› Forums › Geocaching in Wisconsin › Help › How to determine distance between two caches

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  • 08/19/2007 at 11:05 pm #1725314
    Trekkin and Birdin

      Here’s the deal. We’re going to place some more caches in our area soon, and one I’d like to place is not far from another one we know of. It might be far enough, though. Trekkin’ thinks it is. Aside from tape measures or pacing off, how can we compare our placement reading to the one for the other cache to see if it’s worth trying to place it there?

      I guess what I’m trying to ask is whether there is a magic number for minutes and seconds that tells you it’s at least 1/10th of a mile away.

      Thanks for any help!

      08/19/2007 at 11:21 pm #1878214
      Jay Mills

        From your placement location enter the cache in question into GPS and see if it is 528 or more away

        08/19/2007 at 11:24 pm #1878215
        Lostby7

          When placing a cache in an area where I know other caches exist I enter in all the waypoints for them and then when I find the perfect spot for my cache, I do just as Jay said and check to see if the other caches / waypoints are at least 528 feet away.

          Just be aware that many mystery (Puzzle) caches may appear much further away than what they really are. You should solve the closest puzzles so you know where those waypoints are (or ask the owner for a general idea of where they are placed if you cannot solve them). For example, a few of my puzzles have the listed coords over a mile away from the actual placement of the cache.

          08/20/2007 at 1:28 am #1878216
          Trekkin and Birdin

            Thanks, we’ve found every single cache, mystery or otherwise, within 30 miles of there, so I think we’re safe! I also realized, after I posted this question, I could probably start at the point where we want to make the hide and head for the other one, watching to see how many feet our GPS says we’ve traveled. Course, we have to cross a small stream, not advisable in my neighborhood at this moment in time!

            Thanks again!

            08/20/2007 at 3:39 pm #1878217
            Team Bear Bear
              08/20/2007 at 4:24 pm #1878218
              cheezehead

                Both of my Garmins have a “Proximity”feature that you can set to any distance. I set the spot I want to .1 and then it will show a .1 radius around it. IT has come in pretty handy at times.

                08/20/2007 at 5:21 pm #1878219
                SammyClaws

                  If you get your coordiantes when your scouting the area, I am sure an email to a kindly reviewer might be able to provide you an answer whether or not its a “legal” spot.

                  08/20/2007 at 7:32 pm #1878220
                  abcdmCachers

                    If you’re just worried about the one cache, I’d enter its coordinates in the GPSr and select Go To, then walk to the location of the new cache you’d like to place. It will tell you how far away you are from the first cache.

                    Or if you want to do this from the comfort of your home, you can get an approximate distance by using this site:
                    http://www.geodistance.com
                    Enter the coordinates of the first cache on this site (you can copy/paste them from the cache page). Then zoom in and click on that location – you will have to guess where exactly the cache is, but it will be in the center of the page. Switch to satellite view if that makes it easier, and then click on the proposed location of the new cache. The distance between will show in the upper left.

                    Hope this helps,
                    Doug

                    08/20/2007 at 8:04 pm #1878221
                    TyeDyeSkyGuy

                      Another option is using google earth for starters.

                      When scouting a new location, I start there. I can see all of the caches in the area, and take the coords right from the computer and put them into my GPS. Then when I head out to the site, I already have an area I know is safe to place. Then, when I find a good spot, I use my GPSr’s “Go to” function, and check to see if any caches come up with 0.1 (528″). If not, the cache stays.

                      One very important thing to point out with google earth is the fact that the coords are never exact. Meaning, the icons jump around, so it’s necessary to get the exact coords from the cache page and enter them into GE, before using the ruler tool to take your measurements.

                      And, as said before, watch out for mystery caches, and multicache WP’s!

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