[abcdmCachers]

Here’s another way to look at it: could you complete the cache having just the beginning coordinates and the knowledge that it’s a multi? If yes, then it’s a multi. If you need the cache listing to complete it, then it’s a puzzle. It’s not a hard and fast rule, just another consideration.

Doug

[abcdmCachers]

First, congratulations on getting a full log book! Granted, I don’t own many caches, but typically my log books have been either muggled (along with the cache) or destroyed by the elements.

When we started caching in 2004, people actually wrote lengthy notes in the log book describing their experiences. I think with the explosion in the number of micros where only a name and date fits on a log sheet, the practice of justing signing name and date spilled over to traditional size caches even when there is ample room to add a note. I kind of miss the notes, but OTOH, sure is nicer to add the note online where it’s warm and no mosquitoes to fend off. Bottom line for me, just having the list of names and dates isn’t that interesting, so I don’t keep them.

[abcdmCachers]

@TyeDyeSkyGuy wrote:

…a pile of sticks laying in a pile, all running the same direction.

I’ve seen that referred to as “stickoflage”, like camouflage, only with sticks :lol:. Took me forever to figure out what the heck that was when I first saw the term. I think it was an AuntieNae cache where I saw it – not sure if she coined the term or not.

I’d have to agree with previous posts – pine trees and rock piles.

[abcdmCachers]

@Todd300 wrote:

Thanks. I don’t like driving from cache to cache. It’s not about the numbers for me anymore unless I want to hit a milestone on a certain date. I just want to park once or twice and enjoy a nice walk in the woods and get a few caches while I’m at it.

I’d recommend Ryan Park in Waukesha County. It’s not your typical park – it’s undeveloped (no playgrounds or soccer fields) with varied terrain and a mix of meadow and forest, plus has some great views. It will be a bit of a drive, but you should be able to get there in less than 30 minutes. There are about 10 caches in this huge park. Here’s one:
http://coord.info/GC1GQ1M

Definitely plug in the parking coordinates to your GPSr – you’ll likely drive right by otherwise.

[abcdmCachers]

@gotta run wrote:

Is there a site/program that can do a D/T combination grid? I currently use just cachestats but it shows D and T separately, not in combination.

Hi, you must be running an old version of CacheStats. The current version ( 3.0.8 ) can show the D/T grid.

Doug

[abcdmCachers]

@hogrod wrote:

Garmin announced today two new Oregon Models, the Oregon 550 and 550t.

Enhanced Sunlight Readable Screen
3-axis compass
3.2MP camera

http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/2009/05/picture-perfect-oregon-550550t-with-builtin-camera-ready-to-do-it-all.html

Sounds great, especially the readable screen…(sigh, my 300 didn’t last a year before I got upgrade itch).

[abcdmCachers]

I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard good things. I notice in their installation instructions they recommend upgrading Vista (as opposed to doing clean install). I’d be interested in hearing people’s experiences with that. This sounds great because I’m not a big fan of reformatting and reinstalling everything, although it does clean out the cobwebs.

Doug

[abcdmCachers]

@CacheARRRS wrote:

After over a year with my Garmin Colorado, I will NEVER go back. caching is soooooooo simple. A bit more pricey that I think you were looking at.

I would say the same thing about my Oregon 300 that I’ve had since last August. The two big pluses: road maps (including routing). and having access to the cache description, logs and hints (don’t need a separate device for paperless). One negative: display not as readable in the sun as the 60C series.

[abcdmCachers]

Sounds like it could be fun. But I think I’d be more likely to participate if I didn’t have to travel far. I don’t know how many caches there are statewide that haven’t been found in over 4 months, but I’m guessing not many near where I live. So I’d propose the following rule changes: Any cache that hasn’t been found in over 30 days is eligible. You score 1 point for each day that it has gone without being found.

This still rewards people who get the 4+ month caches that are out there due to their remote location or difficulty, but because there will be far more eligible caches, it also encourages more participation for those like me who would rather not travel for whatever reason (time, price of gas, etc). And even finding caches that have gone 1 or 2 months without a find can benefit from the reasons you state.

Perhaps this favors those who live in high cache density areas too much, so you might have to tweak some things, e.g. make it 45 or 60 days for eligible caches. Or, you could have a sliding point scale, e.g. 1 point for each day when cache hasn’t been found for over 30 days, 2 points for each day when over 60 days, 3 points when over 90 days, etc. or even better, a logarithmic (exponential?) scale, e.g. num days to the 1.2 power. Again, this gives added rewards to those remote/difficult caches, which is the point of the contest.

Note, I’m not whining, at least I’m not trying to 😆 . Just putting out an idea to see how it floats.

[abcdmCachers]

I’m curious, does the WGA have permission to do this? (I seem to remember seeing that the gc.com terms of use agreement forbids “screen scraping”.) I realize once every two minutes doesn’t even register as a blip on their servers, but sometimes when I have to wait several minutes to submit a log on a Sunday afternoon, I think of all the screen scraping sites that must exist out there and that every blip adds up.

[abcdmCachers]

I totally agree. In fact I have often thought that it would be great if geocaching.com provided a “distance from parking” field that people would fill in when creatig a new cache. It could be optional (just as container size is) if the owner doesn’t want to say or if there are multiple answers depending on where you park.

[abcdmCachers]

That will be presented by yours truly. I didn’t write the description.

[abcdmCachers]

Not a cache, but we came across a TB, The Legion of the Undead, a small skeleton whose goal is to visit ancient ruins. We thought State of Mind Wisconsin was an appropriate stop. Hard to believe, but this TB is still alive and kicking (or should I say undead?) after more than 3 years. It’s now in the Czech Republic.

[abcdmCachers]

We did these 3 over labor day weekend:

GCR923 Girl Scout Goodies
GCP5XH Toad Hotel
GC13Y6K Another walk in the Park_36

Doug

[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

[Author]

Posts