TeamGeoWalkerNJ

Glad you asked. I can answer with exactly what I received as an answer when I inquired to exactly what was wrong, or what rule I did not follow on my submissions when they were denied, and was told I could appeal directly. Lack of info can only lead to speculation on all sides. Also, let's be fair.. was all that info listed for the caches above IN the cache description as to WHAT to look for so one could just google? Regardless... Yes, I realize that an approver is busy, etc..etc..etc.. Just seems strange that there are plenty wondering as to the current status of how hard it is to get one approved. I think the point is being missed here, trying to defend both sides. Topic was "Virtual Caches, hard to get approved?" I shared my experience. Further examples were given as to why they sucked. Thanks. We are all a bit wiser for that. It appears that the answer to virtuals now comes down to.. 1.) "WOW" factor, and 2.) The approvers' personal opinion in addition to the rules. Fine. At least let the current rules reflect that now. Also, I did not realize that it was 100% possible to google every virtual from the safety of ones home, without all the pertinent info included in the descriptions NJ admin gave above, since at least I know, I did not give out any of the details listed above, just coordinates, and clues of what to look for. (Unless you count the notes to the approver that do not get shown in the description) If it came down to the info could have been googled, I guess it could have been adjusted to look for extra/different clues onsite that could NOT have been googled. Again, whatever. and lastly... #2 above currently IS a virtual. "WoW", indeed. Thanks for letting us gain a tad more more info as to how and what is required to get a virt approved these days. You will hear no more from me regarding this topic.

You keep saying this. Perhaps I missed your response when Harrold posted some recently hidden virtuals. They don't seem to be as nearly banned as you say. I would submit that it all depends on where you live, and who the local approver is. Case in point.. Do a search for virtuals from the zip code of 07701, outwards to 30+ miles. The last one approved would be within the "18 month" timeline I keep hearing bantied about where a decision was made by certain powers to NOT approve as many, if any at all. Since then, it has been a very dry area here for new virtuals. Fine. Not a problem, there are plenty of Altoids tins to seek out, and McToys to trade too. Who needs "History". Yeah, I am a relative "NOOB" around here, not knowing the politics and in-fighting among the forums regarding this subject. In a conscious effort to ADD to the community of a new hobby I just found, I had a series of upwards of 10 virts for my area planned, some regarding the seven Presidents of the United States that had lived and or died in my area. Some were just local "wow" factors. All were on land that would have prohibited ANY placement of a physical nature. I figured, what better way to start caching, than to attempt to add something that needed ZERO maintenance, and would get people out of their cars to enjoy nature and the history of my area. (Some of which, dates back to the 1600's) Long story short, after reading, reading and re-reading the 4 rules for placement of virts, and tailoring my 2 first submissions to fit said 4 rules, explaining exactly what, where, how, and why these would be virts, and how to verify through email to me you had indeed found them, not just googled up the locale, I received back rather quickly (also strange since I also keep reading about a backlog of caches needing to be approved) what I would deem a "form letter" stating I did not read said rules, spitting the rules back at me, and suggesting I re-read the rules, (did I mention I had tailored the caches to said rules? Nah..) and reply back to a different email address with my plea as to why I felt this was a wrong desicion to deny my cache submissions. I did not hear back anything from my plea as to why I felt this was wrong, or WHICH rules I had violated, if any. No problem. Scratch 10 new virt caches. I must assume that they do not want anymore virts in my area, or my submissions sucked so bad, that it did not warrant any more explanation. Then I started to see the posts in the forums regarding the lack of new virts being allowed. So bottom line, yes, I feel it all has to do with where you are, and who the approver is. And I also guess New Jersey just does not contain any more "areas that had banned geocaching. Such as Nation Park Service controlled areas and areas that a real cache could not be placed." Time to eat more Altoids, and shoot more ammo.

Well, that would explain why one of my personal bugs I dropped in a travel bug motel in Tucson 2 months ago is still sitting there. 30 more days, and it can claim residency. Yup, seems silly that it has had numerous visitors since, and yet that "There always MUST be 5 TB's left here" rule seems too have kept mine in limbo.

Just out of curiosity, what problem are you referring to and who's doing the complaining???? 2nd guessing indeed.

Cache location... Flagstaff Owner profile location of "Four Corners" area Total Est. Time: 5 hours, 17 minutes Total Est. Distance: 226.63 miles Sounds familiar. Funny how they also ask not to be specific, but with the coordinates, and the detais in all the "appropriate" logs.. I could find this one with my GPS tied behind my back.

You could always move to my neck-'o-the-woods in NJ, where in a 35 mile radius of me, (which stretches almost into NYC) there has not been a single virtual approved in +15 months. And don't think that there hasn't been a one requested for approval, either.

FWIW.. I wil be there the weekend of the 7-8-9 May myself, dropping off one that wants to go to the Grand Canyon, some of my own, and plan on grabbing a few to drag back to NJ too... You 'Zonies think you can have all the fun????? j/k... I lived in Marana for 7+ years, and believe me, just 'cause I'm now from Jersey doesn't mean I don't know how to still properly pronounce "water" See you soon!

*must* be just an XM thing... I drive around in my 2003 Nissan Murano with Sirius OEM SAT radio on,(In spite of what Nissan's "official" stance is on it even being able to work) and my GlobalSat Compact Flash BC-307 on in my PDA mounted on the dash with no probs. Albeit, the antenna for the SAT radio is mounted outside and in the rear of my roof, and my GPS is in the front windshield, still have not noticed any degredation while pumping out the Sirius "Hardattack" station and knowing exactly whereinthehell I am.

WOW!! Thanks, that is in a PERFECT place for me on my visit, as I will be in the Marana/Cortaro area. Only minutes away, and best of all, I KNOW where it is. I will have at least 2 with me to place, so I'll check into it and see who wants to come back East.. Great tip, thank you.

Anyone knowing of a travelbug in the northwest Tucson area that would like to get back to NJ/NY area, please see this thread..... http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=68570 I'll be in the area May 7,8,9 dropping some off. Sorry for the crosspost, I did not know of a regional forum when I initially posted

Attn: all Tucson/Marana Geocachers... On the weekend of May 7-8-9, I will be in the area of Tucson/Marana to visit my kids, and do some Geocaching.. Anyone who wishes to get a (small) Travel Bug to hitch a free ride to the NJ/NY area (I will be most likely leaving them in NJ cache GCHP9P to visit Bruce Springsteen, et al. or GCHG42 right near my house ) Please get your TB's to either cache GCHN91 or cache GCGNXR with a note that this one is to go to NJ/NY area, before 7 May, 2004. I can probably take several with me, and I will try to leave something "Jersey-like" in it's place. Thanks, and good hunting.