nancois

We did take the 1PM opening of 5 Mile Drive into account. All teams will be able to exercise any option of transportation to the waypoints in the order that they play out. Looks like good weather tomorrow; keeping my fingers crossed! : )

Yeah, I am so sick of this micro vs. regular size argument. If some people need to swap items as an incentive to cache; forget caching and go to a flea market. There's a big one up here in Tukwila. WA., for those interested. I could not care less about what is in a cache other than the logbook, unless it is a sig item. I'm not even that keen on TBs or coins; even though I still think they are a good idea, they are not a prime motivator for me. If I have a pen with me, it does not matter whether I find a micro or a regular. The value, to me, is in the search and/or the location. Please keep in mind that I'm not directing this at anyone in particular. I'm just venting about the very old, very tired subject of this, and many other, threads.

The only drawback is... this is starting to sound like MySpace! I do like the personal icon option for PMs; maybe also provide them with a "recent buddy activity" filter/link to logs, where regular members would just have a list of links to profiles. I still think the code-word idea is cheezy, but I can see how it would put less effort into the process.

...I detailed in another thread a way that would eliminate codes, the one-way aspect, and any need to delete logs. I'll recap: a link on the profile page that a visitor clicks to indicate they've met the person whose profile they're viewing. The profilee receives a message indicates someone met them and asks them to confirm it. Kind of like moderating the links instead of having to edit or delete them. It's a two way street and it really doesn't matter which person initiates the link. I know this is waaay back in the posts, but I really like this idea over the "code words". I also think this should be open to both premium and regular members, as both can still attend event caches. The idea is to form a social network, which should be free. If some capital gain is to be made, I prefer the idea of the personal travel bug (as some have already been implementing). Make it a physical object that travels like a travel bug, and maybe give it an icon that can be personalized as with the geocoins. Pretty cool concept, though.

You could check out Handicaching as well; it has a further, more specific breakdown of the type of terrain one would encounter while finding a cache. As the name implies, it's geared towards wheelchair-bound folks... Not to imply that seniors are handicapped, but I haven't found a caching site devoted to seniors yet :-/ Edit: Durrr, forgot how to add a link, but then remembered : )

This new mapping feature addition is great!! I like the panning feature too. Very slick! Things have sure come a long way since I first logged on to the site. Keep up the good work

33. My caching buddies are 32 and 35. We still have all of our teeth!

Yeah, there's a lot of that going on with so-called "1 terrain" caches. I sometimes use this site to help clear that up. It also allows others to suggest rating adjustments depending upon their own perception. Someone who is curious can view everyone's opinion before attempting the cache. The only problem is, how many handicapped cachers know about that website?

Some recent experiences have caused me to wonder about terrain ratings. There's terrain ratings that come directly from the rating function on the website, those that come from a common-sense approach from comparing other caches, and those that are based on the owner's personal opinion and experiences. I've seen a 4 terrain cache that only involves walking through about 50 feet of salal, and a 2 terrain that involves taking a 4 ft leap between two cliffs 30 feet above ground. It always seems to be a surprise. I personally think the website's ratings tend to skew towards the more difficult side. Here's how I would break it down: 1 - A person in a wheelchair can get to and reach the cache without leaving the wheelchair. 1.5 - My 85 year old auntie, with her cane, can get to and reach the cache. 2 - You need to walk more than 1/10 mile, over uneven terrain, or up a hill. 2.5 - Over 1/2 mile hike, a few hills, some bushwacking or jumping over logs/creeks necessary. 3 - Significant hiking or hillclimbing, or you need to climb over, under, or into something moderately difficult to get to the cache, or intense bushwacking needed. 3.5 - It's going to really hurt to get to this cache, but it won't kill you. 4 or 4.5 - Exceptional stamina or physical skill will be needed to get to the cache, or significant physical danger. 5 - Better have your climbing gear, pilot's or boating license or SCUBA gear to get this cache (and I'm not talking about rowing a raft to the middle of a duck pond). Am I being too harsh? I really would like to hear what others think. (If there's a previous thread on this topic, I apologize - I don't come here that often)

