medoug

Hi jfpinell, PLEASE do NOT attempt to hide a geocache until after you find a few more and better understand how your "toy" works. I have given (as good as I can) step-by-step instructions on how to geocache with your unit in the post that you started in the "How To..." section of this forum. Please give those directions a try on some other caches in your area. I don't think we can help you much more than what we've provided you already through this forum. Beyond that, definitely don't be afraid to contact a fellow cacher in your area for some one-on-one instruction on geocaching. Geocachers are usually a helpful bunch.

jfpinell, To contact a fellow cacher in the area to possibly get some one-on-one help do as follows: 1. On your computer, sign in at www.geocaching.com. 2. Select "Play". 3. Select "Hide & Seek a Cache" from the drop-down menu. 4. Enter in your city and state in the Address box. 5. This will list several caches in your area. 6. Look at the cache owner's name. If you see one name that is repeated often, they are likely a local geocacher since cache owners usually live within a reasonable distance from their geocaches so they can properly maintain them. 7. Open up one of the owner's geocache listings. 8. Click on the owner's name. This will bring you to their profile page. (Note that you must be Signed-In for this to work.) 9. Click on "Send Message". 10. Now explain to the cache owner that you're new to cache and would like to meet with them for some help on how to find caches. Perhaps suggest to meet at a public park that contains a cache so they can work with you to find it. I've always found geocachers to be a friendly bunch who like to introduce and help people get involved in the activity. If you're too shy to meet a cacher in a one-on-one situation, I'd suggest following Gitchee-Gummee's suggestion to attend the next local event (he provided a link) where there's sure to be someone willing to show you the ropes. Just ask.

jfpinel, Without actually being there to show you, here's the simplest steps I can give you for finding a geocache. 1. Using your computer, find a local geocache that you'd like to find. a. Read the description. b. Look at the type of cache. c. Look at and understand the difficulty and terrain ratings. (As a beginner, I would suggest a difficulty rating of 2 stars or less.) d. Look at where it is located on the map relative to streets. (You might want to zoom in on this map to see more street details and names. e. Either write down the coordinates, or print out the whole description/maps. 2. Using your GPSr (Global Positioning System Receiver) a.k.a. "toy" do the following using the unit manual instructions given at the link provided for your GPSr by Gitchee-Gummee above: a. Go to page 9 and follow instructions for "Creating a Waypoint". b. Also on page 9, follow instructions for "Editing a Waypoint" to change the coordinates to those that you wrote down/printed from the geocaching description. 3. Drive to the closest parking place to the cache using the map that you printed or viewed. 4. Using your GPSr, following the unit manual instructions as follows: a. Go to page 16 and follow instructions for "Navigating to a Destination" picking the name of the waypoint that you entered in step 2b. b. Go to page 18 and follow instructions for "Navigating with the Bearing Pointer". 5. Walk to the cache following the direction of the arrow on the screen and also watching the distance listed. When the distance gets close to zero and/or the arrow flips in the opposite direction, you're at "ground zero". 6. At this point, start looking for the cache in an approximately 30 foot radius. Use the "hint" from the cache description if you need help.

jfpinell, What model of "toy" do you have? Someone here with the same (or similar) model might be able to get you started on using your "toy" correctly. I have an old (dinosaur) Garmin eTrex Legend (transparent blue case) and the owners manual was not very helpful about how to digitally enter coordinates.

