Monthly Archives: January 2016

Member Submssions

Packy snow by ham_fam

It’s turned into a tradition, one of many, started by my beautiful wife. It seems that you only get one or maybe two opportunities each year to make snowmen. The temperatures have to be just right, to create packy snow.

Well this year we rolled our snowmen, under the tutelage of my wife, ideas bouncing around in her head. Over the years, we have gotten a system down, she starts rolling the snowballs, soon realizes its way to big and heavy to move any further and then tells me to lift it into place. I then chop it in half, move it to it’s final location, and begin the smoothing out process.

This year while Mrs. HamFam decorated the “Hawaiian snowman” and the “legs in the air” snowman, I thought, “I’ve got an idea.”

So I rolled up another snowman; grabbed a recent Christmas present ( a sweet WGA ammo can) from my geocaching buds Kthyrion and TheMotherInLaw. Added what is known in some circles as the “world’s greatest walking stick”, my back-up geocaching tool pouch, a.k.a. a fannie-pack, and some of my “stealth gear”.

To another year of caching…cache on my friends.


Member Submssions, Newsletters

Member Submission: Winter is Here. Are You Ready?

Winter is Here. Are You Ready?

by rawevil

WGAJanuary2016NewsletterPic

We were destined to have this happen. We live in Wisconsin. Whether we were ready or not this season, Old Man Winter finally decided to show his frozen face to us on December 28th. He graced us with anywhere from 6-18″ of snow depending upon where we live. Most of us who belong to the WGA are from this area or the Upper Midwest and laugh at the thought of a foot of snow stopping us from a caching trip. Playing in the snow and cold can be fun. It can also be challenging and dangerous if you are not prepared.

Our winter geocaching gear is a lot different this time of year than it is in spring, summer, and fall. After asking a few friends in the geocaching community what they have in their proverbial wallet, we came up with a list that is essential to staying safe and warm while seeking out that elusive cold-weather cache. Before we get into the details, let’s start out with the basics of making certain your geo-mobile is as ready to go as you are.

Have you checked to make sure you have enough fuel? Have you cleaned off your head and tail lights? Do you have enough windshield washer fluid to get you to and from your destination so you can see safely? Are your tires going through male-patterned baldness? If not, stay home and rethink your strategy of that FTF or Lonely Cache. You are only as good as the means to get you to your destination.

When you finally arrive at your destination, we believe that there are at least five categories that are important to make sure you are safe and warm during your trek.

 

  1. Clothing

 

Make sure your skin is protected and you dress in layers if you are planning a significant hike. Three layers is the rule of thumb. A base layer that conforms to your body. Avoid cotton and choose wool or synthetic materials. A middle layer, like fleece, helps to keep in your body heat. An outer layer that is both wind and waterproof. Flannel-lined pants, snow pants, or gaiters that go over your clothing, are always good for hiking through deep snow. Always keep your fingers and toes warm and toasty by investing in a decent pair of gloves and boots that are insulated and waterproof. Add crampons to your footgear for extra traction. If you decide to cache on a blizzard-like day, wear hi-vis vests or clothing while grabbing that PNG. Don’t forget the eye protection and sunscreen! Snow blindness is not fun. And yes, you can get a sunburn in winter. Lastly, when you accidentally stick your foot in a stream that is not frozen and have to walk back to the geo-mobile, an extra pair of socks and shoes is always most welcome.

 

  1. Extra Power

 

Cold weather is a huge burden to your batteries and electronics. Keep plenty of extra batteries on hand that are not exposed to the elements. If you have them in your geo-bag, think about putting them in your pocket to keep them warm. And if you have a cell phone, make certain you are fully charged or at least have a battery back up in case your power runs low.

 

  1. Food & Water

 

Winter hiking can be arduous so be sure to take in plenty of fluids and choose snacks and food that provide energy and nourishment if going on that expedition. Skip the chips and candy bars and reach for trail mix, beef jerky, and dried fruit. Cheese is a good source of protein, so pack the sticks and head out as they will be well refrigerated in your geo-bag.

 

  1. Tools of the Trade

 

How do you sign your log sheet? A pen? Most people do. However, pen ink can freeze in the bitter-cold weather. Think about bringing along a pencil. Small shovels cannot only help you if your car gets stuck, they can also help dislodge a cache from Old Man Winter’s frozen grasp. We have found that hand warmers also help if you leave that cache and come back to it later if given enough time. First Aid Supplies are ALWAYS a must and never out of season. Flashlights and mirrors also come in handy as the daylight hours have dwindled into mere hours.

