DocMagoo

Like storm180, I have a Garmin (GPSmap60) and an eXplorist500. Up until October, I was solely a Garmin user. Really, for geocaching use they both do a fine job, but both units have their downsides too. I can't vouch for the CSx line, but have seen others in action with it and it is hard to lose reception with it. That being said, my explorist500 is incredible with reception as well and has not lost reception in dense, wet tree cover (and in BC, that's really saying something!). It vastly outperforms the GPSmap60 even with an external antenna. It is not as user friendly in geocache mode as the Garmin (you can't edit geocache waypoints for multis or puzzle caches). On the plus side, it's colour, the memory is as large as the SD card you put in it, and since it was being cleared out, cost much less ($200 CDN). I imagine the 600 is very similar.

Have you downloaded a pocket query yet in gpx format and put it into GSAK?

I'd need to know a bit more information to help. I also have an Explorist 500. Did you save to the internal memory or to an SD card? Either way: 1. Did you press MENU > PREFERENCES > ACTIVE SETUP and then scroll down to GEOCACHES? 2. Once there click in the box and a window saying SELECT FILE should show up. 3. When you click on SELECT FILE, your root directory should show up. 4. Mine says SD\Geocaches as I've saved several files from GSAK on a memory card. I believe that it says Memory\Geocaches if you've saved to the unit's internal memory. Select the file name that you uploaded your waypoints as and it should become the default and show up on the map navigation screen. I hope that this helps!

...and Juicepig had post #1000 in the thread!

Now Canadian Tire has the same offer in their latest flyer and on their website: eXplorist 500 I purchased one when London Drugs put them on sale. While Magellan has presumably sold them at this price because they are being discontinued, I've been pretty pleased with the unit so far.

Well, I've now got one of the Christmas Micros that you've gifted us with out and into circulation: Christmas Cheer Canadian Micro and the other was a gift to another local geocacher: Canada Christmas Micro Merry Christmas, landsharkz!

WOW! I really was surprised by the mail this week in more way than one! Great looking coins, landsharkz! Now the tough part is to decide which ones to keep, activate and send travelling, or to gift to others.

BINGO! Take it away Landsharkz....you're up!

north of 50 would put you in the ballpark.

Right province, wrong belt

Sorry...shoulda been more specific....what we're looking for is a particular "belt" of volcanic activity.

That's not entirely true as there are battery trays that you can purchase for $9: eXplorist battery tray This is true and the reason why I still use my Map60 for "getting there." Whereas my Map60 is monochrome and the eXplorist is colour. I find the 500's color screen to be very vibrant, even in direct sunlight. I have been finding that the only way my Map60 would keep reception in dense, wet overhead tree cover, would be to attach a Gilsson external antenna, othewise it continually craps out. The eXplorist so far is amazing under the trees. That being said, many stores have excellent return policies and if not satisfied, you can always return your purchase. I think that it comes down to your budget and personal preferences. No one GPSr will be 100% perfect. If I could combine the features on my eXplorist with the features on the Map60, we'd be close.

Name the most active volcanic region in Canada. (think beyond province)

Any chance that I might be surprised by the mail this week?

I'll take a guess....The Gulf of Guinea, just under West Africa

I picked one up. This is a pretty good deal. GPSCentral has it for $329.95 and Crappy Tire has it for $459 at our local store. I still like my Garmin, and I've only found a handful of caches with the eXplorist, but the bearing/compass is far more receptive. The unlimited waypoint storage on the SD card is great to have...

I hope for the racers' sake that history doesn't repeat itself. For the 2003 and 2004 races, it was neat to watch the updates as the TBs progressed across Canada, but the 2004 race ended with a "thud". The amazing thing though, is that I eventually got Long Suffering back at a geocaching event in BC. Good luck racers, and I hope the organizer surfaces again!

