ubermick

Just a heads up to all - Maxpedition Fat Boys are on sale at Woot right now - absolutely perfect for a Cache bag: http://sellout.woot.com/plus/maxpedition-packs-and-bags-2?ref=so_cnt_wp_9 Cheaper than I paid for mine, for sure!

That sounds like the behavior I've seen when my phone starts with an approximate location based on cell tower triangulation and wifi networks, and then gradually refines that location as it gets a GPS lock. Yeah, I've encountered similar behaviour, but not to that extent - and did the same thing with three different caches, never really resolved.

Gave this a test today - @sgtcasey saying that it was similar to c:geo in functionality really got me interested. Much better to use than the official app, and was indeed similar to c:geo in terms of how it worked. (Well, legally worked in this case!). My sticking point was the compass, though. When approaching GZ, app said I was 110 yards away, so started walking. 20 seconds later it finally updated to say I was now 60 yards away. Another several seconds went by without it changing, and suddenly I was 37 yards away. Kept walking, frowning at the direction arrow which hadn't changed, and suddenly I was 12 yards beyond it. Hopped around the cache until I stopped using the directions, and pored through the log for location clues - ideally not the way I want to get the smilies, I gotta say. If the compass update was smooth and real time like c:geo's. (Also desperately miss using that with the third-party “GPS Status & Toolbox” but that's a whole other thing) this would be a winner, I'd happily plunk the $4.99 for Premium.

Here it is all packed up. As to one of me wearing it, I'll see if the wife can snap one at some point this weekend. In the meantime, here's a hipster type fella wearing one...

Does this make future wv-tim style bird house caches prohibited? Granted, they can be tied to a tree somehow, but that's basically a bat-signal to all and sundry that "this should not be here!" Similarly on the subject of violating "the rules", isn't nailing something to a tree also a big no-no? Anyways - on the topic of found it/didn't find it, there deffo seems to be a grey area. Of course I wholeheartedly agree that people who simply sit in front of a computer logging finds without making the attempt shouldn't count. Then you have the people who do venture forth, get to the vicinity of GZ, poke around a bit, and announce that they found it without ever actually seeing the cache. You have instances where they get there, find the cache, but aren't able to retrieve it. Then you have folks who retrieve it, but for whatever reason can't sign it. (No pen, wet log, etc.) I admit to having a few where I had the physical cache in hand, but didn't sign the log. Two of them were for microscopic nanos where the log couldn't be extracted without tweezers, which weren't on my person. Another two were for caches where I SHOULD have signed the log, but didn't have a pen (both cases, I keep meaning to return to them, since they're relatively local, and sign the logs posthumously.) All four I logged as finds, because at the very least, I had the geocache in hand. There have been other instances where I got to GZ, but couldn't find or get to the cache. Those get logged, but as a note saying I got there, looked but couldn't find it (and will try again). Occasionally I'll post a DNF if I search thoroughly and still can't come up with it. Point being though, grey areas. One end of the spectrum (sitting at home logging finds without actually leaving), to the other (if you didn't sign it, you didn't find it.) And if the finds are to be enforced to the letter of Groundspeak's law (which I agree they should, at least more closely) what does that do to other finds? Notably caches along power trails, where you have instances of people claiming the find when they were driving the car (and therefore not at the physical GZ), and those who leapfrog caches along things like the ET, where cache X is retrieved by the runner, brought to the car, and then placed in the location of a cache further down the road?

