Jump to content

lrosell

+Premium Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    203

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by lrosell

    Random or not-so random thoughts about numbers.

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    After listening to some cachers at a local event talking about the number of finds of many of the locals, myself included, and the numbers of some of the more well know cachers, I started thinking about numbers in general. Here's some of the conclusions I came to. What are your thoughts on the subject?

     

    ------------------------------------------------

    Big numbers don’t make a good cacher and low numbers don’t make a bad cacher.

     

    Most of you are from places where caches are thick, and yes I’ll concede the Micro Spew™ point here. For you numbers can be big. However for some cachers there are no big numbers of caches. When I moved to ND a just over two years ago, there were 37 caches within 50 miles of my house. Of them 7 were mine.

    It’s been great to see more caches placed up here so I could hunt them. Notice I said ‘hunt’ them, not find them. I’m one of those weirdos that like the hunt as much or more than the find. Any cache for me to hunt is a good cache. I, like any decent cacher, would prefer high quality caches. I will be first to stand and fight for quality over quantity, however, here, for now at least, any cache almost seems a God-send.

     

    When you make the argument that big numbers means you’re a good cacher, I have to say, NO. Even if all the cachers out there today started caching on the same day, they all have the physical ability, and the same caching enthusiasm, they would not have the same numbers. Your arguments are based, and understandably so, on your caching habitat.

    Some habitats are very diverse. In that environment even specialist that takes only a certain types of caches can thrive. In that same environment even a sloth could come up with big numbers.

    Then you have caching habitats where one has to be a generalist, and a darn good one at that, just to get by.

     

    Now let’s factor in the mobility differences. Once again all the cachers started caching on the same day, with the same physical ability, and the same desire to cache. If a cacher in a cache light area can’t take off and travel miles and miles to find that one cache, they won’t have the numbers. While others, even if from a cache light area, travel a lot, due to business or what-have-you, that cacher, even though his home habitat maybe low, has more opportunities to find the caches.

     

    Now let’s bring this back to the real world. Just because you started caching before of after someone has no direct bearing on your ability or knowledge. I know a lot of old idiots. Your numbers may have more to do with your environment than your ability. Not only that, your time as a cacher and your cache count is in no way a gauge to your enthusiasm for, or value to the sport. You could be a burned out cynical old husk doing more harm than good.

     

    So numbers are not always what they seem. I would rather be a noob that loves the sport and is dam good at it, than a grumpy grizzled old veteran that does more griping than caching and couldn’t find a cache if it was glued to his back side.

     

    Too many of us obsess over numbers, and because GC tracks numbers as a service to it members, we fixate on GC when talking about numbers. GC is not there to be the governing body of the PCWA*. It is there as an aid to those of us in the world that love to cache. I completely understand your idea when say that it’s a journal, because in many ways it is. Yet it is the means by which we engage in our hobby so it is also something more than just a journal. I think to see it as either one ONLY is to miss the broad view. The one thing I don’t think GC is or ever should be is a scoreboard for the reasons stated above.

     

    *Professional Cachers of the World Association

     

     

    (Note: This has not been an endorsement for or against big numbers, but merely the cobwebs shaken lose for an old soldier's cerebellum.)

     

    I tend to agree, high numbers does not per automatique constitute a 'good' cacher (whatever THAT is...). I have found caches where cachers with thousands of finds have DNFed. Does that make me a better cacher? Ehh... no... Does that make the 'experienced cacher a worse cacher than me? Ehh.... nooo..... It makes him a cacher with more finds than me and quite possible me a cacher with better luck.

     

    Numbers is just that; numbers. When you start caching for the numbers solely or to make sure you have more caches than ‘that guy down the road’ it’s time to find another hobby before you hurt yourself.

     

    All though in my humble opinion I'm probably one of the best cachers around. For sure. :o

    Is it always this horrible?

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    This is the on that I searched and search for and couldn't find

     

    http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...13-303ec027abc5

     

    Heres the flooded one

     

    http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...e2-95fd01d3609f

     

    The one you couldn't find is a bison tube with a difficulty level of 2. This means it's a micro cache and they can be a bit difficult to find. If you don't know what a bison tube is....it's a small cylinder about 2 inches long and about as big around as your pinky finger. Sometime the are camofluaged which makes it even harder to find. You might want to move on to another cache and come back for this one after you've gotten a little more experience.

