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We always use Permethrin when entering tick areas.
For the last WGA campout at Hartman Creek we got there early on Friday and took some time to hike and bike around a little. At dinner we did a tick check and pulled dozens off. It was really bad, the worst we had been in. That night I sprayed all our gear with Permethrin and let dry overnight. The next day of full caching, we never found a single tick on skin. We spray everything, shoes, socks, pants, shirts, hats, backpacks. They say it lasts for up to 2 weeks, and even after a washing.
We have tried pump and spray bottles. The spray is more expensive, but a lot easier to use.
Stealthy can be fun!
We pulled up to a cache in a park and determined it was a key magnet under a park bench since it was the only object within 150′. As we approach a group sad down for a what looked like a long lunch.
Well we pulled out the Frisbee and after a few well placed ‘bad throws’ that just happened to land right under the bench, we were able to get, sign and replace the cache that was 2″ under them. The kids still laugh when they think about that one.Normally we go about looking like we are just playing and try to blend in. Sometimes we will bring others into the game if, like others have said, do they look like the type that would respect the game.
We had a streak when we first started that we were the last to find a few caches before they went missing. We were not sure why, but after that we took care to re-hide very well, and to come back later if it did not look safe.
– Michael
Thank you for the replies. I have USA Photomaps and will try that. I have not used it for much more than printing maps. I wonder can it put on custom icons like building, and label it with text?
– Michael
I had a vet also tell me that if you get a large wood tick you can turn it counter-clockwise because if you look at them under a microscope their head is screw shaped. Not sure if this is true, but it always worked for my dog years ago.
But for small deer ticks is does not work at all. I have found that small tweezers that in Swiss army knifes work great. They have a wide flat tip, not pointed with serrations. To get these out, just grab on hard at the skin and pull until the skin rips. Do not be timid, get it on the first try. But do no grab so hard that it puts pressure on the tick and squishes back into you (very bad). I have had about 90% success with this method.
This week I am on my pretty green pills because Tuesday night I noticed a nice bulls-eye on my leg. I was out camping this weekend and must have gotten a nymph because I checked myself each night and it was in a visible area. I even found a nymph on my thumb during the campout, showed it to all the other Boy Scouts, small and fast (then squish!!!). I just checked the map from a previous post and I was in a red tick county.
At the WGA Campout I sprayed all of our clothing with the tick spray and did not have any. This time I did not….. Heading out to buy several more cans now.
– Michael
1 case water
Has anyone checked to see if campfires are allowed? Some areas of WI had a ban on open fires a few weeks back I believe.
AA Batteries & a hollow stick used as a blow dart gun. Use the older batteries with mercury for that poison dart effect.
Master Cacher, in the forest preserve, with a “AA”
UPS just delivered my new Garmin 60Cx and I can’t wait to get home to turn it on. Any recommendations on how to load it? I have a 2gb card so I should have lots of space.
– Michael
We will be at family site #79.
For future campouts, please also consider the mid point between Trudy camping and group sites. That would be campgrounds with electric hookups. The current one only has 3 and they are already gone.
Does anyone know of other campgrounds in the area?– Michael
I have done a little more experimenting with the Energizer AAA NiMH batteries in a high drain flash light and was very impressed. I got just over 2 hours of full light and about another hour of partial light. This is plenty enough for a normal night cache and just about as good as regular batteries (Maybe even better). So when I know I will be night caching, I will charge them up and use as my first set, but still carry a spare. Remember, they do not hold a charge long on the shelf.
The ones I use are the Energizer brand. I found them at Sams for about $10 for 8-AA(2500mAh) & 4-AAA in a pack. I forgot to look for the amp hours of the AAA.
There was an earlier post that said they have their rechargeable leak. This is very surprising because I have never had any leak in the 30 or so years I have been using them, except when trying to recharge alkaline ones (bad move on my part, but the charger said it worked with them).
I also shop at Woodmans west and loved those specials on Rayovac batteries. But it seems like those specials are getting few and far between, possibly because Rayovac has moved a lot of their battery business out of town.
I have been able to cut back my AA Alkaline purchases from about 400-500 a year to about 100-200 by using these rechargeable. I believe it has saved me lots of money over the years.
Now if they could just come up with a rechargeable button battery. I have banned all toys and most all other items with those in my house.
– Michael
I love the Energizer recharables. I have many versions of them 2300, 2500 and I think a few older ones. I also have Radio Shack 1700. About 40-50 in all. My whole house runs on AA’s. I have found the Radio Shack ones die very quickly so I only use them in non-critical items. The cameras and GPS get only the Energizers. I have not noticed the limited charge effect of the 2500’s but I will keep an eye out for it. But I have noticed that they do not hold their full charge for more than a few days
It is very important to get a good quality charger. I do not use the ones that come with the batteries. It needs to measure when the battery is full to shut down to trickle mode and have over temp protection. I have a ‘1’ hour charger that has given me very long life to my batteries. Some are over 5 years old and still going. With a fast charger you can wait until the last minute to charge all of your spares until the last day so they are fresh when you hit the trail.
They are now making AAA rechargables. I tried some a few years ago and got about 30 minutes out of them. The new ones are a lot better. I have been testing a set in a caller ID box that used to suck the old ones dry in about 2 days, and these are lasting 2 months+. I hope to try them in high drain uses like flashlights soon.
– Michael
My recommendation is to get CacheMate for the PDA http://www.smittyware.com and then get GSAK for your PC http://www.gsak.net
Get the paid subscription at http://www.geocaching.com to get the PocketQueries.
Download the PocketQueries to CacheMate and install to PDA.
Use same PocketQueries to put into GSAK that will then load into GPSr.
This way both PDA and GPSr are in sync.That is the simple version. There are a lot of technical writeups that can be found on this subject.
– Michael
You might find a few cachers nearby that weekend at the Camp Cache-n-Jam (GCVW8C) event that is 24 miles away.
– Michael
A possible meeting place in Madison could be the Culvers on the beltline at Todd drive. They have a newly expanded meeting room with Wi-Fi. I do not know their policy for reserving the room, but I bet they would welcome a group with this purpose.
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