[Trekkin and Birdin]

Congratulations, that is such a nice hike in a pretty area, too.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Thanks to all who shared their thoughts on this dilemma. We don’t worry about 30 feet off or even greater if the hint is decent, knowing how much variation there can be. We have just encountered more and more of the type of logs that say, “coords were off, but have fun!” on caches with no hint, in beacon rich environments with significant elevation changes that are rated as easy. As I said, we stopped being helpful ourselves for awhile as a reaction to some of the “nanananabooboo” comments we’ve seen, but have gone back to our roots to be the change we’d like to see. The distance and direction comments were especially insightful, thanks for bringing that up. Thanks again, it’s always interesting to hear the different perspectives everyone can bring to these questions.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

So Jim, why didn’t you look for it before we were there? LOL I think I know which one, too. We probably looked right at it and missed it. Neat place, though.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Paul, We didn’t have any issues with any of the bike trail ones. As Michael said, there is always going to be variation. I’m referring to those that clearly could use something to zero in the search and avoid damage to the environment by doing so. 50-75 feet down the road when there are piles of rock, rock walls, numerous tree roots and holes and stumps and you name it. Those could use some help. There was no hint given. That might help as well. We all know how it is when we think our hide is easy and it turns out to be more challenging than we thought.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Becca, We just mark a new waypoint and name it in the GPSr, no need for paper. I do understand not wishing to offend the cache owner, but if shared in the spirit of helping, I don’t think most would be offended. The notes we’ve typically seen (and left ourselves) say something like “if you are having trouble, try these coordinates.” Obviously, a difference of 30 feet is well within reasonable, and if there’s a good hint, even a bigger difference shouldn’t be too tough. But these ones in our area, where there is significant topography involved and lots and lots of possibilities, and 50 or more feet off. Frustrating! We stopped leaving coordinate suggestions ourselves for awhile because we were just annoyed by what we were seeing in the way of non-helpfulness, but have decided we need to “be the change you’d like to see.”

[Trekkin and Birdin]

I specifically chose to do this one instead of the Minnesota one because I didn’t want to run hills. Used to be good at that, not anymore. We were caching the area of the MN event this past week and it about did us in.

Darn, it sucks to get older! When in the world did that happen???

[Trekkin and Birdin]

My gut level reaction initially was “you’re kidding? These count?” That was just my reaction, and even at that point in time, it really mattered not, I was just surprised by that fact. More and more, we’re finding for ourselves anyway, that this is supposed to be fun. If getting guardrails is fun, so be it. If hanging off the side of a cliff is fun, more power to you. We embrace some aspects of the game and are getting better all the time at walking away from others. In the end, it is just that…a game. Every time I see people get fired up about things of this nature…whether it involve geocaching, scrapbooking, photography or storytelling….all hobbies where I’ve seen other passionate arguments about things that mostly don’t mean a thing…I stop and think…why can’t we all get this fired up and do something about those things that DO matter?

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Take the number and run. 😉 We were gone the past couple days and missed the early stuff, so we will probably just keep it that way!

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Barry and Val, This is such wonderful news, and I’m sure you are both breathing a sigh of relief right now. Continued good thoughts for her recovery going up from here. Thanks for letting everyone know how it’s going for her.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Those challenges are added to the find count? Sheesh. Personally, we have only logged the Lil’ Otter ones we adopted (which we actually visited), but if someone wants to log their own cache….so be it. We all have many and varied reasons for doing the things we do, and in the end it really means nothing….even before the “debauchment.” 😉

[Trekkin and Birdin]

We left town for a couple days to hike and find caches. What in the world have they done? I do not see the point of the “challenges” (although we adopted an animal, so maybe I’d better hurry and get that icon! LOL) I just don’t see how these are any different than the old locationless, which were dumped because they didn’t really relate to geocaching.

I have never liked those beta maps and always just proceed to the oldies. I know change is inevitable, but why make change for the sake of change?

I’m guessing their intent is to appeal to an even broader group of people, which is fine, but let’s face it…no one activity will attract EVERYONE, nor should it try. Oh well. Not my sandbox to build, I just play in it, so I really shouldn’t complain.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Yup, if Trekkin’s driving, I’m sitting there deleting waypoints. I know I’ve come nowhere near the capacity of it, but don’t want to find out the hard way, either. Like I said….200 caches in a trip would be a BIG one for us. Our three day trip we’ll be taking sometime soon….115 caches. If we get half of those we’ll be thrilled. Everyone rolls a different way and there are certainly advantages to loading them up, too.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Michael, I do know you have to go into waypoints on these units and delete the child waypoints manually, which is a pain. So far, his Map60 is hanging in there for now, but it’s inevitable. We never have loaded very many into our GPSr. If traveling, we look for caches of interest, add some more beyond those and stick to the plan. Two hundred would be a big amount for us, but when he was caching in S Dakota last month with the big boys, he had trouble because of the PQ size they use. It’s not a good idea for him to see just how many are actually out there, LOL.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Congratulations you two! Thanks for all you’ve done to give back to the game, too.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Headlands Park just below the bridge is really nice. Not a lot of caches, but when I was there in May, I had it all to myself. It’s one of the dark sky locations, too, for good night sky viewing.

Pictured Rocks lakeshore has a lot of ECs and really, anywhere along the lake is nice. Even the park and grabs there are nice. Olson Memorial Falls near Munising is a must do, if you can get there. Jim and Cathy probably have many more recommendations, as they get up there quite often. Also, do NOT, I repeat, do not miss the virtual at Lakenenland. I hear there is also a physical cache there now.

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