Threshold

Pretty good price for the Venture, but I bought my MeriGold a year ago from newegg.com for 199. Do a search on Froogle.com for prices. You'll find some great deals.

Bummer... I've got 473 active caches within a 20 mi radius of my home coords. I'll be busy for a while.

On my first real attempt at a cache, I walked through burrs and thorns for 20 minutes. After coming out, I had some scratches on my hands (I was wearing long sleeves) but that was it (so I thought). I noticed later that night, a bump on the back of my head. I get the occasional "blemish" on my head, so I passed it off as a pimple. 3 days later, it hadn't gotten any smaller, so I had my wife look at it. She saw a large red bump, almost boil sized. She claimed there was a black dot in the middle that looked like a scab, so she messed with it. A minute later she says "Holy Crap!" The black dot turned out to be a 1/2 inch thorn jammed straight into the back of my head. Long story longer... It's out, i'm fine.

I knew I saw them somewhere before... It's friday, my brain is fried.

Has anyone made web badges to place on personal web sites or blogs? I did a brief search but didn't find much.

I have MapSend Topo maps on my MeriGold. They're not the best maps in the world, but they beat the pants off the stock maps loaded in the unit out-of-box. I live in Joliet, IL (35 mi SW of Chicago - big city - 100,000+ people) and the MapSend Topo maps are missing roads that have been around for 10+ years. Like I said, better than nothing. If you can find it cheap (under $70) on eBay or an online reseller, it's worth looking into.

I also have a MeriGold... I love mine. Not sure how to use everything yet, but it works great for hiking, walks, and road trips. Still new to the sport, so I have to get used to it for caching.

I've made two REAL attempts so far and both of them have come up short. I posted a DNF on both of the caches. I'm a n00b... I'll admit it!!

I'll try it again soon... I think I got a buddy pretty interested in the sport, so we're going to hit a handful one of these weekends. Thanks for all the support, everybody! I love you's, guys!

Seeker, It was HoppyCaching off of Ingalls and Infantry. I had looked at the area before, but was in my work clothes and didn't want to screw them up. The terrain is listed as 1.5, but it was tough traveling through the thickets and briars. Thanks for any help! Threshold

This was my first REAL attempt at finding a cache... It didn't happen. I made my way to the area while my wife and kid waited on the path. I looked for about 10 minutes, got worried about the family, and attepted to get back. That didn't happen for a while. I got turned around and disoriented (yeah, I know, I have a GPS... how did I manage to get lost?!) and wandered in the woods for 20 minutes while the wife and kid went back to the car to wait for me... I'm bummed. I got kinda freaked when I saw a tent in the middle of the forest (this is a forest preserve in Joliet, IL. Not the kind of place to camp). Visions of Deliverance danced through my head. Oh well, I'll try again.

I have a Meridian Gold... they can be had for under $190 here. Why a MeriGold you ask? Limitless memory with SD cards, big screen, PC interface for map and waypoint upload/download... Look it up, you won't be disappointed.

To me, GPX file are FAR superior to LOC files. They contain so much more information that can be used in GSAK. I became a premium member a couple days ago, and the GPX files alone are well worth the couple bucks a month!

A Meridian Gold can be had for under $200 these days. Here is a search on Froogle for the MeriGold. 16MB built in, takes SD cards for almost limitless maps, large screen, PC interface... You can't go wrong.

Will County Forest Preserve, IL (SW of Chicago) requires you get the location approved, they put the cache info in a database, and you need to use clear containers. I just got hired by their IT Dept, so maybe I can get the inside scoop on some of our local caches!!

Ok folks... This thread is just plane silly.

I BENT MY WOOKIE! The doctor said my nose would stop bleeding if I'd keep finger outta there...

Anybody up for the challenge of Q-Bert in Chicago?!?!

If the ST Map doesnt have the memory base for the new software, why not sell it on eBay and get a MeriGold or ST Pro? EDIT: Sorry, Renegade... I have a reading problem. I like repeating what others have already said...

I was going to get a ST too, but after reading the issues, I went with the MeriGold. $199 and free shipping at NewEgg.com . It should be here tomorrow so I can finally start caching!! Yea!

Come on, folks!! This is a rare photo of the Rock Whisperer doing what he does best. ...whisper to rocks for those of us who are a tad slow.

Thanks for the info!!

Is there any way of knowing what model dates are affected? If I go to Best Buy, is there any way to know which units will suffer the cracks?

What's so bad about leaving a golf ball in a cache?

P - A - R - T ..... Why? 'Cause I gotta!!