There are a lot of hints that turn out to be useless, so I have CacheMate programmed to automatically decrypt them. A quick glance will tell if it’s important.

I copy the text from the cache page to a Word Doc. I include ONLY the required info…cache name, coords, hint if needed, and other important information from the page like parking or what not. I can usually get about 8-10 caches on a single sheet of paper. When I go on a numbers run I can do it with about 5 sheets of paper.
I still don’t have a PDA…someday.

I don”t own a Palm Pilot so I used to print out the sheets on every cache but the waste of paper and ink was getting crazy. I then employed Lost by 7’s technique for a bit but that seemed to take way too much time. I tried out the handwritten summary on a piece of paper method for a while but I gave that up due to hand cramps and the fact that I couldn’t always read my writing. Then I discovered the joys of GSAK! No more sitting up late at night entering in slews of coords. No more doubts about the coords I entered.

I select a “base cache” and do a search of the nearest caches I have not found. I select the caches to download, do a page print preview, shrink the pages to fit onto two printed sheets, and I print the pages before the download. I then write any notes or clues I may need for the caches I’ve selected (those with a check mark in the box).

I usually leave this sheet in my car unless I have to hike further than a third of a mile and/or it the area has a lot of muggles roaming around. I don’t want to draw too much attention with a protracted search.

I then use the sheets to check off the caches as I go, to record the caches condition, and to log GC and TB numbers.

I usually read the clues when I review cache pages on-line and I regularly use clues for caches hidden by certain people. An ammo box in the woods does not usually require a hint but a hint on a micro in a public area or three fourth of a mile into the middle of nowhere is often appreciated.

Anyone who says they don’t use clues is kidding nobody but themselves. They are probably the same cachers who never post a DNF and they justify it with some form of abstract logic that makes them sound righteous and pure. I would guess that they have everything loaded on their Palm, stashed securely in their pocket; as a security blanket and insurance.

I don’t carry a cell phone on me and I’ve never “phoned a friend” while on a hunt. Clues and assistance come in many forms and we all rely on these from time to time.

I’ve got a $99 Etrex and I’m lucky to get reception at all in many locations. My GPSr does not have an external antenna and I’m happy if the cache is found within 30 feet of my closest thing resembling a GZ. Who needs clues if your GPSr is top of the line?

I also find it irresponsible not to employ clues in environmentally sensitive areas. We’ve all seen the damage done by cachers who tear apart logs and stumps when the cache is hanging two feet over their head or sitting 20 feet away in plain sight.

I’ve found my fair share of caches without the assistance of a clue because none was provided and I’ve posted many DNF’s even with a clue.

It’s not about the clue or hint. It’s about responsible caching. If you can find the cache in 5 minutes without touching anything or damaging anything, then go ahead and don’t look at the clue. Just remember that every step we take in the woods may have consequences.

I search the area around GZ for a few minutes then get out the PDA to look at the page again along with any available hints.

I think it’s funny how the comments are more about how/if you print the cache page, rather than what you do with the hints … not that it bothers me, just think it’s interesting.

To prove it doesn’t bother me: My GPSrs and Palm always have the 300 closest caches that I’ve not found (more for variety/options, since we only find 3 or 4 per outting), but I do typically “research” caches on the website before leaving the house, mainly because the stupid pocketquery page still does not work when you try to eliminate caches marked “no dogs”.

Now the original survey question: I decode “as needed” on my PDA if we spend more than about 5 minutes looking for the cache. Sometimes if we take visitors with us, I might decode right away in hopes that I can figure out where the cache is without really looking, then have a good laugh watching our visitors try to find it.

I have been doing the paperless caching thing since around Christmas. I typically don’t look at the hints unless I looked for at least ten minutes then I often will look at hint and read a few of the latest logs to see if I can fins additional hints.

I haven’t printed out a cache page since I got my PDA. I’m a little bit of the obsessive type and I have the whole state broken down into miles from my house and based on where I’m at I just load that file of caches into the GPSr and then select that database on the Palm.

The only ones that are problems are puzzle caches that have pictures attached to them as I don’t attach the pictures to the caches in GSAK. So for these I make sure that I have solved puzzles before I head out and that I have entered the corrected coordinates in GSAK. This way it is just another cache. I have different icons on the GPSr for unsolved and solved puzzle caches this way I know whether or not I need to solve them or I already have.

Thanks to the magic of POI files, I have the decoded hints at the ready in my 60CSx in case I need them. Generally, I’ll search the area for 5-10 minutes, and if I’m still coming up empty I’ll go to the hint and pray that it’s actually useful.