Geocaching

Geocaching is a world-wide outdoor treasure hunting game, using a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to hide and seek small waterproof containers that hold logbooks and small trinkets.

The new Great Northwoods Treasure Hunt is available for both experienced geocachers and those brand new to the sport. Organizers of the hunt have recently created 18 new area caches and have organized fun geocaching contests. Visit the treasure hunt’s web site to find out more about the hunt, or to download a CacheCard to help you track your finds.

Since finding out about geocaching from Grace, an avid hiker who works on the Black’s Cliff summer cleaning crew, the Gibson family has embarked on many area treasure-hunting adventures.

The Kaubashine Cache is closest to the resort and can be reached by paddling your way across the lake to The Pointe to discover the old foundation of a lake home. This is where some members of the Black family go when they want a quiet place to swim. It is also the scenic spot where Craig and Lynette Black were married. The top of the hill offers a nice view of Lake Kaubashine. Sign the cache log book while you enjoy the view.

An easy cache is located just five minutes away in “downtown” Hazelhurst, near Lake Katherine. Called The End of the Road, this hunt was created by a fellow geocacher from California in memory of his grandfather, who lived on the lake more than 30 years. You can easily drive-up to this cache to sign the log book.

One of the Gibson’s favorite geocaching adventures led them to uncover the history of the infamous Goat Lady. Selma Wikkins moved to nearby Cashin as a squatter in the 1930s, living first in a shack. When her shack and Model-T burned, she lived under a small bridge with her 20 goats, with tarps at each side of the bridge for protection. She then built a small shelter out of corrugated tin and paper. This cache is quite an adventure and travels back to a cedar swamp that is guaranteed to give some visitors the creeps as they look for the cache among the leftover remains of Selma's homestead.

Another historic geocache took the family to ruins located on a peninsula of Big Arbor Vitae Lake. The peninsula was once home to several vacation cottages. The cottage owners leased the land from the state. When the state refused to renew their leases, they were forced off the peninsula, moving the structures across the lake in winter when the ice was frozen. Cement foundations and the rock stairway going down to the lake are all that remain. The walk to the peninsula is beautiful. As you search among the ruins for the cache, you may feel like folks from the past are watching over your shoulder.

To search for more area geocaching sites, visit Geocaching.com.