BBI Dragon

After reading this thread several weeks ago, I've been keeping my eyes out for good walking staff/stick material while out caching. I've found a few nice pieces of limps (rather than saplings) because we've had a good winter here and there is a lot of debris on the ground in the forested areas, parks and whatnot. It's just there for the picking. Right now I have two pieces of cider stripped of it's bark and strapped to the supports in my basement, drying and getting some of the bends out, both slowly. I figure by early summer I'll have some fairly straight and dried pieces of wood all ready for the next steps. I've read up on using my drummel tool and bought a wood burning tool and read up on that craft as well. I'll test on something other than the wood I have first to get a feel for how it carves and burns. As for tracking the staffs, so that others might "discover" them, there are several possibilities without using the special made medallion. Cut out and insert, glue down and drill holes with small nails, using a standard TB tag. Or, you can also just carve and/or burn a TB tag's ID onto the staff and keep the set at home. Attached a Geocoin or a GeoGem, both have tracking numbers.

My basic rule is 10 minutes total time spent looking, depending on how many of us are there looking, muggles and weather. This would mean that if three of us look for 5 minutes and find nothing once we have zeroed in on ground-zero, that's an accumulated 15 minutes. So, we move on to the next cache and log a DNF. If I'm caching solo I'll put in that 10 minutes, maybe more. Difficulty would add time too. I do go to caches that have previous DNFs just to verify that it might be gone for the owner's sake so they might go check on the hide themselves. It's also fun when you do make the find even though others haven't. But more often, it's time for maintance. Now, if I've already logged a DNF and go back and still don't find the bugger, I log a note saying as much. One official DNF per cache is my rule. All attempts after that are notes. Often the owner will step up and check the cache after a few notes or DNFs or they will email me offering a hint. When I read a find log on one of my own hides and it said they'd been to the location three times before making the find, I went back up and recalibrating my coordinates (changed them by 8.5 feet) and discovered that it had been re-hidden about 6 feet from where it should have been. I also made the hint better but without giving too much away.

LOL! I bought several pair of surgical forceps and they have some in very handy. You can get them many places as they are used in first aid kits and for fishing. They cost between $4 and $7 depending on how small they are. I like the fact that they lock too. A second use for them is to retrieve those darn small bison bottles. I've had a few almost get pushed back into their whole. One did and have to be replaced by the owner.

I took my three GeoGems to a Geocaching event yesterday evening here in Portland, OR and no one had seen, let alone heard of them before. It was fun to have something unique for discovery. I have the Citrine, Ruby and Emerald.

Cool and fun topic. Thanks for bringing it up. I too am a dog lover and have three terriers. As well, my wife and I do Fox Terrier Rescue. I have been giving some thought to non-tradisional trackables. Around here trackable walking sticks/staffs have been seen at Geocaching events. They just attached a TB tag to the staff and burn the tracking numbers into the staff for discovery. I have several GeoGems that I'm considering placing in staffs so others might discover them. As for your, or my dogs, I like the idea of using a TB's tracking numbers on a collar or finding a geocoin that matched the dog's breed or name or temprement. Heck, even a favorite toy depicted on a coin might work if there are such things.

I heard about this on the radio show "Coast to Coast AM" last night. It could be just a matter of a few years before we could have cache containers with LED lights and maybe small electrical devices in them, run by hamsters with nanotech jackets. The potentuals are endless. We could even carry these special equipped critters in our pockets and wire them to our GPSr, no more batteries! This was the old school way of thinking. But as technology and the sport of geocaching advances, hamsters can add so much more to our lives!

I am in the same page with the above post/quote. Being new to caching I have just started to take a look at the puzzle caches. Some of them are just a matter of doing the time to research at home or in the field. I get those. But others are just beyond me, at least at this point. This whole topic reminds me of the "Phone A Friend" issue. Is it cheating or just getting a little help, a hint from someone else you know that's already made the find? I understand the frustration of someone creating the puzzle cache only to have some cheat at it. Bottom line, it's our cache, if this is irritating enough do what you want, archive if that's the way you feel. Good topic, I just started a yahoogroup for my area's cachers and after reading this, I've added a note that the group is NOT to be posting puzzle coordinates, and that hints to all caches will be monitored closely. I hope that there will still be puzzle caches for those of us that enjoy the challenge, and frustration of trying to solve them.

