woodstrider

One in a series of extreme caches hidden by this one geocacher named Riptoshreds. It got archieved, the Olive Troll, after the Power-that-be got wind of it and saw a photo of someone retrieveing the container. . But don't quote me- I really don't have all the facts in hand. Cool factor is it was a challenge to anyone with height issues. I was really disappointed because I hadn't gotten a chance to find it and challenge my own fear of heights.

We have lots of nanos in NYC and I have found a couple/three of the ones shown. But maybe the smallest container might be the "0" (zero) or no container- like virtuals or earthcaches?

How many DNFs? Be honest. Beeee Hoooonnneeeessssst. Not as many DNFs as some with a GPS. Sometimes a techie can depend too much on the gizmo in his pocket and ignore the one in his head.

To answer your query... I found my first cache quite by accident while on a backpacking trip in Harriman State Park. Now I backpack and geocache at the same time.

Lots of "free" internet at the Public Libraries! Dude, I am totally replying to this thread from one! Also, I have found over 300 hides without a a GPS. USA rules!!!! And you are spot on, geocaching is an elitist sport! Have mind will play.

Are you sure that you can do that???? Alter a rock (or anything else in the environment) in order to place a hide?

The Bridges and Arches of Central Park. I loved this one! It takes you on a tour the length and breathe of Central Park (NYC, NY) and you learn alot. But, it takes time. In Harriman State Park, the geocaches hidden near the mines (ex; "Mine is Yours" and the "Nickel Mine", "Herbert Mine" )

Well, it sure is nice to read these replies to my question, though I am not convinced that it was answered. I recognize many of the names from reading the log books in the Harriman State Park caches ( and many others) that I have found ( which is all but one and I am not convinced that it is still there- its the "Down by the River" cache). But as I am new to this sport I am not sure that my name will be as familar. Brian b, I am sorry that you archived your Shelter Series, I understood that all caches in the park before the new regulations took effect were grandfathered in. I wonder is anyone ever pulls a cache after two years? I also agree with many in their positive comments of the park. I just love Harriman. It's my favorite place to backpack to geocache. But, I guess I'll have to push on.

Hi- I have been geocaching for a short while and I started by accidently finding a hide while on a backpack. I have since continued to geocache and I do so with out a GPS. I use maps. I have found over 300 hides using maps. I have even placed a few geocaches without a GPS. I really enjoy doing it this way. You can always look up a geocache in the area that you will be in and then map it using one of the mapping hyperlinks on that geocaches page. Make sure that it is has a container large enough to accept you TB. And, maybe you want to exclude these types of geocaches; wendigo, multi, virtuals, earthcaches...you get my point. I also think that it is more then OK to use the hints and read the logs to help out! Good luck.

What is up with Harriman State Park? No new geocaches in awhile. I can't believe the interest in placing hides in this park has peaked. Anyway- I've just about cleared the Park of other peoples hides and I am thinking of placing a few of my own. I have "discovered a few interesting oddities worthy of commemoration with a geocache or earthcache. Backpacking to Geocache

Well, this is a good idea, sleeping in a hammock. At least I thought so when I first began to backpack. In fact, on my very first trip I used a small backpacking hammock to sleep in one night. I also used one on my second trip . BUT... I don't imagine I will sleep in a hammock ever again. Why not a hammock? Have you ever tried to sleep curled up like a shrimp? I discovered that I need to lie on a flat, smooth and level piece of real estate. I only need 2X6 feet worth of space for me and all my gear. A small alpine style tent or bivy sack works just great and I get a great nights sleep. Thats what works for me. I've read raves about hammocks on other forums. Some people swear by a hammock. But for me it just doesn't work and I sleep poorly. What I can say that is postive is that you can set a hammock up just about anywhere where there is something to support it- like two trees or boulders. On that second trip I was bushwhacking up a peak in the Catskills and when I ran out of light and wanted to stop I just strung up my hammock, regardless of the rock and boulder strewn ground underneathe. Only problem was later in the middle of the night some porcupines were walking around my camp and back then I didn't know from porcupines and I was scared half to death. It was almost as bad as the time that deer jumped over my tent as I was trying to sleep!.

