Paganmen

Replace the cache container, put the log papers in it and like the Disney movie song "Let it go". You should conduct inspections and maintenance on your caches. The sooner you catch a problem it keeps it from multiplying.

I print all of my log pages from here. You can also print out the information explaining what geocaching is which is helpful for muggles. http://geocacher-u.com/?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Good question. I won't list everything but here are a few essential items that you should carry. A large zip lock bag of inexpensive swag to add something to empty caches. Kids like to find stuff. A supply of various size plastic bags to replace torn bags for log books. Print outs of extra log sheets (check on Groundspeak for info) in case logs are full or wet. Print outs of "This is a geocache" and explaining what the game is. In case muggles find it. A snake or insect bite kit. Inexpensive and found in any store with camping or outdoor stuff. Toilet paper or tissues. If you're way out in the woods and nature calls. Trust me! A loud emergency whistle. Extra GPS batteries or phone charger. Extra pen or two. Tweezers to get logs out of micros.

I totally agree with you. I take the time to clean trash out of cache containers when I find it. That includes rusted, moldy, food, offensive, large items or too many items jammed into a small container, "calling cards" or personal tokens jammed into small containers rather than signing the log book, etc. For the most part, swag containers have been dying for a long time because people think that trash and bottle caps make good swag, and almost no one trades evenly or better. I always carry large zip lock bags of good inexpensive swag with me, because I know kids like to find stuff, and I'll throw a big handful into large caches that need it (especially after I've cleaned the trash out of them).

Why not consider that because of weather, cloud cover or a person's particular GPS device that they were taken away from the correct GZ location? I use both my iPhone and a Garmin GPS at the same time while searching for a cache and both can be way off from each other. And what if the CO's coordinates are not spot on! I've already been told that my coordinates for a new cache I've placed were way off even though I took 25 readings of the position. When I go back and check on a different day, sure enough, the coordinates are totally different. It all depends if you are receiving enough satellites to properly triangulate your position. I have often found many caches that were not right at GZ according to my GPS but made the find by using the clue or information in the posts. You can also post waypoints or parking location coordinates which would help.

I think deleting a find depends on the CO and what they consider as a find. Personally if there is a log then I sign the log. I have never signed a container and I don't think anyone should. If a log is wet, full or missing you should note that in your comments.

I have had cache containers in out-of-the-way locations disappear and could only chalk it up to animals dragging it off for whatever reason. I also print out the paper from Groundspeak that explains what geocaching is, in case it is found by muggles, and I place one in every cache I have. Hopefully people will read it and realize that the container is a game piece and therefore they will leave it where they found it. I also make sure the log book and the explanation page have the GC code on it. They may even join geocaching. Sadly, I've had several magnetic Hide-a-keys stolen from different locations regardless of the enclosed message. It shows the morals of some people and their attitude that they "found" a "lost" item and therefore it belongs to them. How sad.

Any time there is a problem or issue with a cache then a log message is in order. You can contact the CO or post a DNF along with an explanation. If there is no action then request a cache to be archived. There are times when a CO will quit the game but they leave all their active caches out there without maintenance or assistance to other cachers. By rules of geocaching you are not supposed to leave geotrash or abandoned caches out there. If someone is so inclined they could volunteer to adopt abandoned caches and take them over for maintenance or archiving.

If you are going to travel then look up caches in advance. You can download it to your gps and also print out the pages you need. You can easily cut and paste another language into Google Translate or any other translation site. I've done that with Spanish cache pages when going to South America.

