Alan2

I find it helpful if the cache description gives the total approx distance I have to walk so I can decide whether its too far, or need more time because its close to sunset, etc. Since most cachers don't give this info, I usually skip multi's. I'm sure I;m not the only one, so if you hiders want more activity, you ought to consider adding the total distance. Thanks

I rate my caches based on what I encountered when I hid the cache. Who knows what's going to be there later (ie brambles, snow etc). Let the people looking make those determinations. They can see the date (season) when you hid the cache. They're not stupid. If you hid it in August and they can't find it because they're looking in a blizzard, well....duh!!?? Also, if you're way off with the ratings, people will report that back to you and you can always change the ratings later. Also, I never change ratings as the seasons change. I got more important things to do. Plus how would I know how many brambles or snow is at the cache at any one time? I would also not wait. You seem to have a handle on caching and have spent a lot of time getting ready to release it. So do it. This hobby isn't brain surgery. So get it published and enjoy the nice comments you're going to get from the people who hunt it. Good luck.

I think alerting people about the water temperature and reminding them to weara wet suit and let people know where they are going and to be experienced is enough. Since the cache should also be rated as a 5 for terrain, that should be enough. Disabling isn't necessary during the winter. In other regards, if it's winter, the lake will be frozen and you can walk over it. Again, the person should know to checked to make sure this is safe as well. How about disabling caches in the woods during hunting season? ZOr no caching the the Maine woods during moose rutting season? Disabling mountain caches in winter during due to possible avalanches? Where would this end?

As long as the car is moving, any GPS on its compass page will give accurate compass headings.

Awesome, I need a bridge. How much is it, and do you have a film clip I can see??? Never mind buying the bridge. I'm willing to buy a film clip.

I use an ipaq 2215 with a Sirf Star III GPS in the CF memory slot. The SD memory slot has all my data storage files including the gpx files for paperless caching(gpxtosonar), National Geopgraphic 24K topo maps for real time tracking and Mapopolis voice commanded auto navigation on the road. I also overlay the cache icons over the Mapopolis street maps to see nearby caches and ID them and go to. I set up the icon to display the 10 digit cache name, D/T , miles from home, hider's name, cache type, container type, etc. I also use Mapopolis for navigating in the woods as it has a compass rose, distance to cache, bearing to cache, current coordinates, etc. I originally used a waterproof plastic holder with neck landyard to protect the ipaq but stopped using it. I found it difficult to use the scribe through the plastic. I now slip it in my breast pocket and take care of it. But I also carry a Vista for backup. Another downside of the Ipaq is the battery lasts only about 3-4 hours if you have it on contiuously. I have dropped it on occassion but it kept on ticking except for one time (I dropped it on the concrete sidewalk). I lost the program and had to re-load but there was no other damage. Live dangerously!

Deja vu all over again. I remember a few years ago when they came out with the Meriplat or Meridien or was it something else maybe everything else, I forget which one(s). It took them about 6 months of extensions and then they had bugs after release anyway. Probably the same thing again holding up release. I'd let someone else buy it and work through the bugs first.

It was a tongue-in-cheek article. They'll get a bigger laugh out of your emails if your send them.

Couldn't resist.

Skip this

By the way the problem with not realizing I was hunting Archived caches happened because I PQ'd using the overlap method. What happens is as the area gets more new caches over time, eventually the circles get smaller abd the overlap runs out. You develop gaps between the circles because you are above the 500 caches allowed for each circle. Then caches in the gaps do not update - hence they get archived, disabled, and you don't get the latest logs and you never know. It seems that I have to change my method of PQ-ing. Would the date method avoid that?

It's not the new caches that are the "problem" to keep updated. If you don't update your database, you hunt disabled or archived "old" caches that are on your current GSAK database because you don't know they were. Actually about half the times I hunted an Archived cache because I didn't update the GSAK database, I actually found it and didn't learn it was Archived until I went to log it. Go figure! Edit-clarity

Why don't you try simple Traditional caches to first get a handle on finding caches. Then you can move on to riddle type caches once you get the basics.

