Proverbs

I understand what you are saying, but this is exactly backwards. The NPS is the one on the hook for adding value. If the NPS adds no value over say the BLM managing the land in a more raw state the NPS serves no purpose. Users of the lands, really don't add direct value. They are a guage of the value the NPS has created. Thus when the NPS starts banning uses that removes value. They only gain value in denying legitmate uses if that increases the value to others. Strip Mining being an easy to understand value. Strip mining doesn't "play well with other uses". Ban Stip mining on NPS lands and you preserve the beauty and integrity of the land. Ban caching, and you haven't done anything but make your NPS lands have less utility and value to this nation by precluding a legitimate use that "plays well with others". Most gov't agencies don't add value. They do however have the control and the power just as NPS does. That means they are in control and it is our job to show we are beneficial to them. As far as 30 people on one trail vs 30 separate trails you are correct. It is my opinion however that damaging a narrow swath often times is looked upon with more favor than damaging a much wider swath.

From my perspective you are either adding value, you are not adding value or you are not communicating that you are adding value. If you organize your CITO programs to show you are adding value it's a good thing. Telling the local park officials that you are removing trash while caching, letting the local officials know how many park permits were sold to local cachers for park entry that may not have otherwise been sold. I can't speak for the trails in question but how many times do you see a sign stating not to leave a trail yet we all do to get a cache. Maybe something as simple as listing a location on the trail where it might be best to leave a trail if it is required to get at a cache. While this may leave a path for those to come it doesn't leave 30 paths where everybody has taken their own route. To put it bluntly the tree huggers don't want you off the traile destroying habitat and they have the money and the clout to get their way. Working with in the system makes more sense when you are the minority and don't have the proper backing. Doing some of these things may make caching less challenging in some fashion but more challenging in others. If geocaching does not add value to our parks then it will most likely go away. That value can be in trash pick up, permits sold any number of things but you must project that value and make it known.

Can anyone tell me how to change my user name. My daughter is now cacheing and wants us to team up on our user name so they relate. Thanks

Just to throw in a bit of sarcasm we could have a completely socialized geocaching site where by which each person gets to occasionally get a FTF however we would also need to look at affirmative action and need to factor in race, sex, sexual orientation as well as age etc. There are folks out there who check their e-mail and the website every morning at 2, 3, or 4 a.m. just in case something was posted late the night before. They wait and by first light they are there and ready to go. They just want it more and get after it.

There's a guy in my area that just got his 1k find this year. Of the 1k finds nearly 350 were FTF's. That's what floats his boat. He wanted 1/3 of his 1k to be ftf's and met his goal. Originally he had not intention of such a goal but he's a bit honory and one of the local FTF hogs was giving him a hard time for beating them to a few FTF's. The the game was on. He won. I say more power to him. If I want an FTF it's my job to get it not his to let me have it or for groudnspeak to give it to me. Sounds a bit like distribution of wealth, national healthcare and the wallstreet buy out. I am and AmeriCAN not an American't and really am not much for taking a hand out. I might give one but probably won't take one.........or at least I'll feel bad about it when I do take one. My daughter is 10 and doesn't even know what a FTF is and that's the way I want it. She has way too much fun going on treasure hunts to turn it into a competition. Besides if there is something supernice for an FTF prize then it all becomes about getting the best prize rather than getting a prize. Just rememer: A. it's a game B. it's a great excuse to get off the couch on Saturday C. the fresh air and nature or good for you, both body and mind D. it's relaxing E. great family time with lots of laughs (like when grandpa buries the Lincoln in the mud on a soggy dirt road) F. the kids get an adventure - they need down time too ya know

Had one cache hid in an old culvert laying on the ground. Had a strong oder in the area. Turns out there was a skunk about 1/4 the way into the culvert on one end and the cache on the other. Couldn't walk away when we were so close. Pull cache and ran. Signed log and replaced cache followed by more running. The same day we stumbled on a knarly mess of sticks about 4 feet up in the crotch of a tree. The Nest or whatever it was was about 3 feet in diameter. Not sure what it was but if it was tough enough to build a nest 4 feet off the round in an area with bobcats and coyeotes we weren't going to mess with it. My folks scared up a mountain lion in Norther Hall County Nebraska. They had taken my two aunts with them. The gals are all a bit goofy but Dad is straight on. If he says it was a mountain lion it was a mountain lion. Crusty old guy is seldom wrong about much anything. Maybe I'll be wise as I grow older.......or maybe I'll just be older. A few months later they were telling us about a Girafe, Zebra and something else they stumbled onto out in the middle of Nebraska. I assume on a private zoo but we had fun making light of this and the mountain lion story.