What a great post. You and I have much the same interests in collecting a cache and souvenir, if available, for every state and other countries. I have about 38 states and a few countries so far. They are all listed on my member page. You should come to our next Meet 'n Greet in July so we can chat. Watch for the posting for Blacksburg, VA Forgot to mention we have a tour of China scheduled for October. I will definitely get my smiley! paganmen

I carry a clipboard around with me. Usually I have a print out of the cache which helps with the description and hint. If muggles see me looking at something they probably assume I am a utility worker or inspector of some kind. That works great in towns or out in the country as a county inspector. I hold my gps on top of the clipboard and a pen in my other hand like I am taking notes. Once you find a cache you can use the clipboard to help you sign the log. I was in the country one time and the cache was hidden at a spring. I pulled over as soon as my gps said I was near GZ. There was a nice spring house and little pond area. I jumped out to start my search and a lady said "Can I help you?" I didn't realize she was nearby doing yard work. I quickly said that I was researching springs in the area. She asked if it was for the state transportation and I said no, it was for the local university research. She then said, "Oh, then you probably want to check that one too" pointing a good stone's throw away. "That one has been there forever and lots of people stop there for drinking water". I quickly realized I was at the wrong spring. I thanked her and went to check out that spring too (and found the cache)! You can wing it with some people or just tell the truth. Always be totally honest if security or police approach you!

I just realized while I am in the app I need to use "menu" on my phone to find the "options" area. I was able to filter out the found caches. Thanks. It was set for all caches but maybe the weather was affecting the search. I'll keep playing with it.

I bought the $9.99 Groundspeak app for my Android phone. I have used the app several times for caching. This past week I went on a group hunt and when I did a "Find Local Caches" search, it listed many of the local caches but many were missing, including the one our group was going for. A few days later I discovered again that many caches in my local area were missing from the search. I was standing right at one of the caches and the search never picked it up. I also entered the GC code for that cache and it said "Cache not found" although it is on the website. I don't always have my gps on me and would like to use my phone while traveling but what good is it if I can't see all of the local caches. The other day I used my gps and didn't have any printouts with me, figuring I would use my phone app for cache description or hints or recent logs. I was near several caches with my gps but had no idea what I was looking for because they didn't show up in my phone app. Has anyone else had this problem and how do you fix it? Here is another side question.....How do you keep "found" caches from showing up in your search of local caches?

Here in southwest VA I have placed a few caches using coffee cans or should I say the new plastic ones from Maxwell House or Folgers. They never get wet inside and they survive our winters. You can also spray paint them to blend in with their surroundings. They are also a decent size for medium size caches. I have seen other cachers now placing them as well.

I would suggest that you use your imagination. I have several based on cryptography and one on text messaging using your phone keypad, one as a riddle that you read as you walk the path to the cache. I have one that uses the first number in each zip code, I am planning one that uses the cost of properties that you find in Monopoly to arrive at the numbers for the coordinate. If you want to see the actual caches, go to my homepage, paganmen, and look up my caches.

I enjoy finding TB's and like to help them move on. I usually find two types of TB's in caches. Those that are just the TB with an attached dog tag and those that are enclosed in a zipped sandwich bag containing a print out listing it's goal. The problem with the first type is that I have no idea what the goal is for the TB until I get home and log my finds. I don't check cache descriptions before heading out. Even if I did, that TB may not be listed there. Sometimes I am in another state and have taken a TB in the complete wrong direction from it's goal. Now you could say, "Just leave it if you don't know it's goal" but in that case, I would say that most TB's would never be moved by most cachers. If you find a TB hotel, who knows what you'll find in there. For instance, I found one the other day (in a regular cache) and took it 25 miles back to where it just came from and dropped it into another cache. When I got home and logged it, I found out that it was heading in the opposite direction. Oh, well. When I find the second type in a cache I instantly know what it's goal is. I can decide whether to take it or leave it for the next cacher. I know if I should drop it off somewhere else the same day or hold on to it a little longer. Personally, I think the second type of TB makes more sense and I wish more owners would choose to enclose a printed goal with their TB's. What do the rest of you think?