I began by going out with nothing more than a pen and my smartphone. After a while, I grabbed a daypack that I had lying around to use as a cacheing bag, and started accumulating stuff. From there, I ended up looking like I was heading forth on an expedition, so started trimming down. UTG Tactical messenger bag. The cheapo version of the Maxpedition Jumbo Versipack that the GC shop sells. It's not up to the quality of the Maxpedition, but it's a third of the price - so as long as you're not fussy about the colour (black, green, kakhi, or camo), and won't be dragging it through gravel on a daily basis, it's a great little bag. Widely reported that the jingly zippers got annoying, and after one hike I wholeheartedly agreed, so I snipped 'em off and replaced with paracord. Now it's green and gold... for Ireland! Note that I have gotten a comment by a passing police officer once while wearing this, as this sort of bag is very popular amongst the firearm-owning folks, and think he assumed there was a gun in there. As such, tried to make it as non-tactical as I could by adding some patches announcing what I was up to. (There's a trackable patch on the strap, can kinda see it next to the notebooks) A Condor pouch I picked up on Amazon. GC sells these pouches as well, I believe. This pouch contains my home-assembled TOTT kit (left to right) tweezers, an extendable mirror ($1 at Harbor Freight!), an extendable magnetic thingy ($1 at Harbor Freight!), a Streamlight Stylus Pro flashlight (love it!), a UV marker, and a pen. Since someone gave it to me, there's a log roller thing in there as well that I've never had to use, and some RITR logsheets in baggies ready to go. Length of camo duct tape wrapped around an old dowel. A molle magazine pouch (Again, I'm not into concealed carry or anything like that, but the tactical molle stuff is really useful!) that I use to hold... ...my Leatherman Wave multitool. Garmin GPSMap 64st. UV flashlight - you wouldn't think you'd need one, but glad I had it on me both times! Spare AA and AAA batteries. Pens. Lots. And I keep having to replenish!!! Logbook and a spare one. (One's a Rite in the Rain, the other's a cheapo Mead one. First aid kit - head out on a trail, you're crazy not to have one. Jungle Juice. Because while I can live with mosquitos, I HATE TICKS. Hand sanitizer that the wife stuck in there, that I have yet to remove. Tecnu Poison Ivy/Oak wash. Lots of that evil stuff around here. Sunblock. Individual use wipes. REI hiking towel. I shave my head, so something to wipe off the sweat comes in VERY handy. Gloves. For when you think "They want me to stick my hands in THERE?!?!?" Spare logs and baggies. C'mon, it's just a nice thing to do to replace a wet log in a remote cache, or add a baggie to one prior to it getting soaked. Dog poop baggies, for CITO situations. Omnomnom. SWAG... primarily Lego minifigs, Minions, a few keychain flashlights, and my own Pathtags. There's a few trackables in there as well. I don't take SWAG because, y'know, I'm an adult, but like to freshen caches if they're filled with junk. (Well, I'd take a geocoin as long as I have one to replace it with) Ye Olde Water Bottle. HYDRATE OR DIE! Arrayed with stickers of stuff I'd much rather be drinking. Few bison tubes and film canisters, ready for deployment if I'm out and find a good spot. (Note - not A spot, not AVAILABLE spot, a GOOD spot. The world does NOT need another LPC.) No pictured would be my smartphone (HTC One M8 running the both Geocaching apps, c:geo, and radar), and my trusty boonie hat (which I SHOULD keep in the bag, since I tend to forget it when going on extended sunny hikes!) Caching locally in town, I still just go with my phone and a pen. If I'm going on a hike somewhere, this bag comes along. Despite the volume of stuff, it's actually fairly light, and even though I'm out of shape (well, round is technically a shape, so...) managed to get to a five star difficulty without feeling like Sisyphus lugging a boulder along. And since I started carrying this setup (hmm, past 4 months or so?), I can genuinely, hand on my heart, say that I've used everything in there.

Mine are sort of similar to Grufflepuff's, although didn't think to add the clip to them to make them into keyrings or zipper pulls. I did make up some little info cards on them though, and popped them in small ziplock bags (useful for keeping logs dry) so folks know what the design is, and what it means:

I ended up submitting this to GS via the help/support method. The response was actually quite positive. (That said, it's not like I expected them to respond with insults or blowing me off completely!)

^ That too. (Would be especially good for areas where caches aren't placed too often.) Since it's just a field in a database, should be easy enough to do (heck, gimme access to it, and I'd have it done in 30 minutes! )

Just getting into pocket queries, and was wondering about implementing a new search parameter into the pocket query builder. Right now we have the ability to check a box for caches found in the past 7 days, but would it be possible for the web lackeys to expand that? Instead of having just one selectable checkbox, create a new field similar to the difficulty, where you have a dropdown that can specify the time since last find. Something like Last found: (Week), (Month) (3 Months), (6 Months), (Year), (More). Would be an easier way to build a PQ of more active caches?

Not really. The current "go to" GPS units like the Oregon and the 64st have caches already in there, but 250,000 of the available 2+ million or so. I just picked up a 64st, and seems like it's cache database is well over a year old. It would be awesome if Groundspeak and Garmin got together on something that would autoupdate anytime the unit was connected to a computer, but that's likely a complete pipe dream.

The shoe tying is a go-to. But in reality, sometimes it's really difficult to be stealthy in (sub)urban areas and if I'm busted-busted, I just come clean - explain what geocaching is, tell them it's a great way to discover new things, and - the clincher usually - tell them that I got hooked on it by taking kids out doing it, and now they're outside exploring nature rather than sitting on the couch with their ipad.

I can't say personally if it's frowned on overall, but could see potential problems. Were a muggle to find the cache accidentally, could cause a situation where you have people assuming that all geocaches have money in them, and have folks going from cache to cache, ripping them apart, in search of loot.

