Guest Author - Kimi Ross
Alaska, with its 86 million acres of public land, is well suited for geocaching. This sophisticated and technologically-oriented version of hide and seek utilizes GPS technology to create “treasure chests” at various locations around the world for people to find. Latitude and longitude coordinates are posted on a web site (see link below) and participants log their finds. Caches typically include log books (for participants to sign when they find the cache) and a variety of items – tokens, trinkets, books, software, and even money may be found within the container. Variations abound, as do difficulty levels. A cache may require a strenuous hike or technical rock-climbing expertise to find, or may be as simple as stepping out of one’s car and searching the wayside thoroughly. In any event, geocaching is a fun and adventuresome activity for participants of all ages and a great hobby for those who like to travel.
Alaska has over 2500 geocache locations. Nearly half of these are in the municipality of Anchorage, leading one to some of the hidden nooks and crannies within the city that are not on the local tourist travel agenda. For example, according to the Bureau of Land Management, there are 15 geocaches in the 730-acre Campbell Tract, which is in the middle of Anchorage. The Campbell Tract, with its extensive network of trails, is not only a prime spot for placing caches, but is also a great place to get a taste of Alaska terrain and look for wildlife without leaving the city. Moose, bear, porcupine, fox, hares and several other mammals can be spotted here, as well as a variety of bird life.
Outside of the Anchorage area, clusters of caches can be found in the vicinity of Fairbanks, Juneau, Valdez, and on the Kenai Peninsula. In addition, there are caches located up and down the major highways, particularly the Parks Highway. And while the majority of caches in Alaska are on the road system, there are some that require extra effort to reach. There are several located in Prince William Sound accessible only by boat. Outside of Fairbanks, in the White Mountains National Recreation Area there are caches that require travel across Alaskan terrain either by snow machine, cross country ski, snowshoe or dog team in winter or on mountain bike, foot or ATV in summer. Caches such as these take you to some beautiful country that one might not choose to visit otherwise.
Geocaching is a relatively new sport that appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds. The outdoor enthusiast, the technology-gadget geek, and the casual traveler all find something of interest in this twist on the age-old human quest for hidden treasure. In Alaska, the most valuable treasure you find while seeking a cache may be well outside the box.
