mtnsteve

OK, this isn't out of the dictionary, but I spent enough time typing it, I'm going to post it....thats my story and I'm sticking to it...... Switchbacks are where the trail makes a zig zag going up/down a hill, it cut's the angle of slope down to something manageable for horse's and people and helps cut down on erosion.....Some folks in a hurry, or because they are lazy, will avoid the added distance the switch backs cause and just go straight down the hill...this can cause erosion when the rains follow the new foot paths and form gully's going down the fall line of the hill. Man, ya gotta be fast around here....or "refresh" just before you post. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on October 07, 2002 at 04:53 PM.]

OK, this isn't out of the dictionary, but I spent enough time typing it, I'm going to post it....thats my story and I'm sticking to it...... Switchbacks are where the trail makes a zig zag going up/down a hill, it cut's the angle of slope down to something manageable for horse's and people and helps cut down on erosion.....Some folks in a hurry, or because they are lazy, will avoid the added distance the switch backs cause and just go straight down the hill...this can cause erosion when the rains follow the new foot paths and form gully's going down the fall line of the hill. Man, ya gotta be fast around here....or "refresh" just before you post. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on October 07, 2002 at 04:53 PM.]

It seems to be mainly in the on board storage for the base map and a couple bells and whistles....The Gold seems to be the best value, the basic Meridian has only 2mb of on-board memory for the base map (you can up-grade to as much as 128mb, but the base map will stay 2mb), the Platinum comes with a 16mb base map and 3 axis compass and barometer ...the Gold seems to have the most practical features for the buck, including a 16mb base map and the ability to upgrade to as much as 128 mb for downloading additional maps......although you can get the Plat at Harmony for around $245.00 plus $7.50 for shipping. In terms of accuracy, in theory, they should all be the same. You can read a review and a much better explanation of the differences here.... http://www.gpsinformation.net/mgoldreview/mag-gold.htm [This message was edited by mtnsteve on October 07, 2002 at 12:18 PM.]

I would try it in some different locations and conditions, we have a couple "black holes" around here that seem to make all GPS's act very strangely. At one of my caches, my Magellan and my partners Lowrance both failed to lock on to any sat's till we were ready to give up and find somewhere else to locate the cache, it took about an hour, never did figure out what was going on...when I went back to check on the cache a couple weeks ago, I had a lock on the way in, but lost all the sat's on the way out....no one that visited the cache mentioned any problems, go figure. There is another spot, near Shasta Lake, very little tree cover, that the whole SAR team had problems with our GPS's during a search for a downed aircraft. Most of the guys on the motorcycle team, with SAR, are using the V's, I haven't heard them complain about them. Try some different locations and conditions and let us know what's happening. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

That string idea is a good one, gonna try it!! thanks..... Hey.....given two or three years, I'm sure I would have thought of it ........... ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

That string idea is a good one, gonna try it!! thanks..... Hey.....given two or three years, I'm sure I would have thought of it ........... ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

Two of my caches last year were in the snow, one on Mount Shasta and another (level 5) near Lassen Park, that one took two days to get to.....both caches never got a hit till most of the snow melted off. I am not discouraged, I will put out at least 3 winter caches this year in the hopes that some one will brave the elements and go for it. There will still be a level 5, but the other two will be a little nearer the road this time. I pulled a couple caches before the snows hit because they were not intended as winter caches, the winter caches were set up so you could find them with several feet of snow on the ground, one was in a snag and the other was located in some rocks that never get completely buried with snow. Leatherman, congrats on your upcoming ski trip.......ya gotta put a cache out there ya know!__________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on October 03, 2002 at 10:58 PM.]

Two of my caches last year were in the snow, one on Mount Shasta and another (level 5) near Lassen Park, that one took two days to get to.....both caches never got a hit till most of the snow melted off. I am not discouraged, I will put out at least 3 winter caches this year in the hopes that some one will brave the elements and go for it. There will still be a level 5, but the other two will be a little nearer the road this time. I pulled a couple caches before the snows hit because they were not intended as winter caches, the winter caches were set up so you could find them with several feet of snow on the ground, one was in a snag and the other was located in some rocks that never get completely buried with snow. Leatherman, congrats on your upcoming ski trip.......ya gotta put a cache out there ya know!__________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on October 03, 2002 at 10:58 PM.]

I think you need to decide exactly how you are going to use your GPS.....If I needed one in my car I wouldn't hesitate to get the Garmin V, but I needed one for Geocaching, backpacking and SAR...for me the Magellan Meridian Platinum had features that worked for what I was going to use it for, plus it was hard to pass up the $249.00 price. You named quite a few different things you will be using it for, what will be the main use????..the car travel would fit the Garmin V, but your other uses seem to favor the Magellan. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on October 03, 2002 at 10:38 PM.]

I think you need to decide exactly how you are going to use your GPS.....If I needed one in my car I wouldn't hesitate to get the Garmin V, but I needed one for Geocaching, backpacking and SAR...for me the Magellan Meridian Platinum had features that worked for what I was going to use it for, plus it was hard to pass up the $249.00 price. You named quite a few different things you will be using it for, what will be the main use????..the car travel would fit the Garmin V, but your other uses seem to favor the Magellan. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on October 03, 2002 at 10:38 PM.]

