Hiemdahl

We in Fort Worth (The cultural center if Texas)consider Dallas to be a suburb, but stop by the friendlier side of the metroplex anyway. Hiemdahl

Welcome to the sport. Contrary to other posts, it is not addictive. I know that I can quit anytime..... Lets see now, where is my GPSr? I'm sure it was on my desk, ... in my pack?.... Jacket pocket?........Stress.....PANIC!

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=15380

The Fugawi Military is the best, bar none!

No, that is not a trade down. But are you mellowing out?

How about anything over 158 is an expert? But then again, I may consider raising the bar after this weekend. It will depend on how many caches I find.

Is the Criminal getting mellow in his twilight years?

1. I have been doing research on GPS since 1989 for military applications. When we started there were so few satellites that we could only get 15 min. windows at odd hours of the day and night. So we would pack up the equipment and head out whenever 3 satelites were available. The first reciever was 1/2 the size of a footlocker and HEAVY! When the subject of geocaching came up it was centered on the west coast, not in Texas, so we promptly forgot about it. 2. When my #2 son got back from Kosovo he re-introduced me to the sport, which had spread rapidly in the meantime. 3. Mrs. Hiemdahl and I usually go 2 or 3 times a month. I always take my trusty Legend and some cache sheets when on business trips. it beats sitting around a hotel bar. Besides it is always a good excuse to get some exercise and fresh air. 4. Did my first cache in may of 2001. 5.a. The SLGR, PLGR, 12, 12XL, and DeLorme were all lab equipment. I got my Legend in 2001 as a Xmas present so I did not have to carry work home. 5.b. Not counting manhours, (it can take me up to a year to get a cache right before placing it) probably $50-75. 5.c. Backpack, rain gear, flashlight, 1st aid kit, compass, bug spray, sunscreen, maps, etc.,etc., were mostly on hand. But I would estimate $150-200 to start from scratch

Some good news and some bad news. Garmin uses a proprietary format which they will not share with other digital map providers. However there is a company in Canada (www.fugawi.com) that sells a PC program can read NIMA products (CIB, CADRG, etc.) from the CDs. The selected portions can then be exported to a PDA device and is compatable with Windows CE, Palm, etc. I have field tested some of the PDA/GPS combinations in a SOF application and they are not particularly rugged. The tradeoff is the ability to have 1:12.5 NIMA maps and satelite images that are geo-referenced. I have even been able to import and geo-reference Preadator imagery. This was particularly handy on the last trip to JRTC. Good luck, and keep your head down. Gary Owen

I would like to thank everyone for their responses. I am still trying to finalize the appointments before leaving here, but I may have to just go and work out the schedule when I get there. It is really a shame when work has to take priority over geocaching.

I will be in Oslo on business the week of March 24th. And will possibly be in Copenhagen for a few days the following week. First question, how is the weather and ground cover? And second, can anyone recomend any MUST DO caches near either city?

Born in 1945, at the leading edge of the baby boomers. Has anyone noticed that there is a bi-modal distribution to the age curve? It is even more pronounced when you apply age demographics. The over 50 crowd is well represented. So there!

Take a look at www.fugawi.com

The old Garmin 12XL had an optional external antenna. It worked well as long as you didn't close the hatch cover too hard on the cable.

I once I actually did one, before dawn, on my way to work. [This message was edited by Hiemdahl on February 28, 2003 at 01:18 PM.]

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=52147

In Norse mythology, Hiemdahl was the guardian of the Bifrost Bridge. This was the passageway from Midguard to Valhala. After 30 years as an Infantry officer it just sort of fit.

This one needs to be shared.

In truth, it has been so long that I don't remember. However, turning it on and setting it in a relatively open area will not hurt. When got back from a trip to Europe, I discovered a page (somewhere) that allowed me to start initializing from a pointer on the world map. Perhaps someone else could help.

Welcome to the sport. It actually is not addictive, I can stop anytime I want to. Let's see, where is my GPSr? I need to find it.... Oh my gosh it's not in the pocket on my pack..... It's not on the bedside table.... PANIC!!!!

I had placed a cache at Camp Lejune, NC at the "Other Wall" which honors the Marines killed in Beruit. After 9/11 the security there removed the physical cache, so I converted it to a virtual. I do not consider this cache "Lame" and have not considered archiving it. Very few people even remember the incident. So as far as I am concerned, if it enlightens even one fellow cacher, it has served its purpose. Hiemdahl

Why not. This definitely supplies ammunition when dealing with some of the other more reluctant goverment agencies.

With the risk of starting a whole discussion on eliteism, have you considered starting out with a "Member's Only" cache there? Since these are not visible to the general public, it would definitely reduce the initial traffic and give you a chance to decide whether to "GO Public" or archive the cache depending on the activity you get. Yoy could also explain your reservations on the cache page. Hiemdahl

I will also be traveling to France this year specifically the Paris Air Show. Unfortunately, it looks like caching is not as popular there as it is in most of the rest of Europe. Hiemdahl http://brillig.com/geocaching/france.shtml

That is when you are stepping over a clump of vegetation and hear a rattlesnake BELOW you. Trust me, it does give you pause to reflect.