Over 500 visitors from 13 different countries are expected at the Geocaching Mega Event „Pinzgau 2011“

Search, discover and log a cache
In June 2011 Saalbach Hinterglemm is set to become the Mecca for the Geocachers.  Tourist Office Director Wolfgang Breitfuß „This innovative event is just perfect for Valley of Games Saalbach Hinterglemm as it is an attraction for sport individuals as well as for families and adventurers of all ages.  This event is ideal for all, not just for the high-tech treasure hunters, but also for those who want to try it out for the first time.  One can compare notes with another about their experiences and the brand leaders of the ‚caching‘ world are exhibiting brand-new innovations“.

 The incomparable panoramic views of the ‚Hohe Tauern‘ to the ‚Leoganger‘ stone mountains will accompany the cacher step by step  through the Glemmtaler mountain world.  450 kms of marked hiking trails and numerous caches lead to the most beautiful places in the valley.  Four lifts bring our guests swiftly and with the new JokerCard free of charge just that little closer to the higher situated caches.  The JOKER CARD Saalbach Hinterglemm is included when one chooses a JokerCard partner-accommodation and offers free access to the lifts and most popular attractions in the region. 

Around 30 mountain huts ensure that one can have a tasty snack or refreshment whilst on a cache tour and at some of the huts a cache can be logged.

Susanne Mitterer from the Events Department of the Tourist Office Saalbach Hinterglemm knows about the fascination of the „Scavenger Hunt 2.0“: „I am a Geocacher myself for almost a year now. I am inspired by the philosophy of Geocaching: it is motivating me to head out into nature - even when the weather is not at it’s best. When I am on cache-tour with my small nephew, we explore on equal opportunities and the many kilometres covered are easily forgotten in the heat of the treasure hunt.  It’s like a virus – once you have been infected you are always searching for the next cache“.

The History of Geocaching

It started 11 years ago in America where the first Geocache was hidden and a worldwide game began via Internet – up to date there are around 5.000.000 participants worldwide.  In Europe alone there are 2,500.000 cachers and registration is growing on a daily basis.  Geocaching (from geo „Earth“ and the English word cache „secret location“) is best defined as an electronic scavenger hunt or paper chase.

Rainer Edlinger, co-organizer of the Geocaching MEGA-Event in Saalbach Hinterglemm: „The hidden places of the caches are published on the internet by geographic coordinates and each finder enters a successful ‚find‘ into the logbook of the cache.  Afterwards, the cache is put back  in exactly the same place that it was found.  The find then is noted under www.geocaching.com and can be accompanied by a photo.  Naturally, for the MEGA Event there will be special caches of all different levels of difficulties. It is also important that the location is accessible for all and not in a protected or private area.  Cachers are environmentally conscious and hence the motto of the final day of the MEGA Event is „Cache in – Trash out!“.  Therefore we will all clean up an area of rubbish and afterwards a cache will be hidden in memory of this event.”

Registration for the event under www.geocaching.com  with the eventcode GC2JTB2