Desert Stashes

Over the Thanksgiving break, I decided to hunt down a few geocaches before stuffing my face with turkey and mashed potatoes. I chose to look around the Dreamy Draw Mountain Preserve because it is a geocacher’s paradise! Hundreds of geocaches are hidden in the area and with temperatures in the mid 60′s, I couldn’t resist spending the entire day outside!

This was my first find of the day, named Lizard Gulch (GC1NTV3). In a desert landscape, it’s easier to spot a geocache because it is usually hidden under an abnormally large rock pile, which looks suspicious to geocachers but appears unnoticeable to non-geocachers.

This was another fun, quick find named Red, Rousse, Rojo (GC1Z5WH). The difficulty rating on this one was 2.5 stars because it was cleverly hidden in a wash with a lot of rocks and bushes. After I signed the log, I decided to hike upward to find a geocache hidden on top of a peak with a breathtaking view.

Yogi’s Gold (GCHPJT) was well worth the climb. The large canister contained a zip blocked bag (pictured above) and contained some trading cards, toys and of course, the log book. I admired the beautiful view of the Phoenix area and then decided it was time to head home. It’s breathtaking moments like these when I stop and realize how thankful I am to experience nature at its finest.

What do you think?

Have you discovered beautiful scenery while you were geocaching? I’d love to hear from you!

Don’t know what Geocaching is? Find out here!

Urban vs. Nature

Not all geocaches are created equal.

If you live in a high-populated city, it’s likely that urban geocaches are up your alley. However, if you live in a small, secluded town, most geocaches are found deep in the forest or on mountain trails. There are specific containers, terrains, and creativity that comes with either an urban or a nature cache and there are specific clues that you should look for during your hunt.

ErikaJean

The Urban Cache:

• Usually a small container
• Sometimes can be magnetic that is attached to electrical boxes, fences, or road signs
• Blends in very well with its environment
• You must act natural during the hunt so non-geocachers don’t think you’re up to something suspicious
• Usually found in parking lots, public parks or near buildings

The Nature Cache:

A cache found deep in the forest of Clear Creek, PA.

• Usually a larger container
• Mostly found under a pile of rocks or in a tree
• Do not have to worry about “muggles” or non-geocachers
• Brings you to a beautiful or interesting place

After gaining some experience with finding urban and nature geocaches, it will become easier to decide what kind of finds you enjoy or which ones you find more difficult.

For more information on geocache containers, or if you are interested in buying a custom geocache container, you can visit the Cache Box Store .

What do you think?

Which kind of geocaching do you prefer to hunt? Which kind of geocaching is more challenging to you? Leave a comment and let me know!