1,000 Caches: An interview with BruceS
11/1/2002
Ken Braband
Geocacher BruceS is a prolific geocacher from the St. Louis area who recently spent several days geocaching in Wisconsin. For this month’s WGA article, we asked him a few questions about himself and his approach to geocaching.
Ken Braband: Please describe a little about yourself: Age, where you live, family, job, other hobbies, etc.
BruceS: I am a 45 years old and live in St Peters, Mo, a suburb of St Louis. I am married and have 4 children ages 12, 14, 16, and 20. I work as a systems manager for a large transportation company. My main other hobby is long distance bicycling.
How and when did you first hear about geocaching?
The first time I heard about geocaching was actually by accident in more ways than one. I was on an flight in mid August 2001 and at the time I was on crutches after breaking my leg on a bicycle tour a little over a month before. The person sitting next to me was curious about my leg and how it happened. Later in the flight he handed me an article from the USAToday about the 10 best bicycle tours in the US, well after reading the article I flipped it over and what caught my attention was an article about Geocaching.
Were you a GPS user before you started geocaching?
The first time I used a GPS was entering the coordinates for my first cache.
When did you find your first cache, and what was it?
My first cache was September 1, 2001 and it was The Mexican GCFA1 which is located about 500 feet from my office. This is a very popular first cache.
Did you set out at that point to be one of the geocachers with the most finds, or did that just happen as a result of your interest in the sport?
I really started geocaching as a way to rehabilitate my broken leg. I have never set a goal of being the geocacher with the most finds but I do set goals for each day, trip, or particular “milestones” by a particular date.
What do you enjoy most about geocaching?
I mostly enjoy just being out and seeing new places.
How do you find time to hunt so many caches?
I probably geocache on fewer days than many people, however when I go out I usually go all out. My highest number of finds in a day is 38, while on a geocaching trip to Nashville. I have several days with more than 25 finds. It also helps to have a very understanding spouse, she has put up with my long distance bicycling and now geocaching.
What is your system for planning your routes when you visit an area? (For example, What GPSR do you use? Do you download to it, to a PDA, a laptop, or just print sheets?)
I actually spend a considerable amount time and effort in planning my geocaching trips. For my Wisconsin geocaching trip (which was an extention of a business trip) I used pocket queries to download all geocaches in Wisconsin and Illinois (I had to find a few along the way :-)). I use Geobuddy to merge files and save them to csv format. I import all caches into MS Mappoint (a programmable version of MS Streets and Trips). I then break the caches down in to days usually I start with 30+ in the day. I then start looking at cache descriptions for each cache.
When I am planning a caching trip I usually eliminate long multicaches especially those that look like they may take several hours to complete, I enjoy them when I am at home but on caching trips I usually want to see more places. I also eliminate webcam and locationless caches. I also will take into account any that require special equipment that I may not want to carry with me. I also will eliminate any that show multiple no finds in a row without a comment from the cache owner.
After I have done this screening I modify each day trying to balance them out to 20-30 planned for each day based upon driving distances, hiking distances and likely places for me to camp at the end of the day etc. I then have Mappoint optimize the order and do the route between all caches for that day. I then print all cache sheets out, I usually print the first 2 pages of the sheet but do it condensed on one page. I usually do planning up to this point several days prior to the trip. Usually the day before the trip I check for any new caches or archived caches in my planned area and make changes to my plans. At this time I also print out driving directions for each day using Mappoint. I then make a packet for each day with driving directions and cache sheets in order that I have them routed.
At this time I also upload all needed maps into my Vista (I use Road and Recreation for this). I also upload all caches using EasyGPS. Prior to uploading the cache waypoints I use the procedure I outlined in this forum posting to make all icons geocaches:
Groundspeak Forums.
I always have my laptop with me when I am on caching trips to modify my plan based on weather, time etc. I navigate using my driving directions and map on Vista. When I am on a caching trip my day usually starts before the sun comes up usually between 5 and 5:30. I break camp (if I am not returning that night) and cook my breakfast in the dark using LED headlamp. I try to get to the area of the first cache just as it getting light. I usually cache all day and normally do not stop to eat. I usually do a cache or two after the sun has set using headlamp. I then get to campground and set up using headlamp. I cook my dinner, eat and then spend a little time taking notes on my laptop on my caching day. At this time I also pull out my next day’s packet review it and make any modification such adding caches in that I was not able to complete on previous day, I also note where I plan on being at the end of the next day so I know whether I am breaking camp in morning or not. Then I am in bed so I can do it all over again the next day.
