Trail Hound

Geocaching without a trace

 A few posts ago, I wrote about the debate in conservation circles about whether the growing popularity of geocaching was potentially damaging to the environment.  The concern was that geocachers may violate the Leave No Trace ethic by leaving a container (albeit hidden) in the wilderness, and that by hunting for objects off of established trails, geocachers may inadvertently damage habitats.

 For those wanting to avoid untoward environmental impacts while still enjoying the thrill of the hunt and discovering new places, geocaching has a variety of container-less caches. 

Guilt-free geocaching can be enjoyed through "virtual" caches, which exist in the form of a location where a puzzle must be solved or a photo taken of the specific site in order to get credit for finding it, or through "Earthcaches," where visitors learn about unique geological features of a site and report back to the Earthcache owner to log the find.  (Note:  Virtual caches have been grandfathered by Geocaching.com, and new ones are now considered "Waymarks."  There are other permutations too, but it gets complicated.)

 The Cape offers impressive container-less caches, which take you to some of the best views around, even if there are no trinkets to trade or notebooks to sign.  For a sweeping overview of Cape Cod Bay, the mid-Cape area and beyond, try the Scargo Hill cache in Dennis.  I can't reveal exactly what you'll find or what you have to answer to get credit for your find, but if you're familiar with the area you'll have an inkling.  This site has become one of my first stops to show out-of-town visitors. 

The classic Wood End cache, a mile-plus off the Provincetown shore, brings you up close and personal with the Cape's nautical history.  You have to walk out on the breakwater to get there, a rock-hopping expedition at low tide and a scramble to test your mettle when the waves are nearly lapping at your feet at high tide.  The destination is, of course, Wood End Lighthouse.  To get credit for the find, you have to answer a question about a structural detail and/or submit a photo of yourself in front of the lighthouse.  Sure, you could walk out there any old day without a geocache to motivate you; but frankly, some people (like me) probably wouldn't otherwise go to the trouble.  The experience - as well as the view - makes this cache a memorable favorite on geocachers' lists. 

Two Earthcaches in Eastham are on my to-do list, Doane Rock and Cape Cod Kettle Ponds.  I've been to these places many times before, but I haven't really looked at them.  Earthcaches can make you stop for a moment and appreciate the astounding power of rocks and glaciers in forming the landscape we love.  I hope to log these finds soon.

Photos

Top, left:  Wood End Lighthouse

Right:  Walking to Wood End