canister. 

Cache in, trash out -  Simply means that you pick up garbage on the way out to keep geocaching's impact on the environment positive.

TFTC - Thanks For The Cache

TNLNSL - Took Nothing Left Nothing Signed Log

Links: 

http://www.wikihow.com/Go-Geocaching (a detailed how-to for geocaching)

http://www.geocaching.com (main listing of caches)

http://www.navicache.com (free listing of caches in the area)

http://www.geocaching.com/about/finding.aspx (Good info on how to find your first cache)

http://www.geocreed.info (the geocacher's creedo)