CurmudgeonlyGal

For photos I want to use in forum threads, I add the pics to a log entry for one of my archived caches (using the Upload an Image option to pull the desired pic off my computer). Then copy the URL for the picture and paste here using the 'tree icon' (Insert Image Link). I also upload pics to my avatar gallery and use them there. That way they don't pollute the archived caches or get added to your cache photo gallery. Like TL, all of my photos that I use in forum posts go into my avatar/profile photo upload area. "Pollution"? The horror. michelle

It took that long for the voice coach to have any kind of success. Chow-dah head! michelle

The great news is for guys our size Clark just came out with a longer, wider version of the North American called the Nx-200. I have been doing alot of research on hammocks for the last few months and the NX-200 is what Im going to get this fall. I cant wait to take it out on a winter campout to see how it fairs. Maybe I should wait till I reach my target weight. Got another 27 lbs to go. No matter what your weight... there's always a this-or-that type of thing going on. However, if it helps motivate'cha... you should wait! m

Nope. Fact of the matter is, no one would know he did ANYTHING 'wrong' if he hadn't posted the time in his log (hey, and who knows if he's telling the truth.) You didn't state you'd delete a cachers log if it was found during non-park hours but I would think that if it's important to you that people only log it during park hours: You would state that you would delete their logs if they find the cache during non-biz hours (impossible to prove unless you get some dope in there writing down what time he found the cache... hm...) and You would take care to list the hours the park is open. Like TotemLake said, it's the cacher's responsibility, not yours to make sure he's doing what the park says he can do. If anyone gets caught, the onus is on him because s/he's breaking the rules... they're not coming after you because he told them 'well, that evil Douglas Clan hid a cache in this park... it's their fault I'm here!" The "FTF argument" in the logs is silly. I know, I know: I want to get the "I was standing on my head when I found the cache FTF" Woo hoo! michelle

It definitely doesn't have a good beat and you can't dance to it. michelle

And call it the "Anti-Rube" michelle

I say that’s their problem. But you may have something there. I placed a series of new puzzle caches earlier this year, and believe it or not I am happy to admit that my hides were somewhat influenced by the aggregate expressions of preference I’ve been reading in the forums – mostly from folks who were arguing against me at the time. Instead of making the physical hide portions of my puzzle caches unremarkable and easy, I created the six-cache series such that each cache is in a lesser known wooded area, each with more rugged and challenging terrain than the previous one, with the last one requiring a very steep climb through thick forest to a pretty view of a creek running past the nearby open-meadow park. The hikes are not long and the terrain is not at all extreme, but the outdoor skills and physical effort required are substantially more that what one finds at most other caches around here in the suburbs where I live. Again, this is partially because of the strongly-stated preferences I keep seeing in the forums. I have been rewarded with plenty of compliments (which is always nice when you’re not sure how your work is going to be received), and most of the logs are positive on balance, but the really surprising thing is how many people have complained! They gripe about the hikes, the ticks, the thorns, the steep hill climbs, the (unnecessary) creek crossings, and the general difficulty of the terrain – even though I have warned about each of those things using all the flags available to a cache owner. As you report, some of it even gets a bit blunt. Much of the griping comes across more like good-natured ribbing, but even then it can be a bit much. It generally doesn’t make sense – speaking for myself, I’d be ashamed to complain afterward about something I was clearly warned about going in. My response, however, is that I don’t let it bother me. If someone wants to complain about the thorns at a three-star-terrain-cache sporting a thorn attribute (or worse, admit that they refused to read the cache page), then I figure that’s their problem. It won’t affect my future placement decisions, as I will keep on hiding the kinds of caches I enjoy hunting. The only real effect it has on me is a re-affirmation in my mind of an old truth: There’s just no pleasing some people. I make the warning crystal clear in my cache page narratives. The warning for my cache Eisen-Faust. In the time it takes to find this cache, you could easily find 50 to 75 parking lot micros. If you don't like bugs, sweat, body-aches, and danger, stick to 1/1s. I find it amusing when "city folk" gripe about thick brush, loose slopes, or other potential dangers when they hunt one of my 4 star terrain caches. Likewise (originally stolen from Stingray and Devil Kitty from way-back): Disclaimer: This cache was rated using the official geocache rating system. The following persons should not attempt this cache: Children * Elderly People * Out of Shape People but most importantly, no Whiners, Crybabies, and Wusses. michelle

