(South Lake Tahoe, Calif.) – The two-day geocaching treasure hunt that welcomed over 400 treasure hunters last year is returning to celebrate the Third Annual Opening Day Lake Tahoe June 16-17, 2007. Geocachers from across the nation will set out in search of 50 valuable prizes hidden all over South Shore Lake Tahoe.
Billed as the world’s largest free geocaching hunt, prizes include show tickets, rounds of golf, dinners, overnight accommodations, outdoor activities and area attractions. The easy-to-play family event for beginners and veterans combines technology with a traditional treasure hunt via a hand-held global positioning device which utilizes coordinates to decipher directional clues.
It’s all part of the Third Annual Opening Day Lake Tahoe, South Shore’s official salute to the summer season. Other featured events include the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Northern Nevada State Finals, The Great Lake Tahoe Sternwheeler Race, a Mardi Gras Boat Parade and boat christening, the World’s Highest Parasail Competition along with headliner concerts such as Lindsey Buckingham at Harrah’s South Shore Room. Many of the events emphasize the various attractions visitors can enjoy throughout the summer such as a scenic cruise on the sternwheeler boats, boat rentals and parasailing. To view footage of last year’s event, visit www.bluelaketahoe.com
Geocaching utilizes free Global Positioning Systems, and the Tahoe event, specifically, is known to award 50 of the most valuable prizes given at geocaching events throughout the world. Caches, or prize boxes, are hidden in various places of interest like the Emerald Bay look out point, behind a slot machine in one of the many casinos, along the Lake Tahoe Rim Trail, near someone’s lucky tree or where people rest in peace!
Here’s what last year’s geocachers had to say about the event:
# “Wow, what a wonderful event, and what a beautiful area! I had no idea Tahoe has so much to do and see.”
# “This was the first event of this type my friends and family have attended. It was GREAT! This is how I spent my 40th birthday.”
# “Thanks Geoteaming and all the various Lake Tahoe Merchants who contributed the great prizes for this event.”
In addition to “first finder” prizes for those who discover a cache, there will also be 50 drawings for similar prizes open to everyone who finds a cache and deposits an entry form. Teams will earn one raffle entry for every successful found cache on their Passport. The entire hunt is easy, free and searchers can move at their own pace with no pressure. For more experienced geocachers, there’s the challenge of more complex puzzles and longer hikes to find the advanced caches.
The Lake Tahoe Geocaching event starts at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 16 and 9 a.m. on Sunday, June 17. GPS devices are available both days with free rental to the first 100 teams each day. Teams are also encouraged to use personal GPS devices.
The treasure hunt will conclude on Sunday at 3 p.m. The final raffle and celebration party will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 17. At the Celebration (Awards) Party, geocachers turn in their Treasure Maps and receive a raffle entry for every correct stamp.
Geocachers can register online at BlueLakeTahoe.com/geocaching.php or the day of the event. Registration is required in order to receive the Passport containing clue information along with special offers for visiting geocachers.GPS rentals are available from 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information about any of the Opening Day Lake Tahoe activities, lodging, recreation and family packages, call the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, 1-800-AT-TAHOE (1-800-288-2463) or visit the Web site at www.BlueLakeTahoe.com
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April 16, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Margaret Skillicorn
Weidinger Public Relations
775-588-8171
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