Geocaching vs. Leave No Trace Can they coexist? by Geoffrey F Moore
by Jeff on September 10, 2008
Leave no trace is an organization devoted to educating the public on how to properly enjoy the outdoors without disturbing it. They have a collection of 7 principles on how hikers and campers can accomplish this. The overall theme is to leave nature how you found it. This movement started in the late 70’s and early 80’s. Geocaching is a newer development. It is a global treasure hunt played with GPS devices. There are over 600,000 boxes hidden worldwide. Many of these boxes or caches are hidden in outdoor areas.
To give an idea on where people stand backpacker.com conducted an informal poll asking readers if they thought geocaching violated the LNT policy. 42% said geocaching did violate LNT while 58% said it did not. One of the tenets of the LNT movement is what is called pack it in pack it out. In other words if you bring something into nature then you also need to take it out. Many LNT supporters view geocaching in violation of this because someone is leaving a cache (something they have packed) and not removing it from nature. Geocaching recognizes that they are leaving something, but have adopted a policy of cache in trash out. The idea is to leave a cache for someone to find, but take out any trash or debris you have come across.
Extreme opinions can come from either side, but anecdotal comments seem to indicate that geocaching is a great way for people to get interested in the outdoors. Perhaps some of the best ideas on mixing geocaching with LNT come from geocaching founder Dave Ulmer. He is large proponent of two concepts to limit a potential environmental impact from geocaching. He proposes to use cache expiration dates and virtual caches. A cache with an expiration date means that it must be moved or removed after a certain period of time. That way traffic to the surrounding area will be minimized. Virtual caches leave nothing at all. They are simply beautiful places to observe in nature. Think of the Grand Canyon as a large virtual cache. It seems the two ideas can be more complimentary then competitive. Geocaching gives a generation of video game, giant soda drinking couch potatoes an introduction to the outdoors. Leave no trace teaches them how to enjoy things properly and why we need to preserve what we have.
About the Author
Managing Partner with GreatBearOutdoors.com. An online retailer specializing in tents, sleeping bags and other outdoor gear. He enjoys the outdoors and promotes activities to help others enjoy the great outdoors. Get more information regarding geocaching.
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4 Responses to “Geocaching vs. Leave No Trace Can they coexist? by Geoffrey F Moore”
Though always an outdoor recreation enthusiast who tried to be a good steward of the environment that I enjoy, I was never one to be called a tree hugger. Boating, hunting, camping, surfing, skiing and hiking were activities I regularly enjoyed, but, I never joined a march or actively advocated anything.
Then, three years ago, our family discovered geocaching. My wife and I looked at it as a good excuse to get a little exercise (my 20 year old hard body has somehow transformed into a 50 year old softer version!) while walking through the woods and enjoying some of the area parks and nature that we had yet to discover. In that process, we discovered the concept of CITO, or cache in trash out. Now, we regularly plan day trips to parks and nature areas that offer multiple caches and an opportunity to get a good 5 or 6 miles of hiking in. But more importantly, we have begun to place CITO kits in the caches we find. Easy to make, we tightly roll up a kitchen size trash bag and a latex glove in a plastic film container with instructions explaining CITO taped to the outside.
And while we do enjoy finding caches and watching out statistics grow, we have come to also measure our day’s success when the trash bag we carry with us in our packs is full by the time we make the trip back to the car.
It is virtually impossible for a walk through the woods to have no impact on the nature we are enjoying. Our presence interrupts the movements of wildlife and even our footsteps contribute to erosion of trails. The only way for us to completely avoid our effect on nature is to not go there at all. I would never advocate that, but the concept of CITO, introduced to me through geocaching, has helped me understand that while our presence in a natural area inherently means that we affect that area, it also provides a chance for us to turn our impact into something positive.
Geocachers regularly hold events inspired by natural areas that have fallen victim to poor stewardship. These events restore nature to areas that have become trash dump sites and serve to remind geocachers of the responsibilities we each have in keeping our natural playgrounds beautiful and functioning.
In my mind it would be a terrible thing if the LNT folks and the geocachers came to find themselves at odds over cache placement. In my experience, the vast majority of those cachers I have met have a far stronger sense of environmental responsibility than those in most groups of folks taking advantage of enjoying the outdoors.
Whether you believe we are blessed with this world by some greater plan or by some great coincidence, the very nature of our existence suggests that this world is here for us to both take advantage of AND care for. Geocaching is bringing folks into nature, some for the first time. But it is doing so while emphasizing a stewardship I would hope that the fine folks at Leave No Trace would see as a positive.
By Jack on Nov 17, 2008
I have never been much of a “naturey girl”, but I do enjoy a nice walk. Since finding my first cache about 3 weeks ago, I have found myself in parks with heavily wooded areas on the hunt for a cache. I have learned much and use these oportunities to teach my children about the environment. My daughter tells everyone to “cache in trash out” which gets strange looks from people who have never heard of geocaching. My 16 month old son is learning everytime he goes. We see new things and he gets so excited. This new adventure is giving me an opportunity to instill a love of nature in this amazing child. Good stewardship is important in every aspect of life, including nature. If the placement of a cache would likely cause harm to its surroundings, I believe most cachers wouldn’t place it. I doubt there are many who aim to destroy the beautiful surroundings in most cache settings. It is innocent, fun, and educational activity that enhances the lives of those who participate AND when CITO is practiced, we can have a positive effect which may make up for any negative effects our visit may have brought.
By KT on Jan 26, 2009
Since geocaching is really in its infancy, and the potential problems with only be exacerbated as time passes and/or the sport increases in popularity. The advocates of geocaching should promote the evolution of the sport to use 21st century technology and the internet to have the “treasure” be the coordinates and then a photo shared via a geocaching networking site. Maps and virtual trinkets (gifts?) can be shared. This would eliminate the future problem of too many boxes out in the woods as well as the eventual abandonment of the caches by those creators who no longer participate. Instead of a fight, we should be looking for a solution like the one I advocate. Whomever sets this up could likely make a lot of money with the website (like facebook did). Send me a check for the idea when you make millions, k?
By DuctTape on Aug 21, 2009