bigeddy

Press QUIT to return to the original map screen without pointer. Manuals can be downloaded from the Garmin website under Support. Probably a good idea to input your name and phone into your unit's Welcome Message, just in case you lose it in the field.

Well put. My attempt to introduce geocachers to orienteering is called Cache-O. It's a fairly difficult course as geocaches go but the start is easy to get to and it can be done over more than one trip. I don't expect a lot of people to try it but I think those who make the effort will be rewarded.

A waypoint can be moved on the map page by dragging the pointer to it so the waypoint highlights, pressing Enter, dragging the waypoint to the new location and pressing Enter again. This can happen inadvertently while scrolling around the map, marking waypoints, measuring distance, etc. It's happened to me a few times.

The 650 has bluetooth and there are several nice bluetooth GPS receivers on the market now such as the 2 oz Holux GPSlim 236 shown below. Combined with software (CacheMate, GeoNiche, etc.) and a good case for the Treo, the setup is functional, clean and relatively durable if you are careful. You have GPS, database, full Palm OS, phone and camera. A handheld GPS receiver is more suitable for serious hikes, of course. The main problem with the bluetooth setup is that switching applications causes the GPS connection to drop; a few commands and you are back in business but restarting each time is annoying. Also, you have to deal with 2 pieces of equipment although that allows you to mount the antenna up high on your hat or pack strap. Battery charge for the GPSlim 236 is around 10 hours.

I'm sure we could discuss that at length over a beer, in the proper container of course.

A strip of material is not a container by any standard definition. It seems, though, that people agree it is a reasonable cache even if the guidelines require a container. Perhaps the guidelines should be changed to reflect practice.

How should a cache that is a magnetic strip about 2" by 6" (log on one side) be listed for type and size? The Guidelines for Cache Listings say of a Traditional Cache: "This is the original cache type consisting of (at a bare minimum) a container and a logbook." There's no container so it is not a traditional cache but it does not fit any other type either. The cache is much larger than a micro, "35 mm film canister or smaller," but calling it a small cache is not very descriptive because there is no container. How do we describe a containerless cache? And how far can this type of cache go? Can we have finders simply log on a wall?

Excuse me bigeddy, I posted exactly what was written in a newspaper and published to the web. What the heck does it matter where I live? Chill out, it's not like I forged a news article Your mistakes were threefold. First, you chose a title, "Geocaching Banned in Portland," that was grossly inaccurate and had nothing to do with the article; what was with that? I see you have since changed the title to "Geocaching Possible Ban In Bend OR"--better, thank you, but still misleading, as we are talking about a proposed wilderness area 15 miles east of Bend, not in Bend--big difference. Second, you posted this in the General Forum when it should have been in the Northwest Forum since it is really a local topic. Seems like the forum moderator fell asleep on this one. Third, you've contributed nothing to the discussion so I wonder what was your purpose in posting the article? I've spent several posts trying to clear the muddy water you created. I don't go around posting articles from other regions unless I can draw some parallels and ask questions. If you have some useful insights about dealing with the BLM I'd love to hear them. Regards from the High Desert of Central Oregon.

Again, in Central Oregon--and probably most other public lands in the west outside national parks--none of the agencies currently require permission. They are short on staff and geocaching is not perceived as a problem. In a few cases when caches were inadvertently put where they didn't belong, the cache owners quickly removed them when asked. The Badlands area in the article (and some other, smaller BLM parcels) has typical, fragile desert soils and some sensitive areas. As you point out, cache placement needs to be aware of potential harm and finders should not resort to brute-force hunting techniques. Fortunately, the relatively few geocachers who take the trouble to do the rugged cross-country hikes here generally understand this. A couple of the caches are nearly 4 years old and there is no apparent damage. Some others that are close to trailheads are more problematic but compared to the other legal activities that go on here--hiking, hunting, horseback riding, etc.--geocaching wear-and-tear is barely noticeable. I've certainly seen caches in other places that have caused damage, especially on the "wet" side of Oregon. As a loosely organized group, we need to be watchful and self-enforcing so that agencies never perceive there is a major problem requiring strict regulation.

Around 1990 the area was generally open to off-road travel on a network of primitive double-tracks. I took my Jeep out a few times there but this was before geocaching. Since then most of the old tracks have been closed to motorized vehicles with a few exceptions. It is still possible to drive near several caches at certain times of the year if that's what you prefer. When I did the cache in the article I walked in the mile because no vehicles are allowed on that route but I saw ATV tracks--clearly not geocachers. The BLM study proposes closing even the few remaining open routes (large tracks of land nearby would still be open to off-roaders). The public generally supports the off-road closure. It is a wonderful area to hike cross-country and using the GPS is a natural.

Ok folks, jeff3508--who apparently lives in Alabama--screwed up posting the article without understanding the context or even the location. The main subject of the article is the Badlands Wilderness Study Area in the high desert of Central Oregon. The article's author lost focus a bit but it's still a reasonable effort to explain the situation to the general public. The meat of the BLM's Badlands wilderness study is banning off-road vehicles. Restricting geocaching was an afterthought and something of a surprise since individual cache owners had worked with BLM staff previously about sensitive areas. A general ban was never mentioned until the BLM study was published. Geocachers in Central Oregon have responded to the BLM study with an official protest and are working with the local BLM staff to address their rather poorly articulated concerns. Resolution will take many months. This scenario has played out in various ways across the country. Locally, we had already talked with State Parks and the Forest Service about their policies which do not require specific permission so long as we stay out of certain areas and remove caches when asked. It is unfortunate that the BLM acted they way they did but we're dealing with it. Some of the best caches in Oregon are in the Badlands so we will fight for them.

