Mike & Jess
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Posts posted by Mike & Jess
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I got one that I am waiting for the area to go free.
Heard on the forum that you can "save" a spot if you do that. Not sure if it really work or what.I don't think that will work without reviewer involvement.
If it did, that would be a great reason for me to pre-create these cache and event pages.
I'm doing it as I have a fair bit of going into them (Toughest Cache Series previously mentioned here) and want to make sure the pages only require minor adjustments before going live.
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I know unpublished cache pages will disappear after so long,
There's no automated system that will make a page disappear. Once it's created, it's on the site and viewable from your account.
An unpublished listing might be archived by the owner or by a site admin. If it's archived by a site administrator, the owner receives an email notification of the archive log.
Usually the archiving admin will inquire about whether the cacher intends to make use of the listing, before they archive it.
Any listing you have ever created is viewable. An archived unpublished cache can be seen here
http://www.geocaching.com/my/geocaches.aspx?archived=y
in the gray pane on the right side of the screen with the title crossed out
Thanks for the info. Your response was tack on.
I had an earth cache that had disappeared from my listing. It was exactly where and how you said it would be listed.
Unfortunately, it looks like if it shows up there, it's archived and can not be recovered like when a normal cache is archived.
I guess worse comes to worse, it gets archived, I can always copy and paste the details into another cache page when ready to submit.
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Should be a fairly quick question for someone that knows...
How long can I keep an unpublished cache (or event) before it disappears from my list?
I have a number of caches and events going out that I would like to assemble their cache pages before hand. The caches are not physically in place (yet) and the Events are way too far outside the earliest listing permitted (for non-mega events).
I know unpublished cache pages will disappear after so long, but can not remember how long before they go.
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I'm guessing that this is the cache that you had in mind with the $60 fee: http://www.geocachin...aspx?wp=GC3WHM4
Looks like the event is an official event of the Dynamic Earth museum as well. They have it on their calendar: http://www.sciencenorth.ca/calendar/EventList.aspx?fromdate=9/19/2012&todate=11/17/2012&display=Month&type=public&eventidn=333&view=EventDetails&information_id=12125
I see that their general admission is $20, so $60 for a team of 4 is actually a discount
Published with permission from GroundspeakThat being said, I am noticing a lot of events lately are now requesting an upfront charge (some as high as $60 a team).
I know in most cases, this would never pass the reviewer, so it's a page edit after the approval.
I highly doubt that Dynamic Earth did an "after publish" edit.
Just like the GPS Adventure Maze exhibits, these science centers/museums "partner" with Groundspeak to host these events.
They aren't anything like the typical "event" where people go to a resataurant or even a park to sit around and yak and chat.
So the discussion of higher fees for events is rather pointless in this case.
That being said, I am noticing a lot of events lately are now requesting an upfront charge (some as high as $60 a team).As knowschad already asked, and hasn't gotten a reply so far: how many more events are there charging fees?
B.
First event that came to mind was this one http://coord.info/GC28DY6.
It was a charity event however and listed exactly what was covered (also forgot it's price was reasonably high).
There are others, but I'm not going through listing them all.
I've attended a few caches throughout Ontario, some of which had a donation jar, or a vary small fee to cover accommidations.
We've also purchased coins and other items from groups hosting events in order to assist with the costs.
The point of the thread wasn't to beat on covering costs, just $60 (plus fuel in the example knowschad mentioned) is getting pretty steep. Unlike my example, the extra funds left over are not going to a charity.
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I been to one that have a "fee". They told everybody to bring an item for a raffle and they will give you one raffle tix for every item you bring. Now, if you want more tix, you have to buy more. For all the items that people bring, they are spending around 5 to 6 bucks per item. Instead of charging everybody a fee, they use other method to pay for renting the room we were in. I feel they pull in more money than charging everybody a flat fee.
That is actually a pretty good idea.
Good idea, oh yes.
But bad news, gambling laws in some states.
There always has to be a catch in some areas. Kind of like how as an event host, we can technically be held liable if someone gets hurt, health inspectors will have a field day if you have a bbq without proper licensing, etc.
What might get you around the gambling rules in some area is a skill testing question. The winners technically earned their prize, and it's simply a trade of services. Might not work everywhere though
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Here is one that require a fee to get a special icon.
19 bucks for an adult. Thats high but its really a nice place.
Look who owns the event though. Donno if any of the rules apply there.
