July 24 - Trail Treasures

While reading some recent posts by geocachers in a thread on best "finds" on the way to a cache, I posted one of my own.  It's had me thinking for days and days afterward though.  I've regularly used pictures taken of great finds along the trail with the hashtag #trailtreasures for years and they're not always physical items.  Don't get me wrong, I'm always on the lookout for a prime hiking stick (my hiking poles are great, but you can't beat a really good stick) particularly if I find a beaver dam.  They seem to only use the best sticks, debark them for you and they're already sun bleached white on the outside with just enough moisture on the inside to make them both strong and flexible.

As more and more people of all ages are being encouraged to get back out on the trail, nature scavenger hunts are becoming quite popular again.  Regardless of your climate zone, there are treasures to be found on your cache hunt if you just keep your eyes open and remain observant.  Your next cache might just be the most memorable hike you've ever experienced!  An elusive animal, a secluded fungus, a forgotten orchard deep in the woods, or a washed-out stream bank with fossils could be right around the corner.  Why'd the forest suddenly get so quiet?  Maybe you're not the only hunter stalking nearby.  Day or night, rain or snow, desert heat or humid rolling mists may all conspire to hide these treasures from you, but that just raises the challenge!

So, flip your Trail Treasures geocoin and see what target you should look for on your next foray because the most valuable riches aren't always silver, gold, or even a great cache.  Sometimes the journey and the things you find along the way are far more valuable.