[hogrod]

I come on this forum almost every day, but never knew there was a new logo to vote on. I seen a few posts discussing a new logo but never seen any poll or voting options ever. Guess I totally missed that one.

I have wanted to see a new logo for along time but after seeing PCFrogs post I am more in favor of just updating the current logo than changing it all together.

In the past I always favored the one side of the 2005 WI geocoin, the side with the compass rose and WI, though this doesn’t really grasps geocaching as well as it could.

[hogrod]

I found this website that lists the oldest Benchmark in Wisconsin, it’s a chiseled square. Just click on Wisconsin on the map on this site to see the oldest benchmark and a few other notable marks in the state.

http://www.holoscenes.com/special/geocac/extreme_index.html

[hogrod]

I just took a look at the maps the snowmobiling group has made, I would have to look more to see exactly what they are doing for each gps, but they do support Lowrance, Magellan and Garmin.

http://www.gpssledmaps.com/maps/wi.php

EDIT: looks like they have made custom maps for each gps type. they even have an installer that installs the maps in mapsource. the whole state of Wisconsin is only like 14mb with the trial data, lakes, and streets.

[hogrod]

@DCexplorer wrote:

I would also want it to actually show up as a trail, not just breadcrumbs.

For people with Magellan, Garmin, DeLorme & Lowrance to be able to use these trails they would have to be Track files(breadcrumbs). The only way for them to show up as trails not tracks on your gps is to make your own custom maps.
You can make transparent map layers for Garmin units that would do exactly what you want, but that would leave out anyone without a Garmin mapping gps. This option also wouldn’t allow you to see them on your own map software on the PC. It also would require special software to load them to your GPS.

[hogrod]

I agree that opestreetmaps isn’t the answer to sharing tracks, I just mentioned it because I could also use this data to update those maps too. I really like having an online map that shows trails and can be edited by anyone. You can also load these maps to a garmin gps, but its not exactly easy: http://wiki.openstreetmap.org/index.php/OSM_Map_On_Garmin

You can create your own custom maps with google maps, and use http://www.takitwithme.com/ to send to a garmin gps. I realize this option would never work not only because it only works for garmin units, but because it trys to load all tracks which would be way more saved tracks than most units can handle. I guess you could have a different database for each park, not have one for the whole state.

I’m sure though that GPX format would be the best way to go. There is a program(can’t remember the name) that I have seen that will convert tracks from Garmin, Magellan and Lowrance. Since I have been looking at a Delorme GPS too, I would also like to see support for these units.

[hogrod]

@benny7210 wrote:

@gotta run wrote:

Who gives a crap?

Oh, did I say that out loud?

I second the motion…….. WELL SAID!!

I think most of the people here in Wisconsin really could care less, but when it comes to how negatively the rest of the geocaching community Nationwide/worldwide looks on the practice, I think it is something that should be discouraged.
Why would we Wisconsin cachers as a whole want to be looked down at by pretty much everyone else? I also think why should we care? well I guess as a Wisconsin cacher I would rather be remembered for something great than for something that has been looked on with such negativity.

Again I could care less either way, as an open minded person I really can’t see why people have such an issue with the practice.

[hogrod]

I’m going to make my request for tracklogs more generic.

Anyone with tracklogs of anywhere in Wisconsin that are saved in garmin format or GPX(preferably GPX) I would love to use them to try and add those trails to openstreetmaps.

[hogrod]

I think this is a great idea! I’ve been working on adding trails to openstreetmaps. With a bit of work these maps can be loaded to most Garmin mapping units.

The only catch is to use your tracks for creating trails on openstreetmaps they have to be in GPX format and include all the time stamp data. Here is am example of a few trails I have added to openstreetmaps.

http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=42.8469&lon=-89.492&zoom=13&layers=B000FTF

I am also planning a trip to governor dodge this fall and will get a few more trails while I’m there. I have a few drawn already but must of those are just traced from aerial photo maps so they are probably off a bit. I posted a note on the forum before the camp out this spring that if anyone could get me some GPS tracklogs while there I would love to use them for creating trails on openstreetmaps, I never got any response. 😥

[hogrod]

Delorme posted today that this new model will be out mid-October. They also announced besides releasing the PN-40 with 1gb of internal memory they will be releasing a PN-40SE model with 8gb of internal memory.

