A Modern Day Treasure Hunt

STORY BY Kimberly Burger Capozzi

PHOTOS COURTESY Geocaching.com

It’s a cool, damp day, and we are hiking through mud. But no one complains or seems to notice the chill. That’s because we are geocaching, and my family is entirely engaged.

My 10-year-old son and his buddy have bounded ahead, clutching a smartphone like an ancient pirate’s map. And it does display a map, thanks to an app from www.Geocaching.com that also shares GPS coordinates and hints to guide our quest. The search has taken us well off the main path of a local park, through a patch of woods between a shopping center and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. It’s not a place where we would typically go for a walk, but it’s lovely nonetheless.

We are closing in. The phone screen indicates we’re just meters away from our find. We scatter, combing the terrain. And here it is! Our first geocache of the day, cleverly tucked into a birdhouse perched on an old fence post.

Geocaching is a game in which people hide containers known as geocaches and post the precise GPS coordinates of the positions online for others to find. Using a handheld GPS device or a smartphone and an app, hunting for geocaches is a fun way to explore natural spaces as well as suburban and urban areas. The Laurel Highlands holds a bounty of geocache booty throughout its parks, tourist attractions, and remote settings.

James Zimmerman of Jeanette says he and his wife, Lily, started playing 10 years ago as a way to be active outdoors, and it quickly turned into something much more for the couple.

“When we initially started, it was just me and my wife looking for something to do. Her big thing was getting me out to go on walks with her,” Zimmerman says. “She said, ‘Do you want to go look for treasure in the woods?’ We instantly got hooked.”

In 2020, the couple logged their 3,000th find. They have created and hidden more than 200 of their own geocaches over the years. They hope to soon complete a tour of New England, finding geocaches in every state to earn “souvenirs” in the form of logos that will appear on their online profile.

It’s easy to join in the fun. The free app from Geocaching.com includes basic caches. Access to the full database of 3 million placed around the world requires a premium membership that costs around $3 a month, depending on the plan. Another source is www.OpenCaching.us, which charges no fees and is usable with several apps, including c:geo (www.CGeo.org) and Geocaching Buddy (www.GcBuddy.com).

The container might be the size of a film canister, holding only paper for finders to sign. Or it might be large enough to stow trinkets for trading. My youngsters carry tiny toys they might use for that purpose. Plenty of information is usually provided about the terrain, conditions, and level of difficulty, which can vary greatly. Some are accessible by wheelchair. Many require not more than a moderate hike though others can be quite challenging.

“It’s about finding things you are not going to see in your average tourist bureau brochure,” Zimmerman says. Caches have required him to visit a former Nike missile site, paddle across water in a kayak, and crawl on his belly into a cave. On the cave trip, he admits to having a moment of doubt about continuing before he overcame his fear of the dark enclosed space and pressed on.

“It’s all about trusting the guy who hid it. He’s taking you on a journey. He showed me something very few people have seen,” he says of the cavern. “And he showed me something about myself: How far I am willing to go for that piece of virtual art,” referring to the smiley graphic that appears on Geocaching.com after logging a find.

One of Zimmerman’s favorites in the Laurel Highlands isn’t a container at all, but an EarthCache, where the coordinates identify a point of geological interest. Finding it involves an earth science lesson. You won’t find the details in this article—part of geocaching etiquette is to protect caches from non-players, in order to prevent disturbance.

“We love seeing geocaches that teach you,” says Nicole Smith of Monroeville, who participates with her husband, Brian, and son Ethan. “You can walk past something and take a look, but you have a deeper appreciation if you understand the history. The geocaches can draw your attention to something important.” She especially enjoys seeking out caches amid the unique natural features of Linn Run State Park.

Laurel Hill and Kooser state parks hold geocaches designed to teach visitors about the history of the parks, including the role of the Civilian Conservation Corps in building them, says Kim Peck, an environmental education specialist for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Friends of Laurel Hill, a nonprofit dedicated to “It’s about finding maintaining those parks, created them.

“Visitors say the geocaches take people to interesting areas of the park they hadn’t been to before,” Peck says. “One of the cool things about geocaching is it takes you off the beaten path a bit. There’s more to going to see in your explore here than you think.”

Geocaching also offers the chance to connect with a community of average tourist avid players, both online and through in-person events. My family’s adventures have involved just us and a couple of friends. The Smiths, on the other hand, have joined dozens of others to socialize and find newly placed caches together. They’ve hosted chili cookouts for fellow geocachers.

“It was really a great way to find out how to find harder geocaches, and to learn what other people were doing, and also to make friends. The community aspect really pulled us in,” Smith says. “What happens is you meet someone geocaching, and you end up geocaching with them for the next 10 years.”

Geocaching started about 20 years ago after the public was granted access to improved GPS satellite signals. The basic rules include no trespassing, as geocaches should only be placed with permission from a landowner or manager. Be respectful of property and the environment. If you trade items, leave something behind of equal or greater value, but nothing perishable or inappropriate—remember, it’s a family-friendly game. Articles and videos on Geocaching.com explain more.

If using a smartphone app, it’s a good idea to download maps and details at home because cell service isn’t always dependable in remote areas. A handheld GPS is a good backup to take along. Participants are encouraged to log their finds online and these posts can offer useful hints. Just be prepared to sometimes not find a cache.

On the wet, chilly day with my son and his friend, we decide to extend our walk to find just one more. We make our way to a pond, where according to another player’s post, a large container had been found the day before—that’s usually a good sign it will be easy to find. But after 30 minutes of walking the water’s edge with no luck, the weather starts to get to us. We call it a day. The boys are still smiling though. And I know we’ll be back to try again.