HitsMan and Chris

Have you found a great cache placed in 2004 that you think deserves to be nominated? Submit your nominations in the nominations thread over here: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=64812

I'll start off the 2004 nominations with a nomination for: The Nautilus Effect by Tixo (GCHNW2) http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...d0-7abef762250c in the following categories: Best Camouflaged Cache Best Traditional Cache (Micro size) If you agree, please "second" this nomination so that it may be eligible for the final ballot at the end of the year.

The 1st annual Best of Los Angeles geocaches (2003) was a great success: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=64810 For 2004, you can submit your nominations throughout the year. Please use this thread to do so. Here are the guidelines: Caches must have been placed within the calendar year (Jan. 1, 2004 to Dec. 31, 2004), except for the Hall of Fame cache. Caches must be located within 60 miles of downtown Los Angeles (N 34.05222, W 118.24278). Caches must be active at the time of the nomination. You must have logged a find to a cache in order to nominate it. Nominate as many caches as you like, including ones that have already been nominated. Caches must be nominated by at least two geocachers to be eligible for the final "Best of" ballot (unless there are fewer than two caches with multiple nominations in a category). No self-nominations (cachers may not nominate caches they placed). Nominations are open until the end of the year. Final voting will happen in January. All participation is optional. Any competition must be kept friendly and positive. Categories Below are the categories from 2003. Please feel free to suggest a new category as well. If there is significant interest and nominees in a new category, we will add it. Most Scenic Most Challenging Best Theme Best Hard Terrain (Terrain rating >=2.5) Best Cache that Got You to a Great Place You'd Never Been Best Educational Best Camouflaged Most Innovative Funniest Best Los Angeles Showcase (Cache for Tourists) Best Home for Travel Bugs Best Traditional (Regular size) Best Traditional (Micro size) Best Virtual Best Multi-cache Best Mystery/Puzzle Most Visited (awarded to the cache with the most finds in 2004) Best Locationless/Reverse Cacher's Choice: Favorite Cache Overall Cache Hall of Fame award (Awarded to a cache placed at least two years ago (before 1/1/2003) that is still active)