 

  1. Location

 

The best tip we had about caching, whether in winter or at any other time of the year, was to let someone know where you are going. Your GPS may tell you where to go and how to get there, but if there was an emergency, someone needs to know how to get to you! Be open about your plans.

There are many more safe caching tips and tricks for winter but hopefully these gave you the basics whether it is your first time winter caching or a reminder of the things you may have forgotten over the years. It’s common sense. And please, know your limits.

Cheers to a safe and happy winter caching season!

Member Submssions

Member Submission: Lazy Boy

Lazy Boy

by  spammela & teeshot (team teespamm)

I’ve always been a curious person, willing to try anything once and usually jumping in with both feet.  Well, geocaching was no exception.

It started on a lazy Saturday afternoon.  The hubby, out like a light in his recliner and I with total possession of the TV remote control. While watching a show on the Live Well Network called Motion, the host was getting a lesson on geocaching.  I listened while it was explained that this “game” has been in existence since 2000, and there are over two million hid world wide…how can this be?  I’ve never heard of this game!

Before that husband of mine awoke from his nap, I had already been to Amazon and ordered a handheld GPSr, created an account on the geocaching.com website, AND discovered there were a few geocaches hidden on the land that our Memorial weekend camping expedition was set to take place! I excitedly tried to explain geocaching to him and then found the same article that I viewed on TV,  being replayed on the Motion website and I sat down with him and viewed it again.  He of course rolled his eyes, but agreed to play along.

I went to the public library and checked out the book The Joy Of Geocaching to learn all I could before heading out.  I found this book very helpful, and I highly recommend it for new geocachers.

A few days after my GPSr arrived, we were off “Up Nort” to Black Lake Campground.  I had just enough time to load the camp geocaches, and some in the surrounding area of where we would also be kayaking.

This is where my geobuddy teeshot comes in.  We’ve been camping/kayaking/biking with him and his wife, so they just sort of got dragged into the game along with us. Teeshot bought it, hook, line, and sinker!

The four of us have pretty much been a team, and we geocache mostly from our phones now, with more spontaneity than having to load them into a GPSr.

Teeshot says it’s all about discovery…not just new caches, but new roads, paths, parks, and landmarks…not to mention the people you meet!  We’ve seen places in our own backyard that we never knew existed before!  Add geocaching to camping/kayaking/biking and it enhances those experiences ten fold!

We make a great team, we get to GZ, search, if and when the going gets tough, teeshot(and the spouses if with us) leave no stone left unturned, and my job is to start reading a few of the previous logs to look for other clues.  I read between the lines, and there usually is a play on words that will help in the search!

We still get a kick out of the big hides, and carry all sorts of swag to make trades.  I’m drawn to the religious medals that show up in our area, while teeshot has one heck of a army man collection rounded up!

Now we’ve been hiding a few of our own and enjoy reading what the good folks out there think of them…just wish more people would fill us in on their experience and not just the basic TFTC log type.  I get that, after a full day of searching and finding caches, a person gets tired of writing what sounds like the same old same old, I’ve done it myself.  When we’ve got the time, we try to let the hider know what we thought of their hide, the surroundings, funny things that happen along the way(because there is always something funny going on)thank them, and maybe even throw a favorite point their way.

I don’t have the highest number of finds logged.  To me, it’s not all about the numbers, it’s about the journey and enjoying the great outdoors, and I’m sure teeshot agrees, he’s just got a bit more time, and smileys on his hands.

The moral of the story is not to rest on your laurels(or Lazy Boy) or you’ll find yourself getting dragged all over God’s green earth using billion dollar satellites to find Tupperware hidden in the woods  😉

Cache On,

spammela & teeshot (team teespamm)

Organization News, Upcoming Events

Chili and Identical snowflakes

The WGA’s next event will be our annual winter chili event.  Last year’s event at this location was such a success we decided to repeat it.

Please join us at GC67ZNY on Saturday, January 16 from 2:00-5:00 PM.

Our chili event takes place after the Waukesha Janboree Geocaching event GC684YM.  There are many caches around the area for geocachers to find so come on over to the event for caching and then to warm up with some chili.  And of course there’s the best reason to come to the events, for the socializing!

Message from the President, Newsletters

Winter Letter from the President

WGA Letter from the President Winter 2015/2016

Happy New Year and I hope 2016 is off to a great start for you!

