Cool Librarian

I just went looking for a teen forum on GC, but didn't see one? Is there one that I am missing? Was there a young person's forum in the past? If not, do we need one? I have no desire to turn this into any sort of snarkfest. I've just noticed that we have some younger ones in the forums lately.... I am certainly not advocating banning kids from the public forums, but perhaps the younger teens should have a place where the conversation is more to their (and by extension our) liking and maturity level. Just a thought. I apologize if this has been discussed recently - feel free to Markwell me.

I REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted a pair of Asolo GTX boots because they are pretty - I am a girl, and while not at all girly, I am a sucker for red - and good packaging in general. This, of course, is not a good reason to buy a certain hiking boot.... And, at $160, and me with no money, I didn't get them. I did get a pair of Hi-Tec Altitude II boots for Christmas. I love them. $70, all leather, great outsole, lightweight, as waterproof as you get without GoreTex, no break-in time. They make them in RED - but I couldn't get them in my size. So, I ended up with brown. Ugly as hell. Booght Red laces from EMS - all better! http://www.trailspace.com/gear/hi-tec/altitude-ii/

I crawled in mud and under bushes to find my first cache, and when I "popped out" at the cache site, discovered that I could have DRIVEN to within 20' of it! Silly Mapquest (I didn't have a GPS yet)! But, ya know what, it was way more fun doing it the hard way, and the first is always great. Congratulations!

$5 worth of Dunkin' Donuts coupons in a Christmas cache. As for the value, well, those of us with the addiction know the value was far greater than $5....

Did anyone ever try these?? Seems they have changed a bit, and are now one size fits all. They also now have a model with a crampon. The specified weight limit is 300lbs. Yetis I am curious about these. I definitely would like a pair of snow shoes (yesterday's hike in a foot + of wet snow was, um, challenging), but I have the world's worst body type (for everything) - short and, ah, not 98lbs. I have used traditional snow shoes and they are OK, but I find the length cumbersome on my short legs. Most women's shoes have a pretty slim build requirement - the most comfortable and effective (in powder) size for me is 8x28. Anyway, I just wondered if anyone ever did try them, and if so, how they worked. Thanks!!

HAHAHAHAHA! You'll have to tell me which cache that was - was it the Swansea series? Next time, PLEASE come say hi - I love meeting all cachers, and I have been waiting to meet you - you crack me up. Actually, in all seriousness, if I saw you I probably waited not because I am easily spooked or put-off (quite the contrary), but perhaps I don't look like the woodland type to many - I attract cops like no one's business, and I am sure that people have seen me disappearing down a trail head and wondered just, exactly, what I was up to. I have waited people out at times simply because I don't want to "alarm" anyone (or be hassled for that matter ) Never mind the fanny pack, GPS, hiking boots, and enough fleece to warm all of Bristol - I guess I just don't "look" the part We were hoping to see you at the SNEG meet!

Mass cachers are a fanatical - and brilliant - bunch. The state has high cache density - while being noticeably low on micros (not much loved around here) - so it means that many of the big hiders and finders have pushed the envelope to find new cache configurations. Personally, I'm not crazy about puzzle caches, as they tend to be math or code based - and I have a very right-brain approach to thinking (AKA, I'm math deficient). I do well on the history based puzzle caches (also popular here). My one puzzle cache Right on Time has had a very low number of finds (comparitively) - but the puzzle is based purely on research and extrapolation - no math/codes involved - and it's the female cachers who seem to have an easier time of it. Heh.

The cachers around here must be pretty stealthy - in 566 finds, I have only run into people 3 or 4 times. Heck, I have a cache in my front yard (literally), I can be home all day, and then read "Went to the READ Box today" in an e-mail that evening. I maybe have "caught" 5 cachers at my cache. Funny.

Is this a language problem? I mean, there is not a shred of irony in this guy's log, and he does seem to follow a food pattern.... I think it's a language problem.... It's very nice that you didn't go all nuts on the guy - sometimes that happens.... Did you find anyone to adopt it yet?

I have never noticed a bad smelling ammo box, until I got one yesterday at the army navy store. Opened it up WOW, what funk! May need and airing out before it become a cache. This is absolutely correct. Someone left a blueberry scented candle in one of my caches, and was completely destroyed by animals. And, talk about scent, the musk on that container afterward was unbelievable - though I did sorta like it

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Aside from caching: Kayaking, reading, photography (I'd like to set up my darkroom again), cruising the internet for obscure research sites (yep, I'm a dork). I have recently tried my hand at climbing (indoor) - not much good at it (yet), but if I find a real job soon, I could see some of my money going on gear and a gym membership. Also just started doing a little yoga - who knows, maybe someday I will be in shape.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! Funny!

Sometimes the climate makes it hard to cache. Don't know as anything can be done about this.

This is pretty much standard. Wow, it looks like I have no decorating skills whatsoever. I guess I just never paid any attention to this room. This is also standard - Winnie thinks this is a great place to hang out.

I do recall seeing someone's GC tat someplace on the forums - and if I remember correctly, some people were merciless (gee, what a surprise). While I have several tats myself, I don't see a GC one in my future - not nuts about the logo colors.... I'll be curious to see if anyone posts a pic here.