The votes have been tallied, and here are the results of the Best of Los Angeles 2003 geocaching awards. Congratulations and thank you to all who voted, were nominated, and won. Thank you also to all who placed new caches in 2003. This sport would be boring without you! All nominees are sorted in descending order of number of votes received. Most Scenic cache: (WINNER) Duck Rock / fireball1 / GCH8ZG - Hollywood Views / W6LAX / GCGR4G Most Challenging Cache (WINNER-TIE) RATZZZ......... / Team Dakiba / GCGRQ1 (WINNER-TIE) Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film / DeadReckoner / GCGX16 - Up we go... / sr.hikers / GCG461 - Made you LOOK / ScurvyDog / GCGPP3 Best Themed Cache (WINNER) Rainbow Series / Scott and Jeff / Various - Cache N' Babies / Team Dakiba / GCFA8F - Pressed Penny Cache / Sarah! / GCH4K9 - Local Flavor / Pangaea / GCGGBY - Newport Coasters / The Duckies / GCEB60 - Pin Trader / EMC of Northridge, CA and Doc / GCGJBF - Poetry Cache / Jill and Jeff / GCC70F - Pretty Penny Coin Exchange / Team Pretty Penny / GCGGF4 - PIN EXCHANGE / sr.hikers / GCGJFQ - Freeway Fastlane Penny Trader / DeadReckoner / GCG95Y Best Hard Terrain Cache (Terrain Rating >=2.5) (WINNER) Palos Verdes to Santa Barbara View / Faveral / GCF3B5 - Brand Library Library Cache / Jason Torrey-Payne and Tom Waldrip / GCE187 - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - Passion / Dru Morgan / GCD24B - Rated Wrong / Ventura Kids / GCGKFW - Gotta Cache a Train / Joemandoo & Redheadreb / GCD5ED - Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow / Bud Ugly & Parrot Head / GCEB20 - Strange Fruit / ucspots / GCCB9F - The Louis Phillips Cache / Milan & Dan / GCC7E6 Best Cache that Got You to a Great Place You'd Never Been (WINNER) The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - Johnson's Gate / Trogdor!! / GCG9CV - Fort Wildwood / Team Dakiba / GCG7ZT - Hollywood Views / W6LAX / GCGR4G - Baby Duck Micro / Vacman / GCGT78 - Strange Fruit / ucspots / GCCB9F - Up we go... / sr.hikers / GCG461 - Valley Flyers / W6LAX / GCGT0D - Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow / Bud Ugly & Parrot Head / GCEB20 - Rick's Rocks / Drew, Rick, James, Steve, and Jay / GCG7N2 - SJC Eagle Loop Trail / ^Martin^ / GCBC78 - Strawberry Peak / moosecow / GCCBA3 - The Enchanted Wedding Chair / CAKoala / GCH53P Best Educational Cache (WINNER) Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film / DeadReckoner / GCGX16 - Palos Verdes to Santa Barbara View / faveral / GCF3B5 - Only on Sunday / stantastic and Merry Merry / GCGCPQ Best Camouflaged Cache (WINNER) I Meant to Stump You / MobilDave / GCGN0F - Shop and Cache 2 / Team Dakiba / GCD1AF - DaVinci Code Cache II / sr. hikers / GCHAY1 - ScurvyDog's Got Rabies / ScurvyDog / GCGBGQ - The Lawn Chair Cache / SpeleoCat / GCG10Q Most Innovative Cache (WINNER) Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film / DeadReckoner / GCGX16 - ScurvyDog's Got Rabies / ScurvyDog / GCGBGQ Funniest Cache (WINNER) Boring, But Funny / MobilDave, LuckyEm and the Reece Man / GCGJHQ - Holey Hippo / Hopscotch / GCGKBH - Our Country's Colors / Scurvydog / GCEEB9 Best Los Angeles Showcase (Cache for Tourists) (WINNER) Walk of Fame / Dru Morgan / GCDD22 - Hollywood Views / W6LAX / GCGR4G - Eternal Fame - Forest Lawn Glendale (Tour) / Brainerd / GCG8MM - Simply Santa Monica v2 / Snapplez / GCDC83 - Huntington's Ark / Mannings / GCG2T3 Best Home for Travel Bugs (WINNER) Dancing with a Barefoot Geek / Team Dakiba / GCH67Z - Wildwood Minarets Travel Bug Resort / Scott & Jeff / GCH7H1 - ONT Travel Bug Ground Control / Crims0ngh0st & AcjLady / GCG201 - Travel Bug Terminal / John & Donna / GCC341 Best Traditional Cache (Regular size) (WINNER) Old Nellie / Team Dakiba / GCCD22 - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - Hollywood Views / W6LAX / GCGR4G - Pot of Gold / Scott & Jeff / GCGGN9 - What's Here Now, Dear? / Team Dakiba / GCGV20 - Dancing with a Barefoot Geek / Team Dakiba / GCH67Z - The Enchanted Wedding Chair / CAKoala / GCH53P - AFW Gold Box Memorial / awwalter / GCG28N - Hop, Skip, and Jump? / Moag Ohana / GCGWVF - Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow / Bud Ugly & Parrot Head / GCEB20 - The Power of Radio / usafrsq/wb6anp / GCEB04 - Trail Builders Tribute / CAKoala / GCH6WK Best Traditional Cache (Micro size) (WINNER) Trigger / Team Dakiba / GCCD1D - Rabbit on Drugs / Morty's Twisted World / GCF6E9 Best Virtual Cache (WINNER) Pushing Tin LAX / IFISHAZ / GCGDTF - Only on Sunday / stantastic and Merry Merry / GCGCPQ Best Multi-cache (WINNER) Key to the Treasure / TRUROKR / GCF8AA - Apples on Oaks / Campyc / GCC1FD - Geo-Stationery Cache / DeadReckoner / GCGCNZ - Many Signal Hill Views / Kevin and Susan / GCG67H - Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film / DeadReckoner / GCGX16 - Around the Hill in 30 miles or Less / Vacman / GCF6DF - Back 'n Forth / Bad Latitude / GCGAEK - Gold Line Cache / walltar / GCGJ30 - Made You Look / ScurvyDog / GCGPP3 - Paracache / Westside Snikers / GCD1AC - Save Mikey, Be A Hero / Zombie Tribe / GCE13B - A Walk on the Wild Side / Cache Collectors / GCC63A - Wizard of Oz / Baby Sparkle / GCGX44 Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache (WINNER) A Night to Remember - Difficult / Spider Dude and Ventura_kids / GC8062 - Career Opportunity Field Agent / OtisPug / GCGH18 - Hide and Seek #1 / JudgeCrater / GC2AB2 - DaVinci Code Cache II / sr. hikers / GCHAY1 - Geo-Stationery Cache / DeadReckoner / GCGCNZ - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - Sounds Good Vkid / Kablooey / GCG9AM Most Visited (awarded to the cache with the most finds in 2003) (WINNER) Travel Bug Terminal / John & Donna / GCC341 Best Locationless/Reverse Cache (WINNER) California's Gold / Paul & Suzanne / GCC52D - Trails from Rails / Jackie and Bob / GCC155 Cacher's Choice: Favorite Cache Overall (WINNER) Fern Gully / TRUROKR / GCGX52 - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - Trigger / Team Dakiba / GCCD1D - I Meant to Stump You / Mobildave / GCGN0F - A Night to Remember - Easy / Spider Dude and Ventura Kids / GC7285 - Pot of Gold / Scott & Jeff / GCGGN9 Cache Hall of Fame award (Awarded to a cache placed at least two years ago (before 1/1/2002) that is still active) (WINNER) Wodden Hand / Ray Hoese, Mark Estes, Geoff Sims, Adrian Gut / GC1C70 / 22-Jan-2001 - The Official Slumbo Art Cache / Slumbo, Tbagtim / GC948 / 13-May-2001 - Malaga View - Humbys Cache #2 / Humbys / GC2E77 / 28-Dec-2001 - Coldwater Cache / Allstar86 / GC1B3D / 4-Sep-2001 - Echo Mountain / Saros / GC2ACC / 1-Dec-2001 - United We Stand / Lizard Man / GC1E09 / 21-Sep-2001 - Agent BOXCAR resupply / WOWS / GC2D0E / 17-Dec-2001 - Where there's smoke... / DredPirateRoberts / GC1092 / 14-Jul-2001 - Double Decrypt / JerryB / GC21ED / 12-Oct-2001 - Mt. Chapel / Saros / GC2CA9 / 16-Dec-2001 - Mt. Lowe / John & Donna and Slipper / GC1A8F / 2-Sep-2001 - Stone Quarter Rash Cache / Ugly Brothers & Kinder / GC29A2 / 23-Nov-2001 - The Cabin Cache / Bud Ugly, Big Ugly & sons / GC2F1 / 17-Feb-2001 Here's to a 2004 full of great caches! Stay tuned, as I will soon be posting a thread to accept nominations for Best of Los Angeles 2004 throughout the year.