I have thought about adding a little of that powder used in gardening, esp. indoor planters. It absorbers a lot of water and expands (it is also a gel). My thought has been to mix a little of this with the silica gel (which doesn't expand) and put it all into a cloth bag with some extra room. This way, the silica gel grabs the moisture and transfers it to the water grabbing powder. When things dry out it resets.

I like these answers myself. It really DOES depend on now involved you want to get. I have had two snarky logs deleted on the same day buy the same cache owner who has under 25 finds/ 70 hides and was a little miffed at the whole experience looking for his hides. But when I got the notice about the deletions I swear I still had the smilies. I might have been mistaken. Anyway, I logged both finds again much more "PC" and privately emailed the guy about what I was doing. These stayed. In the future I might avoid his hides frankly. I have also logged and photographed an illegal hide that had a fair number of "found" logs but was also clearly posted No Trespassing. Being a law abiding citizen who also happens to legally carry a gun, trespassing would have been a VERY serious matter. I was a little upset that I'd driven some distance just to find this and another hide, both as it turned out, behind the No Trespassing signs and our local reviewer had them both archived very quickly. Both owners redirected their own responsibility for not following the rules toward me in emails to boot. A month or so later I found and wrote a very elaborate and complimentary log for one of these cacher's other hides and they were very pleased and thankful.

I didn't start thinking about and working on my first hide until I had about 75 finds. I think I published my first at about 85-90. I am now at only 215 finds and have only 4 hides. I'm developing some 4 to 6 others but I take my time. I hide the type I'd like to find and from all of the logs, others appreciate my hides too. I know that there are a lot of cachers out there that like to find 35mm canisters and rinsed out yogurt containers but everyone has their style and preferences. I do have to agree with many of the established caches: You shouldn't do a single hide until you have at least 75 to 100 finds, so that you have a good understanding of the sport/game and you know what it's like from the perspective of someone trying to find a cache. There is a small group of cachers around my area that have a disproportionate number of hides to finds. They all are uncreative and uninspiring. I understand that is what this sport is to some, but it does have the potential for being much more than a yogurt container in the bushes. There should be a limit to the number of hides you may have "active" if for no other reason, so that you can keep them maintained in a reasonable amount of time.

Before I placed my first hide, I asked a local legend cacher I'd met about FTF prizes. His advice reflects the quotes above. "If it's a complicated, difficult or otherwise challenging hide, sure." and "The same small group of local cachers are always getting the FTFs, why reward them for that?" This same cacher did me the honor of making me first hide his 5000th find. Using the term "FTF hounds" is far more polite than I am, I use "FTF Hogs" and even released a TB about this: http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?id=1726950 I have left a new dollar coin in two of my three hides, one because it matched the theme of the hide.

Dipping just recently came on my geocaching radar when I picked up a Geocoin and the owner emailed me and asked me to take it along with me for a few caches so she could get credit for miles and another state (Oregon) before I took it into Washington. I was happy to do this for another cacher and in fact took photos of the coin near all of the caches I logged it in and out of. I understand what you mean be questioning the ethics of this practice. But if it's one thing I've learned about the game, the sport of Geocaching, it's is different things to different people. There are variations on how to play. For instance, I choose not to "discover" trackables. This means logging that you saw them in a cache or at an event. I prefer to only log trackables that I actually help move from cache to cache. Many cachers consider it part of their game to discover trackables. I recently bought several GeoGems. I have no intension of letting these out into the wild. Around here, cool coins are always ending up missing in action. I can imagine that a nice looking (fake) gem will fall the same fate. So, I will keep these with me and log them in and out (dip) them while I'm out caching. I will also take photos of them at these dipped caches. I might eventually figure out a way to affix these GeoGems to a walking staff/stick so that others may discover them if they want to while I'm out caching. So, yes, dipping is what some do, and some will choose not to do. It's all in how you play the game.

