Geocaching - The New Treasure Hunt

Farmington, Missouri is a great place for geocaching. There are plenty of areas where caches have been placed and finding them has been known to excite people for years now. Sometimes there have been caches that need to have the public (or fellow cachers) involved as well. These can be more exciting, as it requires work from multiple people to find a cache. This can also help you meet some new people who are interested in geocaching as well.  While Geocaching is not the most famous activity in the world, there are actually a lot of people who engage in it.

Geocaching is an outdoor sport where GPS systems are used to play hide and seek all over the world. That may seem childish, but it is actually extremely exciting. The whole purpose of Geocaching is to place, and find, different items in the seven continents of the world. Often times these items will be placed in water and fire proof containers so that they cannot be damaged. They will be placed in the most remote of areas, such as a forest or a valley, where it will be difficult and a challenge to find them.

Sometimes the items that are placed have high value, which is an added incentive for those searching for them. However, most of the time they do not have much value beyond the actual thrill of seeking them. Imagine scouring the planet for something and going to all sorts of exciting places in order to do so. There is no worry about getting lost, as you will have a GPS tracking device with you. The only dangers you will face are through nature and your ability to survive in different conditions. If you are up for that, then it should be a great time.

Official Game Piece Label used for Geocaching Competitions

According to reports, there are more than 1.5 million geocaches that are active right now and have not been found. Along with that, around 5 million people actually engage in geocaching throughout the world. There is not a continent that is ignored in this sport. Items are even put in Antarctica. The only question is whether some geocachers are brave enough to go to certain places and find the caches.

There have been times when police in certain countries have been worried about the behavior of certain geocachers. The way they are searching for a certain “object” makes it seem as if they are up to something more sinister. At times bomb squads have even been called on certain “packages”, only to find out they were geocaches. So be careful and do not try to agitate the local authorities.

Equipment that is needed for geocaching is fairly simple. You might need climbing gear of some sort, depending on where you are hunting for a cache. You will definitely need a GPS and some other form of communication, in case you get lost. A satellite phone is probably a good idea, as mobile service may not work in the areas you are going to. If some spots are on private property, PLEASE RESPECT THAT PROPERTY AND LEAVE IT AS YOU FOUND IT

Below are a list of Geocaching areas near or in Farmington, MO!

Geocaching 101 Class offered by SLAGA: Saint Louis Area Geocaching Association

Farmington Missouri Geocaching Map and Waypoints!