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Scavenger hunting goes high-tech

By Peggy Blackburn - Managing Editor
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A worldwide scavenger hunt is under way - one that most people haven’t noticed, even when it’s happening near them. Armed with clues and coordinates gleaned from an Internet site, along with a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) device, searchers scour the countryside for hidden treasure.

The reward isn’t a chest of gold, but the thrill of the hunt - which combines puzzle solving, technology and competition. Geocaching (pronounced “geocashing”) is a relatively new hobby. The first geocache was hidden in Oregon in 2000 when military GPS technology was made available to the public. Since then, it has spread across the globe.

Wetumpka is no exception. Among the local geocachers are Steve Pribulick and Baron Preston.

“I discovered it by accident last year, when my family was planning to go camping at three state parks,” said Pribulick. “I pulled up a Web site and noticed it said it was an official geocaching park, and I thought that sounded interesting. I went to the geocaching.com Web site and registered.”

He’s been hooked ever since. In fact, Pribulick was so intrigued he shared his enthusiasm with fellow Wetumpka firefighter Baron Preston.

“Steve came into the fire station one day, and told me I had to see what he had found,” said Preston. “I thought it was interesting, and I got involved with geocaching too.”

To join the hunt requires only Internet access, a handheld GPS unit (available for as little as $100), transportation, time and patience.

Pribulick explained that searchers can get started by registering at the geocaching.com Web site.

“You register with a handle or screen name,” he said. “When I first got started, I searched for caches within 50 miles of home and came up with about 375.”

His initial hunt took him to a site in Wetumpka.

“I took my GPS and looked for it,” he said. “I’ve been addicted since I found that one.”

Most caches include a log book in which successful searchers record their handle and the date, along with “swap swag.” A finder can take something from the stash as long as they replace it with another item.

Swag can be anything - coins, poker chips, pens or other small items. Some geocachers personalize the swag they leave in the caches they discover.

Cache sizes can range from “nanos” (about the size of a pencil eraser) to nearly as large as a vehicle. Common cache containers are magnetic key holders, plastic boxes with lids and ammo boxes. Nanos contain only logs.

“The Web site tells you what kind of cache it is and the difficulty level,” said Pribulick.

One of the attractions of caching is that it’s a hobby that can be pursued alone or in groups, at any time of day.

“Everybody plays their own game,” said Pribulick. “We’ve been caching at all hours.

“There are only a couple of rules when you’re hunting,” he added. “Leave it where you find it and if you take something leave something.”

Some caches are multi-step hunts where a participant locates the first site, and is then directed to another nearby hiding place. Those are also identified on the caching Web site.

“There are also virtual caches,” said Pribulick. “And another aspect of it is coins and travel bugs.”

Both travel bugs and coins are registered and include tracking numbers. Cachers can follow their own items or those they discover online to see where they go.

“There are military people who cache, so things can wind up traveling around the world,” Pribulick said.

While neither Preston nor Pribulick take long trips specifically to geocache, they do hunt if they’re going out of town. Pribulick has hunted as far away as Miami and Preston has found caches in Jacksonville, Fla.

“When I was in Miami, I searched for caches within five miles of where I was staying and there were more than 400,” said Pribulick.

Hiding caches can also be part of the fun, and Pribulick and his family are active in that aspect of the hobby also.

“To hide a cache, you have to fill out a form online,” he said. “There are volunteer reviewers who make sure the location is safe and that there isn’t another one within a tenth of a mile.”

Caches can’t be hidden in certain areas - schools, railroad tracks, airports, banks or any dangerous locale - and they cannot be buried. Parks, large and small, are favored sites.

Those hiding caches like to make the hunt challenging, but not impossible. One of Pribulick’s favorite hiding places is a faux birdhouse.

“I got the idea from one I found,” he said.

Preston offered some hints for hunters.

“Once you get to the coordinates, look around for something that’s out of place,” he said. “And don’t just look on the ground - some caches are above eye level.”

In addition to the inherent challenge of finding a cache, searchers can also encounter other obstacles.

“You have to work around 'muggles' (people who aren’t in the game),” said Preston. “Sometimes when you get to a site, there will be other people there.

“If they ask what you’re doing, you can take the time to explain it or make an excuse,” he continued. “But never lie to a police muggle.”

Cachers also vie to be the first discover a new cache. Both Preston and Pribulick receive alerts on their cell phones when a new cache is posted.

“There are some folks in the area who run out as soon as a new site comes across,” said Preston. “You get bragging rights if you’re the first to find.”

Some caches are hidden in conjunction with geocaching events, and coordinates aren’t published until after the program has concluded.

One such gathering will be held in Wetumpka next month. The Alabama Geocachers Association’s Spring Fling is set for April 26 at Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson State Historic Site. The event will begin at 11 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m.

Pribulick is one of the event organizers.

“We’ll provide the main course, and everybody else is asked to bring a side dish or dessert,” he said.

The event is open to anyone who is already a geocacher and to those who are interested in becoming involved. There will be door prizes (some will involve a geosearch). In addition, there will be a travel bug and traveler tag swap table and two multi-caches in the park.

“It’s good for our area, it brings people in,” said Pribulick. “At last year’s spring fling there were close to 200 people.”

Currently there are nearly 450 caches within 50 miles of Wetumpka, and more than 450,000 worldwide.

“There is now at least one on every continent, and cachers are now working to get at least one in every country,” Pribulick said.

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