     

    El Diablo

     

    :D That small? How can anyone find something like that?

     

    Maybe my idea of geocaching is incorrect. But when I get coords I expect to be able to walk to those coords, look down, and see that cache underneath a rock or something.

     

    Ahh wouldn't it be nice if it worked that way. At least sometimes.

     

    Unfortunatly GPS in some terrain have an accuracy of about 20 feet, meaning that when the GPSs says you are 'standing on it' you may in fact be 20 feet away from it. This of course assuming that the coordinates recorded by the cache owner is dead on. If they are in fact off by some 5 feet you could be 25 feet aways from it. In any direction! :o

     

    That... is what makes Geocaching fun!

    keeping tb's logs and cache inventories current

    in Trackables

    Posted

    found a tb hotel cache and discovered two tb's that are not listed in the cache inventory. what time frame do i give the cacher placing the tb in the cache to log it as dropped in the cache? i emailed one of the cachers, who had stated in his log that the tb was going to the area where i discovered it. i could not track down how the other one ended up in the cache. i want to log my cache find and tb's discovered but trying to wait to see if tb logs catch up to cache inventory. please advise!

     

    Not all vacationers have the Internet strapped to their backside for handy access. Any time frame shorter than a leisurely vacation is nothing more than impatience on the part of an eager finder who does have Internet access at their beck and call.

     

    Wait, watch, give them a chance to catch up and keep the TB's history right.

     

    I don't think it’s really about whether I have Internet in my pocket or not, but about courtesy to the TB/GC owner. Too often I see ‘dead bugs’ in caches; I can point you to at least 5 caches in my little area alone that have bugs listed in them that have been absent for a long time. Most likely these trackables have been picked up by someone that either forgot to log them or just simply didn’t know what they were and kept them.

     

    In case of the latter there is not much I can do, but I sure do not want to risk forgetting about logging an item for a couple of weeks. I have found several coins and bugs in caches that have been sitting in the caches for weeks, waiting for a cache owner to finally find it in his back pocket, bottom of his cache bag or trunk of his car.

     

    I would suggest that if you are on a trip and know that you will not be able to log either cache or bug for several days or weeks, leave the bugs and coins in the cache. It’s not mandatory to pick them up.

    keeping tb's logs and cache inventories current

    in Trackables

    Posted

    I agree; when I'm logging our finds I log the bugs to when I'm at it, being dropped in the cache or not. If I don't it's an accident waiting to happen; I might forget about it myself and end up with a GC/TB that go through two holders without being logged.

     

    I will however 'dip' it in the cache I retrieved it from for milage and to show the owner where it is and where it has been.

    Worthless Hints

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I agree, a hint should be just that - a hint. Too much info in the hint spoil the experience in my opinion. I try to keep the hints for my caches a bit cryptical and yet informative. But a hint that will in detal tell exactly where the cache is located is something I can't see myself provide.

    Release Notes 6/10/08

    in Website

    Posted

    Ok, the top map should now show you the map instead of the trip on the merry-go-round and also the bottom map now links off to the google maps page for those people who didn't like looking for a link :D

     

    -Raine

     

    You are spoiling us rotten, Raine!

     

    Hmm... WAP-Maps would be kewl too.......

     

    OK OK, I'll be patient!

    Release Notes 6/10/08

    in Website

    Posted

    Personally I liked the numbers under the map; you could get to the desired zoom level with one click. Also liked the map being clickable to a new full page map. Yes, I realise the link is still there, as it was before, but I'm lazy, and I hate mousing around. That said, the info feature is pretty cool.

    The smal inset map at top is now(?) clickable, but I just get spinning cursor when I click on it. What is it supposed to link to/show?

    Mac OS X 10.4.11 Safari 3.1.1

    Thanks for the continued improvements for most of us.

     

    I second that; the top map seems to do nothing but making my cursor spin

     

    IE7 on Vista SP1

    Release Notes 6/10/08

    in Website

    Posted

    The zoom in / zoom out feature on the map doesn't allow the map to open in a separate window. The current box is way to small to be useful. Given the choice, I'd rather view the map on a separate page. (This also allowed you to find caches near this one).