I just received my MapSend Topo and wanted to check for any new updates, when I went to the page I discovered that there are no software updates available for the program...I seem to have V3.00b...what do folks do that have older versions and what do I do if/when they come outwith new updates? My Maptech and TOPO programs both seem to have regular software updates, does MapSend do this as well. Thanks...... ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

I just replaced a Tupperwear container with an ammo can because critters got into the Tupperwear and ate two tubes of sun screen. I think a lot of it has to do with location, some caches around here have food or food items in them and they seem to have no problems, while others get hit for sun screen, scented candles and seed packets.....I think it depends on who lives in "the neighborhood". Anything with a slight scent (including the smell from your hands) is likely to be investigated by animals and in some locations animals will try and open anything just to see if there's something inside they want. To an animal, anything placed in their home, is theirs. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

I just replaced a Tupperwear container with an ammo can because critters got into the Tupperwear and ate two tubes of sun screen. I think a lot of it has to do with location, some caches around here have food or food items in them and they seem to have no problems, while others get hit for sun screen, scented candles and seed packets.....I think it depends on who lives in "the neighborhood". Anything with a slight scent (including the smell from your hands) is likely to be investigated by animals and in some locations animals will try and open anything just to see if there's something inside they want. To an animal, anything placed in their home, is theirs. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

Most any cache can be challenging, I have managed to make some level 1/2 caches mini epics because I chose to hike for a mile rather then drive the road next to it...ok, so I sometimes find that out later... I have found that the harder ones, that see less traffic, do seem to stay in great shape for long periods of time, with out those little trails forming and the items inside turning into Mc Donald's toy box. My level 4/5 caches were stocked with things that I considered worthy of the hike, first aid kits, flashlights, real carbineers, emergency bivy bags, things that I thought folks that hiked the mountains would appreciate. While these caches didn't get a lot of response (3/5 hits, before they were archived or down rated because the snow melted off) the folks that did go to the trouble to get to them seemed pleased with the views, special nature of the area and the workout.....some took nothing and those that did always seemed to exchange something of equal value or better. ...I have had only one cache that had a "first finders" reward.... a certificate that told how brave, daring, skilled and fanatical the finder was, along with a $10.00 bill....well no one ever got it....it was a severe, winter level 5 that could take 2 days to do (I had hoped one of the SAR teams would go for it) but I will try again this winter, perhaps with a $20.00 bill. In my area, my friends and I have found that about 80% of the cacher's prefer the level 1 to 2.5 caches, and that's fine, I enjoy all caches...but there are a few hardy souls that seem to enjoy a good day of bushwhacking, climbing and scrambling and they seem to do it as much for the challenge and beauty of the area as they do for finding the cache. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on August 26, 2002 at 11:55 PM.]

Most any cache can be challenging, I have managed to make some level 1/2 caches mini epics because I chose to hike for a mile rather then drive the road next to it...ok, so I sometimes find that out later... I have found that the harder ones, that see less traffic, do seem to stay in great shape for long periods of time, with out those little trails forming and the items inside turning into Mc Donald's toy box. My level 4/5 caches were stocked with things that I considered worthy of the hike, first aid kits, flashlights, real carbineers, emergency bivy bags, things that I thought folks that hiked the mountains would appreciate. While these caches didn't get a lot of response (3/5 hits, before they were archived or down rated because the snow melted off) the folks that did go to the trouble to get to them seemed pleased with the views, special nature of the area and the workout.....some took nothing and those that did always seemed to exchange something of equal value or better. ...I have had only one cache that had a "first finders" reward.... a certificate that told how brave, daring, skilled and fanatical the finder was, along with a $10.00 bill....well no one ever got it....it was a severe, winter level 5 that could take 2 days to do (I had hoped one of the SAR teams would go for it) but I will try again this winter, perhaps with a $20.00 bill. In my area, my friends and I have found that about 80% of the cacher's prefer the level 1 to 2.5 caches, and that's fine, I enjoy all caches...but there are a few hardy souls that seem to enjoy a good day of bushwhacking, climbing and scrambling and they seem to do it as much for the challenge and beauty of the area as they do for finding the cache. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on August 26, 2002 at 11:55 PM.]

I've archived two of mine due to snow. They were placed in the mountains and while they were quite popular in the summer, the area gets 8/15 feet of snow during the winter. I always made a point of letting folks know that I would be pulling them a week before I retrieved them. I had one cache on Mt Shasta that I was getting ready to pull because no one was willing to brave the snow to get it (it was specifically a winter cache) when it started getting hit in the Spring, so I left it for now. 3 of my caches are in the level 3/4 terrain area, so they don't get hit on as often as the easier ones... each time I think about archiving one, someone finds it and expresses how much they enjoyed the difficult hunt, so I have left them for now. ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