Wow- so many replies! I guess I touched a nerve. I guess I just wanted to say that the person who was falsifying logs had been very greedy...he logged a number of finds in two states (ok ok, the finds were in NY and NJ and close together if you are driving) and I guess I let off a little steam. But... I think that it is important to be trustful in this life...in certain arenas and certainly in this one. I just don't like being made a chump of, or having those people that really looked (and some had some difficulty and returned more then once to find my hides). I know that there are some people that need the "ego stroking" and will inflate numbers. They are a bunch of sad sacks and have to live with themselves. I know myself, I could not live with that kind of dishonesty in my life- my life is not a sham, a lie a cheat or bulls***. Someone made a comment about mountain climbing and summit registers... not all mountainns do have registers. Some mountains had them and then they were removed, like the Adirondack 46rs (because the summit registers, or cannisters, were non-conforming to the idea of wilderness as set forth in a government master-plan...but I digress). So, it does come down to trust and honor. This gives me an idea- a cache that has no log, no email confirmation... just find it and you can log it, total honor system. This would be pretty low maintainance for the CO. But, lets not forget that this is a game. Thanks for letting me vent and for all the replies

Or do they? Morals in the sport of geocaching. This week I was notified by another CO that his hides had been web-logged by someone that did not actually sign the log, or find them, so it would be implied. As this player had also logged my hides as well, I checked and sure enough, he did not sign my actual logs, but did claim the find. As a backpacker, belonging to several altitude clubs where (for many of these clubs) your word is taken for granted as to whether or not you climbed the peaks, in other words an honor system is in place- I find this lack of personal integrity egregious. This is a game/sport, after all. But, like all endeavors in life, a person's true character is illuminated in the spot light of their actions. I did email the person in question, and I am allowing them the oppurtunity to set things right. I know that some COs would just delete the logs and be done with it, but I thought that the person should have a chance to make amends. I am new to geocaching, and to placing my own hides, but I have never had this happen before. It is disappointing. Good news is, most everyone that I have come across in this sport is really of a superior character.

My last trip backpacking I ran into a thunderstorm as I was cooking my lunch (what's better then backpacking around, you can stop just about when and where ever and cook a meal or make a pot of coffee). Well, I quickly was able to set up an efficient leanto shelter with only a rain poncho, two hiking poles and two pieces of light rope and four stakes. My gear and I stayed nice and dry until the storm passed. I do like the poles as they give me more length options and I like the bi-lateral support. Really helps with preventing those pesky falls, and helps with the up hills, too. Just my 2cnts

Wow, the first time that I log onto the Forums section (after only over a year of participating in this sport) and I find an entire section dedicated to what I love to do the most with my free time...backpacking to geocache. I mean, what is better then doing something that you enjoy...well, it's doing two things (or more) that you enjoy together, of course!!! And, these activities are so well suited to do together. Of, course, when I can't get away to back pack, I can always geocache in NYC. Lately we seem to specialize in puzzle caches of one stripe or another. How cool is this. And, I thought that I was the only one that did this sort of thing. Though, I did notice some hides out west, say on the summit of Granite Peak, Montana. I figured that most people had to backpack out to find that one! Well, old Woodstrider here is from NYC and I backpack where ever I can in the USA and try to do the geocaching thing too. I have been trying to clear Harriman State Park, and at this time of year it is just grand to backpack from lake to lake and look for hides. I have only about 5 left within the Parks boundaries. I have also hit some in the Catskills. Those Trolls of Ript2shrds are lots of fun, but they would never fly here in NYC. I am looking forward to trying the Adirondacks on my next trip. I am all prepared. But, I don't use a GPS, so it can be difficult to find hides in the backcountry. But it sure has honed my map reading skills. I have also learned quite alot of useful and useless (read as "interesting") " stuff. So, where do you all like to go to Backpack to Geocache? What are some of your favorite spots?