     

    Any chance of getting the previous functionality back?

     

    You can still do that

     

    Click the top link just under 'For online maps...'

     

    For online maps...

    Geocaching.com Google Map

    MyTopo Maps

    Google Maps

    MapQuest

    Microsoft MapPoint

    Yahoo Maps

    Rand McNally

    Terraserver

    Tiger Census Maps

    Map Functionality on Listings

    in Website

    Posted

    I've noticed that the map interface on the listings pages has been going through some changes and has changed again today. I think the other interface was better. The current box for the map is way too small (especially for us older gents with, uh, questionable eyesight) and with only being able to pan within that little square, the maps are basically unusable.

     

    Is it possible to go back to the older interface, or is there another method of mapping the current listing short of searching?

     

    If you click the top link just under 'For online maps...' you will get a full screen map, big enough even for me!

     

    For online maps...

    Geocaching.com Google Map

    MyTopo Maps

    Google Maps

    MapQuest

    Microsoft MapPoint

    Yahoo Maps

    Rand McNally

    Terraserver

    Tiger Census Maps

    How would handle this cache?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I found a cache in a dog park today. It was placed in a spot frequented by the park goers. Here is the log a posted on the cache.

     

    Should I send the owner an email about the cache? Should I post a 'Needs Maintenance' log? What would you do?

     

    I was planning on leaving it as is with just the log, but I want future cachers to be aware of the conditions at the cache.

     

    Edit to fix link.

     

    I'd say if you need gloves it should be a difficulty 5 cache.... at least....

     

    Seriously, this cache is most likely a NM cache.

    Release Notes 6/10/08

    in Website

    Posted

    Here too. I liked being able to click open a map from a cache page, and have all the caches in the area appear. Being draggable was a bonus as well. It's going to be a real PITA to find caches in a given area now.

     

    You can still do that

     

    Click the top link just under 'For online maps...'

     

    For online maps...

    Geocaching.com Google Map

    MyTopo Maps

    Google Maps

    MapQuest

    Microsoft MapPoint

    Yahoo Maps

    Rand McNally

    Terraserver

    Tiger Census Maps

     

    Sorry...can't find any of those on my screen, either. Maybe someone could point them out? Here's the url:

    http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...24-190eb8c9ea15

     

    I can see it no problem with that link using IE7 and Vista.

    Release Notes 6/10/08

    in Website

    Posted

    I can get the map to show but it's not clickable (on any browser on any cache page) Cleared caches

     

    Here too. I liked being able to click open a map from a cache page, and have all the caches in the area appear. Being draggable was a bonus as well. It's going to be a real PITA to find caches in a given area now.

     

    You can still do that

     

    Click the top link just under 'For online maps...'

     

    For online maps...

    Geocaching.com Google Map

    MyTopo Maps

    Google Maps

    MapQuest

    Microsoft MapPoint

    Yahoo Maps

    Rand McNally

    Terraserver

    Tiger Census Maps

    Spoiler Picture Etiquette

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    I would find that so long as you put spoiler in any picture that actually has much relevance to the hiding place involving the cache, it should be fine in whatever you deem necessary. I know that some people really enjoy looking at others pictures and adventures and we shouldn't have to censor any of that just because a few people may cheat and look at the pictures. I highly doubt most of us who are actually putting the time into Geocaching would cheat and look at said pictures. :lol: I would of course respect anyone that asked me to take down a picture or comment from their cache. But would just hope it would never come to that. :lol:

     

    By the way, I know Callum (the topic starter), if you haven't figured that out by now. And I'm posting right after him to just give my oppinion. But it's something we've been debating and would LOVE to hear other's oppinions on it. :huh:

     

    Oh and heylo to everyone (This being my first post and all, I hope to have MANY others!)

     

    Personally I think that the picture you have with the "Two Trunk Tree" is borderline approperiate.

     

    In my humble opinion...

    Release Notes 6/10/08

    in Website

    Posted

    The maps show up but you can not click on the red tack and the line of nunbers that had been below the map are no longer showing up for those people that use that feature.

