[Jeremy]

The recent logs log (say that 5 times fast :)) show geocaching.com was down from about 3:15 to 3:30. So Todd300 is correct!

@Mister Greenthumb wrote:

@Todd300 wrote:

@zoesbrother wrote:

Here we go again.

Yup. As of this post, cannot access it at all.

20 minuts later than you I had no problem. Are you sure you mailed your monthly access fee on time?

[Jeremy]

This is definitely technically feasible. GPX files can be as big as you want and contain an unlimited number of caches… 500 caches is just to keep the size of Pocket Queries to a reasonable so they can be easily generated and sent via email. It would not be too hard to set up a premium account that had PQs running over various parts of the state and have a server combine all the data it received. Or we could have a system where users could upload their PQs, which would then get merged into a single “master” WI state file.

I could also be very handy. It is getting to the point now that you need to run numerous queries just to get the caches you could encounter during a short geocaching run. The radius of pocket queries centered on a major city (Milwaukee, Appleton, Green Bay, etc.) is quite small.

Unfortunately, the Groundspeak terms of use don’t allow the WGA (or anyone else) to do this. The data is theirs and you can’t take this data and retransmit it in any form. You are technically violating the terms just by having the all Wisconsin GPX file that someone else built using the data they received… it would have been OK for them to build this for their own personal use, but redistributing it is not kosher.

@Groundspeak Terms of Use wrote:

All materials available on or through the Site, other than Third Party Submissions (collectively, the “Site Materials”) are the property of Groundspeak or of its licensors and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Groundspeak reserves the right to impose additional terms and conditions upon Your use and viewing of particular Site Materials, and any such terms and conditions may be posted on the Site in connection with those Site Materials. You may not reproduce or retransmit the Site Materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, without the prior written consent of the owner of such materials, except as follows: You may make a single copy of the Site Materials solely for Your personal, noncommercial use, but such copying must be consistent with any applicable additional terms and conditions and You must preserve any copyright, trademark, or other notices contained in or associated with such Site Materials. You may not distribute such copies to others, whether or not in electronic form and whether or not for a charge or other consideration, without prior written consent of the owner of such materials. If you have any questions, contact us at [email protected].

You might be thinking… the text and pictures in the cache descriptions do not belong to Groundspeak because they are provided by other cachers. True, the contributors retain their rights to this information. But Groundspeak is granted an unlimited license to use and even sell this information per the terms of use. Publishing a cache doesn’t mean this information is in the public domain, but it does mean that Groundspeak has the right to do with it what they want. So you could redistribute the data for the caches if you obtained permission from each person who hid the caches… and if you received this information from them directly, not via geocaching.com.

[Jeremy]

Reading the articles, it appears this was just a small fire that knocked out power to the data center. I’m sure the gc.com servers and the data are OK, so there is no need to panic… armageddon is not here (yet). 😀

Here is an article with a photo of people carrying server equipment out of the building:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10279084-93.html

@Averith wrote:

I was just wondering does the WGA website have an off site back up??? If not, perhaps would be something to seriously consider.

If you are talking about off site data backups, not an off site backup web server, then yes, we have those. Once a day the contents of the WGA website database (all users, posts, votes, etc.) are copied to a remote server. Twice a day the database and all server files are backed up internally.

I have a development web server that is a near “mirror” of the WGA server that could be pressed into service as a backup with some tweaks in the event of a major catastrophe. This has never been needed and there are no contingency plans for using it, and I’m knocking on a big piece of wood right now hoping I didn’t jinx things by mentioning the possibility of big problems requiring the use of a backup server.

We do have the capability to put up a static page explaining the problem if the WGA server goes down. We have used this twice. It would be nice if geocaching.com could do the same… then folks could at least get some information about the outage instead of nothing / an error.

Really they should have spread their servers out at multiple sites and not put “all their eggs in one basket”. But I can understand why they have things set up this way, as cost and complexity increase exponentially with multiple sites, plus there are often performance bottlenecks and glitches when trying to replicate / synchronize all the data.

[Jeremy]

Thumbs up guys! I think it was also fitting that the two new(er) dads scheduled their milestone for Father’s Day weekend.

Watch for 20,000 x 2 in a year or two? 😀

[Jeremy]

NW Wisconsin like the Apostle Islands? Here is a classic in that corner of the state:

GC6F04 – Point Detour

If you mean NW Wisconsin like Superior, then check out Pattison and Amnicon Falls SPs:

GC1246 – Manitou Falls Cache (at the tallest waterfall in WI)

@jthorson wrote:

Wy Not Wyalusing? GC18DC

A classic (look at the GC number).
Classically laid out in a beautiful place.
You have not done caching in Wisconsin until you have done this cache.
Placed by Jeremy Vechinski our faithful webmaster.

Also a nice one. 😉 If this trip is soon, you can replace the blown up ammo box for me. 🙂 If you end up in this area, you might as well cross over into IA and visit Pikes Peak SP and find those caches, like:

GC18FMF – Pikes Peak Overlook EarthCache

I’ve also heard good things about T&B’s Effigy Mounds EarthCache in IA, GC19697.