Clearly, if logs were enough, cachers wouldn't keep bringing up the request for ratings. Yes, we know that logs are there are are useful. For some cachers, logs are sufficient. But for others, they are not. You may not be able to relate to the need, but that's OK. Once we have ratings, everyone will have the option whether or not to use them.

I organized the Best of Los Angeles 2003 geocaches. I took nominations from cachers and then votes for the best in a variety of categories. It wasn't a perfect objective contest, but I got tons of great feedback from folks who expressed great appreciation for it. Even some naysayers who I didn't think would get into it ended up participating. As a result, we have a list of truly great caches to visit around L.A. No system is perfect. Get over it. For those who don't like it. Don't use it. For those who do want some way of recognizing great caches, keep asking for it. Jeremy, this would be a great addition to GC.com! In the meantime, check out my profile page for some of our personal all-time favorites. I encourage others to do the same, although it would be a lot easier if we had tools to promote our favorite caches instead of having to code things manually.

Voting was supposed to close last night. I didn't get to post a reminder before the deadline. In the interest of including as many caches as possible, I will still count your votes if you get them in to me by midnight tonight. So, if you haven't voted yet, send your votes to hitsman@yahoo.com now and you could be the deciding vote (yes, as of now, there are several ties).

Nominations for the Best of 2003 LA Geocaches awards have closed, and it's time to vote on the winners. In light of the amount of nominations received, some minor changes have been made to the rules (I know, I don't like rule changing either, but it's the first year, we're still figuring it out, and this is all for fun, so no need to get uptight about it). Some categories did not have at least two caches with multiple nominations. In those cases, I've included all nominees for the final vote. All other categories are restricted to caches with multiple nominations. Also, caches are eligible in an unlimited amount of categories. To vote, email hitsman@yahoo.com with your single pick for each category. It is not required that you vote in every category. Please don't vote for a cache you haven't visited. Voting will close January 31. After that, I'll tally the votes and post the winners. Thanks to all who nominated caches, and congratulations to all who placed caches that were nominated. Now on to the nominees... Most Scenic Cache - Duck Rock / fireball1 / GCH8ZG - Hollywood Views / W6LAX / GCGR4G Most Challenging Cache - Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film / DeadReckoner / GCGX16 - Made you LOOK / ScurvyDog / GCGPP3 - RATZZZ......... / Team Dakiba / GCGRQ1 - Up we go... / sr.hikers / GCG461 Best Themed Cache - Cache N' Babies / Team Dakiba / GCFA8F - Freeway Fastlane Penny Trader / DeadReckoner / GCG95Y - Local Flavor / Pangaea / GCGGBY - Newport Coasters / The Duckies / GCEB60 - PIN EXCHANGE / sr.hikers / GCGJFQ - Pin Trader / EMC of Northridge, CA and Doc / GCGJBF - Poetry Cache / Jill and Jeff / GCC70F - Pressed Penny Cache / Sarah! / GCH4K9 - Pretty Penny Coin Exchange / Team Pretty Penny / GCGGF4 - Rainbow Series / Scott and Jeff / Various Best Hard Terrain Cache (Terrain Rating >=2.5) - Palos Verdes to Santa Barbara View / Faveral / GCF3B5 - Brand Library Library Cache / Jason Torrey-Payne and Tom Waldrip / GCE187 - Gotta Cache a Train / Joemandoo & Redheadreb / GCD5ED - Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow / Bud Ugly & Parrot Head / GCEB20 - Passion / Dru Morgan / GCD24B - Rated Wrong / Ventura Kids / GCGKFW - Strange Fruit / ucspots / GCCB9F - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - The Louis Phillips Cache / Milan & Dan / GCC7E6 Best Cache that Got You to a Great Place You'd Never Been - Up we go... / sr.hikers / GCG461 - Baby Duck Micro / Vacman / GCGT78 - Fort Wildwood / Team Dakiba / GCG7ZT - Hollywood Views / W6LAX / GCGR4G - Johnson's Gate / Trogdor!! / GCG9CV - Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow / Bud Ugly & Parrot Head / GCEB20 - Rick's Rocks / Drew, Rick, James, Steve, and Jay / GCG7N2 - SJC Eagle Loop Trail / ^Martin^ / GCBC78 - Strange Fruit / ucspots / GCCB9F - Strawberry Peak / moosecow / GCCBA3 - The Enchanted Wedding Chair / CAKoala / GCH53P - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - Valley Flyers / W6LAX / GCGT0D Best Educational Cache - Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film / DeadReckoner / GCGX16 - Only on Sunday / stantastic and Merry Merry / GCGCPQ - Palos Verdes to Santa Barbara