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chuckles and grinz... Yah.. I figured if I got this "God" unit it must be spot on and take me with some blessed protection. Actually I didnt even notice the subject title mistypo. Though hope to have this in my hands on thursday. so watch out in the NW Wa area.. I am the guy you pass on the trail after Friday.. with the big bump on his forhead from banging it on fixed objects if this thing fails me hehehe Charles Mt Vernon WA

Interesting question.. I spend 24-30 nights a year in a tent. This while doing SCA activities. Society for Creative Anachronism,, middle ages/living history. My persona generally represents about 1350 AD. Curiously I enjoy stepping back in time. Since it is more or less seasonal and the season has nearly ended. Look to combine the travels to those events with geocaching. I have been to some interesting locations that very well might be good for this modern technology sport/game. Might end up that I will spend quite a few 'extra' days in the woods but certainly without the structure of a group organized event. I do work for myself, and will more than likely strike off to look for stuff as a whim or wind may allow. Charles Mt Vernon WA

Prefaced by saying... yep.. I am so new to this gc thang I dont have a clue yet!!!! Have been printing out a lot of caches to start looking for pretty soon. I am sure if my stuff arrives in the Brown Truck on Thursday.. I will be out and about the north puget sound on friday. Stop and say hello to the guy you see bouncing his forhead off of immovable objects.. That might be me!!!! Seems to me.. that if I wanted to have a cache found number to rapidly grow.. direct routes would be desired. Heck if I wanted to just do direct route wouldnt need to geocaching.. could pick a point a to b. and go. I am anticipating the 'hunt' to find what you evildoers have hidden. I have always enjoyed running myself in circles without a GPS because the journey for me has been more pleasurable than the end. Left home once for two weeks in the truck/camper.. took me almost 6 months to find my way back home. soo.. in my inexperienced thought on this.. give me something as mentally challenging.. something new to see... yep.. Charles Mount Vernon WA

I am still new to this.. but I think you have to be a premium member to be able to pan from these maps? Charles Mount Vernon, WA

Hi ya... another rather newbie.. still waiting impatiently to get my gps in snail mail. I generally couldnt seem to find much for events in the north puget sound. There is a yahoo groups list.. for the Sound region http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WSGAPS/ Also Statewide.. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/geocachingwa/ Though not much activity for events.... I have had one in mind that would be a poker run for one day.. ending at a picnic area for potluck. But if you keeping of a list of maybe who to invite.. add me to it. Charles Mt Vernon, WA

Somewhere I read a tip about calibrating a GPSr. I got to a website for NOAA. http://www.ngs.noaa.gov Search for NGS Data Sheets.. sorry I dont have the direct link to take you to them.. but it is searchable by State, County.. then you can select locations within the county list. Soon as I get my snail mail transit gps stuff it willbe one of the first day things to do. Charles Mt Vernon, WA PS.. add a lanyard to your GPS so if the holder or you get the dropsy it might not hit the ground.

WHEW.... tried following all those replies. OK.. so a FRS only radio has no fees. the FRS/GMRS combos have no fees if you stick with FRS channels. Lets see sooo the Fees are $75.00 to use GMRS.. that fee is good for 5 years and then is renewable.. at $75.00. All that said.. is it a good thing to have GMRS capability? I am going to add at least a FRS radio to my 'kit' once I recache my short cache dollars. Whew this is getting expensive to join you guys and gals. Charles Mt Vernon, WA

PayPal costs you nothing to make purchases.. only takes a few minutes to sign up. It is widely used throughout the net. If your selling it is less expensive than accepting the 'major credit cards'.. If you never looked into purchasing "major credit card' services and equipment you would be shocked at the cost. I do peddle stuff I make and that still is a drawback to some sales.. not taking "major cards'. I do not mind taking a small hit from paypal for items I have sold. Beats the heck out of snail mail, paper checks or money orders. Charles Mt Vernon WA

