[thepharmgirl]

@RSplash40 wrote:

I heard multiple people say that the older caches around were all junk and needed maintenance. I was unable to get cache names from the conversations but the comments were soaked, moldy, empty and “trash”.

Not trashed – but trash, like the whole thing was more like random litter than a cache container.

That is a pretty strong statement in my opinion.

While the main attraction will be the new ones that come out, and it would be nice if everyone pitched in, the reality is they won’t. Yes it would be a significant task but I think it would be a good PR move to at least visit the old CB once in the month or so prior and clean them up.

That IS a strong statement.

It’s funny how I’ve heard multiple people say OTHER teams say this, but nobody is willing to say it themselves or give specific examples? I’m sure there are a few caches like that out there, but I’m certain it wasn’t the majority.

As a cache owner, the only way I know something is wrong is if somebody tells me. I tried to visit as many of my caches as I could in the week leading up to the Ba$h to make sure they were in good shape, but I didn’t visit if people have been finding them all summer with no notes about any maintenance needing to be performed.

I’m sorry if other cache owners aren’t being diligent about maintaining caches. I would recommending sending that specific cache owner a note.

[thepharmgirl]

@glorkar wrote:

There are only two things that were sub-par for me:
Turn-In Deadlines
-The pick a spot game (I think it was on the form, but I didn’t notice it.)

The reason we had a 10am deadline for Geo-Golf was that we needed time to enter all the coordinates we received. This deadline was listed on the Event Cache Page for months and it was also in the Booklet. Perhaps next year we could include it on the Geo-Golf form itself. If we had more volunteers, perhaps somebody could enter them as they were handed in. But alas, most volunteers had multiple tasks to do over the weekend.

@glorkar wrote:

-The cash drawing raffle ticket. I didn’t know they were supposed to be in at 10:00.

I agree with you, but I was out-voted. It was a decision made by the Chamber because they didn’t want people to put tickets in the wrong barrel. They said they would make sure to tell people to put their green ticket in the barrel right away, but I’m sure some people got missed. Apologies.

[thepharmgirl]

So… it looks like there WILL be a Wherigo 😀

As of this morning, it worked on my Oregon. We will have the file available to download.

[thepharmgirl]

that’s ok.. I think I’ve pretty much given up on it.

[thepharmgirl]

@jsdad wrote:

Will the link to the new caches be on the WGA sight, or on the main cache page from Geocach.com Cache Bash page?

I was going to have someone in West Bend pick up our two team packets Friday night for us. We are pre-registered already. Is this ok for someone else to pick up your team registration packet? It’s a 3+ hour drive for me Saturday morning, this way I don’t have to worry about making the deadline?

The link will be on the main gc.com event page.

I think you can have somebody pick up your packet and goody bag and sign in for you…. and be eligible for the General Raffle, BUT… the raffle ticket for the CASH prizes will only be given to INDIVIDUALS who are present at Sign-In.

[thepharmgirl]

😡 😡

Anybody ever get this error message when trying to load a previously saved cartridge? That sucks. I spent hours working on the cartridge and now it won’t open.

Error Reading Cartridge.
System.ApplicationException: Exception of type ‘System.ApplicationException’ was thrown. at Groundspeak.Wherigo.ZonesEngine.ZonesEngineDll.LuaDoFile(String filename) at ZonesAuthor.LuaFunctions.ReadLuaCartridge(String luaFileName) at ZonesAuthor.frmMain.OpenCartridgeFile()

[thepharmgirl]

More questions…

Will the program automatically re-size photos or should I do this ahead of time?

For geocaches…. is it listed as a task at the end? Or just a location?

[thepharmgirl]

@jsdad wrote:

How will the “new” caches be listed for download to keep them separate from what’s already placed?

West Bend already has a thousand caches, it would be almost impossible to tell which are the new ones to grab for the raffle?

First of all, make sure you start at Regner Park to sign in. You need to sign-in before 10am on Saturday to be eligible for the raffle. At sign-in, you will get a booklet that lists all the new caches with their basic info (type, size, hint, coords, parking info, etc) along with a map showing the new caches. And you will get your playing card which has corresponding squares to stamp for each of the 66 caches for the raffle.

In 2008, our cache names started with 0801, 0802, and in 2009 the cache names started with 0901, 0902, etc.

This year, our new caches are all named starting with 1001, 1002, 1003, etc, up to 1060. So, for example, as a made-up name: “1045 The Ice Age Cache.” That’s how to know it’s a 2010 Ba$h Cache. When you find the cache, you’ll use the stamper inside the cache to stamp the square marked 1045. Make sense?

We will likely have a link to the download file for the 2010 Cache Ba$h caches directly on the cache page once they become available Friday.