I always have trouble deciding which of my sidearms I should use on a charging attacker. To avoid the hassle, I just try to keep my eyes open. I'm going to take an educated guess that most Mr. Bad Guys fall into one of 3 categories: a) The type that you probably have already gone out for coffee with and you may even take caching with you. b The stranger that has been watching you for a while and was waiting for the right time to attack. c) The drug addict/homeless person/ thug that you stumbled across by accident. The first is the most common but least regarded type. I usually avoid these by getting to know somebody pretty darn well before going for a long walk alone in the woods with them, although I've foolishly taken risks in the past (but that's another story). The second type is a little trickier to avoid. But he probably won't first see you while you are walking down a dark trail; more likely he will spot you at someplace like the quick mart. Keep an eye out for for people around you; if you notice the same shady person more than once (or even just once, depending), change your plans to meet up with a group. The third type I avoid by being extra vigilant around urban parks and greenways, especially if there is crappy housing, industrial areas or bars and such nearby. If the neighborhood looks like a war zone, don't get out of your car; just send a nastygram to the person who placed the cache there. I believe your senses and your judgement are your best defense. If you use those you can be as safe as anyone else! Most important, have fun

It would be nice if there was an online cache permit application form on the State Park's website, which would automatically route it to the proper person(s). Then WSGA and Geocaching.com could just provide a link to this form for when it is needed. If the state park emails a permit back to the hider, he/she can just forward the permit to the reviewer. Also, the hider can print out a copy of the permit for the cache stash note. As it is, it's just inconvenient enough to detract me and probably others from hiding anything in a state park. Perhaps that was intentional?

I feel your pain. Considering this, I originally hid an ammo can at a park for one of my puzzle caches with about $30 worth of swag in it. Within a week it was gone, after only a few cachers found it. I wasn't too happy about it, but I figured it would be best to replace it with a micro. Unfortunately, I think it's very hard to make a non-muggle-able regular sized urban cache in Tacoma, unless it's one of those Pappa Bear type camo hides.

So... in order to get this rolling we need to urge people to use the cache attribute icons enough so that a proper database can be built to filter? I've noticed a few night caches that do not have the "recommended at night" attribute switched on. I know cache attributes are a relatively new feature... Once they're utilized enough as people learn about them, it would be quite awesome to be able to search through them.

I don't visit the forums very often, so forgive me if this has been brought up before: I love doing night caches, and unfortunately I've done most of them around where I live. I think. I would love to find some more, I know they are out there, but they are hard to filter out since they are grouped in with a regular cache class. So hows about a separate class for night caches? I mean, Letterbox Hybrids have their own little icon, and there's hardly any of those. If anything, keep the Regular-Multi-Unknown-Virtual-Letterbox-Etc. and maybe change their color or add a little moon and stars to them or something if they are a night cache; or have some mechanism to filter them out. I think this would be especially handy when winter comes again here in the NW. Just my dos pesos. Nancy

Congrats Funnynose. And a fine choice for #100

Probably by accident mostly. Because you need to invest a lot of time/$$ in software and equipment to find them on purpose, which defeats the point of stealing. Gotta admit when I was a kid, if I would have found an ammo can with a bunch of toys in it with no owner nearby, even if it had the word "GEOCACHE" on it ("Huh? Whats that?"), I probably would have taken it and ignored the boring notes and logbook until I got home. And then I would be too lazy or distracted to bring it back However, if the can had "DO NOT MOVE" in big scary letters right on its lid (a lot of them don't), I don't think I would have taken it.

Wow, that was weird. I'm a little nervous about posting links now - who knows what'll come up Thanks Weightman!

With Spring drawing near I'm gradually drifting away from urban micros and puzzle caches in favor of "destination" caches like the ones mentioned here. At this point, I'd rather find one cache with a long hike and a great view than 10 urban caches. I appreciate all of the good suggestions! So far I only have one in return: Sand Dollar Beach by Team Noltex; a great hike to a beautiful, secluded beach.

Ballpark Guess is back up already

My "Ballpark Guess" puzzle cache in Tacoma has already been geo-jacked. I will replace it as a micro in a few days.

Hey Steve! You know I would have gone with you but I'm still stuck way out here on the "frozen tundra" (Chicago). I hope you're having a great birthday/New Year.

Hello, I'm NLS. My combined DNF's for Phatboyz Mountain View and View from the Rubble have totalled over 20. I finally found Mountain View a couple of days ago. DNF's rock!

Congrats LittleBlue! OMG! And in LESS than 2 months! Wow. Congratulations Little Blue!

Thanks - this was all very helpful

Um... does anyone here know of a "free Wi-Fi Hotspot" in Port Orchard; or is the nearest one in Bremerton? I tried Half-Canadian's link, but it looks like there isn't any. Network Stumbler will probably be useful once I am able to comprehend it And what's this about hearing "Mary Had A Little Lamb" if I drive a certain speed? Anyway, as a last resort I'll go to starbucks , but if theres any place in P.O. that would be great.