(Editor’s Note: Alice, a relative newcomer to geocaching includes in her geocaching.com profile, “I actually started caching in summer of 2004 and have only found six or so caches. I have scouted for a couple of others to no avail. I think I understand my GPSr a little better this spring and am ready to head out and explore.”

In this article, she shares some of her trials, tribulations and emotions associated with our pastime.)

Yippee! The sun is out and I can go forth and conquer a cache. I am so excited; I found myself skipping all the way to the car. I took off this afternoon to go Geocaching at Edison Woods, which is in Erie county-Ohio. I had my trusty GPSr, a cell phone along with a bottle of water and orange vest. Orange vests are a must because I didn’t want to be mistaken for a deer even though I don’t have antlers or a white bobtail.

I must admit I was a little apprehensive because I had gotten lost one other time in the same area and wandered around for an hour or more. (I was not happy). Alas, the further into the woods I got the more my excitement was mounting. So off the trail I go and finding the cache was such a high. I was digging into the rotten tree base deep in the woods and I just knew exactly how to get back to the trail.

OOOOPS! Wrong! I got turned around and started the wrong way, and realizing that, I turned another way and then another and another. Did you know that when deep in the woods one tree looks just like another?

A hike that should have taken 45 minutes lasted just over two hours. I was hot, sweaty, frustrated and VERY upset. Now mind you I had 21 satellites directing me as well as an electronic compass. I thought this couldn’t be happening while I was getting deeper and deeper in the woods, with not a clue which way to turn.

I found myself in a farmer's wheat field and almost tripped over a groundhog scurrying past. I just know there had to be snakes too. Making my way to the highway (61) and finally to the car, I sat inside and the tears came fast. A man would say, “typical woman.”

Did I say I was frustrated! Driving home I stopped for a bottle of wine and prayed I could find a corkscrew. I showered, found a pair of old flannel PJs and started a fire in the fireplace (even though it was 60 degrees) and basked in my frustration.

I’ll let you know how the wine was.