This stuff can be nasty...while hiking in the Trinity Alps in Northern CA last year, 2 friends came in over a pass (cross country) different from the rest of us..the next day these blisters showed up on their feet, they covered the tops of each foot and by the time we left I had used up almost my whole first aid kit getting them home. We left by the same pass and I was next to get the blisters...I suspect it was pollen or small leaves that fell into the boots....we all still have scars from it 2 years later. My doctor said he hadn't seen anything like it in Northern CA before. Don't know if it was the same thing, but after researching it I found the same web page and attributed it to that. We have hiked all over those mountains for years and this one cross country pass is the only place that this has happened.....I'm going to contact the Forest Service tomorrow and ask them about it. It's nasty! ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

The "I hate I 5" caches that I know of, that run through Northern CA, are at rest stops. I suppose you could pull off as soon as your arrow pointed left, instead of pulling into the rest stop ...... I have one cache that I warn people ..."This is not for children. Depending on your approach, the last 1/8 to 1/4 mile can be a little hairy, a fall could result in serious injury".....and while the few that have been there loved it, one cacher wrote.. "HOLLY CRAPOLA! I nearly met my maker on this one. I recommend a safety rope and carabeeners to anyone else seeking this adventure!" http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=19746 Like I said, "Depending on your approach"...I cant imagine needing ropes, I was worried about everyone falling in the creek, everyone does it seems My most dangerous cache was placed in the middle of the mountains during Winter, it took 2 days to get to. There will always be people out there that could make any cache dangerous, just give them fair warning and hope it won't contribute to any "INS missions". ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

The "I hate I 5" caches that I know of, that run through Northern CA, are at rest stops. I suppose you could pull off as soon as your arrow pointed left, instead of pulling into the rest stop ...... I have one cache that I warn people ..."This is not for children. Depending on your approach, the last 1/8 to 1/4 mile can be a little hairy, a fall could result in serious injury".....and while the few that have been there loved it, one cacher wrote.. "HOLLY CRAPOLA! I nearly met my maker on this one. I recommend a safety rope and carabeeners to anyone else seeking this adventure!" http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=19746 Like I said, "Depending on your approach"...I cant imagine needing ropes, I was worried about everyone falling in the creek, everyone does it seems My most dangerous cache was placed in the middle of the mountains during Winter, it took 2 days to get to. There will always be people out there that could make any cache dangerous, just give them fair warning and hope it won't contribute to any "INS missions". ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

Your first lead.... now I understand the exuberance, I should have seen it. Congratulations! ! ! a 5.3 or 4 on lead is like 5.9 or 10 on plastic.... It's still 1/5 though....... and I do wear a helmet....lol ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

Your first lead.... now I understand the exuberance, I should have seen it. Congratulations! ! ! a 5.3 or 4 on lead is like 5.9 or 10 on plastic.... It's still 1/5 though....... and I do wear a helmet....lol ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

Thats really a great idea.... Given a year or two I would have thought of it myself..... ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

Try not taking yourself so serious.... ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them....

Not to rain on your parade, but...... I and many of my friends occasionally climb 5.3 without ropes, yes even 3 pitches of it. I understand what you are trying to say, but try seeing it this way...... If this is rated at a level 5/5 because of 3 pitches of 5.3, what would you rate it if it was 10 pitches of 5.14b, with a couple pitches of A4 thrown in the mix?? If climbing gear is required it is usually assumed that the person using it knows the difference between a #4 Friend, a Bashie and a Beta. I put a cache on Mt Shasta last winter that was rated at 2.5/4..I got some flack from some folks (they never even went for it) because it required skis/snowshoes and a certain amount of mountaineering experience and they thought it should be a level 5...my response was ......."I have a hard time putting a cache that you can ski to, in the same category as one on the summit".... The 2.5 rating was because the cache was rather well hidden in the top of a snag and because of the constant snow fall...I had a picture of my partner placing the cache with a warning that looking at the photo would lower the difficulty rating from a 2.5 to a 1. I applaud your higher level caches, I wish more folks around here would do the same. Keep up the level 5 caches! ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on August 04, 2002 at 07:21 PM.]

Not to rain on your parade, but...... I and many of my friends occasionally climb 5.3 without ropes, yes even 3 pitches of it. I understand what you are trying to say, but try seeing it this way...... If this is rated at a level 5/5 because of 3 pitches of 5.3, what would you rate it if it was 10 pitches of 5.14b, with a couple pitches of A4 thrown in the mix?? If climbing gear is required it is usually assumed that the person using it knows the difference between a #4 Friend, a Bashie and a Beta. I put a cache on Mt Shasta last winter that was rated at 2.5/4..I got some flack from some folks (they never even went for it) because it required skis/snowshoes and a certain amount of mountaineering experience and they thought it should be a level 5...my response was ......."I have a hard time putting a cache that you can ski to, in the same category as one on the summit".... The 2.5 rating was because the cache was rather well hidden in the top of a snag and because of the constant snow fall...I had a picture of my partner placing the cache with a warning that looking at the photo would lower the difficulty rating from a 2.5 to a 1. I applaud your higher level caches, I wish more folks around here would do the same. Keep up the level 5 caches! ____________________________________________________________ It's not about the mistakes we make, it's about what we learn from them.... [This message was edited by mtnsteve on August 04, 2002 at 07:21 PM.]