I just can't NOT reply... Poo. Try the 'search' feature these forums so kindly provide: here Or check out pages two AND three for the very recent discussions of fuel costs. michelle

... Paranoia, the destroyer ... Hiking and long walks (trails, in the woods, not so many hills) have long been my MO - my kids have been out with me from the get-go. My oldest was tossed in a backpack before she 'should' have been (not sitting up yet) so I could get back out. I started caching when my youngest was 3. (As in, just turned 3.) To remedy some of the longer-hike-whine, I learned to take food with me. What a change! There is a 'large' portion of the year where ticks are a non-issue as well as the snakes. For myself I found it rather ironic that the only time I ran into a snake on a trail was during my every day, early-morning 6-mile walk and a cottonmouth decided it was nice and warm riiiiiiiiiiiiight there on the pavement. Ticks were another story... My point? Oh yeah, it would be a shame to let the threat of ticks and/or snakes to keep you from getting out of the pavement jungle... whether you're caching or NOT! To the OP: seriously consider a carrier like Naomi suggested. Learn to carry only the bare minimum (there's really no reason to take your diaper bag with you every time you get out of the car) and plan your hunts in such a way that you eliminate the need to pack a bunch of crap with you other than... your baby (in carrier), your GPS and trades if you do that. There are so many micros, or short walk-type caches that this should be super easy to do. (If this is your first baby... I realize nothing seems easy at first!) michelle

Vinny... Vinny... Vinny... When are you going to stop getting so 'gotta go have a drink before I have a breakdown' whenever someone, who pays zero attention to the current "General Issues At Hand Which Affect Geocaching Today but Didn't Seven Years Ago When I Last Checked", can't use the 'Search' feature to figure out that a topic has already been discussed ad nauseum (and put to bed)? You know better. michelle

Not really the tip, if you want to get into semantics. michelle

It really, really depends on what I'm doing and where I'm going. For longer, out of range for a day/days, I have left maps of where I will be, and a specific-as-I-can-be note of what I'll be doing when, and set up a 'call' time to rendezvous with someone via phone (if it's a particularly tough, I could die, hike.) I call after I'm out and on the road (and there's cell signal). Other than that, I don't tend to worry about it much. michelle

Me too. Oh, and the secret decoder ring. michelle

Well that's fine you disagree with me. However, OSHA requires handrails and safety restraints to be installed if you're going to ride my back that much. Don't forget to pull his hair. michelle

I've seen this alot lately. It's like someone starts a topic, but then dosen't post anything in it. El Diablo this is weird, i started this topic and had a little intro but its not there.. weird? o.O What was your question? BTW, is "geocaching". That's how you tell where you are in the game... when you're new it's geocashing. After you've been caching for awhile, when you intend to write the word cash, you write cache... And hopefully you never ever pronounce 'cache' as 'cachet' michelle

Ain't that the truth? (Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be true of everyone!) michelle

This from the cacher who does not like my avatar! Sadly... pretty slim pickin's lately. It's almost as if all the nut-jobs post on the same day of the same week of the same month and then... nothing! *grumble* michelle

I'm in it so I can come to the forums and see knight2000's avatar... which has been around a little more frequently of late. (Thanks for that, man.) Snoog's photo from The Borg Cube is a close second. I definitely play 'for the love of (some) of it'. I have met many incredible people, have been coordinated to and discovered so many incredible places. It fills an empty 'get out and go' spot from time to time these days... and isn't near the focus of all-my-free-time as it was lo those many years ago. My stats aren't even on my radar (neither are yours, or yours, or even yours). I don't even care if "you" cheat. At the end of the day I only have to live with myself and be comfortable with what I've done. michelle

