Geocaching in Gadsden County- A sneak peak at the secret hidden stashes of Havana, Chattahoochee, and Quincy

If you are looking for a fun outdoor activity that is also mentally stimulating, family friendly and readily available almost anywhere worldwide, you might consider giving Geocaching a try.

Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunt, a game in which participants use GPS coordinates and clues to locate hidden caches placed by other players.

Geocaches are often placed near historical sites, natural and man-made landmarks, and any other location a person might find significant, making it a great activity for vacations and road trips.

Players use a Geocaching app to locate nearby caches on a map, and once they arrive at the provided coordinates, must physically locate the cache, which is generally camouflaged and well concealed from non-participants, known as “muggles” (a nod to the Harry Potter franchise) in geocaching parlance, to help keep the cache from being stolen or vandalized.

Those hunting caches are also expected to use discretion and stealth when necessary to keep the cache location from being discovered by muggles, and to behave safely and appropriately to their surroundings at all times.

For both legal and safety reasons, Geocaches are located in areas that are accessible to the general public, and with the knowledge and consent of the owner of the property in which a cache is placed.

These caches are usually a physical container with a log inside for the finder to sign, and if there is room, small trinkets, called swag, which can be kept as souvenirs by the finder of the cache, although GeoCaching etiquette holds that these items should be traded for items of equal or greater value.

A cache may also contain a special object called a trackable, so named because its location can be tracked by logging it on the app as it is moved by players from one cache to another.

Unlike swag, trackables remain the property of the person who bought it, who can follow its progress from the app.

You can find out if a cache has a trackable in its description page in the app.

Of course, this only works (and the owner can only follow its progress) if the trackable is logged each time it is removed from a cache, and each time it is placed in a new cache, so trackables should not be removed unless you intend to do this.

Cache containers typically range in size from a small vial less than 10 milliliters in volume (a nano cache) to larger than a shoebox.

When a cache is found, the player signs the physical log, replaces the cache exactly as found, logs the find on the app, and can leave a short message to the cache hider, to give them feedback and let them know of any issues, such as a cache that is missing or in need of maintenance.

Geocaching in Gadsden County

According to the official Geocaching website geocaching.com , there are currently over 2 million caches worldwide, including several scattered around Gadsden County.

To give our readers the scoop on Geocaching locally, The Gadsden County Times went on an expedition to find several caches in Havana, Quincy, and Chattahoochee.

We’ve included the names, photographs of containers and contents, and general descriptions of a few of the caches to give you an idea of what’s out there, while leaving out any details or images that might give away the location of the cache itself, in order to conform with Geocaching etiquette and keep the game fun and challenging.

Each of these caches can be searched for by name on the official Geocaching app if you want to find them yourself.

“Take me out to the Ballgame” in Chattahoochee

This is a great cache for beginners to try.

Located near the Chattahoochee ballpark, you can park very close to the posted coordinates, and the cache is pretty easy to find if you use the GPS navigation provided with the official Geocaching app.

Geocachers call this type of cache a “park and grab,” and it can be done in less than 10 minutes if you’re in a hurry.

“Lake Seminole and Jim Woodruff Dam” in Chattahoochee

Not all Geocaches are hidden physical containers; this one is an Earthcache, which is designed to call attention to a landmark, in this case the dam and the lake.

To get credit for the find, you’ll need to explore the area around the dam (the cache description on the app will point you in the right direction), and learn the answers to a few questions.

This one is a great weekend hunt for a sunny day with family or friends, but it is also fairly challenging and time consuming.

The view of Lake Seminole from the dam is a great opportunity to take some wonderful photos as well!

“Enjoy the Ride” near I-10

This cache is located at the large I-10 rest area just before entering Jackson County.

It can be accessed from either I-10 east or west and is located in a wooded area, so you’ll want to watch for thorns, poison ivy, and snakes, and check for ticks afterward.

The container is large and full of swag, and is a great place to find and leave trackables.

You can also park right near where you need to enter the woods.

“Holy, Wholly, Holey” in Quincy

Located near Quincy’s Eastern Cemetery, this is a chance to check out a beautiful and peaceful part of Quincy history.

The GPS coordinates will take you very close to the hidden cache, but you’ll need to be clever and patient to spot it!

The cemetery is open from dawn until dusk, and you’ll want to be respectful of the area.

“Off the Rails” in Havana

One of two caches located in Havana Community Park, this hunt can be fairly easy or very difficult, depending on how many muggles are about.

In addition to people enjoying the park, the cache is hidden within plain sight of a street, so you’ll have to watch for cars as well.

The Gadsden County Times had to try this one a couple of times to avoid being spotted, and succeeded on a Sunday evening around 5 p.m. when the park had only a few visitors and traffic was sparse.

How do I get started?

Now you know what Geocaching is, and you want to get in on the fun, right?

The first step is to visit geocaching.com , where you can find all the information you need about the history and etiquette of this unique pastime, along with hints and guidelines for beginners.

You can create a free account on the site as well, which is required to access the app and to keep track of your finds and hides.

A paid membership upgrade is also available, giving access to more features and premium caches, but is in no way necessary to enjoy Geocaching.

Next, you’ll want to download an app to help you view nearby caches and help you navigate to them.

There is an official geocaching app available for free on both the Android and Apple app store, as well as a few alternate apps which are approved by and listed on the Geocaching site.

Once you’ve installed the app and logged into your profile, you will have access to a map showing nearby caches.

Pick one that interests you, read the description to get an idea of what you’re looking for, touch the “Navigate” button on the cache description page and you're off!

Stephen Klein Gadsden County News Service

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Geocaching in Gadsden County- A sneak peak at the secret hidden stashes of Havana, Chattahoochee, and Quincy

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GUEST COLUMN – School Absenteeism and its effects on our children

The Gadsden County Times Legals 2/16

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