Thanks for the info. Seems that nearly everything I would read at home is available on the net. Including the owners manual for the GPSr and toys I aint got in the mail yet. I am also finding that many different 'state' geocaching groups have valuable tidbits. Lots of great information scattered about. More than a few posts with goode humor..... thanks . K.. enuff this thread .. Charles Mt Vernon WA

I can walk to this one now. Though I am still waiting to get my GPSr and associated toys in the mail.. impatiently waiting. Charles Mount Vernon WA

According to the latest news.. maybe just maybe that will become a 'valley' walk. Charles Mt Vernon WA

Though I am still waiting to recieve my GPS and extra tools in the mail. I have long thought that GPS technology was fascinating. But soo long ago units were prohibitivly expensive. Inaccuracy except for government agencies was artificially induced. Now the prices are down to affordable and accuracy appears to have improved with the addition of WAAS. I learned about geocaching from a cable news story on CNN. Started looking at this online. Made a purchase from the GPS Garage Sale forum. After having researched online, at stores and from similar Lists. It would be a lot of fun combining my travels to SCA events with geocaching. Been to some very nice places and potentially fantastic hides going to and from. The SCA events are seasonal and those are just about over in this area. So "off-season' will be fun to get into this sport/game. So... sitting near a window.. off to my left. Looking at the top of Mt Baker.. wondering if I can hide a cache at the peak in the snow??? Waiting for the postal carrier to arrive with the GPS package. Charles Mount Vernon, WA

geezzz I doubt that will help... How about what is in your library that is geocaching specific/related? Charles Mt Vernon WA

I personally find music/sounds on webpages extremely annoying.. and especially a pain you know where when there is no button to turn off the music. Regardless of how great the webiste/link/information could be... I always close the page. Charles Mt Vernon WA

OK.. cannot be out everyday looking for caches.. weather.. sick.. appointments.. etc can keep you out of the hunt. What do you consider 'must-haves' in your library. Regardless of experience level. Any one particular resource that you could not do without? Charles Mount Vernon, WA

I will just try and keep up with postings. Will certainly start having a ready pack. Just sounds like great fun. And the weather is going to be fairly seasonal.. but dry. Hi pressure ridge off the coast should hold up thru the weekend. of course your mileage may vary!!! Have fun.. take pics.. and of course be careful out there. Charles Mt Vernon

Egads... its late friday.. I am a new guy to this .. and would have been great to try and join up with this. Do these short notice group hikes come up often? Is there a way to get notified other than checking the forum? Dang... but too late for me to get my act together for this. Chomping at the bit to get out and have some fun. Charles Mt Vernon WA

Mine allll !!!! MINE!!!!! muhahahhah... well almost..cant wait to get it. Thanks Kevin.. and I do offer up my condolences for your loss in the family. Be Well.. Charles Mt Vernon WA

Darn.... I just paid too much for the same deal heheh.. well sometimes ya win sometimes ya dont on ebay.. only a $5 difference though. Charles Mt Vernon WA

Thanks Thot... I should have known.. I had a pretty extensive list in my mind as it was. Those links took me to some rather impressive lists.. especially 4x4van, great list. Not much is needed apparently for those really short treks. Lots of tips and tricks though were picked up in those other threads. Any trek beyond a couple hours will have a pack with enough essentials "IF" I would have to overnight it, most of what I do is solo. Through all those other posts there is something very important missing. I would leave a "Trip Plan" at the vehicle for emergency staff just in case. The plan might include emergency contact information and at least a short description of your trip plan with expected return. So 'if' or when ya git lost your vehicle usually gets discovered pretty quick. With this is to leave a plan at home with family member or friend with expected return date and tme. Since I am new to this.. probably over cautious and maybe no one would be so unlucky as to be caught out with no gear. Charles Mt Vernon, WA

Greetings ... new to this waiting to receive my gps in the mail so been working on what I might need. I am sure that not every trip requires a backpack. What do you carry with you on all your cache searches... your basic kit? What do you add to the basic kit if your going to "dayhike' in search for the cache? I doubt I would consider overnight to find a cache..though I do believe in having the 'essentials' on a long day hike just in case the weather turns bad. Charles Mount Vernon WA