I go geocaching on my own because my partner isn't into it. A few weeks ago I was at a location that was remote and had a few summer cabins along a private road. The cache was at the last place and it took about 30 minutes to walk back to the property. The cache was a large blue barrel (about 10 gallon) which was hidden in a child's play house. It was up in the "rafter" area and you had to kneel on the porch while reaching inside the door and up in order to get the barrel down. Unknown to me, there was a huge rock on top of it. When I say huge, I mean that it was about eight inches in diameter and very heavy. It fell off the top of the barrel and nearly hit me on the head. I could have easily been knocked unconscious or severly wounded and NOBODY knew I was up there. Chances are these people would not have been back until next spring. I wrote a private email to the cache owner letting him know how dangerous that was. I don't know if he put the rock there or someone else did as a "joke" or whatever but I could have been severly injured. The bottom line is......LET SOMEONE KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING if you are alone! I now inform my partner what caches I am going after or what towns or locations I will be in.

I personally think that nano's are getting out of hand. How many of you think that some cachers place them only for the satisfaction of placing a cache and then "forgetting" about them? Think about it, they rarely need to perform maintenance (if they ever do). The other week I went to a fantastic location of a new cache. It was a Civil War gravesite of a Confederate soilder that was remote. It had so many incredible locations to hide a large cache container and what do you think was placed? A tiny magnetic micro was hidden on part of the wrought iron fence surrounding the gravesite.....and you needed a tweezers....of course! I have been placing tupperware size containers whenever possible (and it has been difficult to find good hiding places that are muggle free) and you would be surprised at how many compliments I have received from cachers who now have large caches to place TB's or trade items instead of having to hike two miles into the mountains or drive 20 miles. I agree with a previous post, place appropriate size containers whenever possible. If you don't want the maintenance issue, then don't place caches. I keep a supply of swag to fill my caches when I perform maintenance on them. You can find lots of inexpensive stuff in dollar stores or department stores when they have clearance after many holidays. I know the "adults" aren't that interested in the swag but I do it for the kids and those of us that are young at heart!

Sometimes I log DNF's and sometimes I don't. If there are too many muggles around or other factors that prevent a thorough search then I won't log it. If I really search and can't find it then I will log a DNF. It is important for cache owners to know if several people haven't found it recently. They can then decide to do a maintenance check on the cache. Perhaps they need to add another clue or change the description on the cache page. Remember, logging a DNF is not the same as receiving an "F" and you can go back at another time to look for it.

I need to post pics or graphics for a new cache into the Long Description field and I can't figure out how other people have done it. When I view their page source or properties, I see that the pics are referenced in HTML which I can do but I don't know how they "host" them. I've seen that some are Groundspeak images or geocache images. How do I upload them and host them? Thanks for any help you can provide.

I have found quite a few myself. Most of these tracts are hateful. Geocachers are made up of all different types of people. There are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Pagans, Atheists, etc. There are gay people and straight people. There are cachers with small children and there are retired couples. What everyone has in common is the love of the game and the thrill in finding the cache! Period. When you find religious tracts in a cache that condemns someone else's religion, sexuality, lifestyle or whatever, it is very insulting. If you have religious beliefs, then by all means enjoy it. It should be something that is deep and spiritual to you and most importantly, personal. But remember that other's may not believe as you do. Would you want me to leave Pagan tracts in caches for you and children to find? I do have them! It seems that people of other religions have more respect than you do. I always remove them from caches and dispose of them in the appropriate container. I also write it into the log book and on the web site. Normally, I have been kind. I log what swag/TB's I took, what swag/TB's I left and also that I removed religious proselytizing. That is until last week......when I found a tract that blatantly lied about my religion and condemned it. It was one of those disgusting Chick publications. Now I log all visits where I find religious stuff as "Removed religious trash". btw, I hardly want anyone "praying" for me or giving advice to other's that doesn't seem to know the difference between a sole and a soul!

Is there a way to transfer all of your waypoints from one gps unit to another? I have a Garmin eTrex Legend and I am buying a Garmin 60CS. I dread the idea of downloading all of the waypoints again and going into the unit to give each waypoint a name. Is there any on-line program that allows you download/upload through a USB cable?