I also second the recommendation to visit GC5249 and the others in that same park as you travel down the Mississippi. After being introduced to Buena Vista Park by geocaching, I’ve stopped there over a half dozen times as I’ve traveled through that part of the state.

[Jeremy]

A small “challenge” for anyone who has some time to kill…

How many people are in the campout group photo? We’re interested in knowing how many people showed up for the announcements and raffle.

[Jeremy]

@ecorangers wrote:

On the attendance sheet sign-up…why do you have Saturday Night geocachers listed as a category. Are the night caches going to be available Saturday night as well. Tami

Sorry Tami, the registration form was made before we decided which night we’d offer the night caches and was not updated. The night caches will only be available Friday night. You are welcome to turn any of the permanents or temps in the park into night caches by hunting them after dark on Saturday. Though watch your step… they call it High Cliff for a reason. 🙂

The count for Saturday night is how many people plan to attend the WGA membership meeting and meet and greet activities.

[Jeremy]

In case the email got caught in your spam filter…

It’s time for a final update email regarding our 8th annual WGA campout, being held next weekend, May 15, 16, 17 at High Cliff State Park.

Everything is nearly ready to go, and we’re excited you are going to join us!

>>> PLANNED ACTIVITIES <<<

FRIDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

Group campers may sign-in and start setting up their tents at 3:00 PM.

Night caching events will take place at the Pavilion Shelter (N44 09.899 W88 17.158). We will begin night cache downloads Friday at 7:30 PM, and allow cachers to start hunting the caches at 8:30 PM (dusk). Night caching must be completed by 10:30 PM to ensure that everyone abides by the park’s established quiet time.

Night cache contest. We still have room for a few more caches to participate in this contest. Prizes will be awarded to individuals placing the most creative night caches as judged by those who seek them. Please contact Becky Waldmann (greyhounder) if you would like to place a night cache for the contest.

Quiet time is 11:00 PM. The DNR requires campers to be on their sites by this time, and that campers are quiet. Non-campers must be out of the park by 11:00 PM.

SATURDAY DAY ACTIVITIES

Saturday daytime activities will begin at 8:30 AM at the Pavilion Shelter. Registration for Saturday activities will be available from 8:30 AM until 3:00 PM.

Approximately 30 temporary caches have been hidden all over the park along with about 15 permanent caches (several yet to be published). All participants must register at the shelter before seeking these caches. At that time you will receive your packet of information, including the coordinates to the temporary caches. We will have cables and laptops for downloading temporary and permanent cache waypoints to your GPSr.

We will also start passing out the geocacher “social” bingo cards on Saturday morning. If you did not play this game at past WGA events, here’s the scoop. Printed in the squares of each geocacher bingo card are various attributes that might apply to a particular geocacher or geocaching team, such as “Owns A Garmin” or “Caches With A Dog”. Your goal is to find people at the event who have these attributes and can sign the squares on your card. Getting five signed squares in a row gives you a bingo. Bingos are good for discounts at Sunday’s pancake breakfast.

If you would like to grill your lunch on Saturday, we will provide hot charcoal grills ready at noon.

Please make your way back to the Pavilion Shelter no later than 5:00 PM Saturday. A group photo will be taken promptly at 5:00 PM, immediately followed by brief announcements and the raffle.

Raffle. Each individual will receive a single raffle ticket at registration and we will use these tickets to award a large number of donated and purchased prizes Saturday at 5:00 PM. You MUST be present to win.

SATURDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

At 7:00 PM, the WGA will conduct a general membership meeting at the Pavilion Shelter. Any WGA member is allowed to ask questions or bring up concerns during this meeting, and the WGA Board members present will do their best to answer or address them. This meeting will have a hard stop time of 8:30pm (no official discussions or decisions will be made, and no minutes will be taken after this time).

Immediately following the meeting, the WGA will have a fire going at the Pavilion shelter and host a meet and greet event until the park’s quiet time. Gwyn Calvetti will be hosting a storytelling session, and this would also be a good time to finish filling in your social bingo card.

SUNDAY PANCAKE BREAKFAST

The WGA is sponsoring a pancake breakfast at the Pavilion Shelter Sunday morning from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The menu will include pancakes, sausage, coffee, juice, and milk. Cost is $4 for adults (13 years and older), $2 for children 6-12, and free for children under 6. Breakfast fees will be collected on Sunday morning (no advance payment required).

Sunday morning we will ask for volunteers to help pick up the temporary caches. Cache retrieval will be organized during breakfast. Contact Gwyn Calvetti (Trekkin’ and Birdin’) or Justin Korpal (K0rpl) if you are interested in helping.

Camper checkout time is 3:00 PM Sunday.

>>> OTHER NOTES <<<

This is a family event. Participants are requested to act accordingly.

Be prepared for changes in weather. May nights in Wisconsin can be cold. Bring extra layers and blankets for your tent.

Bring your own food, utensils, and cookware. None will be provided, except for the Sunday morning pancake breakfast.