View / faveral / GCF3B5 Best Camouflaged Cache - I Meant to Stump You / MobilDave / GCGN0F - DaVinci Code Cache II / sr. hikers / GCHAY1 - ScurvyDog's Got Rabies / ScurvyDog / GCGBGQ - Shop and Cache 2 / Team Dakiba / GCD1AF - The Lawn Chair Cache / SpeleoCat / GCG10Q Most Innovative Cache - Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film / DeadReckoner / GCGX16 - ScurvyDog's Got Rabies / ScurvyDog / GCGBGQ Funniest Cache - Holey Hippo / Hopscotch / GCGKBH - Boring, But Funny / MobilDave, LuckyEm and the Reece Man / GCGJHQ - Our Country's Colors / Scurvydog / GCEEB9 Best Los Angeles Showcase (Cache for Tourists) - Hollywood Views / W6LAX / GCGR4G - Eternal Fame - Forest Lawn Glendale (Tour) / Brainerd / GCG8MM - Huntington's Ark / Mannings / GCG2T3 - Simply Santa Monica v2 / Snapplez / GCDC83 - Walk of Fame / Dru Morgan / GCDD22 Best Home for Travel Bugs - ONT Travel Bug Ground Control / Crims0ngh0st & AcjLady / GCG201 - Travel Bug Terminal / John & Donna / GCC341 - Dancing with a Barefoot Geek / Team Dakiba / GCH67Z - Wildwood Minarets Travel Bug Resort / Scott & Jeff / GCH7H1 Best Traditional Cache (Regular size) - Hollywood Views / W6LAX / GCGR4G - AFW Gold Box Memorial / awwalter / GCG28N - Dancing with a Barefoot Geek / Team Dakiba / GCH67Z - Hop, Skip, and Jump? / Moag Ohana / GCGWVF - Old Nellie / Team Dakiba / GCCD22 - Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow / Bud Ugly & Parrot Head / GCEB20 - Pot of Gold / Scott & Jeff / GCGGN9 - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - The Enchanted Wedding Chair / CAKoala / GCH53P - The Power of Radio / usafrsq/wb6anp / GCEB04 - Trail Builders Tribute / CAKoala / GCH6WK - What's Here Now, Dear? / Team Dakiba / GCGV20 Best Traditional Cache (Micro size) - Rabbit on Drugs / Morty's Twisted World / GCF6E9 - Trigger / Team Dakiba / GCCD1D Best Virtual Cache - Only on Sunday / stantastic and Merry Merry / GCGCPQ - Pushing Tin LAX / IFISHAZ / GCGDTF Best Multi-cache - Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film / DeadReckoner / GCGX16 - A Walk on the Wild Side / Cache Collectors / GCC63A - Apples on Oaks / Campyc / GCC1FD - Around the Hill in 30 miles or Less / Vacman / GCF6DF - Back 'n Forth / Bad Latitude / GCGAEK - Geo-Stationery Cache / DeadReckoner / GCGCNZ - Gold Line Cache / walltar / GCGJ30 - Key to the Treasure / TRUROKR / GCF8AA - Made You Look / ScurvyDog / GCGPP3 - Many Signal Hill Views / Kevin and Susan / GCG67H - Paracache / Westside Snikers / GCD1AC - Save Mikey, Be A Hero / Zombie Tribe / GCE13B - Wizard of Oz / Baby Sparkle / GCGX44 Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - A Night to Remember - Difficult / Spider Dude and Ventura_kids / GC8062 - Career Opportunity Field Agent / OtisPug / GCGH18 - DaVinci Code Cache II / sr. hikers / GCHAY1 - Geo-Stationery Cache / DeadReckoner / GCGCNZ - Hide and Seek #1 / JudgeCrater / GC2AB2 - Sounds Good Vkid / Kablooey / GCG9AM Most Visited (awarded to the cache with the most finds in 2003) (If anyone can determine that a 2003 cache has more than 109 finds in 2003, let me know, otherwise it will go to Travel Bug Terminal / John & Donna / GCC341) Best Locationless/Reverse Cache - California's Gold / Paul & Suzanne / GCC52D - Trails from Rails / Jackie and Bob / GCC155 Cacher's Choice: Favorite Cache Overall - The Chamber of Secrets / The Edenites / GCGF2R - A Night to Remember - Easy / Spider Dude and Ventura Kids / GC7285 - Fern Gully / TRUROKR / GCGX52 - I Meant to Stump You / Mobildave / GCGN0F - Pot of Gold / Scott & Jeff / GCGGN9 - Trigger / Team Dakiba / GCCD1D Cache Hall of Fame award (Awarded to a cache placed at least two years ago (before 1/1/2002) that is still active) - Malaga View - Humbys Cache #2 / Humbys / GC2E77 / 28-Dec-2001 - Agent BOXCAR resupply / WOWS / GC2D0E / 17-Dec-2001 - Coldwater Cache / Allstar86 / GC1B3D / 4-Sep-2001 - Double Decrypt / JerryB / GC21ED / 12-Oct-2001 - Echo Mountain / Saros / GC2ACC / 1-Dec-2001 - Mt. Chapel / Saros / GC2CA9 / 16-Dec-2001 - Mt. Lowe / John & Donna and Slipper / GC1A8F / 2-Sep-2001 - Stone Quarter Rash Cache / Ugly Brothers & Kinder / GC29A2 / 23-Nov-2001 - The Cabin Cache / Bud Ugly, Big Ugly & sons / GC2F1 / 17-Feb-2001 - The Official Slumbo Art Cache / Slumbo, Tbagtim / GC948 / 13-May-2001 - United We Stand / Lizard Man / GC1E09 / 21-Sep-2001 - Where there's smoke... / DredPirateRoberts / GC1092 / 14-Jul-2001 - Wodden Hand / Ray Hoese, Mark Estes, Geoff Sims, Adrian Gut / GC1C70 / 22-Jan-2001 When you're done voting, send this to another cacher and encourage them to vote as well!

Next Wednesday (12/31) is your last chance to get your nominations in. Please review the categories and submission instructions above and send in your nominations today!

