wapahani

Do a search for this topic in this forum. There are many topics on this. Today we used our TomTom One XL and found 8 caches. I tried our TOTOM one 3rd edition just for fun and it didn't work very well. However, It works great to get you to the area. It has saved many 'navigation issues' in areas we didn't know by getting us to the closest parking area and then using our Garmin handheld from there. Did you go to the actual COORD portion of the device? The spot that gives you the real time COORDS? We use ours to drive to the location, then click "end navigation" then go in and use the COORD feature to get to the spot.

Point made, returned yesterday, found one cache had been replaced with a DECON instead of the listed Bison, new log and everything. The other was no where to be found, but you could follow the previous cachers destruction. Sad We did find 1 of the 2. I think I call it quits on the other one however!

I have found that most cachers don't read beyond the COORDS, so unless you add parking waypoints, they won't care. Just put in your info as stated above. If they fail to read it, its THEIR FAULT and you have no guilt.

First of all, try this. Coords are like this 45 83.356 Since I can't use the degree symbol.

Get yourself a blog. I find that after every caching adventure or hiding or maintaining, whatever, I blog it. Gives me a nice record of what I did, if anything was interesting, or reminds me "how I got that scar!" We also keep record in a composite notebook to help us track what was found and who the owner is. funny how you find a nice pattern with certain cache owners once you have been doing it for a time.

Do a search for this topic in this forum. There are many topics on this. Today we used our TomTom One XL and found 8 caches.

This is why I list a "hidden" container as a "unknown". If I hide a bison tube, match safe or micro inside another object, then I list it as a "unknown" and then tell them the following...... "THE CONTAINER THAT HOLDS THE LOG IS A MATCH SAFE" Leaves it up to you to find the cache container.

Its simple, I don't go after FTF. If it happens, then it happens. But I learned that the "hounds" will quickly get the FTF's, they live for it. I just sit back and watch the scuddle of "so and so beat me to it.." or my fav is "I signed the virtual log first".... That has to be funny, knowing you are the real FTF, but someone claims the virtual version first!

I've found 2 recently, one log sheet was soaked, the other was in a plastic bag and perfect (but a tight fit back in the case!)

Over time you will find that you just don't care what others think. I've found that doing things as fast as you can, usually helps. I try not to linger long, and I'm still trying to teach the wife this. When we go out, I assess the location and situation. Today had a prime example. The location was very quiet, but the homeowner across the street was watching. It is in a small cemetery and while one of us always looked at graves, the other searched. Otherwise, I generally don't hide my activity. The only time I am careful is when I locate, remove, sign and replace the cache.

I can't give out all my secretes, but I found hiding in plain sight is often most difficult. It depends on what you want to do with the hides. I've got what I call "EVIL HIDE" Caches that are meant to be tough, long drawn out and painful to find. Then I have "Basic Hides" that anyone can find generally. Its meant to be simple and logged. With my EVIL HIDES, I don't want them found and I go to great lengths to make them up. This one is in plain sight, yet its so tough to find... http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...ae-aef844b87864 This one is a simple one that almost anyone can find.... http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...40-c99dd5db2fcc Then I have the historic based caches, a couple aren't online yet, others on another account. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...7a-3ef5487e8565 I highly suggest looking for 3-5 star caches in your area with low terrain ratings and go see what they are. I've seen pinecones, stumps, limbs, locknlock like rocks, key holders like rocks, a bolt with nut, piece of paper under a magnet and so forth. Just look around you for ideas, there are millions of them.

Become a premium member. The $3 is worth it. Secondly, find out your local reviewers. We have 3 in my area, so I have their email addresses saved in mine. Then when I find a location I log the COORDS at the spot of the proposed hide. Then a simple email to my reviewer answers the query and I know YES or NO if I can. I've been shot down a few times, but I found that the simple email will work fast and effectively. Plus, if you have a private property issue, or other issues, you can address that with your reviewer before you trade barbs in your notes on the cache page!

