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Silentshadow

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Everything posted by Silentshadow

  1. Thank you for the information Keystone. I will check it out. Also, thank you paintblr for your reply....I do know were Hazleton area is but I was hoping for something a little closer.
  2. Are there any local organized groups located near Uniontown, Pennsylvania?
  3. I have read most of the *unusual stories* posted and it never ceases to amaze/amuse me. Thank goodness I have not met any of these *aliens* in my hunt for caches. Honestly, if this would happen to me I would probably pee my pants laughing at the fruit cake.
  4. My first cache I found was placed by Quest Master--Polly Takes the Plunge. It was awesome to find...all the turns and twists....just wanted it to keep going. I have always wanted to do this one.....life got in the way, and I quit caching for a while. I'm back now and plan on doing this one soon.......more so now that I have seen some pics! Looks awesome! Now if I can just get hubby off the couch and get him to follow me into the woods...... P.S. Will post some pics after I find it.
  5. The below link is a great place to find UTM and Lat/Long tools. I have purchased several items from this site and all have come promptly and are very easy to use. You do not have to use a credit card. Just follow the directions, they send it and then you send them the payment. They are very inexpensive also. I highly recommend this site. Several of my fellow SAR friends have used this site to make purchases as well with no problems. I learned to read Lat/Long with this ruler. Its very easy to use. http://www.maptools.com/latlontools.html
  6. I always print a map of the area from my Terrain Navigator Pro program. It is grided for UTM's, NAD 83. But my GPS is always set for Lat/Long. The first cache I found was done solely with a map and compass. *Polly Takes the Plunge-AWESOME CACHE QUESTMASTER!* I like to do the caches with only the map and compass but I always take along the GPS just in case.......LOL.
  7. Dana, thats great news! I am glad you have gotten yourself another good friend. She will never replace the one you lost but will fill some of the part that is damaged, and in time will be a huge part of your future life together. I just have to add a few poems here, something for you to read and maybe help you a bit. If I could catch a rainbow I would do it just for you and share with you its beauty On the days you're feeling blue. If I could build a mountain You could call your very own A place to find serenity A place to be alone If I could take your troubles I would toss them! in the sea But all these things I'm finding are impossible for me. I cannot build a mountain Or catch a rainbow fair But let me be what I know best- A friend who's always there. (Keep this poem in mind when your out geocaching with your new best friend) And how do you know that your previous best friend is not there with you?? We Have a Secret We have a secret, you and I, that no one else shall know. For who but I, can see you lie each night in fire glow? And who but I can reach my hand before we go to bed, and feel the living warmth of you and touch your silken head? And only I, walk woodland paths and see ahead of me, your dark form racing with the wind so young again, and free. And only I can see you swimming in every brook I pass. And when I call, no one but I can see the bending grass. Hugs to you my fellow dog lover and geocacher!
  8. Our dog was chosen by our 8 year old daughter after my wife and I had gone the day before and selected a group of 7 dogs that met our criteria. You can't go wrong with this approach. You narrow down the selection to what you think you can deal with, and the kids get to be in the decision process. Additionally, we were required by the rescue shelter to come to them for three days to bond with the dog prior to our taking him home. After the first hour, it was pretty obvious we didn't need the three days and they allowed us to take the dog home that same day. Read all of the replies and suggestions on choice of dogs and the above one was the best reply. I being a huge dog lover, owning 3 myself, more if my hubby would allow . I would like to stress that there are many homeless unwanted pets just waiting to find loving caring homes in your local animal shelter.....PLEASE DO NOT FORGET THEM! Also, please do not think that a puppy is the way to go....there are many older dogs that would be just as suitable for your needs. Talk to the person in the shelter, be honest with them when asking/telling them what your needs and wants are and they will be more than happy to help in anyway possible. Most of the shelter workers are there because they love animals and truly wish to find *the right* homes for them. I also would like to add: When taking your pet with you on a long walk make sure you are carrying plenty of water for them and also a *first aid kit for K-9's, they are much like children, curious by nature, if theres trouble out there they will find it!
  9. WOW I LOVE THIS DISCUSSION!! I am so glad it was started! It gives some of those people who really dont want to *get* into it a chance to (so to speak) stand up and be heard. I personally am not so shy.....LOL. I am new to geocaching but not to running around in the woods looking for things/people. Guess I should start off by saying HI, my name is Linda and I am a member of our local Sheriff's Dept. Search and Rescue Team-K9 unit. And I love geocaching! I only have 5 finds so far only because I dont have as much time to find more. I am so hoping to hit the POWERBALL LOTTERY one day so I can run around in the woods more often and find more geocaches. I dont get into the forums as much as I would like too but when I do if theres something worth posting a reply too I do--such as now. I come here to see if theres anything new I can learn or possibly help someone with something. Its a learning tool, much can be learned by reading between the lines. For all those people who are considered *lurkers* perhaps you shouldnt be so shy, step up to the plate and be heard.......hey its America and arent we all considered brash here in America? Hey thats what makes it such a great Nation to live in!! Quite possibly some of those who arent *lurkers* might learn something too. HAVE AN AWESOME DAY EVERYONE!! KEEP UP THE GREAT CACHES!
