OEnavigators

I was wondering the same thing. Thanks for the advice

A friend of mine mentioned it to me several years ago. I thought he was talking about some kind of scavenger hunt and didn't pay much attention. I stumbled across it a couple times on the net and after purchasing a GPSr for hiking I thought I'd check it out. I somehow missed the warning about this hobby becoming an obsession. After that first cache we were hooked!

If you're as lucky as we are, wondering around with your family acting like tourists works great. Acting official works great too. Most people don't want to know what you're up to. They're absorbed in whatever they themselves are doing and want to steer clear. Just don't look suspicious! Be sure to carry brochures just in case someone does approach you.

Being new I have a question about the proper etiquette for claiming first to find. My son and I often cache together and are occasionally lucky enough to be able to be the first to a cache. We usually take turns on being FTF but can we both claim it? That would be neat if we could and would put an end to the inevitable rock, paper, scissors battle that ensues.

We always carry the brochures when we go out caching. I saw the muggle cards you mentioned being sold on a website somewhere. We print up our own on business (muggle) cards with a brief explanation of geocaching and the web address.

I'm not a premium member (yet) but I see no problem with it. So much on this website is free I wouldn't mind paying the money just for the services I get now.

We don't hunt micros all that often because the majority do seem to be rather dull. Lift a skirt lately? We have found some really creative ones attached to fake flowers and such. I do understand that sometimes you just can't get that creative with a container so I thought that making the hunt more entertaining would be preferable. GC1454P and GC13YZJ

I've read through about three pages of this thread and I'm completely overwhelmed. Are all threads this negative? I by no means claim to have learned all there is to know about playing this game but I do know that I have children. As a father of four I can sympathize, for some of you that means to understand the feelings of others. I applaud Jeep Dog for taking his kids to enjoy the outdoors even with such allergies. I don't think it a problem at all to list what sort of container you used on a listing. An adult cacher can care for themselves just fine but children can't. I know the minute my kids think a cache may be located somewhere they almost run me over to get it If I ever use a PB&J jar for a hide I'll be sure to note it in my description. Although the bears around here would probably log the FTF!

Can't go wrong with rechargeable batteries. Unless like me you've been known to leave the spares back home.

All the time.

That's your best bet when first beginning to hike after caches. You could start with going after caches on established trails that will not require any bushwhacking. That will allow you to test how comfortable you are with any given distance. My family and I were hiking before we ever started to go geocaching. It is too much fun to go off in the woods.My four year old twins can hike two miles without a complaint, and that's without any trail. Peterson publishes some really good guides on a variety of topics. They are also very user friendly. Be sure to read the posts about what you need to carry along with you. Two things you will have to have are plenty of water and a trusty hiking stick.(not one of those poles). You'll find that once you have found some caches hidden in the woods that those urban micros can be a little dull. Enjoy!

It would be subjective, but it would be a great tool. Maybe they could have categories separating caches according to category ( best urban micros, rural hikes, parks, etc.)

You can print these for free: http://www.ukgeocachers.co.uk/downloads.php

Ah. The fresh dry paper. Crisp and not crumpled up from all the cachers before you. The empty log. That's the best part. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if I found a GPSr though

Good Idea!

Caching in my area seems to be pretty stagnant. The local forums are very slow also. It isn't unusual for a new cache(when there is one) to go more than a week without anyone finding it. I hope it's because of the summer and vacations, etc.

My wife and I are both 35.( I am sure glad she doesn't read the forums ) Oldest son explorerJ is 12, middle son is 6, and the twins are 4 (boy/girl) She looks older though!

I've only placed a few caches and have been just as frustrated with being too close to another cache. I recently had one refused because it violated the guideline by 33ft. I don't blame the reviewer though. They play the game just the same as we do. I don't know a cacher one who doesn't like to see new caches! They WORK for no pay and an often thankless job. They are only human and entitled to make a few mistakes.

Same here.

Abiectio is right. There are a lot of great cachers in the Little Rock area. Posting a note on the ArkGeo forums would be the best place to start. I've asked several questions there and they have been very helpful.