jdoe

http://www.geolab.nrcan.gc.ca/geomag/mirp_e.shtml Plug in the numbers and off you go... Use google and look for: magnetic declination calculator

There was a cacher that did the same thing in my neck of the woods. I guess after hearing about the issue being discussed on one of the forums, he deleted all his pictures and we haven't seen him in the hobby since.

Okay here it is... Oh yeah I keep it in a cave....

I found 15 in 7 months.

If you are refering to the swing shut tins, sealing them takes quite a bit of work. The problem is with the hing. Putting sealer in the hinge to waterproof them makes it difficult to open and shut because it gums up the hinge. If you are looking for water proof containers, the black Kodak film containers will do the job but many cachers hate looking for them. If you are looking for something bigger, plastic margin tubs will do the job - just make sure they are empty . If you need to be magnetic, simply expoxy a strip of metal or magnet to the container. One other container that may fit the ticket is an outdoor electrical box.

Parking coordinates would be nice, but it should be up to the cache owner. I purposely leave out coordinates on most of my caches because I want the finder to EARN the find. However I do not object to people posting suggestions in their logs to where to park, because it encourages seekers to do a little more research in READING the logs. Geocaching is suppose to be an adventure. The fun is suppose to be in the hunt and to experience the sights. There is no adventure if someone practically leads to by the hand and puts the cache container in your hand. I just feel that folks are either just getting lazy or caught up into racking up their numbers. Unless there are obvious dangers to be avoided in an area, parking coordinates are a convience at the decision of the cache owner.

I have a cache that requires the use of night and a flashlight. It's a multicache and pretty much requires the seeker to use a flashlight to "charge up" the glow in the dark paint I've written the coordinates for the cache. The cache is still there with 16 total attempts with a total of 6 finds. I've had some complaints about lettering. You can read most of the digits, however the last few digits I purposely diluted the paint so it is pratically unreadable without using the cover of darkness.

Dumping the database once or twice a day could be a solution to this matter. GC.COM could allow Buxley to download a subset of the database. How big is would the file be? This would mean Buxley would not need to query GC.COM. Inactive caches could be weeded out... Buxley could even put a different icon for inactive caches. The only way this can happen if TPTB is willing to make this available and if Buxley is willing work with GC.COM.

This is probably what most cachers like about Buxley's. This function alone is better than what is available on GC.COM. What remains to be seen is what the TPTB will do.

Whether or not Buxley's site is useful to you or not, it can't be denied. It is a tool cachers use. But that really ISN'T the real issue here. The issues are IMO... 1) The issue is whether or not GC.com should allow it data to 3rd parties. 2) Does Buxley's site put too much of a load querying GC.com? 3) Is there another solution that would make the data available to Buxley that would not affect the performance of GC.COM? All of this is in the hands of TPTB. I would like to see Buxley's site continue to serve the caching community, but not at the expense that would degrade the GC.COM site.

Buxley has finally mentioned why his site has not been updated - apparently geocaching.com is blocking his site. He is also petitioned people write to Jeremy to life the block. I personally think Buxley's site is a site is great, however if Buxley's site is truly affecting the performance of gc.com, I can understand why the site is blocked. Last year there was another site that offered a similiar service, except it emailed/paged you of new caches (XX miles from coordinantes). That service is no longer available... it was great for FTFs. It would be great if gc.com could offer these same services as Buxley and the paging service.

I didn't find this in a cache, but one friend found as part of a cache, pornography.

It is no big deal whether or not a cache owner does some maintenance and doesn't tell anyone. A note would be nice to let others know that the cache is really still there. This is no different than a cache finder not posting his DNF.

Although I've never hidden a 5 gallon container, one cache of mine comes close (a LARGE Christmas popcorn tin). I spray painted the whole thing dark brown and hid it in a big pile of dead trees. I'm pretty proud of that cache. So far only 5 people have found it. <evil grin> One other cache showed me a pic where he stripped the bark off of a trunk and fastened the bark around the container. That was a real work of art. One suggestion is to find a "natural hole" and place the container there. Once the cache settles in, fill the sides up with dirt and rocks leaving an inch or two of the top of the container above ground. This way the lid can be covered with leaves. When the cache finder comes across the cache all they would have to do is remove the lid, sign log, and make trades.

Cache maintanance, IMO should involve ensuring the container is in good shape, the log book is still usable, and has a useable writing instrument . Restocking a cache with swag, is purely up to owner. I think it is unfair to expect a cache owner to restock their cache when cacher finders make unfair trades. Cache swag in a cache is a reflection of the caching community in the area.

I've witnessed the use of a VHS tape box as a cache. It was not water proof, even when they wrapped it up in a plastic bag.

Hmm... I could go for something like that. Now if they could complete that with something for the upper body, and include some an array of weapons (small cannon, machine gun, and flame thrower), I could see myself in one of those!

To help stop the problem you might consider urinating (yourself or your dog) around the cache area. Some animals don't like the scent of humans. But please don't get any ON the cache!

Yuck! If you have this type of accident, it's time to look into buying a case of "Depends" undergarmets. Seriously now geocaching injuries" Scraped knee's, palms. Scratches and punctures from plants.

I would take that jar and make it a cache for people to find. As part of the theme, REQUIRE people to trade DOWN!

I used to feel sentimental about log books. But as I cache more, I find that I'm writing less and less in the physical log book and writing it more on the virtual logbook on the cache listing. I suspect it is a combination of the fear of getting discovered with the cache and wanting to get to the next cache in a hurry. Sitting in front of the computer makes it easier to reflect and collect my thoughts. Do you guys write more in the physical logbook or the virutal one on GC.com?

Soggy logbooks are nasty especially if mold is growing on it. You gotta leave something to prove that you were there. A clean piece of paper with your signature would be enough... heck even the cach listing you bring with you will have your geocache name. One cacher I read SCRATCHED his name in the logbook with his car key! It doesn't take much, but something with your name is proof enough.

Part of finding a cache is getting to it and opening it. Just seeing it from a distance doesn't count. OK maybe if you touched it and the lid was frozen shut, I may give that to someone, but this? Nah, I wouldn't count it. I think one good guideline is that if you have to ask if it could be counted, it probably shouldn't be. I totally agree with briansat. Unless you can physically get to the cache, I would not count it as a find. One find had a container perched up high on the piling of a bridge. I could see the cache. It was unmistakable because it was an industrial sized plastic mustard jar. It looked like the cache owner had tried to paint over the jar with a big black felt tip marker. No... finding a cache is more than just seeing it and reporting the cache. You have to get your hands on the container, open it and leave your mark in the log book.

If you do intend to use a trap, I suggest using peanut butter as bait.

I suggest poison. If you are worried about your cat, then lock the cat inside the house. If you can get your car into an closed space, try buying a whole box of those bug bombs and setting them off.