[Team Deejay]

Well, mine is out in the field. I’m curious how long it will take for someone to visit this cache which had not been visited for 3 months….

[Team Deejay]

GSAK is the only choice. Not only does it do a seamless job of file conversion and downloading, but with available macros, it will replace most of the mapping programs you currently use.

I do know a few geocachers use Mapsource (for Garmin) or Mapview (for Magellan) as their database, but these programs are not nearly as powerful as GSAK and (obviously) are limited to users having those brands of GPSs.

[Team Deejay]

I would probably ask him to delete the log. I think bnb is right that they found “the spot where it was hidden”, not the cache itself.

[Team Deejay]

[Reviewer Mode]
You can place additional logging requirements (ALRs) on your cache if you like, but they MUST be listed as a mystery cache if you add ALRs. As long as the ALRs don’t violate the guidelines (such as requiring you to enter a store, violate the law, or walk on railroad tracks), you will be ok with us. Note that other area cachers may choose to crucify you over this. We are ok with that as well.
[/Reviewer Mode]

[Team Deejay]

Actually, there are some trails on the TOPO maps, but they tend to be in National Parks or major trails, such as the Appalachian Trail or the North Country Trail. We could hope that the Ice Age Trail makes onto the maps in a few years, but that would be about it around here. Basically, if you go to Topozone and it isn’t there, it isn’t going to be on the TOPO maps. You have to complain to the USGS if you want more detail (and then wait several decades!)

You can, however, make your own maps for upload to Garmin GPSs. I have played around with this, but so far, I haven’t tested my work yet (I did a trail map for Bong.) That one trail map took me several hours to put together, using tracks, the PDF trail map, and aerial photos. I’m not sure this is really practical (by the time I finished the map, I knew every square inch of the park, and thus didn’t need the map) unless we had some sort of large group effort with a website for sharing the files. If people are really interested, I could try to finish my project, but I suspect that no one cares.

[Team Deejay]

@cheezehead wrote:

Have not gotten mine yet. 🙁 🙁

They have mail in Hayward?

[Team Deejay]

Donna, give me a email and we can meet to load the maps to your GPS. I suspect you will find that you wouldn’t want to solely use the Garmin TOPO maps, as most are too old to be very accurate in urban areas. For example, on the current topo maps, Puetz Road does not exist between 51st St and 76th St. (This is the road that runs right through the middle of the Milky Way caches). The problem is that the last time these topos were updated was “long ago”. (The last one I checked was in the Kenosha area, 1976!) Note that there is a NEW version of TOPO coming out which apparently has more accurate road listings, so you might want to find someone who has this version instead.

[Team Deejay]

Come on back anytime you want. We love tourists here in Wisconsin. Be sure to see some of our lists of recommended caches and Cache of the Month Winners as you look for places to visit.

[Team Deejay]

You didn’t read wrong, but certain people place caches where they insist that you only take a travel bug if you leave a travel bug. These are often referred to as travel bug prisons, since the bugs often cannot escape. In general, this practice is considered somewhat unfair to the owners of the travel bugs, who want to see their bugs move, rather than sit static in a cache somewhere to “maintain the population”. This is less of an issue with jeeps, as I doubt that Chrysler really cares all that much about how many miles a jeep travels. They just want the publicity.

Of course, the cache owner really has no way to enforce this “policy”, so when you encounter one of these caches, just do what you feel is right.

[Team Deejay]

@Uncle_Fun wrote:

Maybe instead of just pulling garlic mustard. We can cut out the branches with the nests in them at the next campout and fry them in a bon fire.

Is the campout food budget really THAT small?

[Team Deejay]

@hogrod wrote:

a side note Garmin just released a new version of topo US, it’s called topo US 2008. it still doesn’t have autorouting ability, but a much needed road data update(every road is now named).

You mean that all the roads smaller than Interstates will have a name other than “Road”??? They are making this much too easy. Are they keeping the powerlines the same color and weight as the roads in the new version? I would really miss trying to find a route down the utility easements.

[Team Deejay]

Wal-Mart has the rectangular models (Black with gold or silver printing) which seem to be the most durable of the keyholders. They are in the Automotive department in the key display. The problem with these containers is that people sometimes lose the cover.

If you want something bigger, you could buy magnets and attach them to jars or other larger containers. I’ve seen magnets on film cans, match cases, PVC pipe, peanut butter jars, and fake rocks.

[Team Deejay]

Actually the cache listing is still there, but it isn’t included in a “keyword” or “location” search. You have to specify the waypoint name or other specific info on the cache. If you are using GSAK, double clicking the cache will also open the online page, even if archived.

[Team Deejay]

I’ve never understood the idea of hoarding these bugs. Its not like geocoins, where the items have some monetary value. I think that most of the people doing this are planning on releasing them in their new caches, but never get around to placing those caches.

That said, if you really want to find these, they are out there. Just search for caches closest to your home and scan the list for jeeps. There are currently at least two green jeeps very close to your house, Jim.

[Team Deejay]

We used to do a lot of preplanning, but now we just load and go. Typically I look at an online map to make sure I know how to navigate to the first cache. After that, its just topo map navigation to the next closest cache, repeat until exhausion sets in. Of course, we aren’t necessarily trying to get huge numbers either. Our goal is usually to get one great cache in for the day (COTM or other recommendations from people), and then cache our way around the area. Whatever numbers we get, we get. I have enough goals in “real life”. Geocaching is supposed to be fun!

[Author]

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