Allegheny River Headwaters Watershed Conservation Plan

Allegheny River Headwaters Conservation Plan
Chapter 5. Cultural Resources
hunting on their property. However, before hunting on private property you should obtain written or
verbal permission from the landowner. For more information about public lands open for hunting visit
PGC and DCNR websites: http://www.pgc.state.pa.us and http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us.
Geocaching
Initiated in Portland, Oregon in 2000, geocaching is on the rise as a recreational activity. This
adventurous treasure hunt game uses global positioning system (GPS) units to find hidden caches.
Geocaching encourages technologically savvy individuals who might not otherwise venture to the
outdoors an opportunity to enjoy their natural surroundings.
Originally called GPS Stash Hunt, the name was changed to geocaching because of the negative
connotation of the word “stash.” The name geocache comes from “geo,” referring to geography, and
“cache,” a French word referring to a place to store or hide an item. Caches are hidden all over the world.
The number of caches in an area varies depending on the interest of participants. For example, within 10
miles of Bradford, Pennsylvania, there are more than 300 caches to be found; while within 10 miles of
Coudersport, only 19 caches were hidden as of October 2009.
This simple game can be played anywhere. Players obtain latitude and longitude coordinates to a
cache site via the Internet. They then travel to the coordinate and search for the hidden treasure. When a
participant finds a cache, they may take an item from the cache if they can replace it with an item of equal
value. Each visitor, whether exchanging something from the cache or not, should sign the logbook
providing information to the cache hider about who visited and when the cache was found. More
information about geocaching is available on the geocaching.com website.
The Allegheny Geo Trail is a series of geocaches throughout 10 counties in northwestern and north
central Pennsylvania. Each county, including McKean and Potter counties, have 10–20 designated caches,
of which each seeker must find six or more to earn that county’s coin. Seekers collecting six caches in
each of the 10 counties are eligible for the Allegheny Geo Trail coin. For more information about the
Allegheny Geo Trail visit the trails website: http://alleghenygeotrail.com.
Recreational Vehicles
All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and snowmobile use are popular recreational activities. An off-road
vehicle, off-highway vehicle, or ATV is any motorized vehicle capable of cross-country travel on land,
water, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or other natural terrain. A snowmobile is an engine-driven vehicle
designed to travel over snow or ice with an endless belt track or tracks, steered by a ski or skis, and has an
overall width of 48 inches or less. The use of ATVs and snowmobiles is on the rise, and the improper or
illegal use by some has given these activities a bad reputation.
DCNR, along with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, regulates the use of ATVs and snowmobiles
as defined in Chapter 77 of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Law. In 2001, Act 68 modified the law requiring
ATV owners and operators to register their vehicles. Snowmobile registration is required with DCNR. In
addition, snowmobiles in Pennsylvania purchased after October 23, 2001 must have a title issued by
DCNR. Older snowmobiles do not require a title until transferred to a new owner. ATV and snowmobile
registration fees are used to finance efforts to develop and maintain trails on public lands, encourage trail
development on private lands, to teach safety and trail etiquette, and for law enforcement.
Enhanced efforts are needed to educate riders to recreate in a sound manner. Youth snowmobile
operators between the ages of 10 and 16 must complete a snowmobile safety course to ride on public
trails. Youth under the age of 10 cannot operate a snowmobile on any public land. Youth ATV operators
between eight and 16 years of age must complete an ATV safety course to permit them to ride on public
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