As you may have seen, nominations have opened for 5 position on the WGA Board of Directors. Do you know of someone that would be a good candidate for position? I thought it might be a good idea to share what is involved.

What does it take to be a good candidate for a board member?

If you are going to be on the BOD, it requires a little bit of work all of the time. The main way the BOD members communicate is with a private forum on the WGA site and through Facebook Messenger. An effective BOD member will read all new posts on that BOD forum, at least 5 to 7 times a week. Occasionally as a BOD member you will be forced to have an opinion on things maybe you don’t care about and never even thought about. You will need to stand up for what you think is best for our members and the organization, even if the eight other people involved disagree. You also may have to take criticism for decisions the BOD makes, even if you didn’t agree in the first place.

Sometimes, being on the BOD is a LOT of work and a substantial time commitment, especially before/during/after WGA events. All BOD members are expected to be in attendance for WGA events. As a BOD member, you are expected to work at least for part of those events. Will you be happy with getting only 3 hours of caching time for the entire campout weekend? Will you be happy with only being able to see just a small part of the event location? Do you mind loading full, sopping wet garbage bags in the back of your van to take them out of the park? Every single nit-picky detail of a WGA event needs to be taken care of, and believe me, you will be surprised as to how many little (and big) tasks there actually are.
Do you have some good ideas for the WGA? Are you too shy to bring them up? Will you get discouraged quickly if you don’t get immediate buy-in from the other BOD members? Do you have the desire to champion an idea and work it all the way through to the end? I can personally tell you from my years with the BOD that if an idea doesn’t have someone wanting to run with it, it will fall through the cracks only to be lost.
We all have “real” jobs and family and we understand they all take priority over geocaching and being a board member and that is a good thing we do, helping out and working together. However, do you have enough time left over in your life to dedicate to this organization? Does your job frequently take you out of town, or does it consume most of your weekends?

 

Do you have some disposable income money? No, really, this is a serious question. Some of the WGA events WILL be quite a drive from where you live. We try to spread out the events and rotate the big ones (Campout and Picnic) annually to different quadrants of the state. You will also need to pay for your camping/hotel/park admission at the WGA events too. BOD members do NOT get to stay free, sorry. There are times when you may need to purchase something on behalf of the WGA but repayment is always done promptly (receipts required) as possible.

For me, being on the BOD gives the chance to give back to the geocaching community in a real and lasting way. You will have the opportunity to guide the direction of this organization. You get to work with various community groups (scouts, libraries, senior groups) and government offices (such as the WDNR). You will get to meet more of our membership than you ever have in the past, which is just pretty darn cool.

All in all, we are a pretty laid back group that are a group of people that like to give. Give our time, give our efforts, and give our ideas and our smiles.

The best part of doing this is that you are never in it alone.

Thanks to various former and current Board members that have shared their thoughts over the years to come up with outline.

Chris Walker, Walking Adventure

WGA President

General Geocaching, Member Submssions, Newsletters

Member Submissions: Uno!

UNO!
By BeccaDay

When playing the game UNO it is required that you call out “uno!” when you have only one card to go before winning. So here’s me shouting out “uno!” with gusto as I am close to completing the Grandaddy of ‘em all, the Jasmer challenge.

Let’s back up…a while back geocaching.com suspended the creation of new Challenge Caches. Then a few weeks ago they sent out a survey as they undoubtedly trying to figure out what to do about that controversial issue. As I have spent plenty of time looking at challenge caches, and have even created one of my own GC3B5Z3, I thought I should give my opinion. I clicked on the link when I determined that I had the time to pour over all kinds of geocaching scenarios and began the survey.

It seemed a bit tedious at times, but I pushed on. The questions gave me the opportunity to ponder many of my finds and my motivation for caching. Certainly, all of us would answer this differently, but I can say that challenges have added to my enjoyment of the game.

Early in my geocaching days someone mentioned the D/T or Fizzy challenge (GC23R28 is one of several). This is where you find at least one cache in every of the 81 Difficulty/Terrain combinations. As I started paying attention I noticed that many of the higher-terrain caches in Wisconsin involve boats of some kind. This realization sent me paddling down memory lane and how much fun I’d had with my brother and parents paddling down rivers and across lakes. Inspiration struck! I was determined to give my own children this experience and I set about looking for an affordable canoe. Boat00001Money was tight so finding one to purchase took a while but we rented canoes a few times until the right opportunity presented itself. I must say, this led to many awesome adventures with the family. Would we have had these experiences had a geocache not inspired me? Maybe. But nonetheless, it was my inspiration and we’ve had a blast on the water!

