Deseret News | Reader comments: Geocaching is a pirate's dream

Reader comments
Geocaching is a pirate's dream

Thibious | 7:54 a.m. March 25, 2008

Our family loves geocaching!

John | 9:04 a.m. March 25, 2008

This sounds like a really great idea, but where will it end? Are people going to start caching other people?

Joe Moe | 10:32 a.m. March 25, 2008

I'm waiting to see caches of cash!

Come to think of it, what if we raised taxes a little tiny bit, and then cached cash in order to get people to exercise. That sounds like a worthy government program, eh?

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 10:58 a.m. March 25, 2008

The number of geocaches the author claims is hidden in AF and Springville is grossly overblown and innacurate. Although a few early geocaches were indeed buried, it is now considered inappropriate to do so. Geocaching seeks to be an environmentally friendly activity

Many geocaches hidden along the Wasatch Front and throughout Utah are fun and worthwhile, but many more are ill-considered and repetitive efforts that don't reflect the original concept of taking the cache hunter on an adventure to an interesting place. Several prominent hiders in Utah seem to believe that quantity is better than quality in the geocaches they hide. As a result, new participants are often disillusioned by the poor quality of the caches they find.

Despite that, geocaching remains an enjoyable activity for people of all ages, singles and families alike. Better geocaches and more exciting adventures are out there. Look up the Utah Association of Geocachers website for help to figure things out.

Anonymous | 2:29 p.m. March 25, 2008

There a lot of caches that are "buried." I have a lot of caches that have been buried under a pile of rocks...

GPS lover | 2:32 p.m. March 25, 2008

I love using my GPS for various activities, but finding junk left behind by other people is not one of them. Geocaching isn't for eveyone I guess.

Steven Gilchrist | 3:14 p.m. March 25, 2008

Like "anonymous," I didn't believe the high number of geocaches in AF or Springville either when I read the article. But then I looked it up at geocacheing.com and found out that the reporter was right. If I were as lazy about fact checking and unintelligent as this know-it-all person I would hide behind an "anonymous" name as well.

Cache Charity | 7:53 p.m. March 25, 2008

I don't know about AF geocache numbers one way or the other. So anonymous didn't do a research paper.
The reporter did his job. Why does that make anonymous a lazy, unintelligent know-it-all? Isn't that a quantum leap in judgment on someone we don't know? Cache a little charity out there. And thanks to this article and GPS Lover's tip, I'm going to look into geocaching as another dimension of our already outdoors-oriented clan. Bye, all.

Nature Lover | 7:53 p.m. March 25, 2008

You can also do this the "old-fashioned" way, as in letter-boxing, which only requires a $5.00 compass and access to a computer for the clues. Letter-boxing and geocacheing are both great ways to get your family outside and discovering/rediscovering the beautiful world we live in. We prefer the compass route. For letter boxing you need study shoes however, as you will usually be hiking at least some distance.

Still Anonymous | 7:40 a.m. March 26, 2008

The number of geocaches reported and discussed here boils down to semantics. The author stated that there are 5000 geocaches "IN" AF, which is indeed erroneous. Both the author and Mr. Gilcrist used a link from the Geocaching website that shows the number of geocaches within a 50 mile radius of certain cities in Utah. For AF, it generates a list of over 5000 geocaches on 262 pages. However, only the first 5 or 6 pages contain geocaches that are actually considered within AF. Unfortunately, Mr. Gilcrist chose to blather about intelligence rather than use it to help clarify. Maybe we all need to lighten up a bit, grab a friend to introduce to geocaching, and run outside to enjoy the spring weather.

Geocacher | 7:51 a.m. March 26, 2008

I'm sorry Steven, there ARE NOT 5,000 caches in American Fork. As of me writing this, March 26, 2008 there are 205. I checked the number on geocaching.com with Google Maps and I am being extremely liberal in the count. "If I were as lazy about checking and unintelligent as this know-it-all person I would hide behind "anonymous" name as well." Interesting comment, do you work for Desert Morning News? The only person who has their facts wrong here is the author of the article. Oh, and you spelled geocaching.com wrong.

Raoul Tiger | 8:03 a.m. March 26, 2008

I have lately become interested in geocaching but think it would be more interesting to pirates like me if it was called Geo-Ka-Ching and involved something of real value.

Cacher's Wife | 10:03 a.m. March 26, 2008

To Raoul Tiger: what can be of more value than spending time with your family, exploring here-to-for unknown or unseen parts of Utah and enjoying the great outdoors and getting a little exercise in the bargain? If all you are looking for are "Things", perhaps Geocaching is not for you.

AD0OR | 10:05 a.m. April 9, 2008

It's easy to see how they got the wrong number for caches in AF, if you go to geocaching.com and put in your zipcode it pulls up a 100 mile radius and says there are 5,000 caches, someone not very familiar with the site could easily make that mistake.

Caches are NOT buried in the ground, sometimes they are covered by things though.

And it's not the "left nostril of the bronze moose statue on Springville's Main Street." it's the right nostril, lol, I would know, I put it there.

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