kd0bik

Thanks and nice to meet a fellow "Colorado Cacher". I get down to your neck of the woods a few times a year. Unfortunately it's generally when I driving through to visit family in Texas so it's either really early in the morning or really late at night. But I've found a few southern Colorado caches. Certainly need to do more when time permits.

Hello my fellow geocachers and geocaching bloggers, This post is somewhat two-fold. First, I've rekindled my own blogging efforts as I believe this medium is starting to make a bit of a comeback and second, I'd like to link to other geocaching blogs in an effort to help us all promote our writings and our efforts. Believe it or not, despite the vastness of YouTube, it was a geocaching blog that first introduced me to this wonderful hobby back in 2009. I've enjoyed reading geocaching blogs over the years, but sadly many of the great ones have faded away. My "Jerry's Geocaching Adventures, Geocaching Adventures in Colorado and Beyond" can be found here http://jerrygtaylor.com/geocache/ Please bookmark and/or subscribe via your reader app. As I'm about to embark on a three week European Vacation, I'd like to also load up my Feedly app with everyone's geocaching blog feeds so I have plenty to read while we're traveling and in the evenings. I'll also post your blog links on my site in the Geocaching Blogs section. Who knows I may already have some of you already linked. Thanks for your time and happy hunting.... Jerry

Well that was about 40 years ago when it was still recommended to use a belt to teach a little discipline. ? I survived both

I have a lot of opportunity around my home zone. But like others have said, I also enjoy caching away from the urban/metro area. Trust me when I say there's a lot of LPC's under some of those green dots.

Haven't had a tick in years. Chiggers are another thing...but the last time I had a tick I was a teenager in boy scouts. The scout master suggested (and it worked) to apply a dab of vaseline over the tick. Apparently the tick can't breath and will release themselves and then they can be removed.

When I approached the park ranger at my nearby State Park, I first sent him an email. In this email I introduced myself and explained the hobby of geocaching. For the state park, the hobby of geocaching could bring in a little extra revenue for those who choose to drive in (fee) versus walk in (free). But also provide an extra activity which he could advertise as an added benefit to come visit his state park. We setup a time to meet. I met him at the office in the park and I brought along a few examples of the types of containers I would place and a plan for how and when they would be placed. I also assured him of both my commitment to the hobby and also my commitment to him to make sure he was always happy with our relationship. He requested I start off small with just a few hides and after a few months he's left it to my discretion. The philosophy we agreed on is less is more. I maintain 12-15 hides within the park boundary and change them out every few years. I provide brochures on geocaching which can be picked up at the park office and camp ground. Even if someone didn't have the notion to geocache when they arrive, they'll see its available and may choose to participate. As smart phone GPS are a little more reliable (and everyone has one), I'm introducing new folks to the hobby all the time. Bottom line....I believe it helps when you can demonstrate some level of value (not necessary monetary) when approaching for permission. I was able to prove geocaching would be of benefit to his park and also to those visiting the park. It has worked very well in this situation.

An interesting read for sure. I wonder if the reasoning for being against stamps is the fact they tend to take up more room on the log sheet than just a signed entry? I'm not saying this is justification for his rules....but perhaps the reasoning he's working under. I'll be honest. I maintain about 14 caches at the moment and I'm amazed at the number of times someone will log a find and state they forgot their pen/pencil. While I think some of our fellow geocachers carry around too much stuff and look completely out of place in some urban settings (especially when hunting LPC's), in my opinion having a pen/pencil is just part of the minimum requirements. Having at least one backup pen/pencil is just smart, common sense. If Karl Malden had been a geocacher we wouldn't have this issue as he would remind everyone not to leave home without a pen. Of course, I've just dated myself as most in the younger crowd won't know who Karl Malden is or the reference I'm making. ?

You asked about placing one on your own property. You could do this. But just keep in mind that you will have folks stopping by to find the cache. While this is obviously the expected results, I personally wouldn't do it unless your property includes a vacant lot or something like that. The reason I say this is I for one wouldn't feel comfortable walking onto someones property looking for a geocache (even if noted in the profile it was OK to do so). I (and others) tend to geocache at all hours. Sometimes early and sometimes late. While I don't know exactly where you live, I would suspect there are plenty of public open space areas where you could hide a cache and not have to do so on your own property.

All of mine have also gone missing. I think I'll do what other have done and just one with me. I'm traveling to Europe in a few weeks. But I've released about 6 in the wild and they all end up just vanishing into thin air.

We can have some of the same issues here in Colorado. I usually keep a hiking pole in my truck and will use that to investigate the situation. I also always try to have a flashlight with me as well. I grew up in Texas and know first hand of sticking my hand/fingers into places where critters like snakes, spiders and scorpions like to hide. Common sense usually comes in handy in these situations.

Welcome to all new members.

Ahhh...good point Mineral2. I guess because I use my GPS (Garmin) almost exclusively for geocaching, I get in the frame of mind to plan out my trip and create my pocket queries and load those where we will be visiting. With regards to my phone I just simply forget I can do that and then have been caught off guard with no data access. Jerry KD0BIK

I currently use the Garmin Oregon 600 and it works great. Before that I used the Garmin Oregon 300 and it worked equally as well. Jerry

Yes, it does get easier. You will soon gain geosenses that will kick in and help you. But....the challenge is part of the fun. Jerry

As others have suggested, one can do pretty well with doing their research and using Google Earth. Yes the smart phone apps also work. However, some of the locations we recently visited in South Dakota and Wyoming we didn't have data access. I use my GPS and log (if I have data access) from my Android. Jerry

I currently have the Garmin Oregon 600 and it works great. Before that I used the Garmin Oregon 300. It also worked very well. Jerry

If I'm in range of a data signal on my Android, I will often log the find right on the spot by stating "Found @ 1300 TFTC More Later" Then once I am back home or near a PC, I will go in and edit my log. My log will almost always describe what I'm doing that day "Visiting the Black Hills of SD on vacation" or "Out celebrating my wife's 44th birthday" (as was the case yesterday). I may cut and paste on occasion. I also will almost always end my log with providing a short note on the condition of the cache container and log. According to "MyGeocachingProfile" stats, my logs are an average of 59 words long. I don't think this qualifies as long winded and yet it is not just abbreviations either. Jerry KD0BIK

I prefer the cooler months over the grueling hot summer months. Living in Denver we are fortunate to have mostly mild days in the winter. But then again, we've had several inches of snow the past few days and the temperature has been unseasonably cold. I did manage to chip the ice away from a few lamp post skirts today before the next round of snow hits. Jerry

Congrats on your first of many finds. Jerry

GSAK is worth the price. Jerry

I use both. I have an older Garmin Oregon 300 and a Samsung Note 3. If I have data access, I will log my finds as I go via the phone. But I always use the Garmin GPS to navigate to GZ. I've used both the iOS and Android OS versions to navigate to GZ. While they work, I just simply prefer the use of my Garmin GPS. JT KD0BIK

1. Participating Date - 12 October 2013 2. Received Name Date - 14 November 2013 3. Mission Complete Date - 3 December 2013 4. Mission Received Date - 30 November 2013

1. Participating Date - 12 October 2013 2. Received Name Date - 14 November 2013 3. Mission Complete Date 4. Mission Received Date

Like most things, there's more than one way to accomplish this. I use GSAK http://www.gsak.net/ You'll need to do some reading, but the tutorials are well written. Jerry

I just ordered several, but reading this is making me question whether I will let them out of my hands.