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The Geocaching database only listed the benchmarks in the NGS database up to 1999 or 2000. So there are a lot of benchmarks out there that are not in geocaching database. Doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be found though. When we go benchmarking, we attempt to recover all the ones in the area – regardless of whether they are in the geocaching database or not.
The other thing is make sure of when looking for benchmarks is that the location matches the description (we barely rely on the coordinates) and the STAMPING on the disc matches EXACTLY what is listed on the page. Many a times we find Reference marks logged as being the station mark or new WIDOT benchmarks being logged as finds for the old NGS benchmarks just because the disc is in the location of where the coordinates and descriptions say it should be. THe big giveaway, is that the stamping on the disc doesn’t match. And most of the newer WIDOTs don’t have any stamping at all.
THe scaled benchmarks can be off by up to half a mile (Hence needing the description), that’s becuae the attempted to plot as accurately as possible on the map. Although the ones we gound ahve never been to terribly far off, so there is something to be said about the acuracy of the scaled marks. THe adjusted listing should put you very close if not right on top of the mark.
Another thing to pay attention to when looking for a mark is the box scores on the NGS datasheets. They can be very useful in helping pinpoint a location.
Are you talking about the brass disks for being oldest? Cause if you are, chances are good you won’t find any older than the early 1900s. If you want older, you need to start searching for those setting stones which were common around the bay area in the 1870s, chiseled squares and chiseled crosses. Or even those copper plugs buried several feet below ground (Rock Island anyone??).
If my memory serves, I think there is an 1870s chiseled square or cross in a Door county park that is still easily recoverable. But unfortunately, there is no date carved into those. So it may be old, but its not the same as finding a disk that is stamped with an “old” date.
The oldest one we have recovered is from 1921. I think. But then again, BMing is far from being remotely about numbers.
When we placed our NEW Solar System series some years ago, we placed logbooks in all the stages and left it up to the individual cachers to log multiple finds on the cache.
We did this because, there were few quality caches in the area, we wanted to tie in the caches and their waypoints to a final bonus, it allowed us utilize many areas of a nice park in one cache (no park and grabs here), and damn, the caches we designed – you had to work arse off to find and we wanted that to be rewarded.
As we did maintenence and replaced missing waypoints, we eliminated the log books in the WPs and just kept the main one in the final.
I think part of it too, it was something different at the time. Some cachers chose to log all the stages, some, only chose to log the cache once. At the time, we just wanted to offer an option of extra smileys for some hard work at finding them.
I’m just excited we’ll be able to go geocaching again!
JI use my 2003 Pocket PC with cachemate. Works for geocaching and has other uses for when I’m not.
Well, we got ourselves a new GPSr…..Garmin GPSMap 60 CSX.
I’ll be trying it out in Vancouver BC later this week and next. But so far, I’m liking it a bunch.
Thanks everyone for your input in helping us to decide.
Hopefully, we’ll be upgrading to the Oregon in the next year.
@decdogg wrote:
It just doesn’t matter what unit you use as long as the batteries are dead and you always face away from the sun. Then walk in a straight line until you fall in a hole. When that happens follow your left ear until your arrested and kept for 24 hour observation.
Geocaching is fun.
🙄 🙄 Geez..that was a lot of help.
I had a good time despite arriving a day late and being medicated to the gills. Looking forward toward to next year’s adventure!
Oh and a Big thank you for “fixing” my GPSr! At least now it will always point to the cache. 😀
Well, both of AstroD’s cachemobiles decided to give up the ghost within a week of each other back in April. One had 180,000 miles and the other had just rolled over 100,000. Both were made in the early 90’s and were tired.
When we picked it up, the new main cachemobile had just under 60,000 on it and the secondary one was at 68,000. We will see how much we get out of them.
05/30/2008 at 3:12 pm in reply to: Geocaching shouldn’t have to cause more fuel consumption #1889813When I geocache, it’s for the purpose of geocaching. Which means getting in a car and going someplace I have never been just to cache. Does it bother me that I burn fossil fuels and pollute to do just that? Not in the least. I don’t even bat an eyelash and I certainly don’t lose sleep over it either.
Most of our driving is now spent on benchmarking. And more often than not, driving 100+ miles will end up being a bust as most of the marks have been long lost. Does it stop us from driving and pursuing them? Are we concerned about burning the fuel in a fruitless attempt? No. Because that one recovery can make filling up our gas tank twice in one weekend all worth it.
In then end, we will continue to drive to new places to look for something (Geocache or benchmark), burn the fuel and not think twice about it. After all, what’s the point if one is not allowed or too worried about ruining the environment to go anywhere and explore anything new? *shrugs*
@DCexplorer wrote:
The number of temp. caches that has been claimed, whatever extraordinary high number it was, has been downgraded a bit due to concerns from park staff. However, there will be some temps, there are some new permanent caches, and plenty of activities to do.
We’ve had cachers journey to the island by private sailboat, canoe, kayak, and even through the kindness of state employees. However, I think most take the Karfi.
One thing I am hoping to do, with the assistance of others, is to have a number of cachers walk every trail on the island with tracking turned on. We will then combine all the tracks into a comprehensive and accurate trail map of the island to present to the park officials. The hand-drawn maps which have been used forever aren’t very accurate.
well, I will need to know how to use the tracking on my GPSr to particpate. Can’t say its a function I ever looked at. 😳
It seems to me as though Groundspeak made their decision about this topic a long time ago when they removed the “found” option from events and added the “attended” logging option to the event page. For some reason Wisconsin decided that it was OK to continue the practice by logging multiple “attended” logs. Some question why to do it this way because it “seems stupid”. Well yeah, it is supposed to seem stupid because it is not what Groundspeak intended. We are the only state that does it this way and the rest of the country continues to question why we do this.
Finally, the powers that be on the WGA Board have taken a stand and said they are not allowing it at their events (both of them) and we are now having people complain that it is not right or fair. If you don’t like it, organize events outside of the campout and picnic where you can make your own logging rules.
My opinion is that the purpose of WGA events is to bring people together to share their stories and experiences and to meet and socialize with each other for an afternoon. It is pretty hard to do that when everybody is off in the forest all day long looking for 50+ extra smileys by days end.
I applaud the WGA’s decision and look forward to the socializing aspect of their events.
Don from AstroD-Team
I agree that High Cliff would be better suited for a camp out. As far as a picnic location, I would suggest the Brown County Reforestation Camp/NEW Zoo. Lots of space for some temp caches and a great zoo would double as entertainment for non caching family members as well.
The Brown County board voted not to charge for cache placement last year and I think that if we decided to host a statewide event there to show our support for their decision, it would go a long way to ensure the topic never comes back up again.
I would even be willing to help out wherever possible.
Don
Wow that is strange!!
I had a cacher very recently put a TB in our cache we have had archived for nearly 3 years…still trying to figure that one out especially when it was noted he forgot to drop it……after all these years???? 🙄
Sounds like a lot of fun and I’d love to go, but I’ll be on a plane to Vancouver for a much needed vacation. Best of luck with the event and I look forward to hearing about all the fun when I get back.
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