Geocaching

The year of 2015 becomes one of the most outstanding in what concerns to events that can put us with some apprehension in the practice of geocaching in Portugal.

It's true that in all activities we ear about events that can or leave to the death of people, but until now we have been doing this, besides the danger we face sometimes, without major problems.

In a few months we faced the lost of two persons. We can say that it could happen in any circumstance, and probably the activity wasn't the cause of the death, but we can't face this without being at least worried with these so soon and so unexpected disappearance of people who share our hobby, that sometimes is much more than this.

Not knowing any of the persons that had their lives finished so soon, all the information, by logs on some caches, by the words of people who knew them, it is a major lose, and there's no way to return back in time, unfortunately.

The growing of geocaching, in the years I've been going out to find the "treasures", changed a lot, with more and more challenges, not all very well taught in what concerns to safety, but even in the past we had some that we had to think very well if it was good or not for our capabilities. What is good and easy for someone, for me is much more harder, and probably for others even more...
I think that the main problem is the fact that it has become very challenging in some cases. But like everything, it's necessary to think more about our actions.

The two geocachers that went away were great persons, they had a "bad luck" that probably could have taken place even without geocaching, The result doesn't seem to be related directly with the challenge, but I want us to be more effective in our evaluations of all the decisions to take a challenge or not, and to be with experienced people to help us in our journeys.

As for myself, I also did some things that weren't well taught, and with the wrong move probably the statistics could be even worst, but it's time to honor our co-mates and be more careful.
Enjoy every challenge, but judge the pros and cons of doing it! Most of the time it's just a number, and if you are in a wonderful place, a few meters from a dangerous cache location, enjoy the place, take some photos, and share your journey.