The nominations have been updated with the latest submissions. Remember, a cache needs to have at least 2 nominations (from separate cachers) in a category to be eligible for the final ballot. Post your nominations here, or send an email to hitsman@yahoo.com Most Scenic Cache 360 Degree View/Jozai /GCH1Y8 Rocket View Cache/TSchaal /GCGECC Brand Library Library Cache/Jason Torrey-Payne and Tom Waldrip /GCE187 Hollywood Views/W6LAX/GCGR4G Palos Verdes to Santa Barbara View/Faveral/GCF3B5 Johnson's Gate/Trogdor!!/GCG9CV A View of This and That/Vacman/GCGE92 Most Challenging Cache Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film/DeadReckoner /GCGX16 Ali’s Cannon Park Cache/Ali, Thom (Parrot Head) & Bud Ugly/GCCCE4 Cigam at the Far End of the Spectrum/cigam_mai/GCE8CD Cigam Has A Better Idea /cigam_mai /GCG84A Made you LOOK /ScurvyDog /GCGPP3 RATZZZ......... /Team Dakiba /GCGRQ1 Up we go... /sr.hikers /GCG461 Career Opportunity Field Agent /OtisPug /GCGH18 Passion/Dru Morgan/GCD24B Briggs/Morty's Twisted World/GCG1MY Best Themed Cache Newport Coasters /The Duckies/ GCEB60 PIN EXCHANGE /sr.hikers /GCGJFQ Pressed Penny Cache /Sarah! /GCH4K9 Poetry Cache /Jill and Jeff/GCC70F Freeway Fastlane Penny Trader /DeadReckoner/GCG95Y Cache N' Babies/Team Dakiba/GCFA8F Pin Trader/EMC of Northridge, CA and Doc/GCGJBF Local Flavor/Pangaea/GCGGBY Best Hard Terrain Cache (Terrain Rating>=2.5) Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow /Bud Ugly & Parrot Head /GCEB20 Brand Library Library Cache /Jason Torrey-Payne and Tom Waldrip /GCE187 Strange Fruit /ucspots/GCCB9F The Chamber of Secrets /The Edenites /GCGF2R Palos Verdes to Santa Barbara View/Faveral/GCF3B5 Passion/Dru Morgan/GCD24B The Louis Phillips Cache/Milan & Dan/GCC7E6 Best Cache that Got to You a Great Place You'd Never Been Up we go... /sr.hikers /GCG461 Valley Flyers /W6LAX /GCGT0D Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow /Bud Ugly & Parrot Head /GCEB20 Strawberry Peak /moosecow /GCCBA3 Strange Fruit /ucspots/GCCB9F The Enchanted Wedding Chair /CAKoala/GCH53P Hollywood Views /W6LAX/GCGR4G Rick's Rocks /Drew, Rick, James, Steve, and Jay/GCG7N2 SJC Eagle Loop Trail /^Martin^/GCBC78 Johnson's Gate/Trogdor!!/GCG9CV The Chamber of Secrets /The Edenites /GCGF2R Best Educational Cache Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film/DeadReckoner /GCGX16 California 9-11 /Brainerd /GCGNCF Helms Bakery/EMC of Northridge, CA /GCGKVV Geo-Stationery Cache /DeadReckoner/GCGCNZ Only on Sunday/stantastic and Merry Merry/GCGCPQ Best Camouflaged Cache Cigam at the Far End of the Spectrum /cigam_mai/GCE8CD Rabbit on Drugs /Morty's Twisted World /GCF6E9 RATZZZ......…/Team Dakiba /GCGRQ1 ScurvyDog's Got Rabies/ScurvyDog /GCGBGQ Shop and Cache 2/Team Dakiba /GCD1AF Sixth Wave/EMC of Northridge, CA /GCGXM4 Sticky Monkey /Morty's Twisted World /GCEC6D We Are Family /Cache Collectors /GCG8QB The Lawn Chair Cache /SpeleoCat/GCG10Q Those Screwy Surfers by Team NOB/Team NOB/GCG0Q6 I Meant to Stump You/MobilDave/GCGN0F Trigger/Team Dakiba /GCCD1D Most Innovative Cache Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film/DeadReckoner /GCGX16 Great Stories of Science Fiction /Brainerd /GCGD01 The Old Sunkist Plant/Side Show Bob /GCG2BR ScurvyDog's Got Rabies/ScurvyDog /GCGBGQ Geo-Stationery Cache /DeadReckoner/GCGCNZ Trigger/Team Dakiba /GCCD1D Ponderosa/Team Dakiba /GCCD20 We Are Family /Cache Collectors /GCG8QB Funniest Cache Boring, But Funny/MobilDave, LuckyEm and the Reece Man /GCGJHQ Holey Hippo/Hopscotch /GCGKBH Our Country's Colors/Scurvydog /GCEEB9 Sticky Monkey /Morty's Twisted World /GCEC6D Water Works Union/MobilDave and the ReeceMan/GCGK2E Urban Macro/EMC of Northridge, CA/GCH7PF Best Los Angeles Showcase (Cache for Tourists) Walk of Fame/Dru Morgan /GCDD22 Hollywood Views /W6LAX/GCGR4G Huntington's Ark /Mannings/GCG2T3 Simply Santa Monica v2/Snapplez/GCDC83 Eternal Fame - Forest Lawn Glendale (Tour)/Brainerd/GCG8MM Most Visited Cache Best Home for Travel Bugs ONT Travel Bug Ground Control/Crims0ngh0st & AcjLady /GCG201 Travel Bug Terminal/John & Donna /GCC341 Dancing with a Barefoot Geek /Team Dakiba/GCH67Z Best Traditional Cache (Regular size) Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow /Bud Ugly & Parrot Head /GCEB20 Hollywood Views /W6LAX/GCGR4G The Chamber of Secrets /The Edenites /GCGF2R Dancing with a Barefoot Geek /Team Dakiba/GCH67Z Trail Builders Tribute /CAKoala/GCH6WK The Enchanted Wedding Chair /CAKoala/GCH53P Old Nellie/Team Dakiba/GCCD22 The Power of Radio/usafrsq/wb6anp/GCEB04 Hop, Skip, and Jump?/Moag Ohana/GCGWVF Best Traditional Cache (Micro size) Rabbit on Drugs/Morty's Twisted World /GCF6E9 A Walk on the Wayside /LarsThorwald/GCCF0E Freeway Fastlane Penny Trader /DeadReckoner/GCG95Y San Gabriel Peak Micro /mph6563/GCEF4A Pepper Cone /Team Dakiba /GCGGF1 Trigger/Team Dakiba /GCCD1D ScurvyDog Visits Rancho Cucamonga/ScurvyDog/GCGTVV Best Virtual Cache Pushing Tin LAX/IFISHAZ /GCGDTF Mt. Lowe Preamble /Bud Ugly/GCE342 Career Opportunity Field Agent/OtisPug/GCGH18 Only on Sunday/stantastic and Merry Merry/GCGCPQ Best Multi-cache Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film/DeadReckoner /GCGX16 Made You Look /ScurvyDog /GCGPP3 Gold Line Cache/walltar /GCGJ30 Geo-Stationery Cache /DeadReckoner/GCGCNZ Many Signal Hill Views /Kevin and Susan /GCG67H Paracache/Westside Snikers/GCD1AC A Walk on the Wild Side/Cache Collectors/GCC63A Save Mikey, Be A Hero/Zombie Tribe/GCE13B Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache Geo-Stationery Cache /DeadReckoner/GCGCNZ The Chamber of Secrets /The Edenites /GCGF2R A Night to Remember - Difficult/Spider Dude and Ventura_kids/GC8062 Career Opportunity Field Agent /OtisPug /GCGH18 Best Locationless/Reverse Cache California's Gold /Paul & Suzanne /GCC52D Trails from Rails /Jackie and Bob /GCC155 Cacher's Choice: Favorite Cache Overall Trigger/Team Dakiba /GCCD1D The Chamber of Secrets /The Edenites /GCGF2R A Night to Remember - Easy/Spider Dude and Ventura Kids/GC7285 Cache Hall of Fame award (Awarded to a cache more placed at least two years ago (before 1/1/2002) that is still active) Coldwater Cache /Allstar86 /GC1B3D Malaga View - Humbys Cache #2 /Humbys /GC2E77 Where there's smoke... /DredPirateRoberts/GC1092 Echo Mountain /Saros/GC2ACC Stone Quarter Rash Cache /Ugly Brothers & Kinder/GC29A2 Mt. Lowe/John & Donna and Slipper /GC1A8F The Cabin Cache /Bud Ugly, Big Ugly & sons /GC2F1 Double Decrypt /JerryB/GC21ED Agent BOXCAR resupply /WOWS/GC2D0E Mt. Chapel/Saros/GC2CA9