When I first started caching, just several months ago, the concept of swag/trade items was interesting to me. I read the forums, did some research and ended up buying some Shrinky Dink material that was made to run through a PC printer. It was also thicker that the usual stuff and when shrunk, was thick and durable enough to make fobs for key chains, zipper pulls, that sort of thing. You have drill a hole through them before shrinking and after, spray them with a layer or two of clear coating to make them water resistant. These turned out nicely and you can do pretty much anything your imagination and graphic skills would allow. But after a while I realized I would be spending a lot of time just making these trade items as I was caching more often and finding hides. I also really didn't need more "stuff" around here, as in taking trade items. For the kids, I think it's a really fun idea to include trade items with Geocaching. As an adult, not so much. The most useful "adult" trade item I've takes was a small pad of Sticky Notes.

There is an older thread on geogems over under "geocoins" and I just posted there. I'll repeat what I did there with a little addition. I've gotten mine at ebay, spent more $'s for them than ordering directly, but I have the saftey of knowing I can pay with Paypal and my credit card information is pretty safe. I've bought and got the ruby and it's very nice. I have coming the citrine and emerald and will be adding the sapphire and maybe the diamond to my collection in the near future. I don't much like the black geogem. As for releasing them into the wild, into the field, not a chance. Around here (Northern Oregon/SW Washington) hitch hikers on TB end up missing from time to time, way to many geocoins end up missing in action and I can just imagine that a pretty gem like these would end up the same, in someone's personal collection. Geocaching is like any other activity, there will be those that are unethical, dishonest and thefts. What I am considering is one or two ideas. Affixing a gem or two to a walking staff so that other cachers might discover them when we meet. I can also log them in and out of caches to get some miles on them. I have also seen a few geocoin owners create laminated photocopies of their coins to let out in the wild rather than risk them being stolen. This might be done with these geogems as well.

I've bought and got the ruby and it's very nice. I have coming the citrine and emerald and will be adding the sapphire and maybe the diamond to my collection in the near future. I don't much like the black geogem. As for releasing them into the wild, into the field, not a chance. Around here (Northern Oregon/SW Washington) hitch hikers on TB end up missing from time to time, way to many geocoins end up missing in action and I can just imagine that a pretty gem like these would end up the same, in someone's personal collection. Geocaching is like any other activity, there will be those that are unethical, dishonest and thefts. What I am considering is one or two ideas. Affixing a gem or two to a walking staff so that other cachers might discover them when we meet. I can also log them in and out of caches to get some miles on them. I have also seen a few geocoin owners create laminated photocopies of their coins to let out in the wild rather than risk them being stolen. This might be done with these geogems as well.

After reading the link, it sounds more like this person is the one that needs to get a life and stop shouting off nonsense online. Just a lot of hot air as far as I read. Someone like that is dealing with issues that only a professional can help them with, and maybe even some daily medication. People like that don't have the real "round organs" to actually go out and mess with caches. And if they do, the owners will just put them back out. I'd love to run into some smuck like that someday in the field, and have them threaten me... seeing as I have a CCL and carry more than just my GPSr when I'm caching.

I logged my response to the poll. I had already noticed that this is a sport/game that attracts a more mature crowd. The results so far seem to point at the 31 to 50 year olds making up just over 50% of those polled. I think part of the reason is that this is the "have a family" age range, and that it costs a few hundred bucks to buy a GPSr in order to be involved. Few teenagers or early 20's have that sort of money to buy the equipment, or will prioritize their spending in order to buy a GPSr. I'm 50, going on 51, and most people that meet me don't believe I'm that old.

Actually the guidelines state that, ".....If you want to create a series of caches (sometimes called a "Power Trail"), the reviewer may require you to create a multi-cache...." Please note the use of the word may , as it implies that the reviewer may not require the creation of a multi-cache. All italics, mine. Auh, thank you palmetto for the clarification, much appreciated. The use of the word "may" changed things to a huge shade of gray. No harm, no foul than.

