Learn how to geocache

#Middlebury #MLT #Geocache

This Middlebury Land Trust recent acquisition at 312 Park Road Extension will serve as the meeting place for an introductory class on geocaching. It offers plenty of parking. (Alice Hallaran photo)

By JANINE SULLIVAN-WILEY

It’s October, most of the birds have gone South, and the woods and trails have become much quieter. So what exciting things hide in nooks and crannies off the trails … besides the wildlife this writer generally considers?

“Geocaches” hide there, in boxes large and small, in tins – in anything waterproof, really. Geocaching, according to Wikipedia, is “an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called ‘geocaches’ or ‘caches’, at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world.

“A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and sometimes a pen or pencil.” Wikipedia goes on to describe the process once a cache is located, “ The geocacher signs the log with their established code name and dates it, in order to prove that they found the cache. After signing the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it.”

Ardent geocachers live right here in Middlebury, participating in this enjoyable outdoor activity that combines technology with a bit of outdoor adventure. Quite a few caches are on Middlebury Land Trust (MLT) property ready for new folks to give geocaching a try.

To help people learn how to geocache, the MLT is hosting an Introduction to Geocaching Saturday, Oct. 27, starting at 1 p.m. Those who are interested will meet at the newest MLT acquisition at 312 Park Road Extension. There is plenty of room for parking there.

MLT board member Scott Holmes will lead the group as they set out towards Sperry Pond. Along the planned route, nine caches are waiting to be discovered. The total outing is expected to take no more than two hours.

Ardent geocacher Wayne Foote tells us this activity is best enjoyed with a bit of preparation beforehand. He suggests people who are interested in this event go to www.geocaching.com and register. It’s free, and the website describes the process for getting started.

When you sign up, you create a geocaching name for yourself. Some of these are quite whimsical, as are the names of some of the caches themselves. When I went to the website I also learned there are about 2,114 geocaches around Middlebury. Clearly I haven’t learned what to look for!

Do join the MLT group that Saturday when you will have an experienced leader who can help you with geocaching how-to. It’s best to come pre-registered on the website noted above, and bring either a GPS device, or one of the geocaching apps loaded onto your smart phone. You can pre-register (preferred but not required) for the event at jswspotlight@gmail.com. This could well be the start of a new fun, mystery-solving pastime you can enjoy across the state (and country) and of course on several of the beautiful MLT open-to-the-public properties.

To learn more about the MLT and its properties visit www.middleburylandtrust.org.