Rontro

One thing you can do to increase your odds a bit when going after a cache is to look at the satellite images of the area before you go. This can trigger some ideas when you get to the cache site. (Example: About how far from the creek). It does not help much in heavy wooded areas, but it may. Second: head to an open area and check your GPS accuracy there. The improved numbers will give you a better idea of how to proceed to lock down the area. Third: Have your tracks turned on. Look where you have walked and see if you have crossed over where the cache has been hidden. If you have not then try and make your way to that point. Sometimes this will take you right to the cache. I hope that helps Rontro

I found a cigar, a lighter and a small bottle of vodka in a cache. While not horrific it sure had me wondering about the last visitor. Oh, in case you are wondering.......Yes, I CITO'd the items out of there. Rontro

Yes 1. I like the field note improvement so I can log TBs I find much easier. 2. Since the change it appears to lead me to the cache site much better. 3. The COMPASS finally stays off! YAY!

I have slowed down alot. I had done 99% of the caches within 20 miles of me, so I put together lists of caches and do them in groups. No more trips out to try for those FTFs.

In the Northwest US I average 10-26 depending on the cover and as you probably know the NW has LOTS of cover. Ron

Have you actually looked at that cache? It looks fine to me and all the links work. The link problem was corrected within a few days of that release that broke them. Sorry for the confusion. That link is one of my caches that were still working. It was an example of the HTML code that was stripped. However this morning I went back to the cache that was broken and tried to put back the links. Today it worked just fine and I was able fix it up. This was the cache that was messed up. It is all better now: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...7b-e280a6a975df Ron

It's not a game no more, thats whats up. I can confirm that : <a href= is not working anymore. I wish I had been given heads up about this. However, the links that were already in my caches are still working. They only get broken if I edit the cache description. By the way this means that you can no longer use "GEOCHECKER.COM" in your puzzle caches if this is not fixed. here is an example <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=03fce875-ccc7-4886-8c6c-9931c8af0689"> Foster's Cache</a><br>

I have had this issue as well for me it appears to only happen when the battery level is less than 25% (~2 bars). Power cycling always corrects the problem as does calibrating the internal compas. I have had the same issue with my Vista HCx in that case using the "Recalculate" function corrected it. I suspect that if the 400t had something like that the problem would be a mere anoyance. Perhaps switching profiles would correct it, not sure I will try the next time it happens.

Alot of new cachers forget to zoom up on their targets. I know I didn't do it when I first started out. On the GPS screen it may look like your right on top of it, but in fact you are still have a bit to go. Another thing to do is to turn on data fields. On a Etrex press the "menu" button and from the list select data fields. Turn on as many as you like. I personally use 2. Then on that same menu select "change data fields". I suggest you have "Accuracy" and "Dist to next" These two values will tell you how close you are to the cache and how accurate your GPS is at that location. For example if you have an accuracy of 10 feet and the cache is 4 feet away. You can say that you should be within 14 feet of your target. That should help making the find a bit easier. The only problem with this method is you are at the mercy of how accurate the cache ower's GPS was, but it should get you in the ball park. Here is how I find a cache: 1) Get to the location 2) Use the GPS to get as close to target as you can get. 3) Read the cache description and title carefully 4) Look for the cache. 5) If you don't find it "read a few of the past logs" 6) If you don't find it "use the hint" 7) Still don't find send an email to the cache owner for help.

Hello. I had an odd thing happen today. My cache count was off by one and started to look as to why. After spending over an hour I found that a cache I did was missing. I went to relog the cache to fix it. I tried a couple of times, but no log appears in the cache. However, after my attempts my count is now correct. I went back to the cache page to check again and log is not there. Any ideas? Rontro

My thought is that you should give it a try. If it becomes a problem or it just is not what you thought it was going to be you can archive it. You will never know how well it work out unless you give it a go.

The Perfect answer. I had no idea. That is just the information I was looking for. Thank You VERY much. Rontro

Okay, I read a topic on this a while back and I can't seem to find it. So here is my problem: I have loaded both Topo and City Nav maps on to my GPS. Took quite a while to figure out how to get that done. The GPS is working fine and it gives me "Turn by Turn" instructions. However, when I am out on the trails I can't seem to figure out how to get it to show topo information at the same time. I have gone into the set-up and I can see that the topo maps are there. I can remove the check marks from all of the city nav maps and then the topo stuff shows up. Question: Is it possible to see the topo information without having to disable all the city maps? I have 4 or 5 states of maps in my GPS and it is quite a chore to enable and disable them one by one. I guess my current work around right now would be to limit the maps stored on the GPS to making switch-overs quicker. Rontro

I carry a $10 compass in my geocaching bag, but I hardly ever need to use it. The built in digital compass in my GPS works just fine. However, I agree that every cacher should carry a back-up. No reason to get blitzed on a cache just because your batteries died.