Do you have any tips or tricks that you like to use to find geocaches?
I guess my main trick I use when looking for caches is that I don’t really look for caches but rather look for places that look disturbed, branches not naturally placed, rocks the wrong color, grass that is trampled. I also look for other likely hiding spots… stumps, logs, hollow trees etc. For micros it is a different game and I am usually looking for the cache itself or the likely places it might be stuck. Usually if I don’t find a cache in 30 minutes after getting to an area I am not going to find it.
How many geocaches have you found (as of this writing)?
My current number of found caches is 1247.
How many geocaches have you hidden?
I have hidden 9 caches.
Do you always hunt alone, or do others go with you sometimes? If so, who?
I usually hunt alone. There are few people that can keep up with me, I am known to walk a bit faster than most people. I sometimes hunt with my 12 year old son and have had some great caching trips with him. My schedule and goals are modified greatly when he caches with me usually planning no more than 10-12 in a day.
Occasionally I will go caching with other members of SLAGA (St Louis Area Geocaching Association).
How many geocaches have you found in Wisconsin?
I have found 170 caches in Wisconsin all but 3 were found on recent caching trip.
Which was your favorite Wisconsin geocache and why?
It is very difficult for me select a favorite cache so I will list a few that I liked for different reasons. And in no particular order.
Castle Rock Trails series by Lil Otter
– great remote trails and hikes were a little longer than most
Pines, Pines and more Pines by The Lil Otter
– a nicely done 7 part multi in a kinda remote area
Roche-A-Cri #5 by The Lil Otter
– this one will take you breath away in more ways than one.
Dells of the Wisconsin River #1 by The Lil Otter
– a no find – was a great sunset over the river and a nice hike out after dark
Pike Powder Hike” by kbraband
– a great way to start a day, great sun rise
Missing in Monches by sbukosky
– a nice hike that involved some nice crosscountry hiking really felt remote while doing it.
Inner City Surprise by Socko, Vincetti, and Mel
– a definite surprise
Vernon Marsh by Jeremy
– another nice hike
Water’s Edge” by Team Cachebarr
– nice walk along the lake
Wy Not Wyalusing? by Jeremy
– did this one a year ago but it was a great hike
Which was your favorite all time geocache anywhere, and why?
My favorite cache of all time is actually a series of four located in the Ozark mountains of Missouri – Missouri’s Highest Cache by Myotis, Ozark Trail, Wildcat Mountain, Ozark Trail, Devils Toll Gate and Ozark Trail, Mina Sauk Falls all by Butch. These are quite remote and required considerable cross country hiking in fairly rugged terrain.
Did you notice any type of pattern or similarity in Wisconsin geocaches that you have not seen in other areas?
I have noticed trends in other areas but not in Wisconsin. How the caches were done was similar to how they are done in Missouri.
What was the most difficult geocache you hunted in Wisconsin in terms of terrain?
I never really consider the difficulty of terrain, what is there is there I just do it. I guess the one I felt the most out of breath when I got there was Roche-A-Cri #5, after jogging up the 300+ stair steps I was winded some.
What was the most difficult geocache you hunted in Wisconsin in terms of how hard it was to find?
Dells of the Wisconsin River #1 by The Lil Otter – I did not find it. I had my head all over those tree roots.
Did you have any unexpected surprises while hunting geocaches in Wisconsin? If so, what?
Arriving at River Can Cache parking area and having 20-25 police officers getting their picture taken. I walked down and saw several no trespassing signs and was not about to cross them with that many police there. Went back to car and was figuring out where to next and one of the officer came up and asked if there was a problem. I explained geocaching to him and about the no trespassing signs. His answer was “if your supposed to go there go” and I did 🙂
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to thank all the Wisconsin geocachers for having so many great and enjoyable caches. I hope to return to Wisconsin again in spring to find a few more.
One other thought to keep in mind it really is not about numbers but it is about enjoyment.