emb021

Michael's Craft Store is a good source of stuff. Look for 'speedball' as a maker of rubber stamp stuff.

If they've never generated, the most likely cause of the problem is failing to check a day of the week on which you would like the pocket query to "run." If they query runs but isn't delivered, then it's maybe an e-mail problem. If the query doesn't run, it's probably a query problem. Assuming you've selected a day, have you previewed your query results online to make sure that caches are returned by the query? As these are a 'run once' PQ, I didn't think a day of the week needed to be check (I assume that's only for repeated PQ). A preview of the query results gives me all the GCs in question. (PQ is of one of my bookmarks, btw).

Several of us discussed this on a similiar thread. I do both and enjoy both. For various reasons, many LBers seem anti-GC. Some is understandable (GCers mistakening taking the LB rubber stamp thinking its a trade item), others not so (an anti-tech attitude, still pissed at Jeremy, etc).

I've never used PQ before, but I've requested one mutiple times and have yet to receive any. I've requested them sent to both my gmail and yahoo email accounts. When I check the list of PQ, all say they never been generated. This is been going on for a couple of weeks. I still get my weekly cache notification to my Yahoo email with no problem. Why am I having this problem with PQs??? I've read thru the threads and I can't figure out what to do.

I briefly used EasyGPS. Didn't like it because I found all the waypoints identified by their GCxxxx name, which I don't refer to caches by (makes it really hard to look for a cache you know by its name, and all you see are GCxxxx listings). I like GSAK better, and it downloads the name. ALSO, be sure to check to make sure your serial port isn't be used by something else. On my computer, my serial port has to serve double duty as my HotSync port for my Palm, and to download to my GPS. Before I can download to my GPS, I have to: * shutdown HotSync * swap my serial cables between my Palm dock and my GPS serial cable (I forgot to do this once!) Forgetting to shutdown HotSync caused me a few problems early on. Hope this helps Michael Brown

Actually, I'm currently working on a couple of geocache/letterbox hybrid series in my area. Each series would be confined to two cities in my area, comprising about 5 or so geocaches in city parks, giving clues to a final cache in a park in that city. One city is big on trees, so all their caches/lb will have tree stamps, the other city bills itself as a 'butterfly capitol', so those will have butterfly stamps. Michael Brown

There are several, but the one I got and liked is the "Complete Idiot's Guide to Geocaching". FWIW, its 'endorsed' by geocaching.com.

Read this for the types of caches: http://www.geocaching.com/about/cache_types.aspx Virtuals, Webcams, locationless, and earthcaches are grandfathered caches on geocaching. Virtuals, locationless, and earthcaches are all waymarks on Waymarking.com Webcams are the 'web camera' category on Waymarking.com Earthcaches have their own site at earthcache.com

wrong quote. "We found a witch, may we burn her?" mob: "Burn her!! Burn her!!!"

ok i did not put it all on there sorry that i confused anyone.caches are not allowed on scout property and they turned me down on placing a cache even near a scout property a cross the street even!!! See Boy Scout Bonanza... This cache was placed in 2002 on BSA property with permission of the local council. It is a public cache. Isn't it up to the local to permit or deny? Its certainly within the rights of any property owner to allow/disallow a cache on their property. So if a council wants to approve or not a cache on their camp or HQ property, that's their right. Nearby property they don't own doesn't count.

Took a look. One thing I didn't see is more information on how geocaching is played. On another thread I had someone point out to me that a big problem with may scouts geocaching is they don't understand how TBs & geocoins work. (ie, they think its swag and not something to be moved along). I'll have to re-read, but I don't recall seeing anything regarding trading of items, either.

Actually, Earthcaches are listed on www.earthcache.org There are guidelines that must be followed to setup an earthcache.

Its not just ammo boxes that are un labeled. I see to many unlabeled green lock-n-locks out there. Ok, so you can't spring for one the many geocache labels out there. At least use a black sharpie or something! Actually, letterboxing.org also does stats, too. What got a lot of the 'old school letterboxers' up in arms was the idea of having logs on-line that others could read, uploading of pictures, etc. They though that people would 'give away' the locations of the LBs, would upload pictures showing the location, etc. I thought it was bull because I don't see this on geocaching, and there are a lot more geocachers. I've found some logs helpful (some people are just poor hiders, give bad coords, and some info helps), but I haven't see any that 'gave it all away'. I find the tracking of Hitchhickers (LBing's TB) to be primitive at best... There also seems to be an attitude of 'elitism' amoung some LBers regarding the quality of your stamps (both in your boxes and your personal one). Next comes your hiding and clues quality. And the low/none-tech attitude is annoying. Many don't bother to log there finds on-line, which is a pain for others trying to find a box. (you too often don't know its missing until you spend your time looking and finally give up, then get some near useless response from the owner...)

(FYI- I both GC & LB. I've done both for about the same amount of time, LBing earlier as I didn't have a GPSr. Am up to over 100 caches and about 35 letterboxes) My experience has been that about every letterbox I've found has clearly stated on the outside that it is a letterbox (not trash, please don't throw away, etc). Some have the explanatory note in it. Sadly, my experience with geocaches is that only about half of the caches I have found have clearly stated on the outside they are a geocache. Only some have had an explanatory note in them. I know the more or less 'official' book on geocaching mentions letterboxing, and I think there is a link to letterboxing from geocaching.com. I'd have to agree with some of the other posts that most of vitriol seems to come from the LBers toward geocaching. There are some hard feelings from some LBers toward Jeremy & geocaching.com. (won't go into it) And there were some heated arguements on the LB Yahoo Group about adding features to LBNA.org similiar to geocaching.com about a year ago. Most didn't want them. Me, I do both. If I can go to a location and get both GCs & LBs, to me, that's just a bonus. I am currently working on a set of GC, all of which I hope to make GC-LB hybrids. BTW, the two main LBing sites in the US are letterboxing.org and atlasquest.com. Most are on letterboxing and most are duplicated on atlasquest, but there are a few on only one of the 2 sites, and I hear there are other letterboxes that aren't on either.

Well, we're talking two slighly different things: TB & geocoins. For me, when it comes to TBs, if you pick them up from caches (or event caches) with the intent of moving them to another cache, go for it and properly log the pickup/drop off. I'm not keen on picking up/dropping off a TB in the same cache just for stats. Haven't used 'discover', and I would think it useful to verify a TB still in a cache. I've had people on occasion contact me to see if I had seen a TB in a cache. I now take the time to look for TBs in all caches, and usually take one or more to move (if I know their goal and can met it). Otherwise I leave them there. Geocoins. If I find an activated coin (haven't so far) in a cache, I'll treat it like a TB. If I find an unactivated coin (haven't so far) in a cache, I'll treat it like a trade item (if I have something of equal value to leave, which I probably won't have). I don't have a problem with the 'touching' of geocoins at events (or when I met people) to collect icons. I have a few coins I carry with me (with a sheet of their numbers) for this purpose. If that's not your thing, fine.

Yup. Its an 'event cache', so it ups your stats. Most people will put a note on an event to say they are coming (helps the organizers to have an idea of whose coming), then afterwards log a 'found'. Maybe. Maybe not. At some events they will do a permanent 'memorial event' cache that will now stay at the location. If it has a separate GCxxxx number, its another cache to log. or pick up TBs that others bring. I find that many times people will bring TBs they have, but haven't been able to get out. Others will pick them up to move them along. (the TB will be 'dropped' into the event cache for pickup) No idea, unless its some kind of cache run. many geocoins have unique icons associated with them. The concept of bringing the coins is to let others see the coins, then 'pick' them up in their stats for the icons. Some are into collecting these icons. Some people feel they can only do this if they really see the coins, others feel they can only do this if they are treating the coins like a TB (they picked them up from a cache and dropped them off in another). All the coincs brought for the purpose of picking up icons will be put into the event cache, and there will usually be handout sheets with the coin numbers on them. more or less. Having only been to 2, and each one was a little different, I can't say. I cache along, so I was on my own. I'm also fairly quite, so this also works against me. But the organizers will hopefully have nametags, and most of the people are there to meet/greet, so most are open to stricking up conversations with others. Great to meet fellow cachers, both finders and hiders. Its good to have some experiences with caches in the area, so you can be familiar with some of the local hiders. No more so then any other large party of people at a park...

I can only comment from a finder, not a hider perspective. In most cases, my GPSr got me to the cache and I was usually able to find the item. Some I haven't been able to find, either due to my lack of success, wasn't quite close enough, or the cache was missing. There were a few caches in which my GPS pointed me to a different location, usually 30-40 feet away. I was successful in the find, because of how these caches were hidden. (basically the wrong location was in the middle of a road/open field). In a couple of rare occasions, other cachers had posted in the logs corrected coords. I found that those coords got me spot on the location, which indicated that the hider had some problem getting good coords. (I can say that in those situations, using the 'official' coords would NOT have found me the cache. In those cases, I confirmed the suggested coords. This is one of the reasons I will check the logs of caches I plan to look for...