Spend a hundred bucks and get yourself a cheap GPS if you really want to get started. And a Palm off of eBay for your cache pages (not necessary, but nice... read about 'paperless caching' to understand more). It would cost less to replace both of them than one phone... and be more reliable/less breakable at all times. Don't get me wrong, the iPhone is cool... but it's not a lean, mean caching machine. It is pretty cool for talking, email and web when you can get service or wifi tho. michelle

Interesting info. I wonder why it became so popular for geocaching. Because they are small and you could buy them at a surplus store... therefore they MUST be ok, right? I dislike them heartily (aside from the always-wet/always-stinky factor) because that top is a b*tch to get off and then back on. michelle

This would definitely be the LEAST expensive way. Considering the cost of gas is now a big enough expense for me to want to cut all the other costs I can. Besides, we are broke enough as it is.... We have a 3 year old. The horror. michelle

Many of the people I respect the most in regards to Geocaching have very, very low numbers, but have been around for a long time. I hadn't run into this issue until recently, but it was an interesting experience. Along with a certain 'game-maturity' level that is usually very self evident, I, too, tend to validate what people say in the forums, but use the "Joined:" figure just to the left of every person's posts. michelle

You could just put a note on your cache page: Seriously though (well, more seriously, anyway): I wouldn't care if anyone did it in my location, but I can sure see other cachers having a problem with it. There is a substantial number of cachers who want to find GOOD stuff in the caches they find. If it is perceived that you and/or your kids are going out and taking things from the cache when you think there's something in there of value (regardless of the quality) and even if you're replacing it with some other type of trink... It ain't gonna float for long. michelle

I have only removed someone's log from a cache page once. A local cacher had dropped the F-bomb in the paper log at the cache. Very bad form. Since there were other logs on the page I used my pen to make sure the particular passage was unreadable. It would be so nice if people could just be friendly and civilized. I had to think about how long it's been since I've cached in your area... Those I've removed have been from non-cachers. Normally I do not read through logbooks but there were graphics and everything! I even took photos. It didn't occur to me that that might be a little odd... but now that I think about it ... that was really odd. I guess it's a good thing I don't have them any longer. No. Really. Speaking of 'bad form', I've noticed folks have less trouble with 'bad form' online logs than they do with 'truthful' online logs. Write borderline logs (punny... easily exchangeable good-for-bad words) online and the writer skates by, but mention any kind of 'suck' factor and a cacher is done-for. Have we jumped the shark yet? To the OP (to help with that): Just say no. It's a pretty creative idea, really... but the execution just isn't there, and as malicious as people can be (even cachers!) it would be quite a risk that most wouldn't take. michelle

That would be kind of cool. I would do that since it wouldn't require me to have any extra equipment or put anything at risk. I'd sign a paper logbook... michelle I was only thinking of it as in addition to the paper log book. I guess I need more coffee before I reply to anything else. The other thing I thought of after I posted is the tape recorder would allow people to record bad stuff and it would also allow people to erase. Both poor behavior, but both would almost certainly happen. My response was just to indicate the level I'm willing to go to to 'log the cache'. I won't be hooking up my 'puter and leaving an avatar of any kind (virus issues notwithstanding), nor would I leave a photograph (in the past I would have used a cache camera... but a digital, high-q, file?! Probably not then, and definitely not now.) But would add, that even though you've indicated people would record 'bad' stuff and erase... that type of action occurs in the paper logs as well. I removed a number of pages from a log-book that had been found by a group of 'young men' who were 'not cachers'. I was pretty sure children would never travel with their 'rents to find this particular cache, but... I took em out anyway. (After a good laugh, really.) By all means, have more coffee. It's not necessary (based on your responses) but it's early and I'm not sure you can have too much before... oh, about 5pm in my world. michelle