Hi, I'm hydnsek ("hide and seek"), and I'm the current WSGA President. I started caching in January 2003, just before moving to the Seattle area from the California Bay Area. (What a great way to explore my new home!) As of May 2010, I've found 6,400 caches and hidden 73. I've also completed several challenges, including FTFs on the WA History Challenge, Well-Rounded WA Cacher (Fizzy) Challenge, and WA Earthcache Challenge. The WA Fire Lookouts Challenge was one of my favorites!

I came to geocaching from hiking and orienteering, and prefer caches that send me into the woods or up a mountain. I enjoy organizing hikes and other outings, currently through the AHOTM (Alternative Hike of the Month) thread in the Northwest Forum on geocaching.com. I'm a strong believer in CITOs, Leave No Trace, and working with land managers. I started WSGA's Parks Liaison Program and have built personal relationships with several park systems, including King County Parks and North Cascades NPSC. I volunteer at Cougar Mountain RWP and with the Washington Trails Assn, among others.

I've been a WSGA member since 2003. In 2009 I joined the Board as the Puget Sound Chapter Representative, and also chaired the Parks Advocacy and GeoWoodstock committees. As the 2010 President, I look forward to our busiest and most exciting year yet - it's the 10th anniversary of geocaching, and GeoWoodstock is coming here, to the place where it all began!

I often combine geocaching with my other outdoor pursuits, including hiking, orienteering, snowshoeing, XC skiing, kayaking, and travelling. When I have to stay indoors, I spoil my cats, volunteer at the Humane Society, and work in marketing communications (websites, publications) and journalism.

While I've lived in Washington for 7 years and California for 15 years, I'm really a Southern belle from Tennessee and Alabama. So far, I've lived in seven states and visited 15 countries (only cached in 6, though).

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