Enspyer

I was told of a method where you hide the cache, take a waypoint. Then walk in a loop about 5 feet away and come back and take a waypoint. Do this around the cache until the loops make kind of a flower with the cache in the middle. Then walk much further away, like 50 ft, and then come back and take a waypoint. Either average the numbers mathematically or find the numbers that come out the most. I have hidden all of my caches that way when possible, although I don't know if there is any mathematical/GPS-science proof that it's any more affective than a single waypoint.

I've never been on a cruise, but perhaps they don't want you to know exactly where you are. If they take the same route frequently (which I imagine they do), they might not want just anyone to know where they are. I also think the gambling at a certain distance out to see would be a plausible idea.

Anyone can check my stats and see that I haven't found any 4/4 or 5/5 caches, but I do know what would maybe make me more interested in a cache: -pictures, especially if its a very scenic area -a fictional story about/behind the cache -some real history/legend about the area Good luck with your first hide!

double post

The first cache I found was a mystery cache that was a unique container, certainly not your average ammobox/tupperware. Instead, you had a pipe made to look very much like a tree stump. I guess I've always thought of it as a catch-all catagory that's never really wrong. Edit: I guess I was right: The cache is not supposed to be found at the listed coordinates. I suppose this one was hidden before that specification.

I'll second this. I love good logs; I love pictures even more. They don't have to be great pictures, either. Even people what don't rite gude can post pictures and brighten up a log. I would also agree. I like sharing my pictures, and sometimes when I don't have much to say in a log I feel like I can compensate with some cleverly-captioned pictured. I sometimes don't bring the camera, like if I'm going for an FTF or a quick micro, but many of my own logs have pictures. I noticed the trend that was mentioned in the beginning. Central New York falls in the middle. We have a good number interesting caches/cachers, so we have a lot of medium-sized logs...nothing like some epics I've seen from New England, but rarely the "TNLN TFTC" breed ones either.

I went 3 weeks without caching, because I was away at camp. They are very strict, no going off the sidewalk without supervision...it's really unfortunate. Anyway, I did a 5 or 6 cache day in the city of the camp the day before I checked in. That took me to 98 caches found. Then I had to wait for those 3 weeks until 100...agony!

There is certainly a way for cemetery caches to become tasteless quickly. However, if you're careful about your hide, there shouldn't be anything I worry about. Some large cemeteries have big, wooded spaces that don't feel any different that a hike in a park. I have adopted one of those, you and can't see any headstone from the cache at all. Another cemetery cache that I own is at an town run burial ground that has not been used in 100 years. Not many people stop there anymore, so the geocache brings some attention. It's away from graves, and an ammo box, so there is room for trading.

I usually can find something positive to say- "thanks for getting me out of the house" "the dog really enjoyed getting an extra walk" "everyone appreciated the nearby McDonald's" etc. Or something gently critical- "it's too bad there's so much trash in this area" "there are a lot of people around who might easily spot this one" "sure, there's no view or hike, but there is a McDonald's nearby" Not saying "great cache, more like these please" but having something positive/constructive to say. I very rarely run into a "lame-in-my-mind" cache, but if the owner thought the area needed the cache it's not my place to tell them otherwise.

Yellow etrex doesn't have mapping... That's what I get for scanning the question! The rest of my answer still applies though.

This definitely was a topic, actually only a few weeks ago: Markwell It probably would have been better over here anyway. I haven't found much cool stuff myself, nothing like the last poster!

The yellow eTrex is the best for a really tight budget. People seem to find it very durable and reliable. I've seen those particular GPSrs at Eastern Mountain Sports, Target, and OfficeMax. You can also get them online from places like TheGPSStore.com.

This wildlife was a suprise during cache maintainence! Some deer:

The above-mentioned thread.

I'm pretty sure you have to make an online log with typing and such. I do wish there was a shorter way sometimes but I think it makes people type a response and makes the cache page more interesting.

You might get more responses over in the GPS Units and Software Forum, where people are more likely to know what those numbers and letters mean!

Make sure you read the instructions first. The iFinder isn't terribly obvious and you need to be 'in control' to comfortably find a geocache. ::remembers doomed first-caching-attempt-outing::

I had a plain Lowrance iFinder until it broke. It lasted a little over a year (all geocaching stressed included). I dropped on the floor and the display system busted. Anyway, the display is much bigger than my new Garmin Legend's. There is an easy menu and an advanced menu. I find the advanced one was best for geocaching. There aren't as many fancy graphics but it works very well for finding caches.

That's what I was going to say. If it were small I'd looks in a hollow tree, under a pile of rocks, or in a log. If it were a micro I'd look in much smaller places (like lodged in a rock).

El Nino? We have lots of snow which is not usually conducive to caching, but it worked out okay today. And I have to go along with someone else who said they like yakking on the radio. That's a great way to lose a few hours!

Even if you could find someone to make up these signs for you, without some electrical/mechanical knowledge you would not be able to maintain the cache well. Suppose a fieldmouse chews through one wire. The whole cache is down. Also, who is going to give you permission to do that? Not many parks would like that very much. This is the kind of cache idea I would think of! I've only hidden 11 caches really, but I've probably thought of 100 possibilities.

Enspyer, How does the Ham Radio work for you? All the time? I have been investigating the use of a satellite phone when out in the Roadless areas of mountainous regions here in the Pacific Northwest. I haven't made the plunge yet to get a satellite phone.. really expensive... but was just wondering. I find what I have, a handheld radio that works on 2 meters to be very reliable. It would be better if I invested a few dollars into a better antenna, but still it's nice to have. Once you listen and talk to people a little, you know which local repeaters will have people listening at all hours. Repeaters are basically a way to relay your message further. I've heard more than one 911 all on the air, so its nice to know that technology is available. The 'coverage' isn't good enough to have a long conversation from many locations, but most places I go I could communicate enough to get across an emergency situation. It's often better in forests and such, I find, because there aren't lots of buildings with metal in the way. You should do some online searching to see what local clubs are around you, and they might be able to answer any questions more region-specifically. On topic: Ham radio can relieve shivers often! It can help in emergencies, and even just talking people can help you not panic!

It is something to be proud of, but it really isn't geocaching-related. Just so you know, this post and the last one both came from kids. Just don't change fonts too much and post on topic and you'll be fine.

I volunteered last fall to help run a geocaching workshop for brownie and junior girl scouts, I think. They gave the girls generic geocaching patches. My younger sister (who participated as a girl scout) says she did not earn any badges, but I'm sure the activity could be used towards one. The event was I did was run by the CNY Girl Scout council which coordinated with a troopleader/geocacher who also brought the state organization NYGO into the picture so locals could be contacted to volunteer.

Oh come on, say what happened. I love caching and I love ghost stories! Pleeeease!!! Oh, one major time that I forgot was doing a few caches in Green Lakes State Park. We were a little over a mile from the car and it was fall. Locating the trail was very hard because of all the leaves. I thought we could grab one more cache and then continue to the road our car was parked on. Unfortunately, that road was a major route instead of the little county road I was thinking of. We ended up trying to return to the car the right way, but it was a very large park and the sun was going down. Earlier we'd gotten a bit lost and worried, especially because it looked like a bad storm. We'd wandered around the whole area so much it took quite a long time before we found the right path out, and then we were walking along a dark road for a ways. After that I've not gone on a hiking type cache without my ham radio HT, because with that I know where I can always reach people! Wow long story! In the logs I tried to be all brave-like but that's the real thing above.