A high-tech scavenger hunt in Yosemite

At a trailhead it led us up a dubious-looking, unmarked trail, through a forest of pine, cedar and manzanita, with occasional views out over the Central Valley. In the dense forest the GPS unit sometimes lost contact with the satellites and failed to notify us of a trail junction and a creek crossing, but the route was pretty obvious.

I was beginning to wonder about the point of the hike when we reached the last waypoint and found ourselves staring up gape-jawed at our own private grove of giant sequoias. They're outside Yosemite National Park and little known to the public, and as we ate our sandwiches among them, we enjoyed a serenity unknown amid the tram tours of the nearby Mariposa Grove.

It was an unexpectedly rewarding hike, but this wasn't really geocaching. Back at the car, I dialed up "cache" on the menu and the little GPS unit directed me on a short course through the forest in search of hidden treasure. As I reached each waypoint I dialed in the next one, and the gizmo's arrow pointed me in the right direction. After a few minutes I arrived at a little metal pail tucked into the bushes. I'd found my treasure.

Inside was a disposable camera with which I was invited to photograph myself for the hotel's Web site, a logbook to sign and a handful of goodies: squashed pennies with the Tenaya Lodge logo.

Under the rules of geocaching, I was supposed to take one and leave something of my own, but I'd forgotten to bring anything. I'll try to navigate my way back when I can get my hands on the Darth Vader action figure.

If you go:

GETTING THERE: Tenaya Lodge is located on state Highway 41 in Fish Camp, two miles outside Yosemite's Wawona entrance.

GEOCACHING: Packages are offered through Sept. 4 this year. The mountain bike package includes two logo backpacks, pack lunch for two, bottled waters, cache treasures and the use of two mountain bikes and a hand-held GPS unit. It costs $346 to $432 per night. The hiking package includes everything above except the bikes; it costs $266 to $352 per night.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: (888) 514-2167 or on the Net: http://www.tenayalodge.com. General geocaching information is available at http://www.geocaching.com/.

MORE FROM SUMMER TRAVEL

Summer Travel Section Front

Museum Day showcases culture at no cost Travel’s inconvenient convenience Get your motor running Top 10 national park lodges FirstPerson: Readers share their summer fun Getting through the dog days of summer Summer fun on the slopes Rock out at the world’s coolest music festivals Discover the granddaddy of scenic road trips World's sexiest beaches Summer Travel Section Front   Add Summer Travel headlines to your news reader: