wandering_yoopers

Well, we are from Michigan, but more specifically we are from the Upper Penninsula (or U.P.). Citizens of michigan are called Michiganders. People from the U.P. are more commonly called "Yoopers" and well we do a lot of wandering in the woods. Hence, "Wandering_yoopers."

Not really a road sign, but I got a kick out of it. [/img] I suppose if you get the door back on it MIGHT work.

Thanks for all the welcome backs and the thank yous. I once heard a person say that "Thanks is not needed for what is duty." It is my duty as an American soldier to deploy and face the enemy. I knew this when I signed up. Thank you for all the well wishes. Gitchee-Gumee, I will be heading up to the U.P. Area this winter in December. I look forward to everytime I can get up that way.

Well, I am finally back from my time in Baghdad, Iraq. Now I can get back to GeoCaching. I am going to take a couple of days to relax and enjoy being with my family and then team "Wandering_yoopers" will be back out on the trail. I just figured that I would drop a line letting everybody know that I am back and I made it home safe and relatively unscathed.

In the case of the Wandering_Yoopers; we got into this sport while I was home on leave from Iraq. The only reason we stopped is because I had to head back and finish my tour. Don't worry though, as soon as I get back from this giant dust box we will be resurfacing in the Fort Riley Kansas area (about 5-6 weeks from today). We started caching in my home town of Ironwood in Michigan. Then three months after I get back we will be moving to Alaska and we will definatly be caching up there. We haven't stopped caching. We are just taking a break. We will be back soon.

OK, I am fairly new to GeoCaching and I agree with all of these posts. I will not pre pay for anything unless I know the persons reputation. ************************************************************ On a side note. I keep hearing about "MOOP"s store. Where is this and how can I access it.

It isn't UTM. UTM utilizes standard grid designators as seen here. Followed by eastings and northings measured in meters from the corner of the designated grid square (similar to MGRS). If it were UTM the designated grid squares for Texas would be 13R, 14R, 15R, 13S, 14S, 15S along with the eastings and northings. So, I guess that was just a really long way of saying "No, it is not UTM." This has got me intrigued though and now I would like to figure it out.

I am not to sure on the Mini M.U.L.E., but I am in the Army and I was issued the M.U.L.E. 500 and I must say it has definately lived up to the hype. There is plenty of room in the extra pockets to hold whatever you need out on the trail. It is also MEGA durable. I am nearing the end of my second tour in Iraq and, short of a little dust, it still looks nearly new. With a 3 liter capacity it holds enough water whether you are out in the woods caching or patrolling the streets of Baghdad in 120 degree weather. It may seem a little pricey, but believe me it is well worth the cost.

Well, in January the Wandering_Yoopers will be relocating from Fort Riley Kansas to Fort Wainwright Alaska. we have checked out the area and it looks like there is great cache density up there. Plenty to keep us busy for quite awhile at least Just wondering if anybody could give me some idea of what we are getting ourselves into with this move to the great state in the north.

There are so many nice pictures here. Seeing as I am new to GeoCaching, I really don't have very many pictures to share, but I will be moving to Alaska in January, where I am sure I will have plenty of photographic opportunities. Be on the look out for my pics.

I really like that. I hope you don't mind if I use that elsewhere.

I have a pair of the KSOs and I LOVE them. Yes the website says an hour at a time around your house, but that is not for breaking in. That is so that your feet can get used to wearing them. Walking around with minimal to no support is a lot different than wearing footwear that supports your foot. Like I said, I love these things. It feels like you are barefoot. I have gone on an all day caching expedition over rocks and up and down bluffs in these. Not once did I even think about wearing something else. I would carry with you a pair of shoes or boots for the first couple of times out. So, you can change into them if you think you need more support, but once you get used to walking "barefoot" you will never take them off. As for your little toe barely making it into the spot, don't worry, mine dosen't either and I still wouldn't trade these for anything. Just make sure you measure your foot according to the directions and you will be fine. Bottom line: they are well worth the money, you will not be disappointed.

We only recently started GeoCaching. 9 of our 11 finds so far have been in miserable low forties and raining weather. Didn't really bother us much. We went home with soggy feet everyday. The whole time we really didn't have much trouble with accuracy of our GPSr. Trees do cause some troubles, but as long as you are patient you will be fine.

I was born and raised in Ironwood MI at the very western tip of the UP. I am new to GeoCaching, but I totally love it. I am in the Army, so I will be able to geocache all over the place. When I get back from Iraq, my family and I are getting stationed in Alaska Seeing as we only have 11 finds, we don't have a large field to choose from, but I would say my favorite cache so far is Bases N Bluffs, which is in our neighboring town of Bessemer. It is a great five part 3/4 multi that will take you to the top of two of the bluffs and some of the best veiws around. Don't let the 4 level terrain deter you. My wife and I did this with our three year old daughter. There were some times where I had to hoist her up level by level up the rock, but she really enjoyed climbing the "mountian." She is a tough little girl.

You are darn right it counts. The support of a mother/wife of a soldier while he is deployed is the best support around. Without the support from mothers/wives it would be 100 times harder for a soldier to concentrate on the job he has at hand. A lot of time military spouses and parents don't get the recognition that they are due. Thank you for being there for your husband/son. Being a military spouse/parent is one of the hardest jobs around.

I am currently an 11B (infantry) in the US Army. I joined in 2004 and plan on staying in as long as Uncle Sam lets me. Currently I am in Iraq based out of Camp Liberty, Baghdad. I got here in October 2008 and will be leaving in mid-September. In 2006-2007 I spent 3 months in Tal A'far and then 11 months in Ramadi both in Iraq. Assignments have included Ray Barracks in Friedberg Germany and currently I am out of Fort Riley in Kansas. When I return from Iraq I am pending orders to go to Fort Wainwright Alaska. Many people thank me for what I do. One day I came across a quote that sums it up perfectly, "There is no thanks neccessary for what is a duty."

I really like this idea. I have recently just started to tie flies to pass the little downtime I have while I am here in Iraq. It is a great hobby and it is really easy to get "hooked" on it. Hahahaha I crack myself up. I do fly fish and I would love to find flies in a cache. Thinking I might dropp a few myself. Great Idea!!!!!1

My wife and I use a Kelty kids carrier. It is great and our three year old daughter loves it. It is the kind with a frame and it is in no way uncomfortable. There is even an internal suspension on it to reduce the bouncing around when you are walking. You can even buy bug nets to completely enclose your child to keep the "biting things" away. Both my wife and I are able to carry it and my daughter is pushing 35 pounds right now. We are fairly new to GeoCaching, but we have been using this for my daughter since she could hold her head up. It still looks and works like new. Kelty sure knows how to make them. They seem a little pricey, but I assure you they are well worth the money.