_dxd_

hmm, so is this one too ? Did I actually find something a little different ? CZ0649

I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but just in case... I just got an email from someone who had picked up my TB in the Czech Republic. It has become separated from the metal tag. Strange thing, it was the chain, a wooden heart, and laminated picture with the mission on the back - only the tag is gone. They thought it was just an "unofficial" trackable until they went through the items in inventory on the cache page. They asked for the number so they can add it somewhere on the traveler, but then the next finders probably won't recognize it as a TB either. Also, if the tag does show up, then that'll cause problems. So, is it best to just grab the TB back to my inventory, tell the Czech cacher to do whatever they want with the traveler part, and wait a while to see if the tag shows up traveling by itself ?? Then, if it doesn't show up after some time, release the copy ?

well, here's my worthless contribution to the discussion "SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS NOT SUITABLE FOR SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - November 01, 1989" Does that mean it is probably under the trees ? Or is that used any time there might be trees somewhere near-by within a certain distance? keeping in mind of course that was 21 years ago, trees could have been removed...

I can definitely sympathize, but just recently had a little resurgence of hope in trackables. Someone picked up a coin of mine in the very first cache that they logged. Some time passes... and they placed it into the second cache they found... 19 months later. Another coin was dropped into its very first cache, and disappeared in a couple of days. It has just resurfaced about 6 months later, after being found in the bottom of the cacher's bag. They never logged the retrieval, and couldn't drop it, but it's back in the game now (crossing fingers ) So, don't give up completely

I did a search for an existing route, changed the search radius to 0.3 mi, then clicked on Save Route changes. It took me to the error page "http://www.geocaching.com/error/500.htm" Same thing happened when I tried to create a new route. "An Error Has Occurred Your request has resulted in an error. Please return to this site's home page to continue." Using Windows XP, Firefox 3.6.8

Over the last year or two, I've found a number of marks that are "presumed destroyed" in the NGS database. For example, CG0923. Would it be worth the trouble (for an amateur like me, with only a basic handheld GPSr) to report them as found ? Could they be "resurrected" ? How much and what sorts of information would you need to provide ?

Not sure, but what I've always heard or read On public lands or Indian lands, a site over 100 years old OR an unmarked burial site of any age are protected by law. Historic Sites Act of 1935

If you go to the website, on the left side of the page, there is a box labeled All About Tags. If you click on Get Design Help, that will take you to a page where it lists several different artist websites. You can get custom made or ready to use designs for a fee. If you join the forum, there are sometimes designs offered in exchange for a few of the tags when produced. Some people have just done quick sketches, posted them to the forum, and members have helped to refine the idea until it's just right. Some people have scanned a drawing that their very young child has done, and had that created as a tag.

A few different ways to wear them. One of my recent tags I've been wearing as a necklace, I just used a length of silk cord in a matching color, but you could use jump rings and chain. I know some people have even gotten wire earring "posts" to wear as a pair of earrings. The store where you can purchase pathtags from (not sure if I'm allowed to mention names) has also just started carrying something to use to hang them on hats, bags, lanyards, etc. It's a notched post with a round ball on top, put that through the hole in the pathtag, and then there is a clip to attach it - same sort of clip that comes on geopins from Oakcoins or Disney trading pins or whatever.

This might depend on what version you have. My yellow eTrex, version 3.51, doesn't have a toggle on the front, it has 3 buttons on the left and 2 on the right side. The top two buttons on the left are for scrolling up or down on a page, and the bottom button is to Select (like Enter on the computer) The top button on the right is to change pages, bottom is of course the Power button. The Menu page has "Mark" "Waypoints" "Routes" "Tracks" and "Setup". To find a cache, you have to select Waypoints on the Menu page, then select the cache from the list of waypoints and then "Go To". That brings up the arrow and distance to the cache.

