Float trips are a lot of fun, but if you want to make your float trip special and try something new and exciting, you should try geocaching. This is a fun game that pairs well with camping and float trips. The best part is that geocaching is fun for any age level. Anyone can enjoy it!
What is Geocaching?
Geocaching is quite simply a treasure hunt. Members of the geocaching community have scattered water-proof treasure chests around the globe. These containers have been mapped with GPS coordinates, and it is your job to find the treasure! According to recent data, there are approximately 2.5 million active geocaches hidden around the globe by more than 6 million people. More importantly, Missouri has a very active geocaching community.
What’s Inside a Geocache?
You could find literally anything inside a geocache, but generally they contain smaller items that are not too expensive. Don’t expect to find a new laptop or expensive electronics hidden away in a cache. It is unlikely that you will find an item that expensive, but, it is still possible. Members of the geocaching community have reported finding tickets for amusement parks and sporting events, watches, gift certificates, and walkie-talkies. The harder a cache is to find, the better loot it will have. Just remember to bring a small item to replace what you take so the next geocacher has treasure to find too!
Additionally, each cache contains a log book. When you find a geocache, be sure to sign and date the logbook. It is fun to see how many other people have found the geocache before you.
Special Challenges
Sometimes there are special challenges associated with a particulate geocache or region. For example, a special challenge may require you to find a specified number of caches within a limited amount of time, while other challenges require you to find all caches that belong to a certain category or theme, or difficulty level. The higher the difficulty level, the more well-hidden the caches are.
How to Locate a Cache
The best way to locate caches is to download a geocaching app on your phone. Once you have done that, you can search for caches within a region by zip code or GPS coordinates. It is entirely possible to use your phone exclusively. This is referred to as paperless geocaching. However, for a float trip, it is a lot of fun to plot the caches out on a map.
There are also numerous websites you can use to locate caches that allow you to filter search results by a multitude of options, including distance from a GPS coordinate (like a river or stream), the difficulty level, and the date that the cache was last found. Many websites also include forums and other ways to connect with the geocaching community. Some of these websites are dedicated to specific geographic regions, too. There are a few websites that are solely dedicated to geocaching in Missouri.
Geocaching is a cheap way to have fun and an easy way to make your Missouri float trip more memorable. It is a great way to have a truly unique experience. Take your float trip to the next level and become an adventurer with geocaching!