With a 1 to 11 "post to cache finds" ratio, I'm not sure if I should be posting to the forums (NOT) and I agree with the quoted text. OT in a way but brought up by the quoted text; If these forums are moderated for "topic" they should also be moderated for rudeness and gross disrespect. If there is to be a free and open exchange of thoughts in these forums, a friendly level of decorum needs to be maintained and enforced. Back OT: After reading this thread I'm inclined to politely email the volunteer reviewer in my area that published a string of 6 caches a few weeks ago that were all down one street, at 1/10th to 2/10th of a mile apart, all from the same person on the same day. The guidelines clearly state that this should have been a "Multi" rather than 6 individual caches.

I think there should be a distinction between two basic types of joke/funny caches from what I've been reading here. There is "the joke is on you" type of cache, the joke being on the one seeking the cache. Most of the amusement is for the cache owner knowing that someone has had to, one at a time, empty out of a larger container filled with film canisters to find the log, or find and open 50 to 100 small containers all of which are glued shut or were empty except for one, in order to finish the cache. The old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me, but never fool me thrice" comes to mind. This type of joke or funny cache has its element of humor up to a thin point for the one trying to find the log but it is also very heavy with frustration and annoyance. I don't recall many humorous people making me laugh, or even chuckle quietly by making me frustrated or annoyed. The second basic type of joke/funny cache would be one void of the elements of frustration and annoyance. They would be amusing to the one trying to find, trying to discovering the cache. The joke would not be on them. Rather they would gain a smile, even a chuckle because of the way something has been hidden, the container, the description, name of the cache or location, a play on words, a pun… for some other reason than being the brunt end of the cache owner's joke. The first type of joke cache boarders on being mean, even malicious. The second type of funny cache is the kind of approach that I call; true humor.

I have been inspired by reading this topic. Being relatively new to geocaching researching and creating clever hides is a goal of mine. Adding humor to the hunt is a very desirable element. My first and only hide thus far is based on some tongue-in-cheek plays on words. I think it is innocent enough that small children will not get the joke while those older obviously will. It is Scott's Big Balls. The views from the area of this cache are great too.

To thwart a Travel Bug from doing astray, create a laminated tag or card to let others know it's propose and goal without having to log online and check. To thwart a Travel Bug's Hitchhiker from becoming missing in action, make it harder for opportunists to take the Hitchhiker by using picture hanging cable and small cable crimps. Both of these "thwarts" take time and an investment but should be worth it in the long term.

It is not pointless to the individual. Sometimes the ONLY point that one can make is personal, sometimes the very act of standing up and making a point, even just to themselves, or to a very small group, is all that can be made. That being said, I think it is within the realm of human behaviour to do something like this, and I don't see why Groundspeak should make an issue of it. It really comes down to; "so what, big deal."

Greetings, I read various forums on topics that stark my interest several times a week. I have seen that some could use better moderation to keep things more pleasant, just like there is for keeping things on topic. I post on occasion to the forums. I run several yahoogroups and I don't allow "hostile" behaviors at all. We can post differing opinions, sometimes leaving it at agreeing to disagreeing, but in general things stay informative, friendly and with decorum. There is no reason this couldn't be accomplished at Groundspeak. A general set of guidelines is set forth up front, a moderator or two watches the individual forum and if someone doesn't follow the guidelines about being nice, they are privately cautioned and given a reason why they are being cautioned. If an understanding can't be reached the offending member is not allowed to post without being moderated (posts must go though the moderator before going public). They can even be banned from a forum. It is really as simple as that. Takes a degree of dedication and diplomacy but it can be accomplished. If Groundspeak forums are intended to be informative, friendly and we are to behave with a degree of decorum, something like this must be implemented. As for myself; my profile pretty much covers that.

Welcome to the game Owlatnight , Simple answer; No you don't have to leave a trackable to take one. There are some caches that specifically ask that if you take one, to please leave one. I respect the cache owner's wishes in these cases. But otherwise, if I find a trackable and don't have one to leave, I'll pick it/them up, check their web page when I get home to see if I can help it along to it's goal if it has one and leave it in another cache the next time I'm out geocaching IF I find one that can hold the trackable.