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use the GPS to find the nearest cache and "go to". make sure to take along any cache information you need (i.e a printout of the cache page), a pen to sign the log, and trade items if you find a cache large enough to trade items in. For a newbie start with a cache of terrain and difficulty of less than 2. Build up your skills then take on harder caches. Usually regular or small size caches are good to start on. Micros (film canister size) can be a tad tricky for a newbie. When you have found the cache, sign the logbook, and place the cache back as found. When returning home, logon to the cache page and "log your visit" to post you found the cache. Enjoy the hunt.

you are jsut one of many asking the paperless question. I went three months myself before converting over to be a premium member and going paperless. The geocacher who got me into this used a Palm Zire 31 with the Plucker Software and GPX Spinner. Here is a link to a wesbite to teach you a simpel way to go paperless Geocacher University The first time through is a little slow as you are learning the ropes, but you will gain speed quickly. As for sending files to your GPS from a pocket query, I use EasyGPS. It will open your query and send "to device". In fact some newer versions of Mapsource (for use with Garmins) will do this as well (directly). You will read about GSAK (Geocache Swiss Army Knife) on these forums. Nice, loaded with features, but sometimes it is easier to keep it simple. Also, you get nag screens unless you register it for $25. You will probably also read about Cachemate for paperless caching as well. Full version is $8. Free only lets you load 10 caches. The EasyGPS, and Plucker, adnd GPX SPinner are all free to download and to use. Good luck. The premium membership quickly is paid for by saving toner, paer, and the all important TIME.

You can also use EasyGPS to load your GPS with cache information. While having a PDA is one more item to carry with you, it is easy enough to load using the following lesson from Geocacher University. The first time took a few minutes but now I am an ole pro and only been doing this for 7 months (Paperless for 5).

I mus tbe one of the few out there who uses Plucker (w/ GPX Spinner) for paperless caching. Here is where I learned it from Geocaching University This works great for me. Gives me everything I need to get out there (and stay out there) caching.

I use Netecape COMPOSER to build my cache pages. hasn't failed me yet. Most image hosting is done with img.geocaching.com..... but for a few specific gif files (with motion) I use an e-mail providers web hosting.

Why would you wait 7 years to put it back in play?

...and some won't. If you have a great idea - no need to wait. I have heard this recently as well from reviewers, however I had my first caches out when i had less than 50. I got some ideas around the time I had 25 or so caches. Now that being said, I had a good "teacher" showing mew the ropes and explaining to me the ins and outs of geocaching. I also had experience with the various types of hides by then: traditional, multi, and puzzles. The hardest part of the first caches I put out was setting up the 'bonus" cache of the 6 part series. You find 5 traditionals, get a clue to decrypt and then you can solve for the final coords. One note (at it'll save you greif alter) is to make sure you get good coordinates for your cache. Make sure your GPSr has time to settle down when you get to where you want to place it. Accuracy can be affected by tree cover, cloudy skies, among other factors. Sometimes marking a point, walking away 100 feet and walking back is a good way to see how good your poit is. Take another reading. If you have one of the fancier GPSr, then take a "average reading". Good luck. (545 finds and 30 quality/fun/challenging hides)

usually with a USB to serial cable you should get a disk of drivers that need to be installed. This helps the USB recognize it is doubling as a COM port.

I use a palm Zire 31 (with Memory Card). Use Plucker on the Palm, and GPXSpinner to convert the pocket query.

The more creativity you put into a cache, the more likely you will get fun to read logs. Simple LPC caches don't get much feedback (stories) but they get hit a lot. Whatever you put them out for (numbers or stories), you will get back.

I would leave it up to your brother to determine if he feels okay logging the find without the work. W/ my caching buddy I am the puzzle nerd of the group so i get a lot of the puzzles solved, and he takes the find as well, but there tables have been turned at times. Usually what happens is I solve it and he finds it, literally. Do what you want - it is a game after all.

Check out this mirror cache GC19QWK Can you find the coords?

I did one by an electrical engineer relating to computer number counting. He is a degreed electrical engineer (Double E) as know in the trade. here is cache page GC18XEE He in now way planned it but liked it when i pointed it out. He was hoping he could do relate it to binary but double E works.

You do realize that the reviewer can see the final coordinates, right? So if a reviewer wanted to cheat, they wouldn't need to know how it's solved. They already have the solution. Actually reviewers have to wait before finding puzzle caches. And I doubt they would "cheat". At least n our area that is how it appears. Would degrade the integrity of the game otherwise.

