Geocaching is a new form of treasure hunt where people are tasked to go out looking for items that are hidden by other people. Anyone new to geocaching might be baffled by this seemingly pointless game. But, is it really pointless? If not, then what is the point of geocaching even?
The sole reason for geocaching is to have fun. If you already travel and are looking for ways to spice up your trips with a bit of adventurous treasure hunting then geocaching might be what you are looking for. For many, geocaching provides a reason to go out and travel in the form of a fun little game. The sheer exhilaration of travel, exploration and discovery is the point behind geocaching.
In this article, I will extensively discuss every aspect of this scavenging game and what makes it so popular. If you are the one who enjoys exploration and traveling, I strongly recommend that you read the whole article in order to obtain a basic understanding of geocaching and how it can make your travel a lot more fun.
What is the Point of Geocaching?
If you and your family want to go out for an adventure of scavenging, then geocaching is the perfect option. The best part of this game is, it is pretty affordable. All you need to do is spend 10 US dollars on the app and that’s it. The sole reason for geocaching is to experience that thrill of treasure hunting which we have only heard in stories.
If you are out camping, then geocaching will be much more intriguing. Just imagine, you are out in the woods, searching for the hidden caches. Although in some camping areas, geocaching is banned due to the risks of getting attacked by wild animals.
This game of scavenger hunt has created a massive community throughout the world. Right now, there are more than 3 million geocaches all over the glove, and the number of people who signed the log is more than 642 million.
The game was invented and formally began in 2000, and since then, the geocaching community is growing at a rapid speed. It was originally started in Oregon and now is played in 191 different countries.
Perhaps this is the primary reason for geocaching, the association with a community and participating in group events. This thrilling experience of scavenger hunt takes place every day with more and more participants, and the community is getting bigger and stronger every day.
Is geocaching fun?
If you are a fan of traveling, then geocaching would be the perfect option for you to have fun. It will take you to places that you didn’t know existed, and will make you do things that you normally wouldn’t do.
Geocaching is a group activity, so it is better to scavenge with some friends and family. It is one of the best ways to spend some quality time with your loved ones. So, for adventure lovers, geocaching would be a great way of amusement.
How Geocaching Works?
Geocaching is for those who love adventure and exploration. But how exactly does this amazing game work? Signing up on a geocaching website is the first step to starting this treasure hunting adventure. Registration is absolutely free on most websites. There are many sites out there that handle geocaching, but geocaching.com is used by most of the geocachers worldwide.
Usually, an app is used to locate the caches. The players from all over the world stay connected via the application. In general, it might cost around 10 US dollars or even less.
Using the application, people can instantly start their adventure of the scavenger hunt. There are plenty of options available to explore. Following the trail provided on the map will bring the scavengers to the ground-zero position. In geocaching, ground-zero means the general area where the cache is hidden.
There should be a detailed description of the cache on the website. Some of the caches are very easy to find, and others are harder. Some of them are even camouflaged for making the game more interesting.
After finding the cache, scavengers write their name on the logbook. They usually upload the pic on the geocaching website and show the success to the whole community.
In some cases, caches might not be in the described location. The container that holds the cache might be empty or just completely gone. On such occasions, the geocaching community refers to the cache as being ‘muggled’ which is a term that comes from the movie Harry Potter.
The scavengers instantly report about the missing cache to the owners and they replace the things that have been taken by other players as soon as possible.
Bringing some specific items before starting the scavenger hunt is smart. Things like a pen, extending magnet, log roller will come in handy in the journey. But mainly, carrying the smartphone is a must in order to reach the ground zero location.
Now, you might be wondering who places the caches there. Well, it is placed by people who are interested in this game and are willing to spend time to make the whole adventure more fascinating. In some cases, they are paid by the owner of the app or website.
The people who place the cache also take the responsibility to maintain it. For instance, if a cache is muggled, then they have to refill or reinstall the items in the exact same location. The cache owner stays updated about the items with the help of the reports of general players.
In geocaching, the caches can have a lot of different appearances. While making it, the owner only keeps one thing in mind. It should be difficult to find and people who are not looking for the cache, should not stumble upon it. The only way to know about the cache’s appearance is to read the description of it from the app.
Is Geocaching for You?
There is no denying that geocaching is one of the best ways to spend some quality time with your friends and family. But it is definitely not for everyone. If you don’t enjoy traveling and prefer relaxed tours or you’re just an indoor person, then geocaching might not be for you. It requires a lot of hard work and you have to be very patient to successfully scavenge caches.
But if you like to travel and regularly perform hiking in various places, then geocaching would be a great way to add some extra fun to your trips. The thrill of finding caches after following clues and thorough searching is very rewarding. Your signature on the logbook will be observed by millions of people worldwide and people even might ask for your assistance afterwards in finding that particular cache.
Crafting geocache boxes and hiding them for other players to find can also be very rewarding. It is just unexplainably satisfying when participants find your hidden cache and upload a picture of it on the geocache website. But you have to keep in mind that people may frequently ask for your help to find it and the responsibility of that cache’s maintenance is completely up to you.
Conclusion
So, what is the point of geocaching? As you can see, geocaching is not only about going out and wandering around. It is about spending some quality time with your family and friends or just by yourself to experience the thrill of exploration and discovery.
It’s pretty hard to explain why geocaching is so satisfying. So, if you have even the slightest of interest in this sort of thing then I’d advise you to try it out for yourself and experience it at least once.