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I been to one that have a "fee". They told everybody to bring an item for a raffle and they will give you one raffle tix for every item you bring. Now, if you want more tix, you have to buy more. For all the items that people bring, they are spending around 5 to 6 bucks per item. Instead of charging everybody a fee, they use other method to pay for renting the room we were in. I feel they pull in more money than charging everybody a flat fee.
That is actually a pretty good idea.
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I have never seen an event that required a fee (other than maybe paying to get into the park). If I saw that I would probably mention it to my reviewer to make sure it wasn't a sneaky edit and that it was approved. I donate money and time to my group and if I have cash on me when I travel to other areas I'll usually throw in a few bucks.
+1
I think one or two may have had a donation jar, but even that is exceedingly rare. What would the expenses be? Generally we use picnic shelters in public parks, any food is generally pot-luck. Prizes are donated.
MOST municipalities require a reservation fee to use the shelters. Such is the case at Miesville Ravine. However, if you're willing to take your chances that a shelter is available, it is first-come-first-served for free if no one else shows up. I've been lucky five years running at Minnesota Canoe-in Geocaching Event but I suspect some day our luck will run out. Luckily, reservations many times require a minimum window which means, at least in Dakota County, that within 21 days of my event I'll know if the shelter has been officially reserved or not. If it hasn't been reserved within the 21 days I know I'll get the shelter by being there earliest.
I guess my point is, public shelters in public parks can easily have a cost that you may or may not be aware of.
For my canoe events, there's an optional shuttle fee. You don't have to pay it. But if you don't, you can't get on the bus.. unless you sneak on.
I'm not sure about in your case, but locally, city owned buildings and properties that carry a fee to "rent", include insurance in the cost of using these sites.
The last time I looked into renting a city owned building for geocaching, it was ~$100, which included the use of the building and insurance.
A lot of the time, we'll use buildings owned by volunteer local groups (lion's club, local leagion, etc).
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I thought I would see what others thought and do regarding covering event costs.
I know personally, Whatever I can't get donated or at a discount, I absorb personally. Sometimes if the cost is a bit high (renting a hall or building), a donation jar is used (all extra funds above the major cost gets rolled back into another event).
That being said, I am noticing a lot of events lately are now requesting an upfront charge (some as high as $60 a team).
I know in most cases, this would never pass the reviewer, so it's a page edit after the approval.
So... even if it's a great event, how high of an admission to an event is too high?
Is charging to attend the new direction of GC events?
I've been to a couple events where a donation jar was used or a small ($2-$5) fee was requested to cover the cost or renting the facilities.
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I know a couple people have been after me to get the trip report (photos and tracks) online for my recent trip to Ishpatina Ridge (highest point in Ontario).
After a couple computer issues, and other issues, I finally got everything online.
I've been keeping all my info (collected online and through personal experience) in a thread on the Northern Ontario Geocachers forum.
The thread can be found here; Ishpatina Ridge (Travel Resource info)
The last post contains the most recent "by land" data.
If anyone has more information to add (aspecially the by water/canoe trip), please feel free to add more info.
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From a sign along a trail in the west.
Leave the area if you come across bear scat and it contains bear bells.
That's how you tell the difference between black bear and grizzley bear scat - black bear scat is smallish and usually contains berries. Grizzley bear scat contains bear bells and tastes like pepper spray.
That right there made my day (and made me laugh out loud).
I don't live in bear country, so perhaps my understanding is wrong but I didn't think the purpose of a bear bell was to scare the bears, but to alert them to your presence. Walking quietly through the woods and surprising a bear is a recipe for disaster. If a bear knows you're there before you get too close, he's alot more likely to turn and flee from you. If you're 10 feet from him before he see's you...well, you can only hope he'll turn and flee at that point.
You hit the nail on the head!
Most likely, if the bear knows you are coming, you will never see him -- he is already gone (speaking of black bears)! You cannot imagine how quickly (and quietly) a large animal can melt into the foliage. You've got to see it once to understand.
Normally, a black bear isn't a big problem, they are gonna run when they see/notice you. Two seasons are tricky. Cub season and breeding season -- either time, you are intruding and they just may take offense to that.
Cub season is long, breeding season is relatively short. Making noise (bells or otherwise) helps to insure that encounters are held to a minimum.
Double quoted the two of you as you are both correct. As for large animals melting into the bush... If you ever get to see a Huge moose dart into the bush with a full rack tucked across his shoulders.. That is amazing to see.
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Geocaching Specific Stuff - Wife's online store (aka second floor office in the house)
Wow, must be nice. Or tempting at least. Mind if you send me the website-if you don't want to post it on here a PM would be Ok.