UTM is another coordinate system - your GPS (and map software) should be able to convert between the two. I have a Garmin Vista with Garmin Mapsource. Helped me out on a puzzle cache. Take a look at that. As for puzzles where the owner doesn't help weven with honest effort - Decide for yourself what you want to do. There is one here the owner is no help on so I will skip that one for a while. Maybe a geobuddy can help me out. As an owner of puzzles, I will provide hints if a cacher gives it an honset effort first. Like tell me their method or where they are stuck. Afterall, we all like to find caches, and I like to read their (adventure) logs. just my $0.02 worth.

I second this motion (or thirtd or fourth or whatever). I have a 5 stage multi but made that one close to home in case it needs a fix. There is a 10 stage in the area and very few people do it as it ALWAYS has a stage missing/broken/in need of repair. As with anything in life, use the KISS Principel (no not the band) - Keep It Simple St...... As for 50 waypoints, if you have to ask, you don;t want to know.

I am up to 27 hides now (26 active) and one more coming soon. I have been in this since Aug of 2007. I also enjoy reading the logs that people leave. You really learn about people through the computer to say the least. Fortunately there is plenty of space in our area that other cachers (and there a lot of them) to place caches. one big player archived almost all of his caches about three months ago so that freed up a bunch of space. If I wanted to litter the palce with LPC it owudl not be hard, but I like each cache to be memorable - either because of theme, cache type, or cache container. i have a pretty good mix of traditionals (6) Multis 6 going on 7) and mystery/puzzle caches (15). Each is quite interesting and unique. Feel free to peak. Feel free to cache them if you're ever in the area. best way to get other people to place caches in your area - archive those caches that have long xince served their role - unless there is something really cool about it.

here is mine as of 2-17-2008 N 42° 55.903 W 85° 28.954 If I cache a tad more west I will be in the Thornapple River in the Grand Rapids MI area.

ok the link takes me to a page that talks about that file but not how to download it im so lost lol A window should pop up asking you what to do with the file? Save/Open/Cancel You can also access this file from your "My Account" page on geocaching.com - look for "download geocache browser in google earth" on the right side. That should get you the file

1. You need to have google earth on your computer (which I assume you do or else you wouldn't ask this question). 2. Download the .KML file that pops up with the link. 3. Save it to your compuuter 4. Open Google Earth. 5. Open this file from the menus and then zoom into your area. That should be all you need.

I may not remember them all but I remember those that are worth remembering. memorable Containers memorable Puzzles memorable Places memorable Caching partners FTFs if your blessed to have gotten one And of course the big milestones we all track on our stats pages. By the way, what were we talking about?

528 feet

1. Version 7 is on CD i believe. And now with v8 out, it would be cheaper. 2. What if you installed the required maps on th GPSr using your computer?

I forgot about my "prowlin4snakeeyes" caches. FTF Prize for each cache was a set of Fuzzy Dice. FTF on both caches was the same cacher. So he got both sets (White on Black, and Black on White). Then there was the cache I put out where there was something in there for the first five finders. The cache name was "Candy Land" and it came out aorund Christmas. Can you guess what it was? Well, as it turns out, 4 of the first 5 "prizes" were taken by the cachers who swarmed on it for the FTF. They had not read the cache page completely after solving the puzzle to know what they were for. No big deal, I had the rest of the box to put out anyway. Made for a great story and log. On another note, FTF prizes can encourage people to race for your caches as well. You get some of the neatest logs when they race. Prowlin4snakeeyes II" is one of my favorites. Wish I could have been out there that night.

Ob boy.. That comment could be a thread of its own... I'll not go there today The only time I've seen this is when it's a "milestone" cache - Joe Cacher's 3000th cache, or somebody's 2000th, whatever. Once, I actually didn't get the "note" and went after it, only to pull in about the same time as the guest of honor. It was kind of cool - the hider actually worked on finding a spot that was at Wxx deg, y2.000/N0xx deg, Y2.000, for the 2000th find for the guy. The only swag in it (but only if it was your 2000th cache find) was a set of 2000 coins. He went all out for it. We're pretty agressive here. I don't know why, but there's about half a dozen that go all out for FTFs (I'm one of them). This past Sunday, there was a cache published in the morning, during a blizzard. It was the longest I've ever seen a cache go without being found (that was findable) - 3 hours and 24 minutes. Visibility down to 1/10 mile, icy roads, 0 degrees before wind chill; it was just plain brutal! As for unfair advantage, there's bound to be days where a cache is published and you're working - it all works out in the end! The reason it took so long is the no one could drive faster than 10mph out there. I was also out that same day but scored FTFs on some caches closer. One was a puzzle and another a mystery. In fact the second FTF came after driving all the way home from the first cache (5 miles) and then to the second (10 miles) in zero degree temps and 20-40 mph winds. I followed the snow plow to the second one. But PJP is right, they don;t last too long around our parts unclaimed.