Geocaching brings participants to discover new and exciting places as well as visit “old favorites.” The word geocaching broken down is: “geo” for geography, and “caching” for the process of hiding a hidden stash. The basic idea is to have individuals and organizations set up caches all over the world and share the locations on the internet. It’s a fun way to connect with visitors from around the globe. With a GPS (Global Positioning System), participants can use the location coordinates to find the caches.
Geocaches can contain anything from a simple log book to a treasure chest (or, uh, a Tupperware container) full of trinkets and goodies. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. All the visitor is asked to do is replace whatever he or she takes from the cache with something of equal or greater value and, of course, to treat the area where they explore with the utmost respect by treading lightly. Often, the treasure to discover is the location itself.
Bringing your own GPS would be great but is not necessary. The tour will run from approximately 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Good hiking shoes and long pants are suggested for this moderate hike. A picnic lunch will be included. The event is free to HCLT members and just a $25 donation for new friends. Call HCLT at (828)526-1111 for details and to sign-up. Space is limited. Highlands- Cashiers Land Trust currently protects 56 properties in Jackson and Macon counties, saving special places for future generations. To learn more visit www.hicashlt.org.