I disagree that you need topo or street maps loaded on your "toy". People have been quite successfully geocaching without these since 2001 when there wasn't smart phones and most GPSr's were very basic seldom having these features. Adding these to your "toy", I believe, would just add to your confusion on using it. Instead, use your computer to look up the cache, view the street map given and note where the cache is located relative to the streets (print out the description and map if that helps), then drive to the closest suitable parking spot, and use your "toy" from there. I agree that your best bet is to contact a local cacher to get help in using your "toy". It sounds like you're just wandering around trying to match the coordinates on your GPSr with those given on the cache description. That is a very difficult way to do it. There should be a way to enter the exact coordinates into your "toy" and then select "GoTo" which will bring up an arrow on your screen which will point you in the direction you need to walk to get to the cache. The arrow will point directly at the cache (bee line), but you might need to walk in a slightly different direction to avoid obstacles such as brush, rivers, buildings, fences, etc. The arrow will update as you walk around these obstacles. Also, depending on if your "toy" has a built-in compass, you may need to walk several feet in one direction before the arrow reads correctly. Without a built-in compass, you will also want to avoid abrupt turns as much as possible. Once again, getting a one-on-one tutorial from a local cacher would be best as they can show you how all of this is done.

I think the cache you're think of is: NanoRegular It hadn't been found since 10/18/2012 and was finally archived 5/04/2014.

I have a nice ammo can geocache hide which was recently getting reports of water in the container. I thought that was odd as it ammo cans seldom leak and this one had been out in the elements for about 1 year without any issues. Thinking that maybe the seal got damaged, I went to visit the cache to do maintenance armed with a replacement ammo can. When I got to the hiding spot, instead of the nice sealed ammo can that I had hidden, there was a cheap Stearlite unsealed-type plastic container. Inside was the original dry logbook in a its original ziploc bag along with some water-damaged items. Also inside was the original laminated container label which had been removed from the ammo can and placed loose in the crappy container. It appears pretty obvious that a geocacher found my cache, thought "Hey, nice ammo can. I want it." and swapped the ammo can out for a poor-excuse of a geocaching container. Based on the hiding spot, it would not be likely that a non-cacher would have accidentally found it. This is especially true since some effort was attempted to keep the cache valid. This is the 3rd ammo can container cache that I lost in the last year. I suspected the first 2 to be stolen by muggles. At least one of those I suspect was stolen due to the obvious geotrail leading to the cache combined with geocachers repeatedly not hiding it with the natural camouflage concealing it. In none of these cases was the container identified as an ammo can in the geocache description, but just a regualar-sized container. So that's my story. I guess I need to stop hiding nice expensive ammo cans or add 30 lbs of concrete to each of them to make them undesireable "boat anchors". Geocaching is in a sad state these days when cheap nanos rule and quality cache containers are nabbed by other geocachers.

Thank you everyone for the helpful constructive criticism. I have now update the cache listing with parking coordinate and the following note: "You should park on the shoulder of the main road near the parking coordinates to access this cache. (It will result in the shortest walk to the cache.) Please DO NOT enter or block any farm field driveways." I've also changed the wording of the clue from "on the plateau" to "on the step". The cache is located on a step in the rock to help protect it from rushing water which will sometimes flow through the road ditch. I have also appologized to the cache finder for the rude nature of my note. Hopefully these changes will help avoid a similar situation in the future (assuming the description is actually read). Unfortunately, my experience is that many cachers do not read the descriptions. I spoke with a fellow cacher who had found this hide and he said that he was totally unaware of the statue "watching him" from the top of the bluff (which was the primary point for hiding the cache in this location). Obviously, he is one to not read descriptions as the "watcher" is explained in the cache description. Now he needs to revisit (or drive by) the cache to finally see her. Thanks again, medoug.

Maybe you should check out this cache as an example of how something like you suggests can be implemented into a multicache: "Tree of a Kind: (An Arbor cache)"

Check out this log on one of our local caches: BTW... I can confirm that the cache is only a few feet from the main roadway, outside the landowner's fence, definitely NOT on private property requiring permission.

That's what the goal of my message to the cacher was. BTW... They are a seasoned cached with several years and several thousand finds in geocaching. It makes me wonder how many times in the past that they did similar actions thinking that it was acceptable behavior (cringe).

As I mentioned above, the cacher reported back to me that he did not cause any real damage, but only a few parameters different could have resulted in a situation quite similar to the example that you referenced. I'm sure if that had happened, the farmer would not be very understanding and I would need to archive this very unique cache.