Them front two look like dead Colts of the horse variety (hooves) can't tell about the back one. Ya know they got them there Mountain Lions our that way but generally a big cat's going to guard or carry off anything it kills...........I think. But why three in a row. I'd guess they died from lead. I'd be tempted to drop an anonimous call to the local authorities with the coordinates. Use a pay phone everybody had caller ID. Every few years there's something funky happens in the state with some strange livestock killings, not saying that's the case here though. When I was a kid it was cattle showing up dead with slit throats and their heart cut out. A few years ago it was sheep in the eastern part of the state.

For some, homosexual material might not meet a decency requirement. Here's the problem. One perceives Christians as finger pointing judgemental radicals. Guess what, them there types ain't Christians. If you actually read the bible you'll find that in the New testament in particular the command to correct others is generally directed at Christians correcting fellow Christians. Your perception of what a Christian is, is what really offends you. Things often get flip flopped. This is just an observation but often people who are offended by Christians are reflecting back on a given situation or a series of situations that have brought them to this point. Normal for all of us. The problem is that what they found offensive most likely didn't have anything to do with the Christian faith but instead the actions of someone who claimed to be a Christian. Call it using the actions of a few to place judgement on the many or label how ever you want. The real offender was the individual and not the faith. Just as a side note, I've been reminded of something. The Christian is also commanded to not do things that are offensive to non-Christians. Something to the effect if it offends your neighbor to eat meat then don't eat meat (not an exact quote mind you). This works but doesn't override other commandments. There are some basic principles in the bible that some might find offensive. The whole ten commandments as an example. Kinda stings when someone mentions the Thou Shalt Not Lie to me around tax time. I must admit I find it offensive but in my case it's more about me than it is about the statement. These types of debates tend to go on an on and on and on but seldom reach any conclusion. Non-Christians will often be offended by Christians just for being Christians.

This cracks me up. Freedom of religion except in geocaching? Freedom from religion? Sorry not in the constitution. It's okay if you drop a self help tape in a cache as long as it has nothing to do with religion? It's okay to drop an old music CD in a cache.......as long as it's not Christian music. It's okay to drop just about anything in as long as it doesn't fall under the heading or Pornographic, drug paraphenalia, or religion. Somebody's got to be confused. Dropping a religious tract in a cache is not pushing, poking or recruiting. It's sharing something that someone finds comforting with others. If Joe Bob wants to drop Dr. Phils last episode in a cache I don't have a problem with it. Jerry Springer.........I doubt it. Not much comforting or even positive coming from ol' Jer. If it meets a rule of "decency" then get over it. Nobodies recruiting nor are they pushing anything on you. Please crack open the New Testament and show me the lack of decency that you find so offensive

Can't open pic? If your in western NE there are plenty of scavengers out there. I'm suprised any dead critters had time to decay. Can you attach a pic?

I kinda chuckle at these things but the cacher who state they'd rather have kids find something like this than porn hit the nail on the head. It is a poor way to evangelize but I can't see how it's going to hurt anybody. Sometimes we as a nation are too thin skinned. I hope a christian track is the worst thing I ever find in a cache.

The best I've seen was a fire hydrant out on a farm in the country. Had several other "obvious" containers near by with notes saying "not hear", "close but this ain't it" etc.

I guess I kinda have a slight issue with the guys and gals passing geocoins and travel bugs back and forth at the various meetings around the country but it's not a big deal. So they get to log a bunch of finds, what do I care. I enjoy getting out and stomping through the grass, seeing things I've never seen before etc. The truth is that if they aren't out finding the caches then I don't hafta bump into them and wait till they leave etc. when I'm on a hunt. So log till your heats content, stay at home on your pc and kick back. I'll be out searching. I must confess I sign every log but only log my visit on the site about half the time. For me it's not about how many logs I have but what I find and see along the way.

I'd like to see a gallery where cachers could share photos of unique finds without giving away the hide. Just a place for photos that show unique containers/hides but are not tied to a particular geocache. Example there's a cache that uses a large magnetic strip painted the same color as a utility box and is disguised very well. It's a great idea that could be used all over the country but you can't show anyone unless you give away the location. Just a thought.

Thanks guys, I'll hafta tell him what he got for his $30...........ya thirty dollar investment at a garage sale of all things.............. I suspect it's a early production model but with updates available it's not a big deal. It sorta blows the doors off my second hand Lowrance GM100. Thanks Dewboy

Anyone know anything about the Garmin GPS 96. My brother just picked one up used. I'm new at this but from what I can gather this is a pretty full featured unit with avionics capability. I don't know of any reason why it wouldn't work for geocaching. Let me know if there is any reason why this unit won't work for this purpose. He's getting his boys and his local scout troop involved in geocaching. Thanks Dewboy

GREAT SIGHT! I just recieved a Global Map 100 that been sitting in a closet for far too long. My understanding is that this is an older gps but very competant for most activities. I priced out the MapCreate 4 software but per the Lowrance tech support it's pretty dated. I couldn't see paying that much for something that hasn't been updated since 99 and will not longer be supported. I'm hoping that someone will know of someone who has replaced thier GM100 but still has the MapCreate 4 that they would like to part with. Thanks Dewboy