Geocaching event in Ritzville

Geocaching returns to the Ritzville area this weekend with the Third Annual Ritzville Small Town Cache Cow Event. Hosted by the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce, the event will feature a new activity and an awards dinner.

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices, such as SmartPhones, tablets and GPS units. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and attempt to find the hidden geocache.

During the Memorial Day weekend activities, caches are placed prior to the Ritzville Small Town Cache Cow Event for an optional challenge. This year, a poker run will also be included in the event.

First time or experienced cachers are encouraged to participate and the event is fun for all ages. Geocaching 101 is available for new cachers until 4:30 p.m.

The optional challenge allows visitors with an opportunity to travel around the local area on a scavenger hunt by finding local caches. The contest allows participants to earn prizes and provides entertainment for those joining in the event.

Participants meet next to the Ritzville Depot Museum on Saturday, May 23, at 9 a.m. The event begins with a meet and greet, and individuals have an opportunity to sign in for the Ritzville Small Town Cache Cow Event.

In addition, participants have the opportunity to take part in GeoBingo and the first GeOlympics. Prizes for these games, as well as others, will be awarded later in the day.

Immediately following the event, the Mount Olympus Challenge – an optional cache-hunting challenge –and Tyche’s Poker Run – an optional poker run – will begin for any of those individuals who are interested.

At the optional hunt, participants have the contest rules explained and receive an entry form. Those individuals are then challenged with the task of finding all of the caches and being the first to return to the depot with the completed entry form. The first 50 cachers to return with completed forms are awarded a limited edition 2015 Ritzville Cache Cow event pathtag.

For Tyche’s Poker Run, cards have been placed at random in various geocaches. The geocacher with the best poker hand wins a ready-to-place ammo can cache.

Activities will continue at the depot until 4:30 p.m., including GeOlympics and GeoBingo. In addition, participants may purchase tickets to make swag (items to swap in geocaches).

Participants may return with completed Mount Olympus Challenge forms to the depot until 4:30 p.m.

From 5-7 p.m. the event will move to Jake’s Café and Diner for a no-host dinner, acknowledgements, prizes and awards. The Tally for Tyche’s Poker Run and the Tally for the Mount Olympus Challenge will be open from 5 to 5:45 p.m. at Jake’s Café and Diner. Prizes and awards will follow.

For more information, contact the Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce at 659-1936 or at [email protected].