Geocaching: The Joy Is In The Hunt

Centerville's Parish Lane and in the distance, the south end of the drought ridden Great Salt Lake. My GPS Reciever marking the location. This small forrestation on the trail commanded a solem silence.

I love Geocaching. My latest caching experience came yesterday while seeking a cache on the Parish Canyon Trail. My readings told me it was a mere .43 miles to the cache and I started off on the trail. It didn't take long to realize the trek would be much longer as the switchbacks were almost doubling the distance. After an hour of hiking, I had come very close but couldn't make it all the way to my destination as the impending darkness forced me to start the return treck. As I made the descent I was amazed that I wasn't enraged over turning around after coming so close. It didn't take long though to come to a conclusion why. I was so happy & content. The heart pounding hike was exhilierating and solitude of the mountinside was thereputic. I felt so good about just being out for the hike that I couldn't feel bad about not reaching the destination. And that's why Geocaching is such a great activity. The joy doesn't come from trading a penny whistle for a yo-yo in some tupperware on the East bench. It's the opportunity to meditate and enjoy the outdoors afforded by the hunt for that cache.