gallahad

If you are as concerned as your post suggests, perhaps you could get a more meaningful response by contacting the US Department of Agriculture or the Department of Agriculture in your own state. I don't know what good it would do to kick this issue around in these threads - seems to me it's be an exercise in futility.

Take a look at this page and I think you'll find most of the answers to your question(s).

Just submitted my premium membership renewal through Pay Pal. Congratulations, and a sincere thanks, for creating such a slick process (that "S" number thing is faster than Matt Dillon's draw)

Near the bottom of the page upon which you request the query there is a section that allows you to select either the gpx or loc download. Just click the arrow to expand the menu and select the one you want.

The model you describe is not uncommon; it's been done before. But, IMHO, I suspect that such a cache design would be scrutinized closely and your approver is likely to ask you to answer a lot of questions prior to approving it.

A good tool to carry in your geocaching gear bag is a set of those wooden tongs that the novelty stores offer (they are marketed for removing slices of toast from the toaster) work very well. If you're handy with wood you can make a set with any length of "grabbers" you'd like.

When I'm working on a cache that's VERY public, I generally try to wait until the area is quiet and at its lowest population potential. Frankly, I've even passed up a cache or two when it was obvious that the "hide" wasn't well planned and no amount of reasonably applied stealth would be successful.

Yep! Me too. In the beginning, she didn't want to go along. "If you insist, I guess I can just sit in the car and read while you wander around in the bushes." Now, I only get to carry the GPSr and report on how close we are. It's not that I can't find 'em. She's just faster at finding them than I am. But we only have one GPSr and, like the TV remote, as long as I can control that I possess some degree of power. At least she allows me to think I do.

Check out this site. I think you'll find your answer (and lots of others) in the library they offer.

There is nothing unusual here. Move along now. Oh!!! Thank heaven, they have normal toes. I was beginning to believe they were different; somehow. Cute. Creative and cute. Ummm, staying on topic. I'm lining up with the theory expressed by The Leprechauns.

IMHO, that about says it all.....

The value of my PDA is that I am now paperless in the field. That's enough to make it worthwhile in my book. I used a Viewsonic Pocket PC with GPXSonar and Mapopolis geocaching/mapping software. Awesome.....

Thanks a bunch for the info. Based upon what I've learned up to this point, I think I'll spend some time studying this aspect of the geocaching sport and logging some of the "not on private property" benchmarks for a while. That'll prepare my head so that I don't appear to be stupid when I ask permission to find something I am neither sure is there or, if it is, whether it's above or below ground. Don't want a land owner to watch me dig hole with nothing but dirt at the bottom.

I disagree. The geocachers in my neighborhood spend weeks designing and producing ingenius micros. The "thrill" is identifying it within the environment selected for its concealment and logging it with the knowledge that, at least this time, you haven't been outsmarted. Junk caches exist in every category. Get used to it. It ain't gonna change any time soon.

Does that cat have three toes too?

Well, those little memory chip containers aren't 1.5 inches square, but they are about 1 inch square - and they're flat.

Quite a few of the local benchmark descriptions include directional instructions that include going up someone's driveway and continuing on through open fields to locate a benchmark. I'm wondering how those of you with experience handle this kind of challenge. I'm assuming you avoid the growling dogs, knock on the door, explain your purpose, reveal that you have no weapons and get permission to tresspass. Or am I misunderstanding the "driveway" reference?

This newspaper article discussing our sport is the best I've ever read. Take a look...

I asked about this some time ago and, I have faith, it's on the list of things to do.

If you're just getting started, check out this site for all the "how to" GPS information you'll ever want to know.

For proper syntax, should that be color="red"

If you'll try the search feature (try "cache items" to start with) you'll find this subject discussed many times before. Heres some help to get you started: Helper No. 1 Helper No. 2 Helper No. 3 Welcome to the sport.

OK, I see what you mean. Wonder if it wouldn't suffice for co-owners to simply register with Groundspeak as a team (similar to the way some geocaching groups set up their accounts) and share an email access on a server offering free email service. Used exclusively for that purpose, there's no infringement on personal privacy and the goal is achieved.

I sometimes use those little containers that the memory chips come in. They're a bit more difficult to find but when I ask around I can usually find a couple in a friend's junk drawer.

Not sure what you mean. Isn't this one (GCHAJQ) co-owned??