Team Dromomania

My reviewer just asked that I either change my terrain rating to a 1.5 or use the "wheelchair accessible" attribute. A wheelchair CAN park right next to this cache but they would have to reach to the ground to retrive it. Is it wheelchair accessible?

My caches are usually approved within a few hours. I placed a new on on the 8th but it hasn't been approved yet. Looking at the new caches in this area the last ones approved were last Sunday. So I would guess my reviewer is on vacation. Now that really upsets me!!!! It's the fact that somebody has time off and I don't. (Of course, if I did I'd just be geocaching which, in my case (I like trail caches) would mean a LOT of work.) Oh - back to the subject: I can wait for the cache approval. No biggie at all. These guys and gals do a great service.

Just curious. Why would you want to place caches simply to satiate some self imposed goal, while someone else does all the work? The way I read it was that they were going to place the caches themselves but then have somebody else oversee them. If that's the case and the reviewers will allow these vacation caches, I'd say go for it. On the other hand, keeping 50 caches going at all times will be a chore (are they going to caches in bad muggle areas die? Like spinning 50 plates on rods, once they drop the "feat" stops). Or if one needs to be moved are they willing to travel back to that state and make the change themselves? If not, I would think that the new cache should have a new owner - the one that hides it IMOHO. Again, the "feat" will end and they will only have a "look what I did" bragging rights. I guess that's ok if you are in a race or something. But I think caches should be placed to last a good while whenever possible.

That's almost exactly what I get (98%). I usually find about 80% of the caches on my first attempt. About 10% of my DNF's turn out to be really missing. Since 10% of 20% is 2% then my experience indicates also that 98% of the caches I visit are really there.

Because it is still active I won't give out the waypoint but there is a cache were it "is a small jar disguised to look like something it's not." I peeked in the bushes and there it was - a Casper the Ghost Holloween yard ornament. I'd say that was "something it's not"! It sure gave be a big grin.

I DNF a 1/1 here. Later the owners changed it to a 4.5/4.5. I'd say EVERY time I can't locate a cache after giving a very hard search for it I THINK it must be missing. And usually I'm right (about 10 percent of the time). For that reason most of my DNF's are logged exactly as that: DNF then place it on my growing watch list. Last month I couldn't locate a 1/1 reststop cache. The next person also logged a DNF. I was feeling pretty good about thinking it must be missing when a third person located it, "very easy find" he claims! Arrrrgh!

Well, that settles that. Thanks. I'll close this topic now.

I gave permission for a cacher to change their type of log from a NOTE to a FIND a few weeks ago. Although I never received a notification of the change, the cacher did make it. Should I have received an email that the change was made? Or did a black hole suck up the mail before I got it? All other emails from grounspeak seem to be working just fine.

Is it still wheelchair accessible if one must reach down to ground level to retrive a cache? Stating that fact (ground level) on the cache's web page might be giving away a big clue. Just wondering. I just looked at the handicache.com page and it seems one could indicate 0-3 feet off the ground using their system. I'll have to read some more to see how that system works.

A couple of months ago as I approached a cache in a park, 2 shirtless guys suddenly jumps up out of the tall grass - followed a few seconds later by a couple of girls with shirts. I guess that's why it took them longer. Before I took up geocaching I once took my Sunday school class of 11-13 year old boys on a hike. I knew a shortcut to a hidden waterfall and lead the gang in that direction. Just before reaching the spot most of the guys ran ahead to get first looks. And they did - of a girl nude sunbathing on the rocks. ---- I was bugged for weeks by the kids for me to take them on another hike. Now that I'm geocaching I have searched for caches in that same park where I took the boys hiking. But the ladies have not shown up again. (I think my Wife has something to do with that!)

I love simple answers for my simple brain. Thanks a million for that tip.

I got several corrected coordinates in my GSKA data files for solved puzzles, multi caches, etc. Is there a way I can check on which cache coords have been changed? The offline database shows up as "corrected" but that doesn't help me locate all the ones I have changed. I scanned the previous messages in this forum but I didn't see or I missed any similiar questions. Thanks in advance for any help.

When I open a cache and find a couple of rubber bands, a soggy card and a rusted out pin it is very easy to conform to the geopolice trading policies.

