The one millionth active geocache in the U.S. was published on Geocaching.com Sunday. The site launched in 2000 with just 75 geocaches. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location. Last month, Michelle Weidenbenner, local author of Cache a Predator, a Geocaching Mystery, sent 50 books to geocachers around the U.S. and Canada to plant in cache sites as a “trackable.” Trackables are a special type of object found within geocaches that contain a unique tracking code. Trackables often have a mission, too. Weidenbenner’s novels have a goal to move to all 50 states and all Canadian Provinces to help spread awareness of child abuse. Weidenbenner’s books each have a unique tracking code so cachers can follow where the book has gone at geocaching.com Since this project was launched, some books have traveled more than 5,000 miles and through six different states, according to information from Weidenbenner. Cache a Predator recently won the 2014 Gold Award in the Readers’ Favorite International Awards and has been an Amazon #1 bestseller. It’s available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, and signed copies are available at Saks & Co. in Winona Lake.
