Kannafoot

I tried placing my first cache today and made sure I was over 0.2 miles from all published caches. It turns out, however, that there is the final stage of a multi hidden fairly close (about 350 feet) from where I placed my cache, so obviously it cannot be posted. Short of trial and error - which can quickly become an exercise in frustration - is there any way to place a cache and be certain that you're not within range of a multi? I'd really like to avoid having to constantly retrieve and relocate the cache just to find out if there's a multi-stage nearby. That, btw, sounds like a great feature for the I-phone Geospeak App. When placing a cache, have it issue a proximity warning if there's a cache nearby that is not visible in an online search. In any case, I'm open to any and all suggestions. There has to be a better way than trial-and-error to finding a cache placement location free of multi-stages. Thanks in advance for any advice you may have to offer.

Well, here are a few thoughts. How much are you carrying? An old (VERY old) rule of thumb was no more than 25% of your body weight. Sometimes that's not practical, of course, but some of what you're experiencing may well be the weight of the load. If you're getting pressure in the back near the spine, have you ever tried an external frame pack? They're tougher to find these days, but with an external frame, the pack sits further away from your back. (It also allows a lot more ventilation on a really hot day.) Definitely try before you buy, though, because they take a lot of getting used to if all you've used are internal frames. How are you packing the weight? We have a tendency to put our frequently used items near the top, but we should really be putting the heavier items near the top. Try adjusting HOW you pack and see if that makes a difference. Is the pack balanced? Once you put it on, check it in a mirror or have your hiking partner check it for you. A pack that is leaning to one side, or one that leans backwards will put quite a strain on you, and you'll definitely end up with those tender spots you mentioned. Is the weight of the pack sitting on your hips? If you can feel the weight of the pack in your shoulders, then it needs to be readjusted. The full weight of the pack should be on your hips. Is your sternum strap properly adjusted? It's a simple enough item, but if it's either not used, or not adjusted properly, you'll end up with a lot of pressure on the front of your shoulders. The pack "wants" to lean backward, and that sternum strap is your first line of defense to prevent just that. If I'm going on a long hike with a heavy pack (noting that both "long" and "heavy" are very subjective in this context), I will frequently readjust the settings on the pack to prevent pressure points from building. Some of it violates everything I said above. I may actually spend a mile or so with my shoulders taking the brunt of the weight. Sometimes I'll adjust it higher on the hips, sometimes lower. I'll continuously loosen or tighten the shoulder straps and the sternum strap. The goal (with a heavy pack) is to prevent any part of the body to bear the full brunt of it long enough for a pressure point to build. Something else to consider if all else fails, is to get some "Dr Scholls" style foot gels, and cut them to be slightly larger than you straps. Attach them to the straps using the method of your choice (which for me is typically duct tape) and use the gels as a cushion. It's not going to win any fashion awards, but the goal is comfort, right?

I've used trekking poles for about the last decade. 30 years of running definitely took their tool on my knees, and for me it's most noticeable downhill. In the northeastern US, our higher peaks (4000 footers in NH) are mostly "boulder hopping", especially over in the Presidentials. Personally, I can scamper UP those like a mountain goat. Coming down, however, I no longer have the muscle flexibility to control the descent comfortably, and I end up relying heavily on the poles not only for balance but to control impact on the knees. Quite often I'll stow them entirely on an uphill section, but for me they're an absolute must coming downhill. Thinking about it, TotemLake and I may be saying the same thing. I definitely need the poles for balance on the downhills, and on the steep or rough sections, I definitely need them to control impact. On comfortable slopes or relatively smooth sections, I do use them but more out of habit than anything else.

I've often used an altimeter when hiking. That started long before the days of GPSr availability, and I still use one when the tree cover is dense enough to prevent GPSr functionality. The elevation functions of the 60csx work very much like an altimeter, meaning it keys of barometric pressure to determine elevation. (Check your elevation before going to bed and then check it again in the morning. It's amazing how far your bed traveled overnight!) For this to be useful, then, you really need to do two things: 1. Calibrate the GPSr at the trail head. At least you will then have a good starting point for your elevation function. 2. Be aware of the weather. If the barometric pressure if falling, you're going to get a false high altitude reading. The opposite is true of the pressure is rising. What I typically do when hiking is calibrate at the trail head, and I will double check my elevation at other known points (e.g. trail junctions, stream crossings, etc.) A good topo map is always a necessary in the back country anyway. I never rely entirely on the GPSr. With a topo, compass, and altimeter, you're pretty well equipped even in the event of electrical failure. I guess my point is that the ascent / descent information can be very useful both on the trail and off, provided you've calibrated the unit and you're aware of the fluctuations that can occur due to weather while you're on the trail.

Adding myself as an interested party on this one! I did buy the year subscription, but I was rather taken aback that access was not automatic. In my case, I subscribed on a Saturday because I wanted to generate a pocket query for immediate download. Little did I know that I wouldn't be able to do that until Tuesday! I do agree with the OP that the activation process should be automatic.

Hmmm. Third home for this topic. I'm beginning to think this thread could qualify as a Travel Bug!

Going back to the original request, this is actually an interesting concept. I'm sure a number of us would love to be able to produce a little animation graphic showing our virtual journey from cache to cache. Being a systems programmer, though, I have to ask if there's another way to fix the problem listed. Ideally, the weekly pocket query showing just your finds should be sufficient, however (as is pointed out) the cache owner can override that thus rendering your logging method invalid. Rather than solving that by becoming a travel bug, is it possible to do the same thing with a GSAK export? I know you can write the contents of GSAK to a file on your drive, but I haven't had a chance to look at the various options for that export. Perhaps someone with more familiarity with the product can answer that. If you can do it, then not only do you have a good means of testing your animation program, but you would also have a viable means of being in full control over the log and running the report at your leisure. Besides, once you become a travel bug, you run the risk of being picked up by a horder and lying for months in the sock drawer of someone that has completely forgotten your existence...