We keep a composite notebook with all the caches in a certain order of direction. We don't go far from home when caching, as we don't spend entire days caching. If I know we are heading south to a certain town, then I take all those along that route and go from there. In our book I put down the GC#, then I leave a spot for our found date, then I write the coords down, the name, who the owner is then what the container is, then any hints or map notes. Takes about 5 line in the book and it helps us. Even though its in the GPS (COORDS) it helps us to have them on paper, as we can quickly find issues if they arise. When I started this sport I found it very helpful and it just carried over when the family got involved! Also, if I don't have a cache programmed in but I know one is there, I use it as a recon mission!..LOL

I've currently got 2 caches that we have hunted for more then 4 times each. We just finally said 'enough' and will go back later on to find them. I know they are there, as both of them have been found yesterday (although I have my doubts because of the cachers pattern and so forth). But once we have worn our welcome on a cache, we move on. On case we couldn't find it, we had been there 3 times. The wife said NO MORE and I said once more. I returned with another friend and we found it. Sometimes its right before your eyes!

Nope, not worth it. Cache will be there when we get there. I haven't heard about anyone doing so. I know we have several FTF hounds that are on top of them fast, but never heard anything about it. Personally I can care less about being FTF, and certainly my wife is the same way.

Yep. I've found an ammo can hidden like this (underwater, tied to a rope for fishing it out). It worked great as long as it was sealed properly by the previous finder. If anything gets caught between the gasket and the lip of the can, then water will seep into the ammo can. You can include directions for properly closing the container. That will help, except for those who don't read the directions. Most people don't read directions! I've used the matchsafe in the a locknlock and its 100% good to go. I just put the log in the matchsafe!

We use the stealth, but only to a point. We won't just go for a cache if in doing so it will give the location away. Myself I try hard to keep my hides as fun as possible. I generally spend a good amount of time on the hiding spot and the area and container. So to have someone that doesn't care if it gets muggle, I do have issues with it. But there are those only in this for the numbers and once they grab it, it no longer matters to them! Its called SELFISH, we have many childlikes in this sport.

While I have had words with my reviewer, I wouldn't stoop to calling him names. That was a riot to read though. This is a prime exampe of why its very important to get good COORDS.

Honestly, LockNLock's are the best. If you wonder if its water tight, then do a test on it. I've found that using tried items the best. but someone has to try new things. So if no one responds, try it out. Bury it in a compost heap, or in a damp spot.

I've got a couple within just a mile and several more under 5. Most are 1stars

I agree with this. We buy the cheap hand sanitizer and as soon as we get back to the vehicle we wipe down with it. I've only gotten it one time since we started using this method, no one else in the family has gotten it at all. I was never allergic to it as a kid, but in the past few years I have the ability to get it now!

Let me add, it can take YEARS on a solid pour, and I mean YEARS. Try this, its called LocTite Powergrab. It bonds to almost anything and I used it over epoxy due to its ability to lock into materials with pours in it (like concrete). It will grab within seconds and holds good. You might want to make sure the maintenance guys don't know the cache is there. I have a friend that is on the maintenance staff of a local university and they have been told when they find a geocache, just to throw it away! I would make sure they don't know it exists, because they may know it and keep looking and just trashing it when they find it.!

DNF's are very important to GCing. It lets me as a cache owner know something might be amiss, but on tougher 4 and 5 star hides, it lets me see how tough it really is. I currently have 2, 5 star hides that only 1 was found and the other is still out there yet to be found. I've only had 3 people log their DNF's on the second one, yet I know more people have been looking via another forum. For me, as the owner of that cache, it says I must have done very well in hiding it by seeing all those DNF's by people with 4,000+ finds. _________ In my opinion, if you start looking for a cache, no matter if its 2 minutes or 30 and you don't find it, its a DNF. If you start walking for it and don't get within a 100 feet, then I wouldn't worry about DNF'ing it. On tougher caches I might do a recon, but if I do it, then I post a note saying it was recon. But hey, its just a sport and from what I have seen, most people do as they want anyway. Most people just don't log DNF's for a sign of failure. I look at it as a badge to say "hey I have been here, can't find it, but I will be back". Plus you may get a return email from the owner saying the cache was muggled. In that case, you watch and when they put it back out, its a easy find for you!

Log those DNF's. As a hider of tough caches, I like to know how many cachers actually try and find them and don't. Let me know that my 4 or 5 star was well worth my time to make and hide them. Its not a sign of failure. Failure is walking away knowing you will never do it again!

We use our TomTom one XL and it gets us by just fine in most cases. I've heard that the NUVI isn't the best at this, but many say the same thing about the TomTom. Since I don't know about the NUVI I won't comment directly. But I suggest listening to those that own them.