Yes, having a GPSr with over 500 waypoints loaded can make it tricky to search for the Cache Ba$h ones, especially since our caches are spread around Washington County this year. Your idea to have separate GPSr’s, one with old caches and one with just the new caches is a good idea if you have that option available to you.

Hope that helped.
😀

[thepharmgirl]

@TheBalks wrote:

Are the letterboxes at the coordinates posted, or do we get to follow the classic letterbox directions to get to them. The latter is my favorite, that may be giving away to much details though.

At the posted coordinates. It’s just easier because of the event. Most people don’t have access to info, just the coords. Last year, I had a classic Letterbox following directions and it caused problems because newbies didn’t understand and so they were searching and trampling the wrong area.

[thepharmgirl]

@Cachelovskys wrote:

Can anyone verify which type of caches are or aren’t going to be at the bash? Or is that under lock and key?

Just trying to figure out what equipment to bring or not bring. General numbers would help too. Can you tell I am getting a little excited over this?

😀
I’m hoping I’m allowed to reveal this: We have 60 land caches plus 6 water caches as part of the Official Ba$h raffle drawing.

Water Caches – Yes (6)
Night Caches – Yes… but probably just 1.
WhereiGo – MAYBE… if I can get it to work in time… but I’m having trouble figuring out the cartridge builder.
Earthcache – Not as part of the Ba$h, but a new one was just published in West Bend yesterday.
Puzzle – Probably not.
Multi – Yes, a fast & easy 2-parter
Letterbox – Yes, 2 of them

Sound okay?

[thepharmgirl]

@hearty soles wrote:

Thanks fo the info,, this may be a dumb question, but won’t there be several people at GZ at one time if we are all looking for the 50 caches??? Will we be getting a map of the city streets? Sometimes when I do a PQ, the ones on my gps are deleted when I add a new one, if I do one for the caches in the West Bend area before I come, will they stay on my gps when you download the 50?? I have a Garmin Oregon 300. Thanks for your help!!!

With over 500 teams registered, yes, it’s likely that you will run into other teams at some of the caches. We’re hoping that starting the event on Friday will help reduce the simultaneous cache traffic over the two days. The caches are placed both in West Bend and into the surrounding communities which should help spread people out.

You’ll get a general map of the 66 caches, but because they’re so spread out, it only shows the major roads. Still, it helps plan your route and give you an idea of the vicinity. In the past, we’ve also given city road maps of West Bend in the goody bags.

I’m not sure why your Oregon would delete prior caches… I have one and it doesn’t do that. Is it at maximum capacity for waypoints?

[thepharmgirl]

@hearty soles wrote:

We are new to this event-have been caching since last fall but would like to know more about how we go about doing this event. Is there a way to hook up with others that have done this befor? We”ll be there at noon on Friday to download the caches and staying for the whole weekend. any help or info would be appreciated, Thanks

Hi,

I think you’ll have a great time at the event! Just come to Regner Park and we’ll get you signed in with your official booklet and playing card and download the new caches into your GPSr. Most people try to find just the 50 new caches to earn stamps and raffle tickets, but other teams just geocache around the West Bend area like normal.

As far as hooking up with other teams, you may be able to meet other teams or find somebody here in the forums to meet up with. Otherwise, we plan to have a “Buddy Board.” Basically, if you want to partner up with somebody, you can write your name and cell phone number on a post-it and put it on the board. If somebody else also wants a buddy, they can take your note and give you a call. Or if you see a note, you can take it and call. It will be our first year trying this method.

Friday evening is the Meet and Greet at Regner Park and hopefully there will be teams there to socialize with to makes plans for Saturday.

Hope that helped a little? Let me know if there’s anything more specific.

Anne

[thepharmgirl]

Hmmm, looks like I’ve been slacking on finding those nearby caches lately… Something to work on this fall after the Ba$h.

From my home coordinates…. I maxed out the Pocket Query on the 20 and 30 mile….

30 mile: over 1000, (>1000 unfound) Wow, that surprises me!
20 mile: over 1000, (644 unfound)
10 mile: 528, (122 unfound)
5 mile: 248, (38 unfound)
1 mile: 22, (0 unfound)

[thepharmgirl]

A lot of people have been asking about which campground the majority of cachers are staying….

So if you’re camping, where are you at?

[thepharmgirl]

@amita17 wrote:

I posted my Will Attend on the cache page some months ago, but do I need to do something through the Chamber of Commerce to actually register for this event? Or is there anything else I need to do? I know the first year I signed up through the Chamber, but perhaps things were done differently then.

Nope, you’re set. You just need to sign in at the park when you arrive. 🙂

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