Five Tips for Staying Safe While Geocaching

Geocaching is all fun and games... until it's not.

Staying safe should be top of mind when we're out geocaching. However often it's not; we're out there having fun and having a good old time playing the game, but we have to keep in mind some things so we can stay safe so we can keep on caching and having a good time.

Lookout Lisa did a Facebook Live on this - catch the replay here.

Here are our top five tips and a bonus tip as well. Read to the end for the bonus tip.

1. Plan your route

Know where you're going. If you're going to be going into unfamiliar area, it's always a good idea to look at the maps, make sure there isn't road construction. If you're going into wilderness at the wrong time of year, you don't want to get stuck in a snowbank or sand trap or something along that line. So, so know where you're going.

Take a look ahead and plan your route. This also has to do with hiking as well. Know where your trail head is. And if you can take a look at the satellite view ahead of time, or look at trail maps.

2. Tell somebody where you're going, and when to expect you back

If you're going alone, definitely leave a note, text a friend, something along that line, let someone know where you're going, and when to expect you back. We've had some cachers that have fallen into trouble, but their spouse or somebody knew that they should've been home at a certain time. Then they know where you are and where to send help.

3. Short list of what to bring:

• Water
• Flashlight
• Snacks - especially for the kids!
• 1st aid kit
• Phone & power bank
• Sunscreen
• Layers including a rain jacket

4. Be aware of your surroundings

Pay attention to what's going on around you. Geocaching can be so engrossing and so much fun. We're looking at our phone or GPS and we might take a bad step, literally.

So look up where your feet are going. What's around you and also keep an eye on everything else in your area as well. That can mean watching the weather. It can mean watching for suspicious people.

5. Watch for dark/sunset

Be aware of what time it gets dark. On most phones your weather app will even tell you when sunset is. And there's also other apps as well that will let you know when sunset is coming.

Especially if you're traveling, you might not be familiar with when it's going to get dark. And in some places, when it gets dark, it gets dark fast. Whereas up here in the Northwest, it might take an hour to two hours of Twilight before it gets really dark at night in the summertime. But in the winter time it gets dark fast.

Bonus Tip!

Pay attention to the seasons, especially hunting seasons. If you are geocaching during hunting season, be sure everyone is wearing blaze orange, including your geo-dogs. Better yet, avoid active hunting areas completely.  

 We hope these tips help you to stay safe while geocaching. 

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