His long legs eat up the trail miles at a steady pace. A fiberglass walking stick seeks the best footing as his GPSr guides him to the cache. Few hikers can keep up with Indy Diver when he's on a hunt and few have traveled the many paths his life has led him down.
Gary Burgan, 54, has a varied and interesting history. Growing up in Columbus, Indiana he explored the limestone caves and sinkholes of southern Indiana. Draft eligible right out of high school he signed up for the Air Force and became squad leader in the reserves until signing on for active duty. He repaired and flew airplanes in the early '70's and stood inches from speeding racecars taking pictures in the late '70's.December 7th, 2001 was a day for Gary to remember when he saw a segment on a local news program about geocaching...Twenty-four hours later he had his first five finds and was addicted. He indulged his love for gadgets by managing a Radio Shack and then signing on to test military hardware in Indy's Naval Avionics plan.
In the '80's scuba diving piqued his fancy and he attained a master's rating. In the late '80's he parlayed a part-time cashier job into a pharmacy technician license and returned to the racing world in the '90's as a safety crewmember at the Indianapolis Speedrome. In between he married his wife Sherry, flew radio-controlled planes, taught himself how to use a computer and hiked and explored throughout Indiana.
December 7th, 2001 was a day for Gary to remember when he saw a segment on a local news program about geocaching. He dug out an old Garmin 12XL GPS unit he'd bought as a trinket to help him find his car when hiking, went to geocaching.com and created Indy Diver in honor of his scuba-diving past. Twenty-four hours later he had his first five finds and was addicted.
As Indy Diver, Gary Burgan has been able to combine his love for the outdoors and for the latest technological gadgetry. His long legs took him throughout Indiana and especially through the rolling southern Hoosier land he'd trekked in his youth. He set a blistering pace and was often known to grab 20-30 caches on a day's run. When most men entering their fifth decade are thinking of golf courses and handicapped parking placards Gary was beating through the briars tracking down Tupperware. He helped form INGEO, the Indiana Geocachers group, organized events and set up its web page. His little Garmin 12XL was replaced by several upgrades. He set out a few dozen caches of his own. He even found time to take a pudgy, chain-smoking truck driver into the woods for a few hunts. His pace was relentless.
On April 14th, he was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) a disease that attacks the lining of the central nervous system and often leaves the victim suffering chronic fatigue, lack of balance and a host of other symptoms. Until April 14 of 2004.
Gary had been feeling a few twinges and aches that hadn't been there before, numbness that shouldn't be and exhaustion that didn't seem a normal part of being fifty. Doctors had been baffled and dismissive until they figured it out. On April 14th, he was diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) a disease that attacks the lining of the central nervous system and often leaves the victim suffering chronic fatigue, lack of balance and a host of other symptoms. Gary found four more caches that week but had to cut back as he began a series of treatments to arrest the progress of his MS.
"My biggest regret is that I haven't been able to take care of my own caches," he once lamented. "I just don’t' have the energy and I don't trust myself driving."
Gary began a series of treatments to arrest the spread of the disease and to regain strength and feeling. During the recovery his caching suffered as well but several of his geocaching buddies pitched in to get him back in the field. He often accompanied deermark, daggy, Indiana's Team J&K and a variety of others on shorter, but no less satisfying trips. Gradually his strength and resolve returned.
Gary celebrated his 54th birthday with a twenty-one-cache salute as the treatment and fellow cachers rallied his energies. He puts in about 20 hours overtime each week at Naval Avionics testing the latest gadgets because, "I like to work. I need the insurance, and what I'm doing is important to those troops overseas and to our country." His stride is getting stronger as he sets his sights on his 1000th cache find. The MS is not beaten but it is at arm's length and Gary is working hard to keep it there.
Indy Diver is nowhere close to being done, yet. He totes a well loaded Garmin GPSMap76 and camera along with his ubiquitous walking stick. His step may not be what it once was but it's still plenty good enough to leave most others in the dust. Next time you see this lanky fellow in his gc.com hat stop him and ask about his latest find.
Expect a story. A long story.