For my GPSMAP 60CS I purchased a sunglass case from Wal-Mart for a couple of bucks. It was the perfect size and it zips shut. I don't put the strap on my GPS anymore. I was on a long hike and was holding the GPSr with the strap to my wrist for a couple of hours when I finally figured I'd just carry it in my pocket. After another mile or so I reached for the GPSr and it was missing. I backtracked and found it hanging on a branch caught by the strap. I didn't even feel it. At this point I'll tell one of my more embarrassing moments: A few months later on a long hike and it was raining cats and dogs and freezing cold. I was trying to figure out where to put the GPS so I could warm my hands and it dawned on me that there was plenty of room under my hat - so on my head and under the hat it went. About an hour later I reached for my GPS in my POCKET! It was missing! I backtracked for about 1/2 miles searching gully washed steep trails until it finally hit me - there it was on my head!

95 percent of the time I'm alone. 4 percent of the time the second half of our team joins me (the really easy, no climbing, no bushwacking caches). The other 1 percent I have somebody else with me. I enjoy the times I'm with my wife. I enjoy the "alone" times. I enjoy the search with others. It's all fun.

You do realize that a Brown bear and a Grizzly Bear are the same thing? ... Just to share, I wish to recount a story from a hike my wife and I did a decade ago in Yosemite. Yep, they're the same but then the joke wouldn't work. The best I can figure out is that it all depends on your location on what the bear is called. As for Yosemite, I was on that same trail quite a few years ago hiking alone when a Black started following me. I wasn't carrying any food but it still keep trying to approach me and got within a few feet several times. I banged my metal things but it ignored the noise. After about 10 minutes of this without any letup I met a young couple heading back towards the campgrounds. The bear ran off. I told them about my experience and we went our ways. About a minute later I started hearing metals banging in the direction of the couple. That bear just would not give up! I've never been to Yosemite with a GPSr. I'm going to have to do that hike again and record my path. It looks like there's several virtuals there.

There's a new cache in my area where you must play an old TEXT ADVENTURE type computer game much like ZORK of the old days. Check out Z-Cache: The Adventures of Base Dentura (GCP9TP). I haven't solved it yet but I'm having fun trying. You are a cacher helping out a newbie. Not only is it fun but it's funny too.

Like this guy?

I've visited several sites where a cache had been muggled and a new one in a slightly different location had been placed using the same name where the owner invites previous cachers to log it again. Your log will show two finds for the one cache. Also, if that is not a troll and they are really new to caching, I'd remind them that there are many, many caches using the same NICKNAMES so that strolling down a list of logs it may APPEAR to be a double log. If you must take the time to search through another cachers logs sure to check the waypoints. You may not be seeing double after all. Bottom line - it's the cacher's personal log and they rule how they wish to play the game for themselves.

Is there a policy concerning cachers who have passed away? I think it's good to keep the profiles but is anything official being done to do some housekeeping with that person's caches and TB's? I know if I should die that my wife would have no idea how to log onto our web pages - much less how to make any changes in the profile. It is good to see these cachers are still remembered.

I've been at several caches where TWO micro containers were found. In all cases they were film micros. Which one to sign - one? both? (I usually do both and mention the two in my online log). I could list those caches here but I'm not going to point fingers at those cachers (some with high counts). "I KNOW the cache is missing (so and so confirmed it) so I replaced the cache". Then the next cacher finds two caches. I put some of the blame on the cache owners: Many of these double container caches remain for months. IMOHO the owner should have checked on the cache, removed the "new" cache, and notified the cacher who did this to change his FIND to a NOTE. If enough owners did this then the habit could be greatly reduced. Cache maintance is another matter. If I find the log and trinkets lying all over the ground I will make an attempt to provide a container or at least a baggie. Other times I've found caches in the open and rehid where I THINK it may have been. In both cases I notify the owner with details. In the end, it's up to the owner.

This is a very large community and I'm sure that some cachers have passed away. Is there a specific thread or an area where such persons could be honored with a few words from those who knew something about them. I personally do not know of any cachers who have passed away. I do know that if I'm still geocaching when I die I'd like others to know I passed away and did not just go MIA.

I've had a Tungsten E for about a year. The colors are great but they are completely washed out in direct sunlight. Have they improved the screen or am I missing something here?

"Grizzly bear droppings frequently contain little bells."

This was sent to me a while back: When hiking in the wilderness, especially in the woods, remember there are bears, some of which would love to have you for lunch. One way to avoid this is to wear little bells like the ones used on horse/reindeer harnesses or Christmas stockings. The constant jingling is unpleasant to the bears and will keep them away. When you are walking in the woods you frequently find signs of bears having been there before you. Some of these signs are: scratches on trees (where a bear has sharpened it's claws), little tufts of bear fur imbedded in the tree bark (bears sometimes scratch an itch) and bear droppings. By examining the droppings, you can tell what kind of bear left them. Brown bear and black bear droppings contain undigested berry seeds, little bits of rodent fur and rodent skulls. Grizzly bear droppings frequently contain little bells.