Every geo-cacher has his or her own ideas about .... caches, containers, size, travel bugs, logging, swag, location, etc. But who is right?

[b]Short answer:[/b] a publicity stunt. But you came here for a longer answer... [b]The Publicity Stunt[/b] In May of 2001, 20th Century Fox, was preparing to release its summer blockbuster, “[url=http://us.imdb.com/Title?0133152]Planet of the Apes[/url].” They wanted a publicity stunt, and saw that computer geeks everywhere seemed to be flocking to this new hobby, Geocaching. To try and capatalize on this potential market, Fox Studios formulated a “sub-plot” that had absolutely nothing to do with the movie: Renegade humans were trying to reveal an “[b]A[/b]lternative [b]P[/b]rimate [b]E[/b]volution” theory by placing artifacts around the world. Code Name: [b]Project A.P.E.[/b]

I found a great quote for Geocaching and Geodashing in one of my favorite books: The Lord of the Rings, Book I: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. In it, the Hobbit Bilbo Baggins has written a poem describing the wandering heir to the throne of the King of Men: Aragorn (also known as Strider). Aragorn has chosen the life of a Ranger of the North, wandering the wilderness defeating the allies of the Enemy and protecting the northern lands. Bilbo's poem is below:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

[i]Editor's note: Geocaching is bringing more people than ever into woods, grasslands, and other off-trail areas. As geocaching continues to grow, we need to all be aware of the effect we have on natural areas. The following article is a synopsis collection of excerpts from "Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics" by the non-profit organization, Leave No Trace, Inc. Although the original article was not specifically written for geocachers, it contains many tips that each of us can and should apply when we hunt or place geocaches.[/i] [b]Wildland Ethics[/b] [i]"Ethical and moral questions and how we answer them may determine whether primal scenes will continue to be a source of joy and comfort to future generations. The decisions are ours and we have to search our minds and souls for the right answers..." "The real significance of wilderness is a cultural matter. It is far more than hunting, fishing, hiking, camping or canoeing; it has to do with the human spirit."[/i] Sigurd F. Olson

[i]From the Governor Dodge State Park visitor guide. We are using this as our monthly article to provide some history on the location of the campout.[/i] Most of Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota once looked much the same until a series of four glaciers inched their way across the northern United States. Massive sheets of ice "peeled off" hilltops and filled in valleys from Canada to Kansas, leaving a vast, flat expanse in their wake. Due to certain geological "quirks of fate," southwestern Wisconsin was bypassed and encircled by the four glaciers. The area, therefore, stands as an "island" of hills and valleys amid surrounding plains. The term "Driftless Area" is given to this region because it is devoid of drift or the accumulated rock and soil left by retreating glaciers. More than 5,000 acres of this unique "island" make up Governor Dodge State Park. As you make your way through this magnificent park, you make your way through time itself.