46.22872N, 119.12280W
46.19819N, 119.17539W
46.20965N, 119.12537N
46.17245N, 119.10757W
46.19744N, 119.13988W
Welcome to the world of geocaching. Genealogical geocaching.
These numbers represent geographic coordinates, or waymarks, with which a person with a Global Positioning Satellite unit can find a precise location anywhere on Earth. At least any place they can get to by foot, vehicle, boat, hot air balloon or boat.
I'll explain the five GPS coordinates listed above in a minute. First, a primer on GPS and geocaching.
"Geo" comes from geography, and "cache" comes from the practice of fur trappers and modern-day packers and hikers of stashing supplies somewhere to be retrieved later.
Hand-held devices that translate satellite signals into geographic coordinates cost from about $100 up. With coordinates such as those listed above, you should be able to get within 10 to 20 feet of the object of interest, depending on the quality of the GPS.
Geocaching is a hobby of rapidly growing popularity among technology freaks.
There are many variations, but basically it involves hiding something, recording the coordinates, then publicizing the coordinates, which geocachers use to try and find the hidden object. Sometimes the hidden object is a log book in a water-tight container. Successful geocachers are supposed to log their identity and when they visited the site.
Wikipedia reports the first such documented geocache was placed May 3, 2000, by Dave Ulmer, Beavercreek, Ore., and found May 5, 2000 by Mike Teague, Vancouver, Wash. Coordinates and clues are typically posted on websites, but there's no reason they can't be privately shared with a discrete group via e-mail.
Since then, many variations have materialized. One of them is event caching. They are designed to attract a crowd of geocachers to a particular place at a particular time.
Another form is Earthcache, which is organized and maintained by the Geological Society of America. Cachers who find an Earthcache site are treated to educational information associated with the geology of that site.
So, cachers, how about an experimental exercise in genealogical geocaching? If you are a genealogist interested in the concept but don't have a GPS unit, ask around for friends who use GPS and ask them to join you in checking this out.
When you find any of the genealogical geocaches listed in this column, e-mail me with a description of what you found and where, and I'll confirm your success. My e-mail address is at the bottom of this column.
Keeping this experiment simple, I will tell you that all five coordinates are in the Tri-Cities:
w 46.22872N, 119.12280W is a grave. Look for 1914-1984 on a headstone. Report the inscription to me.
w 46.19819N, 119.17539W is another grave. Look for 1916-1999. Report the inscription to me.
w 46.20965N, 119.12537N is the house where I spent my high school years. Give me an odd numbered address.
w 46.17245N, 119.10757W is a body of water. Describe it.
w 46.19744N, 119.13988W is another grave. Look for Althea. Report the inscription to me.
w On the Net: More information on geocaching: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geochaching; www8.garmin.com/outdoor/geocaching; www.geocaching.com
