Geocachers Converge on Forest Region

Thousands of people from throughout the world descended on the Allegheny National Forest Region for GeoWoodstock IX at the Warren County Fairgrounds on Saturday, July 5.

The Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, the tourist promotion agency for McKean County, was on hand to distribute local tourism information, to share information and listen to stories of the geocachers adventures as they searched for caches hidden here.

Geocaching, a relatively new phenomenon that has been around for about 10 years, involves people using GPS units (Global Positioning System) to find caches – or treasures. In many of the caches, a stamp or passport system leads to participants acquiring a uniquely numbered, traceable geocoin. It is the perfect sport, balancing technology and the outdoors, and has grown to be an international phenomenon.

Participants in Saturday’s event found treasure just be visiting the region, and enjoying the natural beauty of northwestern Pennsylvania. Visitors came from as far as Alaska, Sweden and even New Zealand.

“This is so awesome,” said Tanya Klauser of Richmond, Ind. “We like (geocaching) and have loved all of the ones we’ve found here.”

Sally Davis of Nashville, Tenn., marveled about what the region has to offer, including waterfalls and scenic views. “This is really a beautiful area,” she said, remarking on visiting spots that are not usually on a tourist’s map. “I love being able to find (spots) that are usually hard to find.”

The event was a family affair for many with young children in tow.

For Roger Primus of Naples, Fla., geocaching is about exercise and meeting new people. “I love coming to events like this because I can talk about geocaching all day long and people won’t look at me funny.”

It was also a good time to share ideas and to find new challenges. Many people acquired information on the Tuna Trekkers’ new geocaching component. Upon completion, the participant receives a wooden geocoin that features the Erik Benjamin Bridge at Marilla Reservoir. The program benefits the McKean-Potter Counties American Red Cross.

While many visitors did not feel they had the time to complete all the geocaches, they took the information to share with their fellow geoacachers at home with the idea of returning later in the year to continue new adventures.

McKean County is also part of the Allegheny GeoTrail program, which was very popular over the weekend.

The program includes 10 counties in northwestern Pennsylvania. Participants earn a coin after finding at least six caches and stamping their passport with the stamp inside the cache.

The coins from the Allegheny GeoTrail, for the McKean County segment, may be picked up at the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau Welcome Center at 80 E. Corydon St., Bradford, or the Zippo/Case Museum at 1932 Zippo Drive, Bradford.

The Allegheny GeoTrail project will continue until the end of August. Officials hope that funding will be available so the program can extend past this date. Other geocaching projects are in the developmental stage, including a new McKean County coin that will feature the Kinzua Sky Walk.

Pictured, Visitors at the GeoWoodstock event Saturday at the Warren County Fairgrounds look over the information provided by the Allegheny National Forest Visitors Bureau, the official tourism promotion agency for McKean County.
Photo courtesy of the ANFVB