If I remember right both of these models support SD cards up to 32gb, but the internal memory is MUCH faster.

http://blog.delorme.com/2008/09/12/pn-40-and-pn-40se-notification-sign-up/

I noticed tigergps is selling a refurbished PN-20(the older model) for $169 with the Delrome topo 7 and card reader. The maps alone are usually $99, so this is a great deal.
http://www.tigergps.com/refurbpn20.html

[hogrod]

Thanks for noticing our milestone! I know many of you out there with thousands and millions of finds this milestone doesn’t seem like much, but 600 finds has taken us 4 years to complete. Maybe We’ll hit 1,000 before another 4 years goes by. 😉

The only thing is, We were never at the Oconto event so I’m pretty sure We’ve never met you before. Driven through Oconto many times but haven’t been near there in at least 6 months. I was actually really surprised to see someone notice our Milestone, as no one ever has in the past. Even though we never met you before, maybe someday we will get the chance.

We were waiting for a great cache to do for our 600th, when this got posted we jumped at the opportunity to revisit a great local cache site. matter of fact, we didn’t even use our GPS for our 600th find! 😀

[hogrod]

The person is a new user as of august 25th of this year, so they may have not read the Geocaching.com Disclaimer that’s on every cache page.

“Geocaching, hiking, backpacking and other outdoor activities involve risk to both persons and property. There are many variables including, but not limited to, weather, fitness level, terrain features and outdoor experience, that must be considered prior to seeking or placing a Cache. Be prepared for your journey and be sure to check the current weather and conditions before heading outdoors. Always exercise common sense and caution.”

That doesn’t mean that I am defending what they did, I still think its pretty lame. Their log actually makes it sound like they know better than everyone else, to quote part of their log,

“get ahold of me so I can tell you what needs to be done”.

Obviously they must know better than the previous 81 finders logs on that cache.

[hogrod]

On each benchmark page you will see just below the listed coordinates it says something like:
“Coordinates may not be exact. Altitude is ADJUSTED and location is SCALED.”

if it doesn’t say the altitude & location is adjusted then I believe they just pick a spot off a map nearby and pretty much the coordinates will be off.

allot of benchmarks are just scaled. the ones that are adjusted your gps will pretty much bring you right to it.

I to have found allot of benchmarks that aren’t on the geocaching site. their are a ton of newer ones that were put out in 2001 or 2002 by the Wisconsin DOT that are GPS benchmarks, none of these are on the geocaching website. These locations are great for checking the accuracy of your gps, and you can find some of these on the waymarking website.

Here is an example of a GPS benchmark on waymarking.com that I listed. http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM1MM2

I get the datasheet for those gps benchmarks off the NGS website, then convert their listed coordinates into the format that we all use. so the listed coordinates for any of those GPS benchmarks I have listed were taken with their commercial grade GPS.

The couple times I’ve checked my 60Cx and my VistaCx they were both under 10ft when at those marks, since these units only have 3meter accuracy that’s definitely within that spec.

[hogrod]

I went and grabbed that 1903 benchmark today, its a bit different looking than some of the other ones I have found. I uploaded a good photo if anyone wanted to see it.

http://www.geocaching.com/mark/log.aspx?LUID=dc6cbbaa-7bc8-4969-933f-70a607721682

[hogrod]

I was mostly curious about whats the oldest actual brass benchmark disk people have found, I haven’t actually looked for any of the chiseled crosses or squires.
Obviously these would be older than the Brass disks, but seeing or knowing the date these marks were placed kinda makes them a mark in history when you know exactly how long they have been placed.

I guess I will have to try and get that 1903 mark I mentioned in my first post, since that seems to be the oldest I have found so far in the state.

[hogrod]

@Vegas Gamblers wrote:

Wow, this GC thread was just started. You have company with the use of the GPS 12.

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=202982

I just saw that too, LOL.

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