klipsch49er

I always carry my folding 4 in knife and a hiking pole as they have kept me from poking my fingers into spots I shouldn't and aided me in extracting caches frequently. I'm currently caching "the south" (CA is my home) and found myself totally unprepared for Poison Ivy but other than that lack of judgement I am very aware of my inexperience with the "fawna" and will only attempt caches were I am very sure there is no danger.

I love the patterns! Been wanting to do something creative myself.

Here are my "2 cents:" Although by to days standards it's probably $14.37! I never log a cache as a find if I didn't actually find it within the guidelines set by the cache owners listing. I have found 2 prevaricate caches and those are a little difficult to feel okay about but I did claim them as found. I take steps to assure that I do not log a find of the same cache twice, although repete visitis draw a note at the minimum. I also reconcile my finds list in my Garmin Oregon with Gsak to assure that my data entry is accurate, which is all to often lacking. If you can not be honest with yourself who are you going to be honest with? I own a cache that requires the finder to figure out the combination to a lock to open the container which carries the appropriate difficulty. The location of the combination is given in the hint. Occasionally a cacher will log the find with a note similar to: "Found the cache container but there was a combination lock on it and could not figure out how to open the box. Claiming as a find." I typically send a message to he finder that the point was to figure out how to open the box and let them know I am deleting the find log. I do verify that the logs in this cache match the finds claimed on the cache page. I do not do this for all of my caches. If you can not be honest with yourself who are you going to be honest with? Caching is just a microcosm of real life and it's failings.

No, keep your minds off other subjects. Before I get into the heart of my topic let me try to deflect the potential tangential discussion regarding the types of caches I intend to discuss here. This topic is intended to open a dialog about a particular though I have related to a “Power Run” string of caches. Please let us not rehash the merits of this facet of the game. If you are opposed to “Power Runs” philosophically please say so in another thread. Now here goes: While in Texas near Corpus Christi I had the opportunity to snag a Power Run that headed away from Estes inland. When I reached the end of the string I thought it was too bad there were no additional hides, there was plenty of road ahead. Yes thoughts of the legendary “ET” entered my mind. On the drive back to my RV I realized that I had several of the containers with me, the same used in the “power Run”, that I could have used to plant an additional hide to the string. Now I know that being a visitor to the area I can not provide support to a cache I might to wish to place. Ideally the “Power Run” owner could provide the necessary support. Since I was out on the “Power Run” and not able to contact the owner the logistics of adding to his string would be daunting. Then inspiration potentially hit me. What if near the end of a “Power Run” the cache owner placed a “Breeder Hide”? This hide would be unique in that to be able to take credit a find a player would need to place a container that would be the next in the series and submit the information to the “Power Run” and “Breeder Cache” owner and log a find on the “Breeder Cache”. The “power Run” owner would then submit the new hide to a reviewer to be published. If for any reason the new hide is not approved the owner of the “Breeder Cache” could remove the find from the submitting player or the container since he would have the location. If the “Power Run” owner wishes to limit further additions to the string he can disable the “Breeder Cache”. What do you think?

I’m wondering….. Are there any cachers out there that are as hooked and possibly obsessive as I am? At the time of this post I have cached 158 consecutive days with a find. I currently have plans to keep going until early April. What about other cachers? Here is your chance to show off your obsession! On a very personal note, bless my wife for she puts up with this obsession of mine!

There has to be some commom sense here. All lamp post caches are on (within) private property. (lets not nit pick about lamp posts on gov property) While the parking lot by providing access to establishments doing commerce carries with it a consent of access to the general public, it is withing the rights of the owner to restrict access to the lot if that access is not for the purpose of partonage or support of those establishments. In the strictest application of the lot owners rights any security gaurd could have you escorted out of the parking lot if they see you lifting a lamp post skirt. Note: I am an avid skirt lifter! Cachers are not interfering with access to establishments or damaging property enough to represent a safety or economic risk so as to come to the attention of law or security enforcement. Public access to a RR right-of-way could be a significant risk to public safety or represent a possiblity of economic significant economic loss to the rail operators if access results in any question as to the condition of equipment of rails. The easiest and most cost effective way to ensure that there is no issue is to prohibit public access to RR right-of-ways except at controlled crossing points. Yes it is all about safety and money! Other than above, caches are placed in areas that are private property all the time. It is the responsibility of the hider and the reviewers to try to prevent this. I have found many that are on private property and will notify the local reviewer if there could be any issue or make the find and ignore the issue if there is no "common sense" reason to be concerned. Cache on!

I'm going to answer your question a little differently by suggesting that you modify your expoectation of this activity. If every listing took you to the exact spot that a cache was located the only information you would need is the size of the container. You would miss the fun of the hunt! I have noticed that I have days where I find every cache and days where I struggle. When I can not find the hide I always step away from the zero point and ask myself "where would I place the cache?" I have found many that way without the GPSr. While experience has taught me a lot there is also the quality of the hide and the style of the player who has placed the hide. Don;t forget to consider that the player that hid the cache might have used a Magellon and you might be using a Garmin. The differences in the "cip sets" and how they read the GPS signals can make the co-ords off. Now if you are using a cell phone app you may not even be actually using a GPS. Cell accuracy is related to the triagulation of multipe tower signals. There is no substitution for a real GPS particularly in low population areas. Bottom line..... Give it time and experience will help. Fins a local caching organization and go out with an experienced player!

