CARLISLE, PA (June 22, 2011) - Seek out Valley treasures while exploring the South Mountain's natural beauty and communities by following the outdoor adventure trail to hidden vistas, tucked away historical sites and more.
The South Mountain GeoTrail connects cultural and natural treasures within the South Mountain Region (covering parts of Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York Counties). Geocaching along the trail introduces residents and visitors to the agricultural, heritage, and natural assets of the South Mountain Region. "This is our first find on the South Mountain Geotrail and looking forward to many more in this series. We have lived around here all our lives and don't know a lot about the local history so this is great for our family to have some fun and learn at the same time," said a South Mountain GeoTrail user.
Geocaching and the GeoTrail are open to everyone with a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a sense of adventure. Geocaching is a worldwide game dedicated to GPS users. The game involves a hidden "treasure" (cache), with the exact coordinates published online at geocaching.com, allowing GPS users to "treasure hunt" to find it. This exciting sport/hobby is a great family activity and getting started is easy, all that's needed is a handheld GPS receiver and internet access.
A typical cache consists of a waterproof container, a log book, and trinkets. Signing the log book proves you found it, and the trinkets provide trade items; the idea is to take an item, then replace it with an item of equal value. Once the log book is signed and trinkets exchanged, the container is put back in exactly the same place it was found, to await the next finder. "This is my first South Mountain GeoTrail cache. I am delighted with the series, and hope more Parks and Rec organizations plan similar routes in other geographical areas. The passport is well done and this first cache took me to a spot that I didn't know existed," said a South Mountain GeoTrail user.
The South Mountain GeoTrail is a project, funded by both public and private funds, that is designed to educate about agricultural, heritage, and natural sites within the South Mountain Region. The GeoTrail utilizes the growing interest in geocaching to connect an increasingly tech savvy public to the natural assets of the South Mountain Region. Each cache in the series contains a unique self-inking rubber stamp, which participants use to stamp their South Mountain GeoTrail Passport to verify that they have found it. After logging the maximum caches available, trail-goers are eligible for a one-of-a-kind GeoCoin.
Passports are available at the Cumberland Valley Visitors Center, 33 W. High St., Carlisle, located inside History on High - The Shop. For more information, visit http://smgeotrail.blogspot.com, www.visitcumberlandvalley.com or call 888-513-5130.
The mission of the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau is to promote Cumberland Valley as a tourist destination, attract visitors to the area, enhance the visitor's experience, and to encourage and promote overnight stays.
The Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau is also part of Pennsylvania's Dutch Country Roads region, the number one visited region in PA, a true vacation destination where country meets city and the past lives side-by-side with the present.
