This past week RVTraveller and I managed to do two night geocaches here in Victoria with a couple groups of geocachers from around the area. What is a night geocache you say? Well simply it is a series of puzzles or multiple geocaches that lead to a final location and which are typically found by locating glowing reflectors in the darkness.
Generally speaking the geocache owner provides a set of GPS coordinates that take you to a starting point (usually in a park) and from there your eyes become the only real geosense that will lead you to the treasure. Using a flashlight (LED preferred) you search the darkness for a series of reflectors that show you the way while sometimes trying to deceive you in pointing you down a wrong trail. One of the reflectors that geocachers like are called FireTacks as they can be seen from a distance if you are at the correct angle to the reflector. They stand out in the darkness much like cat’s eyes but in the daylight they blend into the surrounding flora. This is a sample of what a FireTack kit looks like in the daytime and what they look like in the darkness.
A night geocache can be very elaborate like the one we completed last night, which had 8 stages around Victoria and took 3 hrs and 45 minutes to complete. This particular night cache (CSI Victoria, GC202AR) had a theme of the hit television series CSI Las Vegas and knowing the characters was a plus for RVTraveller and I as we watch it all the time. It was murder “who done it” that was based upon an episode of the TV show and at each stage various clues and coordinates where gathered until you were able to reach the final crime scene. This geocache is probably the best one I have ever done simply for how complex it was and the fact it was done at night!
Although night geocaches can be done by an individual its best to do them with another geocacher or with a group of geocachers just in case you hurt yourself or get lost in the dark. Geocaching with a group also provides a feeling of “safety in numbers” as you might cross paths with animals such as deer, racoons etc. In most cases the "wild things" hear you and see your flashlight first and you don’t see them at all.
Here’s a picture of a group of night geocachers following the trail on their way to the destination.
Until next time…..
Gecko
Generally speaking the geocache owner provides a set of GPS coordinates that take you to a starting point (usually in a park) and from there your eyes become the only real geosense that will lead you to the treasure. Using a flashlight (LED preferred) you search the darkness for a series of reflectors that show you the way while sometimes trying to deceive you in pointing you down a wrong trail. One of the reflectors that geocachers like are called FireTacks as they can be seen from a distance if you are at the correct angle to the reflector. They stand out in the darkness much like cat’s eyes but in the daylight they blend into the surrounding flora. This is a sample of what a FireTack kit looks like in the daytime and what they look like in the darkness.
A night geocache can be very elaborate like the one we completed last night, which had 8 stages around Victoria and took 3 hrs and 45 minutes to complete. This particular night cache (CSI Victoria, GC202AR) had a theme of the hit television series CSI Las Vegas and knowing the characters was a plus for RVTraveller and I as we watch it all the time. It was murder “who done it” that was based upon an episode of the TV show and at each stage various clues and coordinates where gathered until you were able to reach the final crime scene. This geocache is probably the best one I have ever done simply for how complex it was and the fact it was done at night!
Although night geocaches can be done by an individual its best to do them with another geocacher or with a group of geocachers just in case you hurt yourself or get lost in the dark. Geocaching with a group also provides a feeling of “safety in numbers” as you might cross paths with animals such as deer, racoons etc. In most cases the "wild things" hear you and see your flashlight first and you don’t see them at all.
Here’s a picture of a group of night geocachers following the trail on their way to the destination.
Until next time…..
Gecko
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