Another challenge that caught my eye was the Wisconsin Weirdness Eye00001Challenge GC2M3MW. When it first published I didn’t have a single find on the bookmark list. But the odd and interesting roadside attractions listed got me excited! It took us about 3 years to complete but our family had so much fun! People are often impressed by the strange and weird things we’ve seen and I am always up for that sort of silly foolishness.

I didn’t grow up in Wisconsin, I spent most of my childhood in the west. Visiting the WI state parks all the Wisconsin counties appealed to me. In fact, my kids and I resolved to do this before we had even discovered geocaching. This year I completed the WGA State Parks Series, finding at least one cache in every WI State Park. What an experience! I feel like I have learned more about WI history and geography than I may have in elementary school classes. I could also call out “Uno” on the county challenge GC15WT3, as Burnett County has eluded me so far. I am determined to finish that one off in 2016.

I am one of those geocachers who prefer the walks in the woods to the power trails. I have especially enjoyed the older caches that I’ve encountered over the years. When I first found out about the Jasmer challenge GC2PR1X, I was intrigued. The Jasmer Challenge asks that you find a geocache placed in every month of every year since geocaching began in 2000. I ran a PQ and thought I’d check out my progress just for fun. I can’t remember exactly how many spots I had open but it wasn’t too high of a number, impressive since I didn’t start geocaching until 2010. At first I didn’t give it too much thought but kept it in the back of my mind when we were visiting new places. Eventually, the desire to finish off this momentous challenge took hold. I started pouring over bookmark lists and running PQ’s around the country to find qualifying caches. Of course, those elusive 2000 and 2001 caches were the most difficult to find and required some planning. Log CabinMaybe it’s silly to care when a geocache was placed, but because of this challenge I have gone to places I likely wouldn’t have and had some really cool experiences. During a visit to Colorado I hiked a trail near our cabin that brought me to such breathtaking views and eventually to an old one-room cabin foundation GC1B7. I got to introduce a bunch of family members at my reunion to geocaching on this trip and they were very intrigued. When I visited Arizona for my cousin’s wedding I was able to find 2 of the remaining 3 open spots. Both were beautiful but Geocache GC57 really made me feel like I was exploring Arizona as I hiked nearly 4 miles in the desert, surrounded by giant saguaros, AZwithout a trail, all by myself. I could go on and on because any of the old, classic caches I’ve found have been exceptional experiences. The last spot I need to fill is August 2000, which I may be able to get in Georgia over spring break.

Another aspect of challenge caches that I enjoy is the camaraderie between other geocachers and myself. By sharing my progress at events, on the WGA website or on social media, other geocachers get to hear about my goals and share their own experience. I’ve gotten encouraging messages and I’ve also cheered on others who were working on their own goals. It’s led to many great interactions and helped me build friendships, another aspect of geocaching that I treasure. I’ve even been called a Fellow Weirdo after completing the WI Weirdness Challenge, which was flattering, believe it or not!

I hope that geocaching.com can figure out what to do with them, I’ll try to roll with their decision after they’ve made it. There are plenty of challenges that don’t interest me at all so I wouldn’t mind if they go. But then again, you never know what might interest your fellow geocacher and what experiences they may get out of their journey to challenge completion.  And if you see me at an event or even on social media, feel free to cheer me on as I try and finish off the Jasmer challenge.  Maybe you have a challenge you’re working on as well and would like to share your experiences?

Happy caching!
BeccaDay

 

Uncategorized

WGA 2016 Board of Directors Nominations

The WGA is now accepting nominations for this year’s Board of Directors election. Click to go to the elections page and nominate the WGA member(s) you would like to have serve on the Board. Five positions on the Board of Directors are up for election this year. These positions are currently held by the following individuals: Peter Quella (labrat_wr), Valerie Butrymowicz (Sweetlife-Val), Steve Biedermann (The CommanderUSN), August Hopp (KungFuHippie), and Rob England (Averith).

Chris Walker and Michael Harris will be assisting with the administration/execution of the election.

If you are interested in serving on the WGA Board of Directors, please ask another geocacher nominate you. You are the person we want!

YOUR VOICE COUNTS! If you are unable to make a nomination, please check that your WGA membership is up-to-date. If you still have problems voting, please email a current BOD member or the webmaster.