Thanks guys, I knew you all would know what they are

I meant to ask about this back in March when I found it, but forgot all about it until I came across the pictures just now. I was in Nevada, heading from Vegas up to St George UT. I had a couple of caches and benchmarks loaded to find along the way. They were located along the abandoned highway (US 91, I think) that parallels I-15 . I found a couple of benchmarks, which I see I forgot to log, and a cache, and these unknown markers. They are along the highway, forget the distance between them, set in pairs one on each side of the roadbed, maybe 30 to 50 ft from the edge of the road. It's a square post made of concrete, with the letter N incised as shown. When I saw the first one on the southern side of the road, I thought it was to mark North, but I then found the mark on the northern side of the road, and it was marked N also - on both posts it was the side facing the roadbed. Any ideas ? sorry, can't link to the image I guess, please look here

I was out a little while back, checking on the status of a couple of benchmarks at an I-10 exit (they're doing construction nearby, so was hoping these would be safe. One of them is second oldest in Pima county ) There is a lot of state trust land out there, and a few dirt roads taking off from the exit. I was on the "wrong" side of the fence and saw a white truck with a logo on the door pull up near the gate I was about to pass through. Uh-ooh. Yup, a Union Pacific truck. He asked it I was part of the construction crew, I told him no, I was just here checking out the historic benchmarks. He said," oh, ok, just be careful, we got one (a train) coming through soon. " Then he drove off. Of course, a diffent day different person might have ended differently

This isn't a great photo, and not a spectacular view or anything, but it did make me laugh a little It certainly fits part of the description MAY HOLD, BUT OF TYPE COMMONLY SUBJECT TO SURFACE MOTION It's supposed to project 4 inches. I don't know if this is due to ground subsidance (pumping out all the ground water) or due to flash flooding. If it's the latter, maybe it'll be covered back up someday

Actually, the markers listed on the site are from a database maintained by the NGS (National Geodetic Survey) The Groundspeak database was copied from that one in 2000, and hasn't been updated since. I've found quite a few Transportation markers in AZ, some in CA and UT (under DOT, Highway Dept, and assorted others names) I've also found Department of Interior, USDA Forest Service, and US General Land Office Survey marks that are all listed on the Groundspeak site. Benchmark hunting can be a lot of fun - a good place to start if you're really interested is the Find A Benchmark link on the left side of most Groundspeak pages.

I had problems getting my USB to serial converter to work between my laptop and the yellow eTrex. I can't remember where all I changed settings since it's been a couple of years, but make sure that you are using the correct COM port and make sure that both the computer and the GPSr are set to 9600 baud. I was still having problems, so did a little searching online. I came across a solution, and naively tried it - not realizing the negative potential, since I know almost nothing about computers --- I did a BIOS update. It worked beautifully, and I've been using it since Jan '08. I won't recommend that unless you know computers or have a friend that does, just to be safe. Check the COM ports and speed settings first.

I have the yellow Etrex, and I bought my cable from eBay. As briansnat says, it includes the adapter so that is all you need. I've been using mine for a couple years now, no problems. With that cable, you'll be able to send the coordinates directly from the cache page, just click on Send to GPS, or from the search page.

I did what I could - drilled a hole in the coin, ran garage-door cable through, added a laminated note that it is NOT a trade item to keep, please keep it moving, etc, then hammered the clamp flat. Who knows, maybe it'll turn up. I dropped 6 travelers in the last few days, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that some survive.

Thanks, guys. I have emailed the current holder about logging it in and out of the Mt Carmel cache, she has logged on to GC.com but no response on the email. I guess as long as it is showing in her inventory correctly, at least she should be able to drop it. The bug just loses out on the miles from NV to Utah to wherever she leaves it. The owner hasn't logged on in a couple of months, and doesn't look to be a very active cacher. Thanks for posting that note for vacationing cachers, that could come in handy. Sad to say I'm getting less likely to have anything to do with travelers - my GC I dropped off the 22nd is already reported missing from the cache where I left it - drilled tagged and everything - no note that it was taken. Hope it shows up.