  10. MapSource Topo isnt all its cracked up to be. It was the first one I purchased and soon found that it doesnt give you enough detail. I do use it though for logging my k9tracks, but never without using my other program too. The other program is MapTech Terrain Navigator Pro. This is an awesome program.......I dont leave home without a map from this program. It gives you great detail of the ground you will be covering. It also has several mapping techniques...NAD 27, NAD 83, Lat/Long, etc. There are alot more features which I wont go into here but it wouldnt hurt to go to the website and check it out. http://www.rockware.com/catalog/pages/terrainpro.html I highly recommend this program. I am not sure wether you can use it with your GPS though, you will have to check that out for yourself. I use it with a Garmin Rhino 130 and have had no problems. I recommend you purchase a program that gives you topographical maps. Good Luck!
  11. Hi everyone! I am a *newbie* as you can tell by my *tadpole* signature. And yes, I have ventured into this discussion, read all of them. All of them quite interesting I might add. I must say I am guite glad that someone started this discussion as it gives oneself quite an insight into what other geocachers are like and thinking. I thought this was a fun thing to do. I of course have not attempted to *find* one of these newbie geocaches as of yet but because I am on a Search and Rescue team, have thick skin, and a pitbull attitude I would view it as a challenge. But then thats just me. Heck, the first geocache I found was done purely with map and compass....only pulled out the GPS to mark a waypoint to my car.......GPS's can be extremely unreliable just when you need it....so I never rely on it totally on a search.--Just FYI.. You can tell that they are new by their logging of finds, etc..., and if they have not logged any finds before they place a cache why would you attempt to find it? If newbies are known for their awful coordinates and you know you will be aggravated in trying to locate one, why would you put yourself through it? Rules? Yes, I agree there should be rules. What the rules should be are not up to me. I'm just out there to have fun, get fresh air, exercise, take in the scenery and wildlife and learn more about how people think and act. Yeah, its all a riddle, including life. If you run across something aggravating, stop, take a deep breath, consider the source.......and move on. I for one am not going to be intimidated.........and go ahead newbies place your caches......I for one am game for it. **Since the person is new perhaps they don't have the proper map datum entered into their unit? It may be that a gentle and helpful suggestion to give that a check could solve the problem.** The above was mentioned in a reply: again I cannot stress GPS's can be unreliable....even when the coordinates are perfectly entered. Keep up the good caches......I like the hard ones! I like the HUNT! LOL! I think I should change my nic to: TheHuntress......SilentShadow...hmmmmmmm......maybe it was a wrong choice.
  12. I just love a mystery and had to read this discussion. Glad you didnt *smell* the stuff.....but if you uncorked it the smell of cigarette, especially if you dont smoke, would of hit you hard. I dont think it was *remains* of anyone or anthing as cremated remains looks alot like *kitty litter*.....little bits of grey, blue, green, black, brown, hard stone type looking things, along with some light grey dust. Not sure if anyone wanted to know that but if anyone ever runs into something that looks like that....well you'll know. It is strange that someone would put dust into a bottle though.....hmmm......something to think about..
  13. Testing to see if avatar pic is up........thanks.
  14. Trying for quite a while here to get a pic up under my nic/screen name. Followed the directions and it doesnt seem to be working. Hmmmmmmm.....what the heck am I doing wrong??
  15. I am definitely a newbie at geocaching but not hiking/backpacking. Sooooo...knowing what I know about wilderness stuff.....if thats where your heading to find a geocache you should be prepared. Some areas are quite remote and if you get lost you could be in real trouble if not prepared. I take a daypack with basic survival gear. Water.....always take plenty of water........if you cant pack it take water purification tablets. Map of area First Aid kit Buck tool and knife Compass 2 large garbage bags (in case you find yourself in nasty weather and unable to hike out, you can use these to keep warm/dry)--you can also make a quick shelter from these.) roll of twine or some sort of light weight rope. Mirror/mine is on my compass 2 dollars in change for a phone call, if needed--hey I dont have a cell phone! Rain gear Ultra light Bivy sack Walking stick watch GPS extra batteries light sticks and head lamp leather gloves protective eye wear hat-appropriate for weather clothing appropriate for weather good foot wear gaiters are a must if going into snake bite country and some high energy bars/snacks AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.......never leave home without letting someone know where you are going. Good luck and happy caching!
  16. Hi everyone! This discussion was quite interesting, I truly enjoyed reading how everyone got started geocaching. I am a member of a Search and Rescue team and heard about geocaching from other members from a team close to us. It sounded pretty interesting so I checked out the geocaching website, joined, but didnt follow through on anything. Then my hubby bought me a Garmin Rino 130 for my birthday this year and when these other SAR friends heard about it they set up a date and off we went. The trouble with my first *find* was not by using the GPS though. These fellow SAR workers decided it would be a good opportunity in learning some more skills at map and compass! Yes, my first geocache was found by using map and compass alone! What a trip that was! Hey it was so rewarding finding it though. The next two caches I found I used the GPS......SO MUCH EASIER! I am now hooked, BUT!-- I now cant get anyone to go with me!! OH well.......I am not going to stop doing it though.
  17. I dont think your a loser for doing geocaches alone. I wish I had the nerve to try at least once to do one alone as I just cant get anyone to go with me. Some of the areas I have been in looking for geocaches are not places to be by oneself, not safe being a woman alone and all , etc....after reading some of these replies I am really surprised by how many do them by themselves. OH well, I say keep doing them and dont feel like a loser.
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