GEO.JOE

I have someone in mind. I was chatting with local cacher (Herefishyfishy) and he informed me that White Cougar has just started caching and is unable to afford a GPS at this time. "He (White Cougar) doesn't have a GPSr yet so we usually try to hunt a cache or 2 during lunch when we go out of town on deliveries. He wants a GPS but since we're both about to lose our jobs, due to the store closing, and he has twins on the way he's kind of strapped for cash." I do not know White Cougar, but he has been on my mind since I received this email. I would like for him to be considered as the recipient of the GPS. With the stress he is facing an unexpected act of Kindness would probably provide him with a ray of hope. This is a really nice thing you are doing El Diablo. From what I have seen in the Forums this is just one example of your kind and giving character. GEO.JOE

What about an unmatched sock cache? Everyone brings the extra socks that the dryer didn't eat and if you find a matched pair you get to keep them.

The same thing just happened to me; after 2 finds the contents were down to two items I placed in it a hotel soap and a used golf ball. However, another cache that has been hit 38 times is going strong. I did have to clean out can tabs, receipts and a used Chapstick from a third cache after about 3 months, but other items were adequate. No two caches are the same, and after replacing your cache it may just get better with time. I was given the advice that if a caches location is discovered by non-geocachers and is plundered more than once it is time to move the cache to a new location. Good luck & Happy Caching.

My caches have received their FTF from within a few hours to as long as 10 days. Cacher density is a major variable. Within 50 miles of me there are 5 caches waiting to be searched for. One has been out for only 6 days, one (2.5/1)has been waiting 19 days, one (2/3) has been waiting 24 days and two that require a small boat were placed Sep., 02 and Oct. 02. How many of you have started planning you trip to grab these? Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

You've attained maturity when what you think matters more than what other people think.

This makes me feel better. I was scouting out a location for a new cache in a canyon that ranged from 200 to 500 feet across and 60 feet deep. I had accuracies for waypoints from 125 ft at the bottom to 68ft on top of a boulder even with the rim. My track log looks like a really bad connect the dot picture with huge zigzags, as large as .27mi from point to point. I am glad I did not have to follow that trackback to the car. I had given up on placing the cache in a location with such poor reception. My hopes are renewed and will get back next weekend to check the reception again. GEO.JOE

Poni Caching while horseback riding sounds like lots of fun. You should try it out on some caches that are already set up in Shawnee National Forest. There are 2 at Garden of the Gods just off equestrian trails ET Rock Cache and Garden of the Gods Outback. I have a cache that is about a .27 mile walk from where you tether horses at Garden of the Gods. One Horse Gap is a wonderful place to visit and the cache is only a 50 to 100 feet from the trail. There is a backwoods camp site at One Horse Gap along with primitive camping and plenty of trailer parking at one horse gap lake. Lusk Creek Canyon and Trigg Tower also have ample trailer parking and great riding opportunities. Other opportunities may exist near Clear Springs Wilderness, however, I have not explored that area yet, therefore, I do not know how accessible the caches are to the horse trails. I have plans for two other caches that will be relatively accessible by horseback but I’m not sure when I will get them placed. As for where to place a cache. Pick a place you enjoy. The cache will likely be visited by geocachers on and off horses so you may think of a place that can be enjoyed by all. As for what to place in the cache, most adult cachers do not expect to find a lot they want from a cache but if you make it a horse themed cache there are many great things you can place in the cache. Hoofpicks would be welcomed, other grooming aids, if there are individually packaged fly wipes they would be handy, combs, brushes etc. Just go to the grooming section of the farm store and see what is available for 1 to 3 dollars. You can place any themed items, horse print playing card, books, toy horses… etc. that will fit the theme. Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

This one is in Paducah, KY waiting to be placed. Impress Me Cache GEO.JOE

Didn't he do "Short People" - a song slamming the "vertically challenged"? I would have been hunting low if I read that clue. It was short people. After an hour of searching Randy Newman songs I did not get that one. Good job. Geo.Joe

That's Paris, TN also home of Hank Williams, Jr. When I get those caches completed I'll let you know if the hint was helpful. GEO.JOE

After my wife decrypted this one I was glad I did not need it: "I have two favorite Randy Newman songs. One is "Birmingham". The other applies to this cache." I spent over an hour researching Randy Newman songs, I still had no clue how this hint could help. The cache was hanging 6 ft up in the only tree in the field, any guesses? Answer in a few days Cache by same person at a creek with a 9 ft tall bank. Elevation two six zero feet My RINO read 277 feet at the top of the bank and 278 feet at the bottom. GEO.JOE

I have a similar question as above. I just placed Tunnel Hill cache and struggled with the terrain rating. The trail is a converted rail to trail with a small crushed rock surface. The trail is handicapped accessible and I have seen wheelchairs on the trail. However, a person confined to a wheelchair could get to within 1 to 2 feet from my cache but not be able to get the cache from it’s hiding spot. Therefore, is the rating to indicate that the trail is suitable for a wheelchair or the cache is accessible by a wheelchair? GEO.JOE

Another Idea is to place the cache somewhere near your appartment and give coordinates/directions so those that want to visit can. Others that are uncomfortable caching at someone's front door will still visit the cahe. I have visited one cache that the owner provided his home's coordinates A Wonderful Day In the Neighborhood Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

