eflyguy

Read the PDF on NPS guidelines (link I posted above).. Gives you their perspective. Right or wrong, I can appreciate and respect their opinion. NOTE: It does not cover waypoints used as part of a multi.. ..a

I use my mac 99% of the time, including pushing caches to my Garmin Vista HCx - no issues, works just like it did with the PC. I have not tried to see if I can get any of the Garmin s/w for managing tracks/trails/maps for my Mac yet. I use those infrequently, however.. ..a

That only allows one file per track. I have dozens of them that, together, completely map the trails at a park. I would like them to be down loadable as a single file. I've looked at the raw data and could possible mangle and merge the track files to create a single file, but that would still show multiple tracks for single trails - each time I record, the coordinates are slightly different. Hence the need to merge/average them. ..a

You really only need the caches. The maps I have (topo and worldmap) aren't much use and I keep them turned off while caching, as they just add clutter to the display.. Of course, if you're needing your GPSr for navigation to the cache site, you might leave the street maps enabled until you get there.. ..a

Understood. Thanks. Not sure why they would do that. Why not give users the option of accurate vs. randomized? ..a

Is there any way to merge, average, and then consolidate my saved tracks into a "trail" file/map of some kind, that I could (a) use myself and ( share with others? Garmin here.. with MapSource, fwiw.. Thx! ..a

Did you look here? http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=160093 At least two in SW VA.. ..a

Are you printing from the main cache page, or the page designed for printing (under the posted coordinates: "Print: printer Simple [No Logs] [5 Logs] [10 Logs] " ? I get the detailed map either way (on a Mac also) but the main page is messy, the one designed for printing is much cleaner.. ..a

Here: Cache is shown with usual symbol, but in wrong place. Forget my comment on truncating the decimal, forgot the cache moves every time you adjust the view. So whatever they are doing, it's not consistent. Actual cache coordinates, copied from the cache itself, are precisely marked (and listed in the image) - GC1KCHA if you want to validate for yourself. Every cache I've checked in my area is the same. ..a

If I input the coordinates for a cache, they are marked precisely. If I view the *same* cache from the viewer, it marked incorrectly. I have often used GE or Google Maps to validate cache locations before (or after) visiting (by copying the posted coordinates from the cache description page). It has never been inaccurate. I suspect the viewer is simply truncating the decimal places on the coordinates. ..a

Guidance has been issued to the park service. www.nps.gov/policy/gpsguidance.pdf Specifically: "Conditions may exist where a properly managed GPS activity would be complementary to the park’s education mission, .." That is the precise goal of my cache. I will contact the manager of the park in question for further discussion. ..a

Same here. All of the local caches are incorrectly placed. If I enter the true coordinates of any cache (I have found most of them) it shows the correct location, but all of the ones (that I checked, over a dozen) displayed from the google maps viewer are off by a significant amount (couple of hundred feet to the East it seems).. ..a

Based on the OP, all he needs is google maps - http://maps.google.com/maps ..a

The cache location requirements state "Caches on land managed by an agency that prohibits geocaches, such as the U.S. National Park Service or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (National Wildlife Refuges)." The cache will not be on this land, it will be located elsewhere. The cache will require cachers to visit this land, but clearly state (a) they have to pay to park and ( that nothing other than observation of existing objects be performed. As such, my local reviewer, who I trust to review my cache appropriately, states that the cache will be fine. I will obtain permission to place the physical cache, however. ..a

Not according to my local reviewer. As long as I don't place the final cache within the park, he says I'm fine. Dozens of people visit each day - possible hundreds on weekends. I'll be showing people a few sights along the way, and having them locate and use data on a couple of existing objects in order to calculate the location of the actual cache - which will be nearby but off park property. It will be a hike, I don't expect it to be inundated with a large number of cachers daily! Moving along.. ..a

Watching with interest. I have topo and worldmaps, but they aren't much use for trail/terrain following.. Heck, they're not much use for topo or street mapping, either! ..a

No lurker here. Only been caching for a couple of years, but just started coming to the forums this week. Never really noticed them. ..a

Too much of an attractant to other animals. Nice thought but bad idea.. My pooches often go with me if they're not urban. Heck, they go with me everywhere, but stay in the car if it's an urban cache! Oops - forgot I changed my profile pic. Here are our current pooches: ..a

When you're in the Search for Geocaches page, and see a listing of all the caches found, there is a checkbox over on the right side. You can check as many as you want, then click 'download waypoints', and download them all as one .loc file. Another option - which only lets you do one at a time but is pretty fast - is in map view, as you click on each cache, you can transfer to GPS right from there. I do the latter before I go cache in an area. Of course, I'm only sending a handful over to the GPS at a time, not 5000.. ..a

Same around here. Click on this: http://maps.google.com/maps?sll=33.929047,-84.426159 North/West of river is Cobb, South/East is Fulton. Fulton has them, Cobb doesn't.. ..a

Right or wrong, if I've given up on a cache I'll log a DNF, but if I'm intent on coming back and finding it and just don't have time to keep looking, I won't log it.. We have some evil puzzles close by.. ..a

Yup. Take a phone, and go (preferably to places you phone will work, of course!) ..a

Just get a handheld GPS. Garmin Vista HCx FTW! ..a (edit: I have a BB with Verizon too, but no GPS apps work except their own. I have my opinions on that, but will not switch back to ATT, so there you go.. My Vista is much nicer to use, in any case..)

Alone, mostly. My daughter loves it but, alas, she's in school. I'm unemployed, picking up the pace! ..a

However, if you have one, it's cool (fun) to look up another cache that almost certainly has one, and trade it out. That way, you're committed to do it again, and again.. I like to make a point of picking one or two up before going on a trip. That way, I can put some serious distance under them.. ..a