If it's a bad find, it should be deleted with an explanation to the finder. No time limit to discover errors although I can understand the reluctance to delete logs over a year old. I've had two logs deleted where the owners refused to explain what they didn't like about my logs. Looking at the recent logs for your cache, I see one from 1/10/05 for Nosler Bullets which is about a mile from my house. It doesn't fit your requirements at all. It's a lone manufacturing facility that ships to independent sporting goods dealers and other customers. There's no chain or franchise or other locations. I get the feeling some finders just glance at locationless caches without reading them carefully and figure no one checks.

Hasn't been mentioned in a few posts: MAC SUPPORT! Also, better waypoint management and wireless data transfer.

That's true but the point was about the overall quality of all the caches on a given listing service. TC strives to have caches as good as the ones you create, and its system has the potential for achieving that. By contrast, GC's system provides little incentive for placing a quality cache; the better ones, done by owners who care, are buried in the junk and it seems to be getting worse. Alternate listing services are criticized for having too few caches--and that's true for now--but, ironically, the mass of caches on GC is one of its biggest problems because so many of them are low quality. I get quickly overwhelmed trying to choose caches to try on a trip. There are too many to even scan them all, and it is very discouraging when I pick a few that turn out to be duds. Some people will argue that "any cache is a good cache" but I don't see it that way. I want quality--I think you do too--and a listing service that promises no lame caches is worth a look.

Not really a geek, just someone who appreciates precise writing. It is correct to write or say "GPS receiver" when we mean a GPS receiver. Alternately we can write "GPS unit" or, if we must use abbreviations, GPSr. If we say GPS that means something else, just as cat means something very different than scat although there is only one letter added.

Imagine you have climbed a steep ridge on the first stage of a big multi, you are a little lightheaded, trying to keep your balance, poking your head under overhangs, and you catch this out of the corner of your eye... It sets a nice tone for The Legend of Skull Hollow, one of the best Northwest caches.

Quality and fit, yes. To this I would add that you should get boots you can return after wearing them around the house. Even good, well-fitting boots can cause problems for subtle reasons--tongue shape, seams, creases, lacing design, etc.--that don't bother other people. Wearing them for a couple hours will often reveal potential problems. Also, look carefully at the removable insole which is often the forgotten element in boots. A different insole or custom orthotics can make all the difference on long hikes. Most of us learn through trial and error what brands work for us. For my relatively normal sized foot that pronates, I've had best luck with Mephisto shoes and boots. On the expensive side but superior quality and fit.

Angst is a fun word to say that sounds like what it means. Although it comes from German for "fear" or "anxiety" the current meaning is more about the tension between our conflicting actions and ideals. That seems very appropriate here! Those conflicts can be expressed in many ways from polite and humorous (such as Prarie Home Companion) to nasty and depressing (such as grunge). The former is generally preferred in a public forum. Too much negative angst causes ennui--another good word.

In Central Oregon on Saturday it was 18 degrees and raining--yuck! There was an inversion layer so we headed up to a snow park where it was 34 degrees. We took an easy XC ski to a shelter to check on one of my own caches which hasn't been logged since July. Lots of people on the trails but I guess no geocachers. Today is sunny and 50 degrees.

True North lumbar packs are too well named to consider anything else. Extremely well made, too. Try the Double Diamond SCS for a versatile model that handles winter and summer trips.

It doesn't really matter what other forums or mail lists do except as good and bad examples of which there are many. It's nice that Getting Started is civil and on-topic. The problems are more evident in the other topic areas where threads are hijacked by "professional posters" or by those with an axe to grind. This makes it harder for all of us--from experienced to inexperienced geocachers, from frequent to occasional posters--to enjoy the discussions. While some people enjoy the random give-and-take, I know several "old timers" who don't bother with the forums because there is too much noise and poor manners.

I found one where you went to the coordinates and tuned in your AM radio to a recording that gave the cache location. The broadcast was from a small transmitter like used by real estate agents.

A few times, mostly in threads that question policy or its interpretation. I appreciate it when moderators keep discussions more-or-less on topic. I love it when they add insight. I hate it when they simply close a topic because some posters get out-of-control or the topic is considered irrelevant; better to guide than to shut down. I have even had posts rejected because the discussion was locked while I was writing a reply--that's a real turn-off.

Not intimidated but annoyed to the point of avoiding the forums, especially the general discussions. There are too many off-topic, ranting and self-indulgent postings. Forums lose much of their attraction when regulars start treating them like chat rooms. Granted, the tone is not as hostile as some enthusiasts' forums but it's bad enough to repel many potential contributors. Some restraint by the regulars wouldn't hurt.

I don't see anything special about these units. Small screen. No keypad or stylus input. No bluetooth or wi-fi or Mac compatibility. Certainly not a substitute for a PDA. Just a nice GPS receiver.