Precedent for Geocaching

[Guest Havasu Desert Rat]

There has been a lot of discussion on the forums lately about the Park Service, Forest Service, BLM etc and whether geocaching is/should be allowed on those lands.

 

I just wanted to mention that there is a precedent for geocaching on public lands in the U.S., and worldwide for that matter, that goes way back. I'm a mountaineer from Colorado, and on top of every 14,000' peak in the state, and some of the lesser peaks as well, there is a summit register. Most of these registers are the size of a small to medium geocache container and have a log book and pencil/pen. Nobody has ever questioned their presence. It's a given. The only difference with geocaching is that we trade trinkets in addition to signing the log, and our containers are a little better hidden.

[Guest EraSeek]

Yes! I've been thinking about this too. I remember when around here in the Cascades almost every peak did have a register. It is less and less so now but you are right! My feeling is that the NPS should allow "logbook only" caches as part of an understanding with us. A logbook in a small tupperware container. And perhaps an understanding that two of these physical caches cannot be located within the same area. All others in the area must be virtual.

[Guest CaptHawke]

Is this true for Long's Peak in Rocky Mountain NP? Thats the only Colorado 14,000 footer I can recall being on NPS property.

 

Anybody know about peaks in the Sierras, Tetons or Cascades? Especially peaks within NPs.

 

Cephas Hawke

Bedford, NH

[Guest EraSeek]

I can tell you that there is at this very moment and always has been in recent history a logbook on top of Mt Rainier.

[Guest c.mathis]

We have several peaks in San Diego County that are only about 6,000 ft. but they have registers on them. It seems that the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Cleveland National Forest have been allowing "caches" for years.

[Guest Havasu Desert Rat]

I've climbed Longs Peak twice and signed the summit register both times. It has been a while, but I'll bet it's still there and still being maintained by the Colorado Mountaineering Club. (I hope I'm remembering their name correctly. Old timers disease, you know.) I have also stood on top of the Grand Teton and signed the summit register there.

 

[This message has been edited by Havasu Desert Rat (edited 04 August 2001).]

[Guest Havasu Desert Rat]

I've climbed Longs Peak twice and signed the summit register both times. It has been a while, but I'll bet it's still there and still being maintained by the Colorado Mountaineering Club. (I hope I'm remembering their name correctly. Old timers disease, you know.) I have also stood on top of the Grand Teton and signed the summit register there.

 

[This message has been edited by Havasu Desert Rat (edited 04 August 2001).]