woody_and_pip

This last monday, we went after our first state park wild life safari multistage geocache. It took us a bit to get used to looking for the coordinates, but once we got the hang of it, we did pretty good. The trouble came on the third stage when it took us a very long time to find the coordinates. We were just about to start walking back to the van when I bent down to pick up some trash and found that it was the coordinates we were looking for. They were just lying on the path attached to a stone. It took about 5 more minutes to find the final stage and to claim the victory of the pursuit. We stopped back at the ranger station to let them know we found it because they said that they have had a problem with the cache and stages disappearing. We found out that the rock the coordinates were attached to was supposed to be in a structure (don't want to give it away) about 30 to 40 feet from where they were on the path. After he told me where they belonged, we went back and put them where they were supposed to be. (Never too early to teach good citizenship to kids). What I can't figure out is that we were the third ones to sign the log that day. I don't think I should ask the others if they found the third stage where I did or if they found it where it was supposed to be. I guess it just really bothers me to hear from the park rangers how much trouble that geocache has been since I think it represents us as a whole for the hobby. They don't need to take the time to keep it stocked or to make sure all the stages are where they should be. It just kind of irks me to think that a fellow geocacher may have moved the 3rd stage. I guess it could have easily been a muggle that did that since it was in a high traffic area. It just upsets me that stuff like that happens. Thanks for letting me vent. Enjoy they sport!

actually, it seems like very few of the caches that we have found have been directly on the ground.

You said that you have a child that goes caching with you. in my mind, that is all the stealth you need. what is more natural than a kid looking in bushes or straying away from you or even picking up things that other people didn't notice. The only stealth I use is to bring the cache back to the car or some other out of the way so we can dig through it, admire it, and sign the log. Have fun!! in my mind, there is nothing as fun as the look on a kids face when they find the cache

here in MN, I believe that I have read on the Department of Natural Resources site that state forests are OK but state parks and wildlife areas are off limits. Maybe your state is like MN and the DNR there has already addressed the question.

A challenge occasionally, is a good thing. yes, we like micros in moderation. When I was just learning everything, I didn't pay attention to cache size and just got frustrated going for caches and not finding them. Turned out that the gps was loaded down with micros.

From what we have found (very very little) micros can be anything about the size of a 35mm film canister. out of 3 we found, one was actually a film canister, one was a magnetic key holder, and the other was some sort of flat magnetic thingy that was tricky to notice. Hope those examples help. Micros can be annoying so I limit my searches for them.

That one took me a while to understand. If my gps says that it is only accurate to 20 feet, it is safe to assume that the one that the CO used is probably just as (in)accurate. It can be frustrating to think that after you combine the 2, you can be off by 40 feet or more even when the gps says zero.

The Bell Tower looks like a fun one. Does anyone know if there is an Official of some sort that I can ask and get some clearer guidelines and advice from? Like someone from Groundspeak? I want to be prepared when I talk to the pastor and the youth group leader and don't want to be shot down after it is all said and done and disappoint the kids. I am thinking that I can probably get by with swag that is more everyday available but has a more obscure spiritual meaning. I kind of like that, it can make the kids work a bit harder and use the brain a bit more.

Thanks for the fast replies. I did want to get it across that this would be in no part an advertisement for the Church or that specific church. I would make the cache page the same as all the others with perhaps a hint that would make people realize that it really was hidden on the church property so they wouldn't be trespassing. Articles of swag placed there by the kids don't have to be obviously religious either. It could be any common everyday item that can have some sort of meaning to the kid. Again, thank you for your replies, they are good food for thought.

I love geocaching and so do my kids. I have noticed that some of the caches that we have found have been put there by different groups such as 4-H, Girl Scouts, and even school Geography classes. I think these are wonderful. Now on to the question. I have been kicking it over in my mind at different times for our church's youth group to place a geocache on our church's property and I was wondering how appropriate it would be and if it broke any of the rules of hiding and placing a cache. In order to sell it to the church for permission, I am certain that they would ask that it contain at least some religious related articles such as swag pertaining to the religion and maybe some suitable verses that describes the search and finding. I know that it is frowned upon to advertise a business or organization but would it be OK as long as it doesn't actually refer to going to a church or even post the church times? I know that there are some caches that are close to some businesses that geocachers may go into after they make a find, I think that this would fall into that category. Any input would be appreciated. Believe me, this would be done in good taste and zero pressure on any would be finders. I just think it could be something that could be fun for the youth group to put together and monitor it occasionally.