Actually, you can count on NO JEEP for this entire week. We have not mailed any of them yet. They will likely start shipping at the end of this week. Shouldn't this have been typed with the Soup Nazi accent? Yeah. I was expected a "No JEEP for YOU!" or the like. But remember, the Soup Nazi always did it for good reasons... You haven't found enough caches, no JEEP for YOU!! You have too many DNF, no JEEP for YOU!! Your posts are idiotic, no JEEP for YOU!!! (I think you get the idea... if not, no JEEP for YOU)

Like others, I have a walking stick (a telescoping one, which makes it easier to carry). Good for brushing away big*ss spider webs in the path, etc, pocking in places, lifting up leaves/branches on the ground. However, a couple of other items I've wished I had. Like a grabber to grab a cache out of an area I wasn't too keen on getting too close too, etc. (you know, those things you use to grab something off a high shelf). I've also wished for a mirror on a pole, like they use to check under cars for stuff. Good to check into places you can't see into, but don't want to put your hand it.

They can be considered trade items. I personally leave such items there, unless they are the sig item of the cache owner. Do you mean your own person geocoin? There are several sources for them. Recommend you check out the geocoin forum. There are several sources for 'generic' geocoins, if you just want some to drop off. geocoins can be trackables, so for them you treat them like any other TB. Unactivated ones should be treated like any other trade item (trade even or up). Trackables aren't trinkets. By that, you don't trade for them. You do need to properly track them and drop them off. (ie, on-line 'pick' them up from the cache, then 'drop off' at the cache you leave them in). What's more important is following the goals of the trackable. If you can't help the trackable's goals, don't pick them up. There are also some 'special' trackable that need to stay within a certain area, so please follow that as well. You can find event caches in your area thru geocaching.com. ALSO, see if there is a geocaching association in your state or area. You may hear of events that are being planned before they are posted, as well as connect with fellow cachers. While it might seem like a great idea to just 'get out there and cache', I can say that proper prior planning prevents pitaful performance. I've found that my time spent getting all the info on a cache before going out can prevent time wasted finding the area the cache is in and the cache itself. Nothing worse then spending a lot of time going to a site and looking for the cache, only to get back to my computer and find out that the cache had been archived several days ago.

Also make sure nothings using your serial ports. I have to shut down hot sync (for my palm) before I can upload stuff to my gps, as its uses the same serial port.

Today's Cacher has put out 2 paper issues (you can order them from the website), and hopefully with do a third sometime soon. There are some books on geocaching, about 6-7. I got the Complete Idiot's Guide, and found it very useful. No idea about the others in terms of quality, etc.

All- I don't recall seeing this brought up in the forum, so if it has, sorry. I usually watch Law & Order: Criminal Intent fairly often. A recent episode (about 2-3 months back) heavily featured GPS & Geocaching. It was both interesting and annoying. Don't read further if you don't want spoilers. S P O I L E R S (finally warning) This episode, the main suspect is showing geocaching, and they also showed the geocaching website on screen. One MAJOR, MAJOR error was they showed the geocacher using a trowel to dig up and bury the cache, and when the detectives found her geocaching knapsack, one of the first things they pulled out was the trowl. The character also used Nemo keychains as her signature trade item. The detectives figured out what cache she was looking for in the nearby NY State Park, and found buried evidence of the murder they were investigating, which lead to them arresting her. GPS featured heavily in the plot. Turned out the geocacher was being setup by others. They used GPS to track her movements (they had put a GPS tracker on her car, and knew she cached), and used this to make it seemed she was stalking them, and buried the evidence near the cache to implecate her. Overall, very interesting. Geocaching was put in a bad light, tho I was annoyed by the burying of the cache, which I know is a major no no. Some sloppy research on the part of the writters.

All- Have a question regarding cache placement. I am considering placing some geocaches on scout camps that would be (hopefully) permanent. These would be available to the scouts/leaders camping there, but wouldn't be available to the general public (tho scout camps do allow outside orgs to use their camps, so there is always the possibility of a geocaching group doing so). Is this allowed? I'd like to have them be 'official' caches (ie, on gc.com), to encourage the scouts to get into geocaching and be able to log their cache finds. On a related note, I am considering doing a geocaching 'training' as part of a weekend scouting event. Could this be registered as a geocache event? thanks

Having used both EasyGPS and GSAK, I recommend GSAK. Why? several reasons, but one was that EasyGPS uploaded the waypoints with the GCxxxx names, which I never liked or used when I hand input them. GSAK always uploaded them with the shorten description name. Also, be sure your serial connection isn't being used. I also have an old serial based Palm hotsync cradle. If I want to use GSAK to upload, I always have to shutdown hotsync, or get an error. While I have yet to go paperless, using a serial cable to upload waypoints is one thing I recommend to all newbies. wasting time trying to find caches due to mis-entered coords taught me that long ago.