Uhhh..if that were a true story my find count would be decreased by 1000. And "bushwhack" is used for any off trail walking, at least in my area, not exclusively for off trail walking that actually involves whacking bushes. I'm glad that you live in areas where public land is available for off-roading with vehicles. Unfortunately, that is an extreme rarity in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois (states surrounding this cache). I did once cache with me dual-purpose motorcycle on a trail designed and marked for ATV and motocross-type bikes, but beyond these few such specifically-designated spots, it is all either private farm/woodlands or public hiking-only trails. "Never OK" was probably a bit of an overgeneralization on my part. I guess the point I was trying to make regarding "bushwhacking" is that the hiding spot (but not the container) is visible from the roadway with no brambles or other difficulties with walking almost straight to it from the road.

Caches on private property or allowing permission to travel private property to access almost always state so in the cache description. The cacher replied back that they followed the path along the boarder of the field (and not over the crops in the field) and that the surface was fairly hard-packed so he left no ruts (thank goodness). It appears that he drives a 4-wheel drive Subaru cross-over type vehicle. I often find that people who have off-road style vehicles so seldom get a chance to utilize their vehicle's full capabilities that they sometime push the limits of where they are allowed to drive.

This is Iowa. The cache finder was from Illinois. (I used to live in Illinois.) In either state there is lots of farmland and it is common knowledge that there are several of this type of equipment access driveways between the main road and the Farmer's field and that they are private property and are not to be entered (with or without "No Trespassing", "Private Property", "Keep out" signs.). Also, gates and fences are becoming a quite uncommon sight as much of this land is crop-only land and there is no need for them as the fields are never pastures with livestock. The farmer is aware of the cache. He is the one who placed the attraction on top of the bluff. It is a maniquin of an indian women waving to passer-Byers. He enjoys the attention that this roadside statue attracts and encourages visitors and photographs. It had never occurred to either of us that anyone would attempt to access the cache from his field driveway due to the distance away that it is, the generally understanding of these types of driveways as not being public access, and the close proximity of the cache to the roadway with available wide-shoulder parking. BTW... The farmer is sensitive to people on his property. He won't even let snowmobiles travel his field in the wintertime. They must stay in the ditch between his field and the road. As mentioned, the cache placement is in the ditch area.

Here's a Google satellite view of the area in question. The balloon is the cache location. There is a wide paved bicycle path on the side of the road that doubles as shoulder for parking which is less than 100 feet from the cache. That is why I didn't deem it necessary to give parking coordinate. You can see the framer's field entrance to the west. It is approximately 1000 feet away from the cache. Between that and the fact that it is obviously not a public or normal private drive, you can also understand why we (the farmer and I) never would have imagined a geocacher trying to use it to access the cache. Here is a Google steer view of the area showing the field entrance used and the location of the cache relative to it.

I was so stunned by their actions that I sent them the following message:

I have a roadside geocache (hidden in the road ditch). The roadway is cut through the rock creating a fairly large bluff. The cache is hidden in a pile of rubble at the base of this bluff. A little farther up the road there is a dirt (not graveled or paved) farm driveway which bridges the road ditch with a culvert allowing water to flow through the road ditch. This is a private drive for the farmer to access his field with farm equipment. A geocacher recently logged their find of this cache as follows: I'm not sure why they used the term "bushwhack" as there is only grass (not trees or shrubs) between the roadway and the hidden cache, though the ditch is rather steep. That the cacher actually drove in the farmers field with their vehicle seems almost unimaginable to me! Actions like this definitely do not represent geocaching in a positive light. Does stupid behavior like this happen with other caches/cachers? Please give your feedback or examples of other similarly stupid geocaching behavior that you have come across.

