ngrrfan

In 2003 and early 2004 I was interviewed 3 different times for "fluffy kitten" geocaching articles (thank you for that phrase, Carolyn). I emphasized Not Buried. All three articles included the phrase, "the search for buried treasure". Although we stress that caches aren't "buried", think of this from a muggles viewpoint. The cache isn't laying on the ground in plain view. Caches are under piles of rocks, sticks, anything that can be moved to cover it up. IMHO... technically you could say it was "buried", and that is exactly what some one will say. "We found a cache buried under a pile of sticks".

This is exactly why I keep the keys and title for my AMC Pacer with me. The problem I have is that people take them out of the cache and mail'em back to me along with a note about leaving junk in caches. I just don't get it.

I look at this a bit differently. To me it is the challenge of the hunt, and the thrill of the find. It's not about what "great things" you've put in your cache. I'm not going to fawn over things you consider treasure. I'll look at TBs and GEOcoins, and if one catches my eye I'll pick it up and move it along but again that's not the main reason I'm out there caching. I want the exercise and scenery of the hike, I want the mental challenge of where it is hid, and I want the company of the people I cache with.

Each time I log a DNF I put that cache on my watch list. If others log DNFs I know I am not alone. Secondly, it's possible to pick up clues from other peoples logs. Sometimes it is just an innocent comment that will trigger a hunch or new perspective about a cache.

Obviously you haven't been into a pawn shop lately. They have more things than what you stated.

I and my two friends head to the high country and find caches there. It's always cooler in the mts of Colorado.

I think this depends on your "relationship" with the person. It's one thing for a friend you know to ask for a hint if you know they've tried to find it. It is another thing for "me" (who you don't know) to ask you. So in the first case, where I know the person, I'll ask them a few questions like "Did you look high?" or "Did you see a pile of (rocks, sticks, dirt, whatever)?" or.... "There's a clue in the name or description. Reread it and think about it." If it is a total stranger I might give a very vague hint, which will help but won't give too much away.

The part that I like most is........... finding the DQ cache! Ice cream after an afternoon of caching.

I had just the opposite occur. I searched for a cache and didn't find it. Logged it DNF and the owner sent me an email asking if I wanted a hint. I declined as I wanted to go back and play a hunch I have, but I also told the CO that I appreciated the offer, and if I couldn't find it later I would contact them for a hint.

IMHO..... Time to talk to a lawyer.

The two people that I cache with have been doing it for 4-5 years, and here am I just starting out this year. So.... caching with someone who has a lot of finds is definitely an opportunity to learn from them. What we do is we'll spend up to 30 minutes hunting before throwing in the towel. We figure that if we can't find it, then it's hid pretty well, or has gone missing. Usually it is hid pretty well and we aren't thinking like the CO.

In a perfect world I wouldn't have messed up.

So the reference number isn't the same as the tracking number. OK .... that makes sense now! And like an idiot, and newbie, I didn't write down the tracking number. DUH!!!! OK... I'll have to figure out how to contact the owner and get the tracking number OR... just wait until the next person picks up the bug. I did note in my log that I picked it up, and dropped it off. so next time I will know to write down the tracking number. Live and learn. Guess I'll blame this one on my daughter as she wanted to know what a bug was and what to do with them and in my eagerness to show her I messed it up.

I picked up a TB today, reference number TB11D4Z (Butterflies are Free # 9), and moved it along. My problem is this..... I can't log the pickup or the drop off. So the question is.. is the reference number the same as the tracking number? If not, how can I get the tracking number? Conversely, if they are, how come the tracking log won't let me log the pickup or drop off?

Do a Print Screen. Paste that into MS Paint and then print out the whole thing.

My first search was a micro and I didn't know it. After telling someone else about the DNF, she suggested a cache of hers that was fairly easy to find as it was a regular size. Upon achieving success with her cache and figuring out how to search, I then felt more confident in searching for smaller caches. Her cache taught me how to look, what to look for, use your head, THINK, and don't be afraid to look like you are nuts. Now that she and I cache together she's taught me how to look for micros and nanos. I'm not as good as she is in spotting them, but I'm learning.

It's like a treasure hunt. You're given a set of coordinates to go to, you go there and find the hidden treasure. Second personal definition..... It's a walk/hike with a carrot on a stick in front of you so you have a reason for walking. Also it's a time to admire scenery, weather, and what's around you, as well as spend time with good friends (and that's the best part!)

I cache with two others. One of these people regularly logs her finds here. The other is just interested in finding the caches and having fun. So when the logging person logs her finds she includes the other person in her log entry, so it looks something like this "XXX and I found this cache....". Now that the three of us go out together, their log entries remain the same and I log my find and then update the log online too. So if you look at the online cache log you will see two entries for the cache, each entry acknowledging that there were 3 of us in the group. Are we a "team"? In one sense of the word yes, but we don't call ourselves a team. We are 3 people that enjoy being together and having fun hiking and finding caches. Also I think it depends on how you find the cache. To me if one person of a "team" finds the cache, and the rest of the team members immediately quit searching then that is a team effort. In our case if one of us discovers the cache, it is left untouched until all 3 of us have actually found it individually. The only exception that we have to this "rule" is if we have spent more than 30 minutes looking and feel that we've exhausted all possibilities. Then the finder will reveal the find if and when it is located. Another take on "team caching" is one of competition. Say a group of 20 people get together, divide up into groups of 4, and decide to see which group can log the most finds in a certain time period. That's a team effort.

The time something like this happened to one of the units in the group I cache with, we replaced the batteries in her unit and things straightened up real quick. So it might be a battery thing.

I have no idea if there is a "season" in this area nor do I care. I have a season that started in early May and will run til late April. Basically, if the weather is nice..... I'll be out there.

When all else fails.... set the gps down, walk away a bit, and let the unit settle down. Many times we've done that and it helps tremendously.

Personally, I use MapSource. Yeah it has a couple of things I'm not happy with, but overall it's easy to use.

You're behind. Once I upgraded to premium I was given the bonus Kryptonite membership! All cause I had 20 finds! Now you can't beat that for something great for a newbie!.

Another note to using more than 1 GPSr is this.... We are three separate cachers that go on outings together. In locating GZ we operate as a team but in making the actual find we operate alone. If I find the cache I'll move off a bit and then say I've found it. Once all 3 of us have actually made our individual find we then open the cache and sign the log. So there is a reason for having more than 1 GPSr. Even if a family goes out together, and only one signature will end up on the log and here, each person can make their own find and sharpen their skills.

Holy cow!!! That's an electronic expedition! Seriously, in our little group, if I'm driving (we take turns) I have my laptop connected to the mobile GPS in the van, and an mp3 player for the sound system, and our cell phones which we normally carry anyway. Oh how true! Memorial Day weekend one of the 3 GPSrs was reading off by 300+ feet at two of the caches. The other two units were within 10 ft of each other so we relied on those until we could get back to the van and swap out batteries in the one unit.