Jump to content

tands

+Premium Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    521

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by tands

    Summer Camp Looking for GPS Units

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    We help with geocaching at several local camps run by Palmetto

    Childrens Hospital. Magellans donated 6 units to us several years ago. We're thankful for them, but they don't have PC connection ability. We enter coords in them manually. So anybody who wants to help should remember to consider donating GPS units that can be uploaded to.

     

    We're still using the GPS units which are very basic, non-color, non-mapping units. The best units for kids at camp are the most basic GPS units that can do GoTo.

     

    Consider contacting GPS manufacturers. Magellan came through for the kids at our camps with their donation.

     

    - Travis, ie T of TandS

    Non GPS users

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by tands

    Hi all,

     

    We usually cache with a GPS, but we've got several finds using maps and compass. I participate in adventure races. In these 10 to 50 mile races you have to find a couple of dozen very small checkpoint markers, usually well hidden (sometimes in a drainage pipe), using only a compass, a topo map, and a list of the coordinates. You have to plot the checkpoints yourself!

     

    You have to practice your map reading, point plotting, compass reading, and pace counting, but when you finally get the hang of it you do not need a GPS to get within 50 or so feet of any marker you're seeking. And that's about as close as you can guarantee a GPS is gonna get you to a cache for any given cache.

     

    It's truly cake to cache this way. The major PITA is plotting the points. Once you have that you're good to go. It's quite fun to identify landmarks and plot heading and distance to a cache and then actually find it.

     

    Of course you'd have map costs as well as the cost of a map case. Add in a cheap Mega-Mart compass (they work fine) and you're in for about half the cost of a new low-end GPS or a nice used GPS. For what it's worth, you should never trek too deep into the wilderness without a real map and a compass no matter how many spare batteries you're carrying.

     

    - T of TandS&W

    Fishing lure / tangled fishing line cache

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by tands

    In these parts there are many riverside caches that use spanish moss to hide the goods. They are spectacularly hard to find.

     

    I catch fish for the bird rescue center here in town when they have waterbirds. Almost all the waterbirds they get are fishing line victims. They've all died.

     

    When I see a tangle of fishing line I stop whatever I'm doing, be it guiding a river trip, or fishing, and gather up and dispose of that fishing line. It's only my opinion, but to me there is no uglier expression of mankind's disregard for nature than abandoned fishing line.

     

    - T of TandS

    Did I just waste $300 on my GPS ?

    in How do I...?

    Posted

    My 2 cents worth is that I've seen folks kick my butt finding caches with a car GPS. But if you're worried about the issues folks have raised, you can easily find a Garmin Yellow for under $50 to use if it's raining, long hike, etc.

     

    - T of TandS

    I like geocaching!

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by tands

    I Like...

     

    DNFs - They let me go on and on about the evilness of my fellow cachers and my theories about what possible techniques are in play.

     

    Second To Finds - Getting beat out in a serious race to a newly published cache means that another cacher is worse off than us.

     

    Micros - These caches always kick our butts. Then we kick back with our own micros.

     

    Event Caches - We've made some of our very best friends at Geocaching Meetings including 'just food' ones as well as CITOs and such.

     

    Puzzle Caches - I get to see the serious ciphering genius that is S.

     

    - T of TandS

    Geocaching's Heart

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by tands

    The folks who really deserve the praise are Skillet and miki&jon. S and I help out every year with the canoing and kayaking so we're already out there and acclimated to the heat. We absolutely couldn't have pulled off the geocaching without Skillet and miki&jon, both of whom cheerfully and patiently led caching groups while sweltering in the blazing heat and tolerating the craziness.

     

    We also do this as a 'non event' to offer the chance to use geocaching as something more than the sometimes competetive (for me, not S!) game it can become and to be sure that all who help are there for the joy of brightening the lives of children.

     

    - T of TandS

    Geocaching's Heart

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    We were asked if we could organize a geocaching activity for a one week Summer Camp that's run by the local Childrens' Hospital for Pediatric Cancer Patients. We said OK and got some help from local cachers Skillet and miki&jon.

     

    The Geocaching sessions were proof that kids love chaos! The campers had a ball despite the incredible SC heat. Skillet and miki&jon helped a hundred kids forget about everything but 'seekin the treasure.'

     

    At the closing campfire ceremony Friday night many of the campers came up to S and me to make sure we wanted to come back next year to take them geocaching.

     

    Geocaching again becomes something more than a 'GPS Scavenger Hunt.' It is a magical and healing thing.

     

    - T of TandS (&W!)

    Traditional Multi Caches

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Even though we have PDAs with all the software, we still print out the full page of any cache we're serious about finding. We also go to www.flashearth.com and enter the coords in and get a satellite pic too to refer to.

     

    S has made barely veiled comments that I will 'cease to be' if we go for another cache without the description in hand.

     

    - T of TandS

    Planted first cache

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I still get upset when someone logs our caches and doesn't completely spill out their hearts gushing with love. Some folks, like me, not S, are just too sensitive. I always talk to her when we get a bad log so that I don't over-react for too long!

     

    - T of TandS

    Garmin Forerunner 205 and geocaching

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    I use my Forerunner 305 which is the same exact unit with a heart monitor. It works great for caching. The downside is that it only holds 100 waypoints, but that's not biggie at all. Our other GPS is a 60CS. We like the 60CS because it has the built-in compass so we can sit it on the ground and let it settle, but the Forerunner works just as well on cache hunts, and I always have it with me because I run every day. This means if we're somewhere without the 60CS and a new cache pops up we can still try for the FTF!

     

    - T of TandS

    foot in mouth syndrome

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    For what it's worth, the reason we archived it is because a bird family had taken up residence in the hiding spot. The cache container was only moved about 3 feet to a spot that accomadated the birds. We archived it to let the birdies have some peace.

     

    But my initial reaction was still wrong. Chill pills all around for me!!

     

    - T of TandS

×
×
  • Create New...