The golf ball TB is a good idea. As a cacher who has often used the posted logs to help in finding a difficult cache, I can understand your frustration. I don't think the team is malicious, but maybe directing them to this thread would help them understand how their logs can be misleading. And, they may not care - people play this game in all sorts of ways, and sometimes people hunt caches in ways that impact other cachers or the cache owners - and it really doesn't matter to them.

That'd be my cache, Cool Libarian's READ Box - Thanks for the plug, Reveritt! The container is exactly that - a rubbermaid tote. Not sure of the size, but sizeable enough for at least 12-15 paperbacks and some other trades. Even though the lid is not a "tight fitting" or locking lid, in the year it's been out there, I have yet to see one drop of water get in. It helps that it is in my yard, and the container is always upright and maintained - but, still, I have been very happy with the way this container has worked out. For a large cache like this, I think placement is as important, if not more so, as the container. I'd place it in an area that you can get to FREQUENTLY - hey, try your yard - that's worked great for me!

I agree, as long as there's a heads up, I don't see the problem. We had a few placed in a local area known for crime, heroin, prostitution (a white area, I might add) and my biggest complaint with them was that they were just all so lame. Or, if they were dangerous, it was the waste in the area (human, toxic, and drug paraphrenalia) - not necessarily the company you might encounter. If it's a cool spot, and you've posted appropriate info about the location, then I think it's fine. Besides, I've yet to be harassed at an urban cache, but I've been creeped out more than once by guys I've encountered on "the trail."

While I agree about SAR being left to the professionals, KD&MS make a good point when talking about cachers helping find other CACHERS. One of the best things, IMHO, to have with you is not only your cell, but the numbers of a few LOCAL cachers who have GPS and knowledge of the area if you get lost.

For years I was a pretty hard-core amature semi-pro photographer - but I was, and still am, old school - I like film. This is mostly due to the fact that I used to shoot black and white almost exclusively, and print my own stuff. BUT, for caching and computer uses, I have had to admit that you can't beat a digital - it does satisfy that instant gratification problem I have. I don't know much about the brands in terms of digital, and even my film cameras have been "rebel" choices because I often look for something different than the average consumer - I have tiny hands, and need SMALL equipment (hence my ownership of certain Pentax cameras with high end aftermarket lenses). So, to that end, and also because at heart I am a GIRL who's a sucker for a cute package, I was THRILLED when I received a Canon ELPH for Christmas this year. Tiny, cute, not too too expensive, and takes nice pictures. The size makes it a bonus if you are going to use it primarily for caching and on hikes. But I agree with most everyone - most mid to high end cameras/brands offer something just right for you, depending on what your picture needs are.

Thank you! What a nice compliment!

Affluent, or unemployed.... I cached without a GPS until I could afford one. I was unfortunately unemployed for the first year of geocaching, give or take, and now woefully underemployed (who told me this was a good profession!?). But, free time, I have! Should I read sarcasm here? Because if you don't see affluence tied to race, you're not living in the sme country I am. But that's for another thread....

Oh My God, this is why I never asked the question, which I have often wanted to - because, um, I'm a mixed minority (Black and Caucasian) and I am always fascinated by such things. Why am I fascinated? Because it's human nature, and because I have had the advantage (and at times distinct disadvantage) of experiencing two different cultures. Both have their plusses and minuses, believe me. So, for my two cents, I will chime in that I have only met one asian cacher and one "mixed" cacher - that I could identify as such, anyway. Mopar, I think this is a very good, and non-offensive question. EVERYONE has stereotypes embedded in their psyches, and if you think you don't, you're kidding yourself. And, if I may be stereotypical for a moment, it has been MY experience that Blacks, as a whole (yes, this is a broad and sweeping generalization!), are not avid hikers. This is no different than the lack of African Americans in the NHL. You can chalk it up to whatever you like - "Black people don't like the cold," "Black people can't afford hockey equipment," "Hockey is not offered as an athletic option in 'Black' neighborhoods," etc, and there'd be a kernal of truth, and a kernal of racism, in every opinion. So, if African Americans, for whatever reason, don't gravitate towards hiking and rock climbing and etc, they will probably be somewhat absent from geocaching. So, I hope I didn't offend anyone. But as a half-Black, tattooed and pierced LIBRARIAN, where very few are Black, tattooed, or pierced, I just don't have time to read racism into every question. Especially a good question like this!

Dosido hit the nail on the head with this one. When I saw this one pop up, I just quietly banged my head on the table, because the only point here is to irritate an ever-growing population of area cachers, many of whom are psycho numbers hunters (myself included, at times). Anyone who knows me knows that I love a good protest or dose of subservise behavior in just about any arena. But this really isn't about that. It's not about making a point - it's simply about stirring up even more ire and controversy in the SE MA area. And, just so everyone is clear - this cacher, who is "not a big fan of cache stats," was once so FTF obsessed that he grabbed a FTF on a birthday cache meant for a well-known (in our area) teen cacher. While it was not an "illegal" move, it was one that was in the very least in bad taste, and was the beginning of hard feelings in this area. I really thought everyone had gotten beyond this, but I guess not. It's too bad this is happening....