It is amazing how many COs are described in the forum so negatively. Has anyone invited the CO to comment on this thread? Someone could send him the link to the thread and get his thinkingon this. It would be very interesting indeed! In my home area FTFs are VERY competitive with one player in particular quite capable and dedicated enough to beat you there unless you trek out 2 minutes after a cache is listed, rain or shine, light or dark. Haven't noticed any new hides in any cemetaries locally. To comment directly to the thread. Anyone planting a cache with restricted hours has to know that someone will attempt the find when they shouldn't. It seems to be human nature that the rule don't apply to everyone all the time. That is the risk of cemetary type caches and I have seen my share of DNFs in those locatons.

Funny that this thread is going along when it is. I always have my laminated page downloaded from Groundspeak explaining Geocaching customized with my user name and avatar, except yesterday. My truck was in the dealer having some repair and I rented a car for the day. I forgot to get the geocache stuff from the truck other than my GPSr. Of course I was out looking in a bush, stood up and there was a Cop. He wanted to know what I was doing. I explained geocaching to him and he took my drivers license and looked over the rental car and was on the radio for about 10 minutes. I assume he was getting someone to explain geocaching or check the web for him. I then noticed a rather sour looking old man standing at his fence. Now I really don't know if he was the source of this Cops interest in me or not. I just thought it was funny the coincidence between this thread and my not having my laminated explanation card with me (not that it would have helped) Oh, after checking whatever he did the officer told me to be safe and have a good time.

Also thanks to all who posted the history of the Earth Cache birth!

I guess I have to hope some all encompassing organization with extensive historic knowlege steps forward and provides reviewers for "History Caches". I went and looked atethe Waymark site and the first location nearest to my RV is a "Boat Ramp". If that were not enough to turn me off McDonnalds and Taco Bell were also there. Not my idea of fun. I also did not see a way to download the Waymarks I might want into my GPSr. I did not spend a great deal of effort although I did try to open the forum to see how to(s) but my log in didn't work. Pehaps I'll try later.

Thanks for the heads up on that cache and I'll target it when I return to my home. Been out for an RV trip since Sept and have looked at "Chirps" on my PQs in the areas I have been staying. I'd like to find one before I return in April.

Apparently the existance of caches in the spikes that hold rails to ties is proof of the inconsistency of the application of that guidline! The last time I found one of these was on the inside edge of the rails that were located in a decommissioned army base. Then it wasn't on Railroad property thus proving the case, not proving the inconsistency. I said the last time not the "only" time! Forgive me for ebelishing experience in our discussion. Corrected my wording to avoid confusion.

Apparently the existance of caches in the spikes that hold rails to ties is proof of the inconsistency of the application of that guidline! The last time I found one of these was on the inside edge of the rails that were located in a decommissioned army base.

Don’t jump to conclusions! I absolutely love Earth Caches! I know I am probably beating a dead horse here but….. I have never understood why they hold such a special status as the only “Virtual” hides that can be created within Geocaching. Many times I have fond historic “Virtual” caches that are grandfathered into Geocaching. Many of them are just as enjoyable as any Earth Cache. When I stumble upon an interesting historic spot I lament that I can’t make a “Virtual” there. Are there others that share my feelings? Yah, yah, no I don’t WayMark. Perhaps I would if the finds showed in the cache stats.

Reading this thread inspired my to creat a new thread, "Why are Earth Caches so Special", look for it in a forum near you!

I guess I have been in a rock (cache container). I've never heard of a moving cache. I looked at "The Rock That Rolls" and what a great idea and judging by the vavorite votes very popular. So sad that there are so few. How are they constrained as to their locations? I gotta find me one of them!

Forgive me for not embedding all those quotes applicable to the following comments: If I NM every wet or moldy log I find I would be at my PC more than out looking for hides. A reality is that many COs don't and won't care for their hides. I formerly would note the fact that "the log is wet and need replacement" and after noticing how many finders had logged that exact message prior to me I decided the better approach was proaction rather than reaction. I carry zip lock baggies and logs so that I can repair caches. I figure if I can make a find more enjoyable and I'm helping the game. Caches strewn about need either to be reconstituted by the finder or NMd. Re: Rail Road Tracks. I know in the US the rail tracks are considered private property as they are owned and operated by a company, the rule allows the owners to keep people from doing damage or being stupid and getting run over by a train. Obviously it does not keep people from getting run over. I have found more than one hide that was a clever hollowed out spike. Active tracks? Probably since there was no rust on the surface of the rails. I felt in no danger since the tracks had visibility for miles in both direction and my hearing is excellent. I do not attempt caches where my physical limitations would yield a significant risk of injury. A dangerous cache should be so annotated in the cache page or report it to the Reviewers. If I see a NM note on a cache I may bypass it. If I do decide to investigate and NM I will report my findings to the CO and if I judge it necessary I'll NA it. I have never had a CO contact me and complain. In my home area I notice that the reviewer is proactive at contacting the COs if they have too many DNFs or NMs, Bravo! There are those COs that can not manage their caches. I am not surprised since in the population there are those who can not manage their money, job, relationships, multiplicative tendencies. etc. Why should the game, a much less serious endeavor, be any different or have higher expectations? Cache on!