I was on vacation, and retrieved TB27320 from the Hoodooville cache near Valley Of Fire in Nevada. I picked it up on the 22nd, but didn't log the retrieval until the 23rd. On the bug's page, it does show that I retrieved it from the cache. On the 24th, I dropped it into a cache near Mt Carmel but couldn't log it as I was on the road. I got home late on the 25th, and tried to log the cache and the TB. It wasn't in my inventory, the next cacher had it in her hands after grabbing it from Hoodooville. There must be a glitch here somewhere, how could she have grabbed it from the previous cache when it had already been retrieved by me, and on the 23rd showed as "in the hands of dixiedawn" ? I have emailed her to try to get the logs fixed.

I once put the wrong tracking # on an activation - one of those bulk activation codes group coins. Way back in the past, when some trackign codes were minute! Groundspeak did delete the activation for me. Just had to be patient, as coins are not the top prioirity for the volunteers - but within a few days, they did get back to me! So, if this can be fixed in a few days, how come after several months no one can fix my problem ? I activated a coin, it came up with the wrong icon and description. I contacted both the dealer (several times) and Groundspeak, but no one seems able to do anything about it. It left me with enough of a bad feeling that I haven't bought any geocoins since then. It'll be a year in March.

All I get is a blank page. View Source brings up a blank page. It's been this way for a few days now. Windows XP, Firefox 3.0 something.

You may be able to drive a lot further, the road does go all the way to the top. You can just see it in the first photo, there is a switchback just below the highest point of Mt Benedict. The road I was on continues just below the building, the light colored line across the bottom. Just off frame on the left, there was a large bush and I could see posts near it, if there is a gate that's a likely spot. I just didn't have time and wasn't sure about the road conditions. The "hill" was really short and would be nothing with a 4wd, but I was spinning tires, fishtailing, and only moving forward inches -not a situation I'd been in before so I got a little nervous . I need to get a new vehicle

I was in Nogales area yesterday, with just a little extra time, so I went by to take a look at the situation at Benedict. Accessed from the highway to Patagonia via Old Patagonia Highway. It's a twisty road that goes up down and around hills with very expensive homes on them. Finally reach the base of Mt Benedict, the road to the top is Victorio. Well, my poor little 2wd Toy truck didn't like Victorio. It doesn't help that I only have older car tires on it LOL Anyway, there was a slanted curve that turned into a steep hill, hard pack with loose stuff on top, and I had no momentum going into it - I lost traction and was spinning tires, just barely moving forwards. I was afraid I was going to lose it and slide backwards ! I promised myself if I got to the top of the hill and could turn around, I would. Luckily there was a nice flat spot to turn around, so I snapped a couple of photos and got out of there. I don't know what the building will be, but it's huge - see the heavy equipment on the left. Probably another expensive home. There are quite a few towers up on top, so they may not welcome visitors. Sorry for the blurry second pic, I was still quite a ways away so that was max zoom in a moving vehicle

I was looking at Benedict, to see if I might be able to check on that one. Searching the NGS database by name, I find Benedict and Benedict Reset. The datasheet for Benedict CG1229 comes up Fatal Error, code D (no descriptive text) but the Reset CG1033 sheet says "THE STATION, IDENTICAL WITH THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STATION OF THE SAME NAME, IS MARKED WITH A STANDARD DISK STATION MARK CEMENTED INTO THE SOLID ROCK. " 1959 recovery states "THE STATION MARK, STAMPED BENEDICT 1935, IS A STANDARD U.S.G.S. STATION MARK DISK CEMENTED IN A DRILL HOLE IN A BOULDER THAT IS FLUSH WITH THE GROUND. " Is this the one they used ? Or are there possibly two station disks in the area ? It looks like it might actually be accessible. (sorry for the caps, I just did a cut and paste from the datasheet)