Hi guyanonymous, In thinking about your cache, sometimes it's those cachers who are active and mobile geocachers who find them (think of them as weekend warriors ) Sometimes what will happen is that a cache like this will come up in a pocket query for those who make it a point to cache the area, but in this case perhaps it's just a matter of time as those who might search for it, may have "cached out" the area prior to the cache being listed. Take heart, it WILL happen, eventually. In the meantime, count it an honour to have a cache sit dormant so long before its first finder...it kind of heightens the intrigue

So, is this TB race still happening, or has it bit the dust like The 2nd GCC2C Travel Bug Race?

I think that you've got to determine how you want the cache to operate. People who drop TBs have minds too and can decide for themselves not to drop the TBs in their possession in that cache if they see a particular rule that they don't agree with. A TB hostel I placed had a restriction on it at one point, but after a month or so, we removed that restriction to make it that no trades of Travel Bugs are required to retrieve or "drop" a Travel Bug in that cache. I figured that the purpose of this cache was/is to help Travel Bugs (TBs) along in meeting their goals. If someone could help every bug in the cache and decided to pick up the entire lot, so be it. The amusing thing is that I received PMs from some cachers mentioning, to their disappointment that there were hardly any, or no TBs in the cache when they visited it. I sort of think contrary to some who believe that no bug house is a good bug house. With the profileration of micros out there, in some areas it's particularly hard to find suitable places to drop bugs. At the time of when I placed our TB hostel, several TBs stalled in the area or either came through the area, went over to the Island or Vancouver area and then returned once again to languish in the Valley. There was a need to get them out of the area. Also, as a TB owner, I've seen some of my bugs stall and disappear. At least with a local TB cache, I can remind with a friendly note that a TB is still in the cachers' possession and direct them to a suitable cache to get them on the road again. To answer your question, a good bug house is one that keeps bugs moving, is close enough to a major artery/hwy/airport, and is hidden in such a way that being muggled is unlikely. Hmmm....I'm with ibycus on this one. The contents belong to other cachers.

I'm not suggesting that the BCGA create a new policy from scratch. As I said before, I think most of the policy as presented by BC Parks is acceptable, even good. I just hope that the BCGA isn't going to just lay down and accept this policy as is, and will work on clarifying, perhaps even working at eliminating, certain elements of the policy. LOL! The interesting thing is that we're working toward a policy that will work for the greatest number of cachers. You'll have cachers on either end of the spectrum, from having no policy whatsoever...to having a policy that is over restrictive. Even Chilli and I differ in perspective on the issue of timeline for inactive caches (although we see both sides). Cachers by-and-large place caches to become a part of the culture and history of caching. To me, it would be disappointing to have to archive a cache that was one of the originals around here....yet, given the possibility of having to have a permit system where you had to review (and jump through hoops) a cache prior to placement in BC parks, and then review them annually .... with a possible fee involved, I would sooner take the former approach. CoC's earlier post actually was something I was thinking about and makes sense: So long as a cache is being visited and drawing visitors to it, it could likely continue to exist where placed. Interesting point made about having occasional maintenance visit posts to the cache.....

Hi Maureen, While I don't use a GPS while on horseback, I am out in the Fraser Valley and am familiar with all of the current caches out at Aldergrove Lake Regional Park. I would be more than willing to hook up with any interested members of the Back Country Horsemen who are interested in looking for those caches in the park or to assist in helping them understand geocaching. You can reach me by clicking on my profile, or by going to 'Wack Area Geocaching.

Thanks Icenrye for the cache hunting at the Krispy Kreme. I enjoyed meeting you along with the others over java and doughnuts. Hope that the rest of your searches went well and perhaps we'll see you in PG sometime!

You and the remaining three directors would have to appoint me to fill the new vacancy. Uh, you would have to be a member.

Who resigned and who is the new director that took their place? According to the BCGA bylaws: 28 (1) If a director resigns his or her office or otherwise ceases to hold office, the remaining directors must appoint a member to take the place of the former director. Fireted resigned and as of yet, another director has not filled his shoes.