Having had the opportunity to travel to many states and significantly ramp up my caching effort I have noticed something about how cachers sign logs. Generally cachers take great care to configure their "call sign, handle, nic" and date to fit within the space provided. Given a nice ruled (or boxed) log sheet almost all cachers will seek the last open line or Box and sign the log. Cachers apparently go to great lengths to comb through the spaghetti strands of multiple pages to find the next sequential open spot. Now I have to admit that I sometimes think out of the box but in this case I am thinking between the lines or along the margins. When I open a log and it is neat and tidy I flip to the last page and sign. however, if I open a log and it is messy or well used I will sign just about anywhere. I really enjoy the loggers who sign within each box or between the lines because it leaves room for me to sign right over the line or along the margin. I also look for opportunities to sign nanos over the top of faded out signatures of previous finders (I make sure they are not readable before I do that) so I don't have to unroll the whole tightly wrapped log. Oh, and for me those cachers that use stickers to sign the logs provide lots of "free" space for me to sign around their moniker. I would feel bad about this practice but many times the logs I have to use are worn out or otherwise full. Is this bad etiquette?

I'm currently on a road trip around the U.S. and I can't tell you how many soggy log books I have signed or replaced, fortunately my pen writes on wet paper. Clearly there are caches that are neglected out there and some owners are worse than others. I have reported some of my finds as NM and more than one of my DNFs as needs Archive but only when I am absolutely sure about the situation. While I have been competitive about many cache statistics my number of hides is not one of them. I have caontainers in the planning and in process building atage that are on hold until my return. I am working on creating a power run in my area. Point is I would rater see quality caches out there. I appreciate all types, puzzel, creative containers, multi, micros, and yes even power runs. I do not care to sink my hands into gooy masses of bio-gook. I wish the owner of a cache which receive a wet log notice would be proactive and redesign their hide to eliminate that issue, it can be done. Some caches just will not or can not maintain their hides, when those are identified by repeated NM logs I agree something needs to be done. I really like the Needs Archive option and have used it when I thoughtit was appropriate. I'm glad there is a way to clear the unmaintained hides. The process for this should be a little complicated to give the owner every chance to respond. I do not favor the ability of "taking over" a hide without the owners approval. I just know the process would be abused by someone. We do not need any turf wars over hides.

It seems very easy to create a "Chirp" cache and then not use that attribute. I have searched for "Chirps" using that attribute in my "Pocket Query(s). At the time I thought, "what if the cache owner forgot to activate that attribute?" Even if a cache owner put information in their cache listing it may get missed. When I use my Oregon to search for a cache I do not always read the cache page info or hints. I never cache with the chirp feature turned on because I have read that it uses the batteries up quickly. In all honesty I have not actually found a "Chirp" hide yet. I have run several "Pocket Query(s)" intending to attempt one but they have never been located near enough to my planned caching route. I remain hopeful!

Set Filter >> Logs >> Required Count >> Greater than or equal to 2 and Log Types: Found it If your Finds database also contains logs by other people, you'll also need to set your own handle under Logged By at the bottom of the same tab Option 2. Add the column FCount and sort on that column. (Tools, Options, Display tab, add a check in the box next to 'found count') Yep that was a good way also. Thanks! Now I get to figure out why my count on GSAK and Geocaching.com is different from my geocache_visits.txt in my Oregon. Every time I log a find from my Oregon to Geocaching.com I add a cache find numer note to each find on my geocache_visits.txt file in the Oregon. That way I know I entered all of them. yet another mystery. If I could only learn to be a good date entry person I wouldn;t have these problems!

Since you all are being so nice and helping out, I have a similar problem perhaps you can give me some advise. Somehow in the past few weeks I duplicated a cache find. My profile says 2604 with 2603 distinct finds. I tried downloading a "My Finds" query and loading it Gsak and that file has only 2603. How do I find that one dupelicate log? I have scanned the last 2 months logs and can't locate it but I did find 465 last month so it makes going one by one difficult. I know that my finds and distinct were okay at some point last month. Thanks!

If I had a dollar for every D1 T1 bush cache micro and D1 T1 magnetic on something larger than a car I could quit geocaching. Seriously I like looking for one particular rock in a field of thousands to calim a D1 T1. Just my preferences. I'll take any cache I can get. But I wish the difficulty ratings were more to how I view the universe. Nod to Einstein intended!

I just want to add another comment. Just because an area has no resident cachers doesnot mean there are no cachers passing through that area. My lifestyle has changed and I am on the road 3 to 6 months a year. I have passed through many areas with little cache representation only to lament with other cachers met in RV parks that the area needed hides and nobody was able to place any. This is not a syptom of highly populated areas but after circling the US several times in 3 years I seen to find these areas a lot and this this thead.