
Lake on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, in Tempe. The owner of the geocache created it in
memory of their dog, Elija Jane. (Rachel Andrews/The State Press)
Geocaching is an active outdoor treasure hunt where anyone with a GPS and mobile device can participate.
The first step is making an account with the geocaching app and picking a destination that you would like to explore for geocaches. The app gives directions until you are one foot away from the destination.
It can turn an otherwise lazy Sunday into a enjoyable adventure, but it can also be a borderline lifestyle for some people. The geocaching community tracks and logs all their actions in their online logbook.
You have to love exploring nature, adventuring and getting your hands dirty (I recommend wearing sturdy gloves).
Rule No. 1 of geocaching: Don't be "that guy". We all know "that guy" who finds it humorous to ruin the experience for other people. Do not take something unless you replace it with something of equal value.
My first experience geocaching began in Tempe at 33 degrees 26.296 minutes north latitude and 111 degrees 55.878 minutes west longitude.
The objective was to discover a cache container hidden by the owner of a dog, Elija Jane, who passed away. Inside the little square plastic box was nothing that would catch a pirate’s eye (a cache logbook, Monopoly card, guitar pick, rubber bracelet and some quarters) but there was value within the experience.
Each person that found the cache honored Jane’s life by reading his story and adding something to the cache. There was a couple times when the geocache was too well hidden to be discovered. That is when I discovered that the thrill is in the chase. The anticipation of finding a cache amplifies adrenaline levels through the roof.

Rule No. 2 of geocaching: Log your experiences in the logbook and leave hints for future explorers. Let people know their participation in the hunt was appreciated.
A day of geocaching provided me the opportunity to dive beneath the surface of simple parks and establishments in Tempe.
To me, the dog park is just something I pass on the way home from work. To another, it is a sentimental place where they raised a loyal companion. For some, the Whomping Willow geocache at 33 degrees 24.781 minutes north latitude 111 degrees 55.956 minutes west longitude is the alley where they discovered what what inside a pill bottle covered in black electrical tape. For me, it is the place where a white pickup truck lingered too long and sent me into full-force flight mode.
Rule #3 of geocaching: Safety comes first. Find a good adventure companion, wear good sneakers and avoid sketchy alleys whenever possible.
In short, everyone will have a unique experience with geocaching based on individual perspective and commitment to the craft.
Reach the reporter at Rachel.Andrews@asu.edu or follow @rachelandrewss on Twitter
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