The goal of my travel bug (actually I only sponsor it; it's really owned by a troop of Girl Scouts) is "To travel to many caches in all of the 50 United States, and then beyond". The scouts were anxious to see all the parts of the country it would end up. It has been in circulation for about 17 months and has visited 10 states so far. In the first 8 months it was handled by 6 different cachers and visited 9 new states. Then it was carried from cache to cache by a single cacher for about 2 months and visited 0 new states. Then it was picked up by the current holder for the last 7 months who added just 1 state and hasn't even dipped it in any caches for the last 2 months. So, which months do you think had the scouts excited about its travels? .... Definitely the first 8 months. Definitely NOT the last 9 months. BTW... The TB has a laminated tag attached to it which clearly states its intended goal and a checklist of all of the states it has already traveled. No investigation on the TB page is required to understand its goal and progress toward achieving it.

I've had a similar situation... One cacher holding my travel bug for the last 7 months while visiting 15 caches during that time. I understand that all caches are not big enough (ie. micro and nano caches) to contain a travel bug, but they have visited at least 3 caches during that time which do appear large enough plus 1 only about 6 miles from the city listed in their profile. I've just sent them this message: "I see that you have had my "XXXXXXXXX XXXXX" travel bug in your possession for nearly 7 months now and have not moved it for the last 2 months. Would it be possible to please put this travel bug in a cache fairly soon so others can have a chance to experience it and move it along for more travels and adventures? Thank you." You're welcome to borrow this format to send a similar message. Good luck.

I'm looking for my contact lens. .... I've yet to have someone offer to help.

Oh, one other thing that I haven't seen mentioned here is the gas mileage advantage with caching by motorcycle. My car gets 20-25 mpg, my old DR350 got 62 mpg (plus burning oil), and so far my Street Triple 675 has been getting about 48mpg. With the price of gasoline these days, getting 2 or 3 times the mileage compared to a car or truck is worth noting.

My primary cachemobile is a motorcycle. Then again, in the non-winter months, it is also my preferred primary mode of transportation. Actually motorcycle caching has resulted as a progression of parallel interests for me. I've always enjoy nature and hiking. I usually had to drive to areas to hike, so once I got a motorcycle, I was able to combine the ride with a day of hiking. Then I found out geocaching (at a time when most caches were still hidden mostly along nature trails) and added it to my hobbies of motorcycling and hiking. Now I do all 3 activities to make an enjoyable day. I ride my motorcycle to the park/nature trail, then I hike the trails, and along the way I seek out the caches near the trails. I still motorcycle to urban and park'n'go caches when they take me to something of interest or have been favorited as a good hide. (I'm not about the numbers.) I agree that the roadside powertrails with caches placed every 0.1 mile would be a PITA dealing with the helmet and the start/stopping, but those aren't my style caches anyway. Also, I would agree with others here about some of the advantages of parking. With my previous Suzuki DR350 (dual sport), it was quite handy (and safer) to park in the road ditch when retrieving a cache ill-placed based on road traffic and visibilities. I've just recently changed from the old Suzuki DR350 to a new Triumph Street Triple R (strictly street bike). I'll be a little more hesitant to park in the ditches now, will avoid gravel roads, and worry a bit more about security (since the DR350 was a beater that no one would steal), but still have the same intentions to use the Triple as my main cachingmobile. BTW, when I tell people that I go geocaching with my dual sport motorcycle, they often say, "That must really make it easier to get to the ones on trails." The truth is, pretty much all park trails do not allow any motorized vehicles. Most don't even allow bicycles. I did motorcycle on a rails-to-trails trail once to geocaching and was very underwhelmed. It consisted of about the most boring and dusty rides I've encountered. I really pity the people who have no other places to ride their street-illegal quads and have to resort to those flat, straight, dusty, boring old railroad trails.

Here's some pictures of my electronic puzzle box logbook holder for one of my caches. Cache finders need to figure out how to open the container to get to the logbook to sign the log and count it as a find. Hope you enjoy.

Really?!? That's the first time I've heard of someone specifically avoiding caches with many favorite points. I'm glad that you really enjoy the 90%+ of other caches which are so lame that they don't merit any favorite points.