It's good and bad having a geocaching store. The up side, I can grab what ever I want when I want.
The bad, we don't get to really enjoy events as much as we're behind a table. People also assume we make actual money from being vendors.
My wife's store is Up North Tracks (http://UpNorthTracks.com).
Other then the geobike coins, there really won't be much of interest to those south of the border.
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Since I don't live in bear country I've never heard of a bear bell - thanks for the tip.
If you hear LOTS of bells, don't worry -- that bear is already full and likely is not hungry anymore!
haha, nice
... I would go with the blaze orange over the bells, we don't all hear well.
Either hunters can have hearing damage from fireing their guns without hearing protection, or they have hearing protection and can't here the bell...
Have you ever seen someone hunting with hearing protection? I haven't, unless you count those volume limited hearing aid things.
I was suggesting both blazing orange and the bell.
Most hunters I know don't loose hearing in both ears.
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1. Film cans = Ebay
Ebay?
If you pop into your local camera development shop and ask for them, they'll either give them to you for nothing, or save them for you.
I did a quick round a year or two ago, and had almost a hundred good film cans between three stores (same mall).
To the OP...
Swag - Thrift store
Containers - Walmart (Lock & locks), surplus shop - Ammo cans
Geocaching Specific Stuff - Wife's online store (aka second floor office in the house)
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It's hard to predict the weather during this time of year. The other weekend when I was backpack camping, the radio said it was going to be a bad weekend to do outdoor activities (rain, cold, the works). Other then being cool at night, it was great.
Anyway, on topic...
Based on your OP, if I was the one going, I'd be looking at a long sleave base layer shirt (second layer of skin type shirts), with a t-shirt (or similar) and a nylon spring/rain coat.
The base layer shirts will keep you suprisingly warm (keeps the wind away from direct skin contact) and does help keep the moisture away from the skin. The base layer shirts I own are cheap ones from places like Walmart. They are not the $50+ name brand ones, and they work.
This is what I was wearing in very similar tempuratures two weekends ago. As a mtn biker, I opted for a bike jersey as I could unzip air vents when I started to get warm.
My rain gear (sping coat) is made by Wetskins. It works reasonably good as a rain coat and does breath well (and was cheap). Rain gear like this works good as most are breathable, and can double as as a shell.
The big thing is to make sure you wear breathable clothing. The PVC rain gear is heavy, bulky and will make you sweat. Sweat and you'll freeze when you stop moving.
I'll always wear a hat and pack a minimum an extra pair of socks. Keep the head and feet warm and dry, and you'll be much, much more comfortable.
When I get to the camp site, I'll generally throw on my sandals to let my shoes air, and my feet breath.
You'll also notice in the picture, my gloves are in my pant pocket. I froze my hands as a kid, so they tend to be the first (and sometimes only) thing that gets cold on me.
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Although slightly off topic, I had just read through this GC page before noticing this thread. Travel and GeoTourism
Looks like Groundspeak is already in the tourist market
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I guess, a moderator will move this topic to the right place, the Geocoin Forum is more about coins and trackables.
I'm not sure, what you try to achive. Wav data is music, isn't it? Personaly, I hate it, when upon opening a site there's music starting. It probably wouldn't work with mobil diveces also.
Wav data is audio, not necessarily music. I started working on a puzzle once that involved finding a 2x2 pixel in an image that when one hovered over it with the mouse would play an audio stream. The audio stream could then be downloaded (as a wav file) and a spectrum analyzer used to discover a binary pattern that could be turned into numbers. And that was just the first part of the puzzle.
Holy crap!!!
I would so give up on that cache. I only have audio (speakers or headset) connected or powered on when listening to music. Some of the puzzles out there are very tech/skill specific.
To the OP: Be sure to indicate audio is used so people will know to turn on or aquire a set of speakers.
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For the cache in question, has there been may found logs, dnfs, notes, etc that would indicate major issues?
Is the cache fairly new or been around for a while?
It could be a fairly easy cache location to spot, and the margin of error may not be a huge concern.
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Does the cache in question specify Magnetic vs. True North?
I own 2 caches that have projections, and I either give both, or specifically identify what I have given, and provide the estimated declination for the area to allow for adjustments (maybe I give the cacher too much info).
If no indication is given, fire off a quick note to the CO and ask.
Both mine have been shorter projections, with the longest being 241 meters away with no direct line of sight.
