Treasure hunting takes on a high-tech feel

Call it a high-tech game of hide-and-seek.

Modern-day treasure hunters, armed with global positioning system (GPS) receivers, are staging treasure hunts across the city and around the province.

Known as ‘geocaching,’ the new pastime sees participants log onto specialty websites, download co-ordinates for hidden treasures and then trek out to locate the goods.

Hiding places can range from a dense forest to a crowded outdoor market.

“People are often looking for interesting locations where it is a nice walk to get to or it provides you with a nice view,” geocacher Tobey Saniuk said.

“Usually they are looking for one of those hidden gems in the city where most people aren’t aware that they are there,” she said.

“It’s usually in something like a park or near a river so visitors to the cache leave with a good impression of the sport and it is something they want to try again.”

Saniuk first heard of the niche activity in 2004 and decided to give it a try.

The hobby of geocaching has grown as GPS receivers have become more popular. The Manitoba Geocaching Association (www.mbgeocaching.ca) has developed accordingly.

“A lot of people may have gotten a GPS as a gift and wondered what they do with it and then they discover geocaching and just like that they are hooked,” Saniuk said.

Once a beginner has purchased a GPS unit, they can turn to an experienced geocacher such as Scott Hewitt, who is willing to take the time to show them the ropes.

On a recent safari, Hewitt and his daughter, Brooke, headed to Crescent Drive Park in Fort Garry. They had already downloaded the latitude and longitude of the cache they were seeking from www.geocaching.com onto their GPS receiver.

“Most of the receivers will provide the direction and distance to the cache, which makes finding it rather easy, but the trek can be difficult,” Hewitt said.

Each cache is given a rating on its difficulty to find and the terrain.

The one the Hewitts were searching for required trudging through deep snow and searching among a cluster of trees in the hopes something would catch their attention.

“Some people like to make it a challenge and try to find a hiding spot where you really have to be tricky to get at,” Hewitt said.

However, there are some rules. Every cache that is placed must be approved by someone with geocaching.com before it is posted on to their website.

“Basic guidelines state caches must not be buried within buildings, on private property without permission or threaten the environment,” Hewitt said.

Caches are generally hidden in Tupperware containers and hold a few small items such as a keychain or collectors’ coins.

When a cache is found, the discoverer must exchange some small treasure for the contents of the container and make an entry in the enclosed logbook.

Each visitor is supposed to put the cache back where it was found. Although some geocachers enjoy collecting some of the small trinkets, most don’t participate for the treasures.

“It’s something that can be done with the whole family,” Hewitt said. “It’s a good way to get outdoors and get some exercise.”

For more information on geocaching, log onto www.mbgeocaching.ca.