Jolard

As for the official app, I spoke with the lead developer for the app at GeoWoodstock. He told me that the app is still in dev, and would be out within a month... he hoped. I do hope they get it out soon, but what worries me now is the functionality. The app that should not be named is getting better and better, and while I don't use it, (i generally use geobeagle) there are a lot of people who will be disappointed if the official app can't do all that certain other apps can. What gives me hope is that people seem to be happy with the official iPhone app, so as long as it is equivalent, we should be fine. Personally I will be happy when I can: - Open the app - See a list of local caches - See the local caches on a live map view - Select a cache and see the details, hints and logs - Log the cache from the app once found. Pretty simple really. Geobeagle does most of these things (especially when paired with Find Geocaches) but it is just too slow and convoluted. Find Geocaches takes too long to query and load, and the logging from geobeagle has never felt right with the text message logging process, so I just do it when I get home. Other bonus things I really want: - Ability to save pocket queries for offline use, even better if easily done through the UI - Ability to access my account through the app, i.e. lists of found caches, TB's, Friends - Ability to log and manage TB's through the app - Ability to query for caches in other locations and save them for offline viewing (probably just through pocket queries?) - Ability to upload photos as part of logging a cache.

We found that one too Fortson Mill Ponds GCV5PC We were the family that logged it right before you did. We did this one on a trip around the mountain loop one Sunday, and I agree I think it was one of our favorites from that day. It was just a pretty location, and our kids also loved the old mill buildings. We are still new at this, but some of our favorites so far: GC35E - This is one of the oldest in Edmonds, and was a fun park to walk through that I didn't have any idea it existed GC145Y5 - This one is likely more overgrown right now, and there were nettles on the path, but another pretty location, especially the parking area for the park. GCV55P - This is another one on the mountain loop, and it was a pretty walk out, with nice ponds and not too difficult for little kids. The fishflake Cheesecake cache is also nearby, and that was a fun park and grab. GCPVVF - Was a very fun small mult-step cache which our kids loved. Both stages were very well camouflaged. Finally I have to recommend our Cache. We tried very hard to make it as fun as any we have seen locally. It has a nice hike, would be good for a 5 year old, pretty location, and we like it: Bunyip Woods: GC1T4DE. There is another one you can do in the same forest while there. I look forward to seeing other people's replies though. We are only new to this, so our selection options for good caches is smaller than most.

Even urban ones can go through this. I found a puzzle cache right downtown that was hidden in a strip of land right next to a Lowes Home Improvement store. It hadn't been found for 8 months, so I was half not expecting to find it. I did end up with one fruitless search, and then decided to try again later that week and managed to find it. It felt good to be able to log a find on a cache that hadn't been found for so long.

I definitely sympathize with the OP. In any large city, there are going to be some wooded areas, and then large swaths of area where large ammo cans can't be hidden. It does seem a bit of a shame to have those few areas where large caches can be hidden already saturated with micros. It is not just the finding, it is the hiding too. Finding a great spot for a large cache is hard enough as it is, but when most green spots near your home are covered already with caches, it makes the remaining spots exceptionally valuable. I would be very happy to spend the money on a large can and good swag, and hide in a great local wooded area. But already many of them are full. As for my family and I? I am happy to find micros, but I generally don't put them on my list when the whole family goes, unless they are interesting for some reason. For the kids the swag is a big part of the fun, not just swapping, but also leaving. Two of my kids have signature items they love to bring and place in the caches, and they are unable to do that when the caches are micros. So....... I don't think it needs to be a rule that is enforced, but I do like the idea that cachers should try and use a large cache if the location would allow it.

Thanks so much for the detailed info. As for worrying about breaking my phone, I would be carrying it with me anyway, but I will be extra careful since I will have it out. BackCountry Navigator looks EXCELLENT, thanks for the suggestion. It is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. I also found a few other apps that look promising: Basicgps. This one is free, and looks like its name, basic, but hey it is free. Might work ok. BeelineGPS. This is a paid app but looks like it might be nice. CacheMate Anyway, that is as far as I have gotten so far. I did see GPSTuner, which looks good, but you do have to calibrate your maps from what I can see. Might give it a go too. Thanks again for the help, I am excited for my Bluetooth GPS to arrive. I ended up buying this one: http://www.semsons.com/im5blgpsre32.html

I know that there must be someone out there who loves to help out newbies My wife and kids and I went to the Seattle Science Center this last weekend, and they have a huge exhibit on Geocaching right now. We were hooked and would love to try it out. Anyway, looking at GPS units on Amazon, I decided that while I would love to spend a couple of hundred bucks on a nice GPS unit, I need to wait for that. But then I found this (and others similar to it): Holux M-1000 Bluetooth GPS These are going for less than $50, and from what I can see, I can connect these units to my smart phone (T-Mobile Wing running Windows Mobile) and then use my smart phone as the screen and to run the software. So here are my questions: - Will this work? - What software should I get for the smart phone? I am assuming something like Streets and Trips, but instead of with streets, with topographical maps. - Are there free options for software or do I need to pay to make it worthwhile? - Is this a reasonable option, or would I be much better off just saving up until Christmas to get a better one? - Are there any recommendations for good brands or models of bluetooth GPS units? Thanks for your help!!!!!