Bring your FRS radios if you have them (but they are not required). We will be using FRS/GMRS channel 7 throughout the weekend.

A Wisconsin DNR sticker is required on your vehicle for entrance to the park. Daily or annual stickers may be purchased at park entrance.

Be sure to watch your own kids. We are not a babysitting service. Please do not leave your children unattended, assuming that “someone” will watch them.

This is tick season; keep an eye out for them and take precautions if you feel it’s necessary.

Remember to practice “Cache In, Trash Out” (CITO) while hiking the trails to find the caches at High Cliff. Garbage bags for cleanup will be available at the Pavilion and the park office.

Pets must be on a short 8′ leash and under control at all times. Pets are not allowed in buildings, most picnic areas, or on beaches but are welcome on any of the trails. High Cliff State Park has two pet picnic areas. One is in the lower park, near the park office, with a swimming area in the pond. The other is near the Pavilion. Owners are responsible for cleaning up after their pets. PETS MAY NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED AT ANY TIME.

Any further questions can be directed to any of the Board of Directors via email. Any last minute registration changes or questions should be directed to Becky Waldmann (greyhounder), President, at (920) 222-1354 or Gwyn Calvetti (Trekkin’ and Birdin’), Secretary.

The High Cliff State Park staff has been very helpful during the organization and planning of this event. So if you see park officials or DNR staff during the weekend, please thank them for letting us use this great park for our campout. Also, let’s leave the park as clean as or cleaner than it was when we arrived.

We look forward to seeing you at the campout!

[Jeremy]

We roughly based our regional forum divisions on the Wisconsin DOT regions. They have Fond du Lac county in the Northeast region, but I agree it is kind of a gray area… Sheboygan is also NE per the DOT.

[Jeremy]

Sorry LCGers… the new list is now uploaded. I meant to do it Sunday but it got forgotten in all the hullabaloo surrounding cache hiding day.

[Jeremy]

@gamers gone caching wrote:

I did PM you about this and asked. You never got back to me. It sounded like pop ups were okay. I’ll need a refund and I’ll book a site in the campground.

And, CacheARRRS is fibbing about the keg. He will be lucky if he remembers to bring his socks.

Sorry for the confusion, and yes we will give you a refund.

We were initially just gauging interest in people bringing wheeled camper units, not specifying whether we would allow them or not. When only a few people said they wanted to do this, coupled with the cost of reserving more group campsites to accommodate pop ups (hundreds of extra dollars), the Board decided it wasn’t worth offering this camping option.

If anyone else signed up for camping in the group sites assuming they could bring a wheeled camper unit / pop up, please let us know so we can adjust your registration and give you a refund if you already paid for the camping fees.

[Jeremy]

@LDove wrote:

Come on team ZigZagNuts – nobody gonna do it?? 😥 I will go if I don’t have to run for anything, that job we save for Gary… 😀 I am feeling better now (knock on wood) so I could be a navigator, driver or cheerleader.

I’d be in for a second attempt and would let you drive instead of me Laurell… I think I got out of the car maybe two or three times last time and did no running. 🙂

[Jeremy]

Thanks to the dozen or so folks who showed up yesterday at High Cliff for the cache hiding day. Instead of spending the day lazily enjoying the perfect weather finding other people’s caches, they worked hard placing temporary caches and scouting locations for permanent and night caches. You can look forward to caches from the following volunteers at the event:

seldom|seen
AstroD-Team
K0rpl
TS & Lorrie
-cheeto-
zoesbrother
Buy_The_Tie
jvechinski

Looks like we will have about 30 creative temporary caches and ~8 new permanent caches spread throughout the park, as well as some new permanent caches in the surrounding area. This should be more than enough to keep even the most hard core cachers busy all day Saturday. 🙂

[Jeremy]

Just a quick clarification. Wheeled campers are not allowed in the group campsites, so if you are thinking of bringing your pop-up or travel trailer, you would need to reserve a spot in the family campground.

Technically they are allowed by the park, but the WGA decided to not allow them to maximize space for tents. If we parked pop-ups on the group sites, we’d have to decrease the tent camper limit significantly. We also did not know what would be fair to charge for camping fees for wheeled camping units… it did not seem right to allow someone to park their large travel trailer in the group sites for the same cost per night as my 4’x8′ tent.

Also, generators are generally not allowed in state parks unless written permission is obtained from the park manager. The group campsites do not have electricity and we will not be running any generators. (They also do not have running water or flush toilets, so we will be “roughing it”.)

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/Org/land/parks/other/quiet.html

[Jeremy]

OK, our members are even more creative than I thought! We received a total of 12 shirt design submissions. You can view them all in the WGA Photo Album:

2009 Campout T-Shirt Designs Album

Note that the names of the individuals who submitted these designs have been temporarily omitted so as to not to bias the decision… we are not trying to deny anyone credit for their ideas.

Feel free to lobby the Campout Committee members to vote for your favorite design. 🙂 There are so many good options to choose from…

[Author]

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