We're soliciting nominations for the 1st annual "Best of Los Angeles" geocaches (2003). The purpose of the BoLA program is to recognize the geocachers who brought us some really great caches over the past year. Think of it like the Oscars for Los Angeles area geocaching. Nominations are open to any geocaches that meet the guidelines below. Here are the guidelines: Caches must have been placed within the calendar year (Jan. 1, 2003 to Dec. 31, 2003). Caches must be located within 60 miles of downtown Los Angeles (N 34.05222, W 118.24278). Caches must be active at the time of the nomination. You must have logged a visit to a cache in order to nominate it. Nominate as many caches as you like, including ones that have already been nominated. Caches must be nominated by at least two geocachers to be eligible for the final "Best of" ballot. No self-nominations (cachers may not nominate caches they placed). If a cache is nominated in more than 2 categories, the cache will be eligible only in the 2 categories for which it receives the most nominations. Nominations are open until the end of the year. Final voting will happen in January. All cachers who submit at least one nomination will be eligible to vote among the final nominees. All participation is optional. Any competition must be kept friendly and positive. To nominate your own favorites, simply review your logs (http://www.geocaching.com/my/default.asp?alllogs=y) and provide with the following information for each cache you'd like to nominate: Cache name and/or waypoint Category or categories for which you'd like to nominate the cache Please check the date placed to make sure it meets the guidelines above. You can submit nominations via email at hitsman@yahoo.com or through this form: http://www.doghike.org/bola/ Here are the categories and nominees so far: Most Scenic Cache 360 Degree View/Jozai /GCH1Y8 Rocket View Cache/TSchaal /GCGECC Brand Library Library Cache/Jason Torrey-Payne and Tom Waldrip /GCE187 Hollywood Views/W6LAX/GCGR4G Most Challenging Cache Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film/DeadReckoner /GCGX16 Ali’s Cannon Park Cache/Ali, Thom (Parrot Head) & Bud Ugly/GCCCE4 Cigam at the Far End of the Spectrum/cigam_mai/GCE8CD Cigam Has A Better Idea /cigam_mai /GCG84A Made you LOOK /ScurvyDog /GCGPP3 RATZZZ......... /Team Dakiba /GCGRQ1 Up we go... /sr.hikers /GCG461 Career Opportunity Field Agent /OtisPug /GCGH18 Best Themed Cache Newport Coasters /The Duckies/ GCEB60 PIN EXCHANGE /sr.hikers /GCGJFQ Pressed Penny Cache /Sarah! /GCH4K9 Poetry Cache /Jill and Jeff/GCC70F Freeway Fastlane Penny Trader /DeadReckoner/GCG95Y Best Hard Terrain Cache (Terrain Rating>=2.5) Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow /Bud Ugly & Parrot Head /GCEB20 Brand Library Library Cache /Jason Torrey-Payne and Tom Waldrip /GCE187 Strange Fruit /ucspots/GCCB9F The Chamber of Secrets /The Edenites /GCGF2R Best Cache that Got to You a Great Place You'd Never Been Up we go... /sr.hikers /GCG461 Valley Flyers /W6LAX /GCGT0D Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow /Bud Ugly & Parrot Head /GCEB20 Strawberry Peak /moosecow /GCCBA3 Strange Fruit /ucspots/GCCB9F The Enchanted Wedding Chair /CAKoala/GCH53P Hollywood Views /W6LAX/GCGR4G Rick's Rocks /Drew, Rick, James, Steve, and Jay/GCG7N2 SJC Eagle Loop Trail /^Martin^/GCBC78 Best Educational Cache Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film/DeadReckoner /GCGX16 California 9-11 /Brainerd /GCGNCF Helms Bakery/EMC of Northridge, CA /GCGKVV Geo-Stationery Cache /DeadReckoner/GCGCNZ Only on Sunday/stantastic and Merry Merry/GCGCPQ Best Camouflaged Cache Cigam at the Far End of the Spectrum /cigam_mai/GCE8CD Rabbit on Drugs /Morty's Twisted World /GCF6E9 RATZZZ......…/Team Dakiba /GCGRQ1 ScurvyDog's Got Rabies/ScurvyDog /GCGBGQ Shop and Cache 2/Team Dakiba /GCD1AF Sixth Wave/EMC of Northridge, CA /GCGXM4 Sticky Monkey /Morty's Twisted World /GCEC6D We Are Family /Cache Collectors /GCG8QB The Lawn Chair Cache /SpeleoCat/GCG10Q Those Screwy Surfers by Team NOB/Team NOB/GCG0Q6 I Meant to Stump You/MobilDave/GCGN0F Most Innovative Cache Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film/DeadReckoner /GCGX16 Great Stories of Science Fiction /Brainerd /GCGD01 The Old Sunkist Plant/Side Show Bob /GCG2BR ScurvyDog's Got Rabies/ScurvyDog /GCGBGQ Geo-Stationery Cache /DeadReckoner/GCGCNZ Funniest Cache Boring, But Funny/MobilDave, LuckyEm and the Reece Man /GCGJHQ Holey Hippo/Hopscotch /GCGKBH Our Country's Colors/Scurvydog /GCEEB9 Sticky Monkey /Morty's Twisted World /GCEC6D Best Los Angeles Showcase (Cache for Tourists) Walk of Fame/Dru Morgan /GCDD22 Hollywood Views /W6LAX/GCGR4G Huntington's Ark /Mannings/GCG2T3 Most Visited Cache Best Home for Travel Bugs ONT Travel Bug Ground Control/Crims0ngh0st & AcjLady /GCG201 Travel Bug Terminal/John & Donna /GCC341 Dancing with a Barefoot Geek /Team Dakiba/GCH67Z Best Traditional Cache (Regular size) Orchard Camp Cache 2 - The Meadow /Bud Ugly & Parrot Head /GCEB20 Hollywood Views /W6LAX/GCGR4G The Chamber of Secrets /The Edenites /GCGF2R Dancing with a Barefoot Geek /Team Dakiba/GCH67Z Trail Builders Tribute /CAKoala/GCH6WK The Enchanted Wedding Chair /CAKoala/GCH53P Best Traditional Cache (Micro size) Rabbit on Drugs/Morty's Twisted World /GCF6E9 A Walk on the Wayside /LarsThorwald/GCCF0E Freeway Fastlane Penny Trader /DeadReckoner/GCG95Y San Gabriel Peak Micro /mph6563/GCEF4A Pepper Cone /Team Dakiba /GCGGF1 Best Virtual Cache Pushing Tin LAX/IFISHAZ /GCGDTF Mt. Lowe Preamble /Bud Ugly/GCE342 Career Opportunity Field Agent/OtisPug/GCGH18 Only on Sunday/stantastic and Merry Merry/GCGCPQ Best Multi-cache Edendale in the Golden Age of Silent Film/DeadReckoner /GCGX16 Made You Look /ScurvyDog /GCGPP3 Gold Line Cache/walltar /GCGJ30 Geo-Stationery Cache /DeadReckoner/GCGCNZ Many Signal Hill Views /Kevin and Susan /GCG67H Best Mystery/Puzzle Cache Geo-Stationery Cache /DeadReckoner/GCGCNZ The Chamber of Secrets /The Edenites /GCGF2R Best Locationless/Reverse Cache California's Gold /Paul & Suzanne /GCC52D Trails from Rails /Jackie and Bob /GCC155 Cacher's Choice: Favorite Cache Overall Cache Hall of Fame award (Awarded to a cache more placed at least two years ago (before 1/1/2002) that is still active) Coldwater Cache /Allstar86 /GC1B3D Malaga View - Humbys Cache #2 /Humbys /GC2E77 Where there's smoke... /DredPirateRoberts/GC1092 Echo Mountain /Saros/GC2ACC Stone Quarter Rash Cache /Ugly Brothers & Kinder/GC29A2 Mt. Lowe/John & Donna and Slipper /GC1A8F The Cabin Cache /Bud Ugly, Big Ugly & sons /GC2F1 Double Decrypt /JerryB/GC21ED Agent BOXCAR resupply /WOWS/GC2D0E Please submit your nominations today, then pass this along to any other area cachers you think might be interested in helping to recognize the best Los Angeles caches of 2003! Sincerely, HitsMan and Chris

