Above: This geocache is hidden off of 12th
and Exchange Streets in Astoria.
Left: The east side of the Astoria Riverwalk is
home to about a dozen geocaches, starting
around this spot near Pier 39.
Gotta catch ‘em all
Stay entertained with
geocaching and other fitness
phone applications
BY ALYSSA EVANS
After about two months without access
to my local gym, I decided to take a break
from my home workouts and semi-daily
walks.
I downloaded the Geocaching app before
going on a walk, not knowing what I was
getting into. Having only heard of Geocach-
ing and randomly seen a few videos about
the game, all I knew was that people used
the app to find hidden treasures, placed by
other gamers.
Thinking the game would be fun and
easy, I headed out believing I’d be able to
find a geocache. I searched high, low, to the
right, the left and everywhere in between
with no luck. After about 15 minutes of
searching, I walked to a second location,
where I continued to struggle.
I accepted defeat and went home. After
a few days of rain and strategizing, I set
out again and was able to find the first geo-
cache. It was in a small nook I had hesitated
to check before.
While the geocaches I visited were in
Astoria, there are hundreds of geocaches
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throughout the North Coast, many of which
are in walking distance.
The Geocaching app is one of many that
can be safely used when exercising out-
doors and following social distancing rules.
Here is a beginner’s guide to geocaching,
with four other apps to try.
Geocaching
The app’s main function is a map, which
shows the locations of geocaches. The geo-
caches themselves are hidden objects, rang-
ing from micro size (about the size of a
dime) to large.
When you find a geocache, you will
find a piece of paper to log your name and
the date you found the geocache. If you’re
lucky, you may also find a prize. It is rec-
ommended that if you take a prize home,
you leave one in its place for the next per-
son to find the geocache.
To get started, download the app and
choose a geocache near you. The app has a
navigation tool to help you go to the exact
location of the geocache. Once there, read
the geocache’s description for a hint on
where the geocache is hidden.
Information on the difficulty, terrain
and size of the geocache is also listed in
the geocache’s description page. If you get
stuck, there should be an extra hint from the
person who originally hid the geocache.
If the description and hint aren’t enough
Photos by Alyssa Evans
A geocache is hidden near this spot for premium members, who pay a monthly or annual fee.
to help you out, you can also look through
the geocache’s log, where other people doc-
ument whether they found the geocache or
not.
Sometimes geocaches go missing.
If you think a geocache is missing, you
can leave a comment to alert the spot’s
manager.
See Page 7