     

    I got ride of the numbers. I you notice now, there are + and - icons on the top right of the map. Clicking those will now zoom in and out. Also there is an [i] on the right side of the map. That's got a cool feature too :lol:

     

    Nice! Me likes very much!

     

    Now, about that WAP-Map.......

    Photos

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I agree. Unless it is some sort of puzzle cache or otherwise special cache I fail to see why a photo should be required. I would just move on to the next cache. I requently post pictures of our cache hunts but when a 'regular' cache would require me to post a pictur it would mostly just irritate me.

    Can't find cache (new here)

    in How do I...?

    Posted · Edited by lrosell

    you all have been so helpful!

     

    (GCVHGA)

     

    (GC12EQH)

     

    we are using Garmin Streetpilot c330

     

    I think we are going out tonight again at some at a local park that might not be so hard.

     

    GCVHGA - Straight Man is a micro in the woods. According to the description it might in fact be up in a tree or similar. Reading some of the previous logs also supprt this theory. Tricky one for a first cache!

     

    GC12EQH - Curly is a small container, typically in the size of a small tupperware. Note that there is a DNF just before your find on it, indicating there is a chance that the cache may be lost. Two DNF's in a row should trigger the cache owner to check on the cache.

     

    I would recommend a drive down the road to "GC17FKZ Miller Ridge Elementary Cache" for your first find. This appears to be a regular size cache, typically ammo box size. It is also located from what it looks like at the edeg of the wooded area, just some 100 yards of the N Breiel Blvd. Best entry to the cache may be of Miller Rd in an open spot just of the dirt road going south. (Use Mappoint on the cache listing page and you'll see what I mean!) From there it should be some 200 yards south to the cache.

     

    Also, make sure that your GPS is set to OFFROAD or WALKING before you try finding a cache with it. If it is set for "roadways" (or similar, not sure what it actually says on that model in the setup screen) the GPS will be optimized for finding tracks along roads and will work poorly out in the sticks! If you get seriously bitten by the sport, or even just slightly bruised, you might want to look into getting a handheld GPS since these work much better on trails.

     

     

    Good luck, let us know how it goes!

    Can't find cache (new here)

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    We are brand spanking new to geocaching. We went and looked for 2 caches near our house. Wooded area... we went twice and couldn't find anything. To tell you the truth we didn't know what we were looking for. Since it was are first one, we didn't know what type of container it is usually in?

     

    Is it ever hanging from a tree? Buried in the ground? We didn't know whether to look up or down lol

     

    We are hoping to do more but the kids are going to lose interest if we always come home empty handed :lol:

     

    How about posting the cache names, the "GC number" on here and we'll see if we can get you any pointers. What type of GPS are you guys using?

    Losing my HTML ?

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    Has anyone had this problem? My Long Description included a definition list, but after editing the page this all gets lost in the viewed page and I get one long rambling paragraph. I go back to edit it - and the HTML tokens are still there. Simple HTML constructs like bold, tables and ordered lists work fine.

     

    Click Edit listing on your cache and make sure the HTML tag is check in the form where you enter the cache information.

    Help! I can not download!

    in How do I...?

    Posted · Edited by lrosell

    I got a new 60cx, I went from a Magellan to a Garmin in order to download from the computer to the Garmin. Well, Guess what, it will not work! I keep getting a pop-up stating that windows must be closed to download, I did not have windows open. All help appreciated!

     

    First of all you need to have the USB driver loaded on your PC for it to work. Do this by installing the Mapsource Manager that came with your Garmin GPSr.

     

    Next you will need the Garmin Communicator plugin loaded in your browser, you can download it from here

    http://www8.garmin.com/products/communicator/

     

    From then on clicking Send to GPS from a cache page shold allow you to download the waypoint to your Garmin GPSr.

    What does "paperless" mean when referring to Geocacheing?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I have seen it mentioned and do not know what it is. Can some one fill me in please. Thanks.

     

    Typically when you have a device such as a PDA, Blackberry, certain cellphones or even a Garmin Colorado that allows you to download not just waypoints to a cache but also info like cache description, previous logs and hints to it.

     

    Using such a device for caching would enable you to not having to bring a printout of the cache with you when you head out for the hunt.

×
×
  • Create New...