Thanks for the info. I checked and it was the "Archived" caches that were missing. A local cacher killed all 38 of her caches, I had done quite a few of them and that was where the caches went. Looks like I will only be updating my profile once a week. I think that could be a good thing. Rontro

I have a Pocket Query that I run twice per week. It's only job is to send me a list of my geocache finds. Up until a few days ago it worked great. However, this past week it stopped sending me a complete list of my found caches. Here are the facts: 1) I have the total # of caches set to 500. I have just over 200 caches found. 2) I have the maxium distance set to 500 miles. I have no finds further than 80 miles. 3) I don't have a date range set. 4) I have only "I Have Found" checked in the "That" section of the pocket query. I went through the list of caches it sent me and can't seem to find what is causing the missing caches. Any ideas why it stopped working?

Did you check to see if you have just turned off the compass? Are you talking about the "Red" arrow or the compass line? Does the map screen work properly? By that I mean does the arrow on that screen show the direction you are moving, a direct line to the cache and the cache itself? I use the send to GPS function just fine on my XP machine. However, on my Vista machine it goes though the motions of sending the info, but the cache is never really sent. Rontro

Here is my list: 1) Caches placed in dumps or high trash areas. 2) Micro-Caches in the woods. Of course there are exceptions. 3) As soon as I see a no tresspass sign I am gone. 4) Caches in a hunting area in october/november.

Okay I will come clean: I normally do fair trades, but there have been many times I have traded a SWAG for a Travel Bug. My justifcation is that I am sure the owner of the TB would much rather see it move. Rontro

I leave "Rontro" lizards in caches as my SWAG. I have quite a few comments on them. At least people know I was there.

I have a simple, but tried method to pick my caches: 1) As an advid hiker I ALWAYS check the trail I plan to hike for caches. Not always lucky to find a cache on the trail, so in such cases I am always on the look-out for the perfect place to put a cache. 2) I have 2 weekly queries that sends me 1000 caches in my local area. I load these into GSAK then export to a waypoint file. (PQs only allow you 500 per query). Then I simply load those waypoints into MapSource and pick out areas that look to be a target rich environments or fun places to go. Then it is just a matter of marking them in GSAK, sending to the GPS and creating a database file for my PDA (So I have paperless descriptions, hints and the last few logs). To make my queries mostly free from bad caches I: Omit caches I have found, own, and are not active. 3) I have a bookmark list called "My To Do List". As I am search the geocaching site I dump intresting caches in there and use that list to cache with friends. There you have it, Rontro

My HCx is named GimmyG , however my megellen is named "InTHEdrawer" cause that is where it sits now.

I have used both the HCx and 60Csx side by and both operated the same. Same accuracy and same resulting location. The difference: The HCx is smaller, cheaper and cut the clutter in my geocaching bag. Every geocacher I have seen as of late seems to either have the 60cs or 60csx, so I guess to be a "cool kid" you best get the 60. For me I am VERY happy with HCx. Rontro

I use my ETrek fold-o-matic hiking pole with built in camera stand for hiking and geocaching. I had this LONG before I started geocaching. I try not to bushwhack, but there are times when folks place caches in blackberry bushes and in cases like that, some bush "Movement" is required. Rontro

1. How did you first hear about geocaching? I bought a GPS for my hiking adventures. I wanted a way to keep track of my trails. While setting up the software I found a reference to geocaching. At first I thought it was some type mapping game. Then I actually looked into it and decided to try it out. 2. Tell me about your first cache? “GC125W2- William the Conqueror's - The Forbidden Fortress” My first was a micro. I really did not know what that meant and I thought it would be easy. It was not easy. After my second trip to the cache I figured out that you have to read the cache description. On my third trip I figured out that you may have to read the hint. In the end I made the find and a new hobby was born. 3. Have you had any bad/scary experiences caching? Not sure you would call it bad. Maybe “Exciting” would be a better term. I am allergic to bees. My geobuddy and I were doing a cache in a highly wooded area. The cache started out in a park. There were signs all over the place which read, “Bee Careful”. We made the cache find without incident, but on the way back my geobuddy found the bee’s nest. He thought it would be funny to stir them up and run. I was quite a bit down the trail when my friend came ZOOOOOOOOOMING past me. It was then I noticed that he was being chased by several hundred bees. (Yes, that is probably a stretch of the true number). In all the years I have known my friend (Probably close to 30 years), I have never outrun him…. EVER….until that day. When we got back to the car there were bees still clinging to his sweat shirt, trying to sting him. I was amazed, not even one bee tried to bother me. I guess they knew I had nothing to do with the incursion. 4. What is the #1 reason you geocache? To add some additional incentives to my hiking. Also, it is a great source of exercise during the week. 5. Do you prefer to hunt or hide? I love the hunt. But, I also like to think of creative cache ideas and locations. 6. What was your favorite cache place? Why? I love caching along the Columbia River Gorge. This area has to be one of the most beautiful in the world and I have been around. 7. What was your worst cache? Why? I don’t have a worst cache, but I will say that I don’t like caches that are located in exposed places. For example: In schoolyards or along streets. I have decided that I am going to pass on those from now on. There is nothing wrong with a cache that is hidden in a park where you have to be stealthy. 8. Have you ever attended a cache event? Not yet. But I have only been doing this since June 07. 9. Tell me your best caching story? I don’t have a best. I have had a great amount of fun doing them all. I think my worst caching experience is when I do them alone. I much prefer to cache with my “Geo-Buddies”.