Yahoo! Mail's SpamGuard does not misclassify Geocaching.com email as spam. It's also free. http://mail.yahoo.com

Had 4 pocket queries when I checked this mail morning. Thanks!

Me either. 5 paying member complaints so far, and no responses in 14 hours.

Count me in. I have been advocating this idea for a while, and I include a fun index rating in all my logs.

If you don't like a cache, you don't have to do it. It would save everyone time if you did that or emailed the cache owner instead of starting a thread about it.

Neat little maps. I will stick to Pocket queries + Spinner + ExpertGPS though because: 1) They are bigger 2) They are faster 3) They display the names and difficulties next to the caches on the maps

Please see below for an email I sent to Groundspeak. Would be interested in hearing others' opinions on the pros and cons of the topic closing policy on Geocaching.com. quote:Please consider this an official complaint about GC.com's reaction to this thread: http://ubbx.Groundspeak.com/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=5726007311&f=4016058331&m=81460868 My complaint is against those calling this post advertising/commercial and those closing the topic. It is not commercial. It is helpful community information. In fact, I was thrilled to see this thread because I was looking for information about rating caches based on enjoyment. I did a topic search on "fun index" and was excited to read this thread. My excitement turned to anger when I noticed that you killed the thread! Just because a few people consider something commercial and whine, you stop the thread for all? What about those of us who don't consider it commercial? What are the topic ratings for, if not for the community to decide on its own if a thread is good or not? It's easy for those who don't like a thread to ignore it. It's impossible for those who do enjoy a thread to continue doing so when you close it. Instead of closing topics, I would recommend you and your team spend more time educating people about the topic rating system, and leave the majority of thread filtering to the community. I really hope you reconsider these heavy-handed tactics with topic closing. It just makes it look like Groundspeak's commercial interests are OK, but others are not. It's against the spirit of the community.

Geo-Ferrets, you should add a "Fun" rating to your system. I highly endorse the fun index, and include a fun rating in all my found log entries. Helps everyone separate the caches that shouldn't be missed from the ones that are not as creative.

Did you know you can see a list of all caches by a user, regardless of type, sorted by most recently found? Just use this URL: http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?ul=hitsman (and replace hitsman with whatever username you're looking for) The functionality already exists, and I'm not sure why it is not linked to from the user stats tab. I often want to review caches friends have found recently, and I don't know why I need to be forced to filter by type.

Just a reminder... The auction ends tomorrow. The reserve has been met, so it's guaranteed to sell. If you'd like to bid, here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3042199517

quote:Originally posted by rayt333:I guess my point is your price is unrealistic. You made your opinion clear 7 posts ago. For someone who is not interested in this auction, you sure spend a lot of time focused on badmouthing it. If you really weren't interested, you would put your money where your mouth is ("This whole thread is a waste" and "No more time for this banter") and just move on to another thread. By continuing to post here, you're doing nothing but showing everyone you have nothing better to do with your time.

I just did some research on USED eTrex Vista auctions that have completed on eBay since August 10. Here's the list: 8/19 GARMIN eTREX VISTA PERSONAL NAVIGATOR GPS $243.00 8/17 LIke New Garmin eTrex Vista GPS Receiver! $225.00 8/17 Garmin eTrex Vista $250.49 8/17 Etrex Vista used once $230.01 8/15 Garmin Etrex Vista Handheld GPS $256.03 8/15 Etrex Vista # # # Used Once # # # $225.00 8/14 Garmin eTrex Vista GPS unit $247.50 8/12 Garmin eTrex Vista GPS No Reserve $232.50 8/10 Garmin eTrex Vista GPS receiver $251.50 The average final price of those 9 auctions was $240.11. The reserve price on my auction is lower than the closing price on any of these previous auctions. Bid away (if you like)! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3042199517&category=34289

After trolling through messageboards for sometime, I've seen a recurring theme: Geocaching.com is not serving everyone in the Geocaching community. Requests for stats, PDA-friendly web pages, and other features go unfulfilled. Do I expect every request to be? No. Can Geocaching.com be all things to all people? Probably not. This has gotten me thinking. Should Geocaching.com be the only significant option for geocachers to enjoy the hobby? While the GC.com team has done a tremendous job fulfilling most of the needs of the GC community, would it serve the community better to have multiple options? After all, Groundspeak has turned this into a business, and competition is good for business customers. An alternative to Geocaching.com could cater to the needs of specific segments of the community that Groundspeak doesn't want to serve. I've heard people say they are willing to pay more for certain features, yet no option is available for those users to pay for those features. I realize that there are critical mass issues with having another directory of caches, but is this really a natural monopoly? This topic is by no means a slam on the Geocaching.com developers. They do a great job. However, do you think there is a need for an alternative service focused on filling the voids that the Groundspeak folks do not fill? If so, what might the focus of that service be?

The groups solution seems fine, as long as I can join more than one group.