I go with my kids all the time. Their ages are 13, 12, 11, and 10 (the 16 yr old is too cool to hang with dad). They love it!! We are getting into searching for some of the micros with a little luck. Best thing we did is we found a park that had 7 hidden around it (all normal sized) all within a smaller area. we hiked and found all of them and put on about 4 miles under our feet. we only stopped for water and rest once. Kids love the swag! we take turns holding the gps, the paper, the swag bag, and the compass (we are old school and don't have an electric compass on the gps). They also love decoding the clues on our way to the find. Good luck and keep it positive.

wow. I just found one today that when we found the cache, it was open and the contents were spread out and wet. I did manage to sign the soggy log, but also threw in a spare log in a plastic baggie, a new pencil, pencil sharpener, and even a little swag. I just marked it as found and explained a little on the condition that I had found it in because my notes said there may have been a travel bug in it. Me and the kids searched fairly extensively for any signs of bugs but couldn't find any. I did send a private message to the CO and fully explained everything and mentioned that it was with the best intentions. It will be interesting to see what I hear back from the CO.

one of the mistakes that I have made and am learning how to deal with is to stay away from micro sized caches, at least until you get some regular finds under your belt. I cache with my kids and it has taken me a bit to catch on to something as simple as reading hints and actually looking at the size of the cache. Right now, I have decided to skip the micros and concentrate on the easier to find sizes. At my early stage as a geocacher, it is the finds that keep us fueled and it is frustration that can suck the excitement out very fast. So, make sure you double check the sizes and types of caches before you head out in search of it. My advice is to look for some regular sized ones and get some finds under your belt.

Heck, I just take 4 kids (all 13 and under) along. Kids playing in the bushes and coming out with something "interesting" happens all the time.

I have been thinking for a while about placing a cache in a cemetery and I think it would be highly respectful. It is an old pioneer cemetery out around where I grew up. No one "new" has been buried there in over 50 years. The county paid a huge sum in renovating the cemetery and preserving it and I think that the more people to come and see this monument to a bygone era, the better.

bad thing about ticks is that once you have one on you, you keep feeling more and more and your skin just crawls. As my dad always said "sweat doesn't run up"

look in the notes about the cache. sometimes they have some surprising things in there. One thing to look for is "has permission from landowner" and the other is the cache size. remember too that your gps unit probably has a fairly large margin of error. Mine is about +/- 20 ft usually. Just because your gps may say that it is on private property, it doesn't mean that it is.

I think the best gps is the one that I own. It is much better than one that I don't own. That being said. I have been looking at upgrading since mine was just a cheapy that I bought to see what it was all about. I would love one that does paperless geocaching since I have learned that those notes can be darn handy when searching for a cache. I would love one that is accurate to a yard. Not for geocaching but I do find myself wanting to measure distances that I would love to have the measurement more accurate. Last week, I tested mine against a measuring wheel and it was off 12 feet. I was actually pretty happy with that but it would be nice to be more accurate more often. Any advice on that would be great.

I am only 2 for 4 (i think) on micros but from what I gather, they are anything smaller than a 35mm film container but can be in pretty much anything. One of my finds was actually a film container and the other one was a magnetic key holder hidden behind some rafters of a shelter. I have heard some talk that Altoid containers are considered micro size. I like them as a change of pace from the other sized containers every once in a while, but like drinking, I only enjoy them in moderation. The next planned excursion for Woody and Pip has up to 4 micros on it and I think that may be too many. That may be because I go out with 4 kids who don't really have the patience to look for that needle in a haystack. Variety is the spice of life.

I want to hide my first cache. I've got the container made and painted a suitable color. I've got the log book and disclaimer in a sealed bag. There is a pencil and pencil sharpener and a few pieces of swag (new items that I think people would be interested in). I have talked extensively with the land owner and he thinks it would be great. I just haven't been able to find the guidelines for rating the difficulty of the terrain for the cache. If anyone knows of a list of what constitutes one star or two or three, could you please post a link that that? Thank You.

What part of Northern Minnesota if you don't mind? We hunt deer and sometimes grouse near Blackduck (if time allows) and I used to live for a short time in Bemidji. We love Itasca State Park as well as the other state parks. Can't wait to get there to geocache, should be a whole different experience.

Hello Back. I am also pretty new to the activity of geocaching and we love it. Woody and Pip are the names of our guinea pigs because they seem to be good mascots for me and my kids. I love the outdoors and try to get the kids involved with it. I am a farmer and fishing opener usually falls in the planting season and hunting falls in the harvest season and there are years that I don't get the chance to take them as much as I would like.

It is family time for me. Love bringing the kids out and love the looks on their faces. one of my 11 yr olds was the First To Find a micro geocache today and it really made his day. That is worth it.

I know I am just a newbie, but after a day of going after 7 with the kids I know one item that I now travel with in the cache bag. A note/log book. With multiple caches it is much easier to write down what is traded and what shape the cache is in than to try to remember it.

just a silly question but I have looked around and not been able to find the answer so I apologize ahead of time if it seems too elementary or too easy. I have a Garmin eTrex Venture HC. Is that compatible with pocket queries? I am debating getting a premium membership for those since they look really excellent but don't want to spend the money if I can't use them. any help/advice would be appreciated. Thank You