I bought a PPC 3 years ago when my old organizer crapped out. My decision was based on the fact that I run Windows on my home and office computer and the PPC is also Windows based. Besides all the caching programs, I can sync Outlook on my computer (Contacts lists and phone numbers, appointments, To DO lists, emails, as well as trasnfer Word and Excel and other files easily by copy and paste. My PPC also has two memory slots - SD and CF. I use the CF slot to insert a GPS so I can have real time location on National Geographic 24k topo maps and also use it with Mapopolis for voice comannded raod navigation and off road caching. (I also have a Vista for the latter). I also have the aforementioned gpxsonar and can overlay all the cache icon on the ZMapopolis street maps to click and Go To navigation.

I've bought stuff like you need from http://www.semsons.com/ They have a good return policy if you change your mind and their prices are competitive.

I have Garmin's Mapsource Topo bought 7 years ago. What upgrade are you talking about? Are you saying that the contour lines now display in even numbers (ie 120 feet) for feet rather than the equivalent to meters? The lines on mine are in 20 meter intervals. When you switch to feet it shos the equivalent changes in feet ie 2756 to 2822 or 66 feet wich is the equivalent to 20 meters.

Since getting Garmin Nuvi car navigation unit for driving, i've begun to slip it into my pocket as a backup when I leave the car for the woods. I guess its good for up to 8 hours fully charged. It has a off road-pedestrian mode that will provide straight line bearing back to the car. There aren't any topo maps, but the Sirf Star III receiver/chip provides great signals in the heavy foliage in my neck of the woods. Actually that's a second backup. I had been carying my Vista and a PPC for paperless caching that also has navigation programs built in including NG 24K topo maps giving real time location right on the 24K map.

Disabling or even archiving does not stop you from hunting a cache and finding it and posting it. I've found a couple that were archived (I didn't know about them because somehow my data base for them was not updated). The hiders never actually removed them so when I found them I signed the log books and posted finds on the web. And re-hid the caches for the next guy who didn't update his data base. Now what do you do about that?!?!?

I still have that problem with my etrex Vista. I take the unit in both hands and wring it like a dish rag. Get's rid of the lines.

Interesting story about shrooming. I hid an ammo box in the hollow of a downed tree. Covered it real well but did not publish the cache for a month. The FTF posted a log and then contacted me to give me more details. Apparently, a non-caching NYC sanitation shroomer was out shrooming a month earlier and found my cache. He posted a note about himself and shrooming and also left some union brochures and moved on. I wonder if he found any shrooms?

What do you do to the pilot?

For the last couple of weeks, everytime I click on the VISIT link in the email notification I receive when someone logs any of my caches, I get an error when it tries to load the web page. Below is the message i get. If I click the link to the Log or Profile, the correct page loads. Anyone know what's going on?

My Suunto model M3D base plate compass and my 6 year old Vista GPS with on-board magnetic compass both seem to point in the same direction. I don't see any difference. The other benefits of an on-board compass in a GPS is you can store the direction when you shoot a bearing. Just aim and press the button and the direction is stored. Or you can project waypoints something you can't do with a regular compass. And you don't have to worry about changing the declination when you travel - the GPS does it automatically. True it needs batteries - but that's what the regular compass is for-backup. And you should take extra batteries with you anyway. Not to knock my Suunto. It's great as a backup and it's lots of fun when messing around with 24K quad topo maps. But it normally stays in my bag 98% of the time.

National Geographic Pocket Topo allows placing 24K maps into a Pocket PC or Palm. Slip in a Cf or SD GPS and you've got it. Real time location as you walk around on the 24K map.

I carry a hiking stick to help me hike and to assist in finding the caches by poking around. Also good at sweeping away spider webs as you're walking. I also have thought it would come in handy for protection mainly for dogs off leashes. (I'm guilty of that too with mine but he's just a cute little poodle). Anyway last week in a nearby park out of nowheres comes bounding a mid-size dog off his leash and probably just looking to play with my dog. Caught me by surprise but when he tried to get too close to my dog a second time, I just tapped him a little on the left side between him and mine, to get him off. First time I ever did that and was surprised how effective it was. Of course the stick was in my hand so it was right there. Anyways the owners come bounding around the bushes after their dog apologizing and asking me if he created any problem. Of course I said "no" - didn't mention the stick action. No point having to face possibly angry humans! But the incident made me feel more confident of my ability and safety with a hiking stick at least with dogs and smaller animals.