How's de form, sham?!? Welcome! Best way to get started? Errah, go out and find geocaches! Ahem, sorry 'bout that. Your best bet is using your smartphone. If you've an Android one, you'll be better off, since there's a better selection there for some reason, but there's stuff available for the iphone as well. There's a great blog that reviews the apps available for both platforms called Not About the Numbers. iphone: http://www.notaboutthenumbers.com/2012/09/03/top-5-iphone-apps-for-geocaching/ and Android: http://www.notaboutthenumbers.com/2012/05/11/top-5-android-geocaching-apps/. I will say this, and I got this directly from a Geocaching employee, their own paid app is miles behind, and at the moment they're focusing on the free one and not developing the paid one at all. I'd recommend throwing the site a few bucks and getting the Premium membership. Opens up a load more caches to you. But start with the easy ones, and work your way up. All depends on what you like, really. If you want to rack up points and the like, there's a load of easy to find ones. They tend to get a bit boring after a while though (at least I thought so) so you'll move on to puzzle ones and multi leg ones. It's all about getting your feet wet.

Fair enough, I suppose. To me, the math doesn't really make sense. Even in a 12 hour run, that's over 8 an hour, or a cache every 7 minutes or so for 12 hours straight. That's without stopping for petrol, to rest, or even bathroom breaks. Granted I'm still quite new to this, but when I get to GZ it takes me a minute or two to find the cache, and another minute or two to sign the log and replace everything correctly. So that leaves four minutes to travel between caches. Fair play to those who've done it, then, but that's head down and going for it stuff which I suppose falls into that "all about the numbers" description. I suppose there's a sense of achievement in doing it, but suppose it's not just my personal pace.

Personally, I'd just place it as a multi. Going with three trads and a mystery just takes up space. With all due respect, does the world REALLY need another three micros? If you post it as one multi, it doesn't make four footprints on the map, and allows for other cachers to get their stuff out there as well.

I agree that it's changed, but with the advent of the smartphone, and the fact that most of the world's population lives in urban areas, it was always on the cards. The volume of caches out there continues to grow, and yes for some it's all about the numbers. (I came across a blog recently where someone claimed to have found over a hundred caches in one day, a number I find to be utterly unbelievable. Maybe he found 100 caches and logged them on the site in one day, but logistically it's impossible to do that many caches in a 24 hour period without some sort of teleportation device.) But caching is what you make of it. Groundspeak might lay out rules and guidelines, but it's down to US to put the creative caches out there. It's down to US to decide what we want to hunt for. As to the urban stuff... yeah, constant streams of nanos and micros are boring. But remember the flip side of the pastime. Yesterday I went and got 10 caches in a two hour walk. None of the caches were imaginative, they were all standard fare. BUT they took me to a part of the SF Bay Area where an upper middle class white idiot would NEVER have set foot in otherwise. And as I walked along looking for YET ANOTHER CAMO FILM CAN, I encountered people along the way I never would have otherwise, and had quite a few media-driven stereotypes booted out the door in the process. A cache does not have to be an ammo can full of awesome, in a serene and tranquil setting to enlighten and educate.

Agree completely with you, but the old ways now mesh with the new ways, where we have @#$#@ nano caches the size of my 6-month old's big toe. Good luck getting a writing implement of ANY sort into one of those, given that you can barely get a log strip in there.

Bingo. If someone is soooo keen to pad their own stats, let them. The only real harm it makes is if you let it effect your own enjoyment. I'll keep getting out there to new places, discover new sites, and continue to take with a pinch of salt those who claim they found 100+ caches in a day.

Jaysis, that's nice.

Nah, I think the argument that it protects the more intricate/expensive caches is a sound one. For me, currently working on a gadget birdhouse cache, the notion of making it so that only "committed" cachers will find it makes a ton of sense. This cache has cost quite a bit in terms of materials and time put into constructing it,. When I release it into the wild, I certainly don't want to see it randomly trashed, or have the contents raided by someone who downloaded an app because they saw a cacher and thought "hey, am a bit bored today so why not look into it, but really can't be bothered." Nor do I want to see any travel bugs that end up there grabbed by people who are only "test driving" geocaching, and may take them and toss them in a drawer somewhere, never to see the light of day again. Of course the opposite end of that argument is that I brought my nephew and niece caching a few weeks ago, we found a gadget cache (GC4T09C) and watched them fall in love with the hobby (sport? pasttime?) before my eyes. So the notion of as many people finding it as possible in the hope that it makes people appreciate and embrace geocaching is pretty appealing too.

Yup, similar here. I use the c:geo app coupled with the GPS status app (c:geo supports the app as a plugin) for out and about caching on my M8. It's a great app, but do know that it's taboo around here since it interfaces the gc.com site without permission - but find it (personally) better to use than the official app. (Which I also use.) My Garmin 64st just arrived for those dedicated cache runs, so now need to learn how to use that!

Yeah, I've been looking into this as well - something groovy to drop into nice caches, maybe have them be a series. Pondered trackable as well, but for some reason, travel bugs in the USA seem to go missing a lot more than they do back in Europe. Anyways, searched around, and the "best" path seems to be "challenge coin" minters, who'll bang them out. They basically work out to $400 for 100 though, which is a little spendy for my blood. A friend of mine has a Shapeoko though, so pondering doing some engraved wooden coins instead.