FAMILY REFLECTOR HIKE GCZ7JP

by Momma Owl  Payson Canyon

The Boy Scout troop 916 in our area decided to work on the Geocaching merit badge so I put together some of my favorite caches up Payson canyon and found that there was a night cache that I had not done before.

Cache description  N39° 58.195 W 111° 41.489

This is a child friendly reflector hike. Only a little hilliness and small limbs, etc. to step over on animal paths. The cache is about 240' from the posted coordinates but you will walk about 800' to follow the reflectors. Then it is a shorter walk back. The red reflectors (17) are close to each other and easy to see except for two that are across open areas. This can be done in the day but will be more fun to do just after dark. Dress the kids warm and go have some fun. One note, when the leaves come on in the spring and summer it might be hard to see in the day and might need the night reflection to be found.

This can be reached year round normally. Most of the time you can park about 20' from the start, just make sure you are off the road completely. There is room for just one car.

We had two vehicles so we parked just down the road and walked up to the start it was still a bit light but we were able to navigate just fine. This was a great experience and I would highly recommend this to anyone.

Night Geocaching

I have only been on 2 night geocaches they are some of my favorites. I think this is because they are quality there was time and thought that went into the process and that is what makes it worth while. It is also important to be prepared before you go out to find one of these.so here are some hints: 

1. Read, and even take instructions with you

2. Every person in the group needs a good flashlight. 

3. Be Aware of your surroundings, the dark can hide hazards so keep your eyes open. 

Do a search for this type in your area. Highly recommended!!!

Girl Scouts Promote Geocaching

Jeannie O'Sullivan of New Jersey wrote treasure hunters gather in Delanco park, the article should be titled Treasure Hunters find novelty items and cheap trinkets.  more than 5 million Geocachers see this sight on a regular basis and consider themselves lucky because it could be just a piece of paper. Jeannie continues telling us about Sarah Loring and her good friend Samantha Booth, they are both members of Girl Scout Troop 25416. these two 14year old girls organized a workshop teaching people about Geocaching.they did this to earn their silver badge. like most Geocachers they did it once and now their hooked. actually they started by accident when Samantha's mom found a cache at camp and investigated it. this was several years and she has influenced her daughter and her daughters friends. the group has now discovered  a number of parks they did not even know existed. now they look for green areas on mapquest and hope to locate a cache these girls are becoming experienced geocachers. Samantha gas even found some in Ireland during a trip there. I love to see the rising generation taking an interest in the sport. 

Gulf Islands National Park GeoCASHING

This last week Groundspeak Weekly Newsletter shared an article entitled “Treasure hunters find new places through Geocaching By Judith Lavoie, Times Colonist August 7, 2011”

The article talked about a promotion where cachers have a chance to win “a specially designed, colourful centennial geocoin, which will go to the first 100 people who complete their passports.”   The passport is completed by finding these ten Geocaches.

Gulf Islands National Park Reserve's Top Ten caches

1.    Best place to try your hand at birding

2.    Best place to see an underwater forest

3.    Best place to see the impact of invasive species

4.    Best place to spot a beaver

5.    Best spot to relax and watch the tide go by

6.    Best place to see history come alive

7.    Best place for a hike

8.    Best view of the park

9.    Best place to meditate

10.          Best chance to see an orca

It’s nice to see that efforts are being made by some to keep quality in the sport it would be great if everyone were interested in quality vs. quantity.

http://www.timescolonist.com/travel/Treasure+hunters+find+places+through+geocaching/5218747/story.html

Quantity Vs Quality

Geocaching was born in May of 2000. When the government removed the scramblers on their military global positioning satellite systems this made it possible for civilians to get accurate GPS readings. }Dave Ulmer, hid a 5 gallon bucket with stuff in it and published the GPS location online.

He called it The “Great American GPS Stash Hunt”. Later that month, the term “Geocaching” was coined. I have been Geocaching for the past four years and during that time only 1% of my finds have been a 5 gallon bucket. one was the First Cache in Utah. the main thing I find is small Geocaches (like film canisters) they only contain a Log. 

I think that the sport has gone down hill from that day in May 2000. What can be done to improve the sport / activity / obsession?