I have had a good few days. I was FTF on two caches that myself and others were finding impossible to find. I was first to find on Fallen Giant Saturday it has had people stumped since it was placed in January. There were only three DNF logs but others have attempted it 2 to 3 times without success, as noted on the find 1/29/04. On Monday I was FTF on Fort Smith . This cache had already beaten me twice and other cachers multiple times. I did require an additional hint on where a pink ribbon was located, and with that information I used the hint and checked every location that fit the description. These are my proudest caches because I had to work so hard to find them. I don’t plan to rub anyone’s nose in it but will probably mention it every time I speak to local cachers. Happy caching. GEO.JOE

We hid 1 traveling cache today and only found one cache. We had 5 miles of hiking and was concerned about a family that missed where a trail turned, so we caught up to them about 1 hour before dark and 2 mile away from the parking area. We suggested returning to the marked trail but they kept walking along the creek. We lingered about 45 minutes near the trail juncture hoping they would be coming back since we had flashlights to lead them out, no sign of them so we finished the hike in the dark. We then drove the gravel roads to where the Creek crosses a road and located the family about 4 miles away from their car and well after dark. We drove the father back to his van and then led him back to the rest of his family. We discussed the importance of staying on the marked trails and he told us they had been lost earlier on a shorter trail so they thought the would try the long one. He said they would not be hiking for a long time, I think that is the best decision he made all day. Happy Caching GEO.JOE

I found a Garmin T-shirt the saying on the back says " get a GARMIN or get lost" I ware it on most of my geocaching hunts. Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

Plano Stowaway Waterproof Utility Boxes: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...p018586ii01.jpg Also check Ebay for waterproof box/can/etc. Check army surplus stores, I found some Light, Target, Surveying carryi;ng case in Utah. Case is 6" x 6" x 4" Happy Caching GEO.JOE

I have thought about this same idea. I have found a couple benchmarks and I have not found it as interesting as finding geocaches. I frequently stop at historical markers and read them and would enjoy hunting them because there is the reward of learning a bit of history at the end of the hunt. I frequently use the Kentucky Historical Society Historical Marker Database http://kentucky.gov/kyhs/hmdb/MarkerSearch...unty&county=114 to learn about interesting areas to visit when traveling. Other states and counties have developed their own databases. I would welcome this as a new category of searchs on Geocaching.com. Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

Ammo Cans on sale at Sportsman's Guide!! http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=23343 Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

Place the cache someplace you like or is special to you, because you are inviting me and other cachers to share that place with you. The placements of your caches are a reflection on you, the type of person you are and the type of things you enjoy. If you like one mile walks along a stream-that’s the perfect spot. If you enjoy a secluded corner of a local park, a view from a mountain top, or the sound of a waterfall these places are the places for your caches. Take us to the place you proposed , got your first kiss or broke you arm as a child. If you like grabbing 20 easy caches instead of 1that is a full days hike that’s the type of caches you should place. With all the different personalities involved in this sport you can not please everyone, however, since we all love this sport any cache you place will be appreciated. Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

With permission from cache owners, I have logged two missing caches as found. On 8 mile cache the owner had removed the cache and had not archived the cache page. I had already found two legs of the multi that consisted of 8 miles of drriving. The owner told me to log it as a find because if the final log had been there I would have found it. He archived it that day. I will not get a chance to ever get back and sign a log, however, I did all the work and found all 3 locations. The second cache KDV Catfish Cache I was the first to search for the cache and it was muggled. I contacted the owner and she went back to the cache site with me and confirmed it was gone. I logged it as found on her request, however I changed it today since I have been back to it with my wife and nephew on Nov. 16 2003 and found it at that time. I will always try to get back to a cache and find it given the option. However, if the cache is never going to be replaced and I have done the search, a confirmed find of the location and permission from the owner, I will count it as a find. I have a few on my list that went missing, one has been replaced and I will be getting to it soon. Another will likely not be replaced and I am fine with the DNF Because it was questionable if it was muggled so I confirm if it was missing for the owner. I have a few others that have not been found in over a year and I do not expect to find them intact, however, I will be checking on them so the owners can decide what to do with them. And for one that the owner is no longer active someone can adopt the site or it can be archived. Happy Caching GEO.JOE

A few things I carry that have not been mentioned yet include: Duct Tape Gloves Rag (to wipe mud or water from cache and hands) Wet wipes Charmin / Kleenex Sunblock Small first aid kit ( I prefer New Skin antiseptic and liquid bandage, over band-aids ) Pain reliever Amodium AD Any other medication your group may need (Antacid, EpiPen … etc.) I also carry a small tube of caulk to repair where animals have chewed on the cache box, with a spare cache box in the car. Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

56 not found out of closest 100 (44%) #100 is 57.5 miles away. How do you fit 100 caches in a 10 mile or or 6 mile or less radius. Are they in every bodies back yards, corn fields and creeks? There are only 10 caches in a 10 mile radius from my home. I guess I got some cache placing to do. Happy Caching. GEO.JOE

5 mi - This cache has been missing and archived. Just found out it was replaced and found today ( guess what I will be doing tomorrow) Next is 12 mi - went in November adn encountered too many hunters but will be back. Next 2 are at 27 mi and require a boat, will get them in spring. I am now working on all that are around the 30 mi mark. Farthest one I have driven to is 1557.12 mi in Death valley. Happy Caching GEO.JOE

We may not hit 166 but everyone can go vote for the Geocaching Love Story and help tie them with the lead story. GEO.JOE