CLEARFIELD – Visit Clearfield County (VCC) will open its 2015 geotrail on May 9 with 30 new geocaches being hidden throughout Clearfield County. It is the fifth year for the VCC geotrail, announced VCC Director Holly Komonczi.
Geocaching is a worldwide treasure hunting game that uses a GPS device or smartphone app. With permission, containers, which are as small as a thumb to as big as large military ammo cans, are hidden in interesting locations.
With assistance from expert geocachers, the VCC volunteer committee selects the best hiding spots in the county for a container. Typically, they are hidden under a shrub, a pile of logs or rocks or in creative nooks without being buried, said Komonczi.
She said that the theme for the 2015 geotrail is “Forgotten Clearfield County;” this leg is focused on historical and significant locations that helped build present-day Clearfield County. “Geocachers will explore, learn and discover historical influences that shaped towns within the county,” she said.
She added that, “The main goal of the geotrail is to expose the roots and reveal forgotten significant locations, people and dates.”
According to her, geocachers will use the VCC geotrail passport book to collect codes for at least 25 of the 30 geocaches in order to earn a free wooden geocoin. She said Elkwood Arts of Ridgway has designed and manufactured the wooden coin unique to this geotrail.
If new to the treasure hunting game, geocachers can go to www.geocaching.com. Geocachers will log on, select geocaches to find and receive the coordinates of the geocaches.
Once a geocache has been found, geocachers will sign a logbook that is located in the container. Afterward, they will place the container back into its hiding place for the next geocacher, Komonczi said.
Geocachers will log back onto the Web site to keep track of their finds. Geocachers can register and take part in the treasure hunting game for free, Komonczi said.
If any new or current geocachers want to participate in the opening of the 2015 geotrail, they can attend the kick-off event at 8 a.m. May 9 at the Union Township Park. RSVP and get event coordinates and details at www.geocaching.com.