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What about all the people that found the cache when the terrain was harder, they are not getting an accurate rating if it is lowered, doesn't this just contradict what you said?. If you change the rationing because the cache got easier then your rating is not accurate for the people that found it before, either way you are doing what you say you shouldn't be doing.
Nice attitude, I don't give a ^*#! what anyone else thinks.
Isn't the D/T grid part of the regular stats just like calendar finds thus not a side game?
In the example choochoo raised earlier in this thread, I was/am one of those that had found it when it was harder and also found it when it was easier. Although the rating has not changed (and shouldn't), I'm more disappointed that it has become as easy as it is,and would not take any offense to the rating going down. My log and photos alone with everyone else of that time did state it was a tough cache and one hell of a great adventure. I cache for the experience and adventure, not for a number.
I will again state (slightly off topic), that the example Steve (choochoo) raised should not be adjusted. It's still a cache/trip/adventure that requires skill sets that are well above the majority of cachers.
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Funny that I saw this today. I was out cache stalking this morning (dove season started this month) and saw many shotgun shells. Mind you, this was in a public park where no one should be dove hunting, but clearly they were. Guess I better switch out my camo backpack. :-/
Since I don't live in bear country I've never heard of a bear bell - thanks for the tip.
They sell them in most major department stores or outfitter's store. They are give or take $5 here (Ontario Canada).
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Looking ahead to next season, I'm thinking my oldest is about ready to start backpack camping with me. He won't get to go on all my trips, but some of the milder ones for sure.
Next season, my oldest son will be 4yrs old, born and raise into geocaching and the outdoors (first GC event, 2 weeks old with 15 finds that day). Since he's been able to walk, he's been out hiking the trails with me and now can far out last even his mom on the trails (longest hike for him so far is 12km, with camelback pack).
Any back on topic...
The first trip I'm looking at is about 8km hiking (plus a 10km bike trailer ride for him) in, and the same out. Camp fire cooked supper and tent sleeping (which he's already well experienced in).
For those that have taken their children out backpacking, other then having another adult with me to assist (carrying gear and what not), anything special I should look out for, bring with us or address when traveling with a little man into the bush?
What is the youngest you've taken out in this type of camping?
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I quoted you CanadianRockies before you made the edit
I recommended the bear bell for this as they are cheap and some come with a silencing bag (as I showed) which is nice to have.
They are also good for small children who have fast legs (my 3yrs old). Just don't attach it where they can reach it.
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Just a quick friendly reminder, it's hunting season.
When out hunting for caches (non-lamp post caches), be sure to wear your bright orange clothing.
I also strongly encourage to carry a bear bell on yourself and your 4 legged caching partner if you have one.
- weird double post thingey...
We temp disable our hides in game lands during the very busy rifle deer season and remind people to have a blaze vest (a requirement) when hiking/caching during other seasons.
- But a bell ringing as you're walking in the woods here will probably get you fined (or worse) for harassing the hunters.
Our Game Commission owned game lands are funded by hunters and leasing oil & timber rights, not by tax dollars. We are guests there.
Many hunters have a bell on their bird dog when hunting fields though.
Interesting. It is totally different up here.
The majority of hunting areas up here are generally crown land (government owned). The land, trails and forests we enjoy is shared usage and not restricted to one group or another.
You might upset a hunter if you happen to walk by his tree stand with a bell on, but he'd be much more upset if there was a mistake made and a shot fired.
Just a quick friendly reminder, it's hunting season.
When out hunting for caches (non-lamp post caches), be sure to wear your bright orange clothing.
I also strongly encourage to carry a bear bell on yourself and your 4 legged caching partner if you have one.
Yes, please take appropriate precautions during hunting season.
And, yes, also be bear aware and know how to avoid them.
There's a mixture of opinions about the effectiveness of bear bells. Many tourists buy them. Many locals and back-country veterans ignore them. There's been a little testing. Wearing bear bells probably doesn't hurt, unless they give you a false sense of security and cause you to be less cautious in bear country.
I rarely, if ever use a bear bell for avoiding bears. My two primary uses for them are for hunting season (avoid shots) and to attach to my food bag (bear bag) while back country backpack camping.
I have come up to bears on the mtn bike with a bear bell attached. An exit stratagy for them (there was two) and myself was quickly identified and we went out own ways. They are only as efficient as the distance their sound will travel.
Heard on the forum that you can "save" a spot if you do that. Not sure if it really work or what.
How long can a cache page remain unpublished before it's removed?
in General geocaching topics
Posted
So from what I am getting from your post, it sounds like the draft page does actually count for something (mark the location)?