Butano

I seem to always have a few more than 3 and sometimes as many as 12, fairly often too. Here is a link to Trimble's web site for their Trimble Planning Software. It is pretty slick software and will do exactly this (as well as some other cool stuff). Guess PDOP'S beat me to it

There isn't a way to specifically delete a map from the receiver. When you download the maps to the GPSr, it first deletes the maps that are on it, then loads the ones that you have requested. I think that there is a way to merge two different map types (i.e. topo with streets), but I haven't done that. As for the manual for MapSource, check out this link Garmin: Manuals. If you look around the Garmin website, you can find the manuals for the receivers as well.

Don't forget Lamneth's excellent version of the story: http://lamneth.thequest.com/venona/ --Marky This Venona story seems quite interesting. If something comes up for a part 2, I would be interested in searching for clues.

GPS receivers can be used on lower orbit satellites. There are certain visibilty issues that come into play due to the higher altitude, and orbits above the GPS satellites would not receive any kind of a reliable signal as the broadcast antenna points towards the earth. The accuracy that could be obtained would be really good and useful. As far as using a consumer grade receiver on board, the radiation in the area would degrade the equipment to a non-functional state. The electronics would have to be constructed to be tolerant of the environment, or shielded from it.

Such a key item to today's cacher.

While coming back down from Glacier Point in Yosemite (someone else posted that one already), I found HR0734 in front of an old ranger station. The building has been closed due to lead contamination. The view here isn't that spectacular, but it was interesting to note the location in front of the contaminated building.

The tag looks great, especially with the larger font. But I think I may be missing something. Where does the number go? Does it get stamped on the back of the tag?

No ideas yet????? One place that I like to go is Butano State Park . About half an hour or so north of Santa Cruz. There are a couple of caches there too. And if you want to find benchmarks there is one at the highest peak in the park Butano Benchmark It is quite peaceful in the park, even in the peak time during the summer. A lot of good hiking in the area. Big Basin probably has a few more caches though.

I kind of have mixed feelings about the Geko. I got one for my son (instead of the yellow eTrex). It does have some fun games on it (besides geocaching ), and yes it does support WAAS and a few more other things. I don't usually turn on WAAS on either unit since it is difficult to get a good signal around here. Those sats are pretty low on the horizon. But it does feel like a slimmed down/upgraded version of the eTrex. The screen is a little smaller, as is the whole unit. I have a Legend and prefer it to the Geko. I have heard that the Geko will acquire a lock faster and hold it through the trees better than the eTrex series, probably because of the upgrade aspect of it (they both have the same antenna). I can't really comment on that for sure. It is based on the eTrex line, which is quite obvious when you start using it. It does seem to be a good unit though. The buttons are a little small, especially the power button since it has a lip around it to keep it from accidentally being turned on. Given the choice between the yellow eTrex and the Geko 201, I would go with the Geko. But I don't say that with a huge amount of conviction.

If I might suggest one of my own caches, GCGQPD is a pretty decent hike. If you are in for a good day of hiking, there is also GC1344 also in the park and could be included in the round trip. Some good elevation changes for this area. My cache does seems to get not founds, but it is always there when I go check on it. Signal reception is a challenge. I will be updating the hint to hopefully help out there.

I am sure that some (most?) of the money goes into operating expenses such as maintaining the computers and paying for bandwidth. And of course Signal has to eat . But so do Jeremy and all the team that put so much time and effort into this web site (I'm under the impression full time). I think that Geocaching.com and Groundspeak are probably their primary source of income, or at least a significant portion of it. If they are getting a paycheck out of putting in a day's work, all the better. I sure wouldn't run this sight making enough just to cover the costs. The continuing flow of enhancements shows that something continues to happen up there. I believe that they are trying to give us all the best experience they can for everyone in general. But you can't please everyone, so there will always be one of those that complain. For $30 a year, and that is optional, I think that I am getting much more than my money's worth out of it, where ever the money is going. Thanks Jeremy AND COMPANY!

Well, I started this mess with my family. I found it and thought that it would be great to do with my son (WT), so I had the excuse finally to get a receiver. I then got my cousins Jug & Roon involved. They are quite the chasers now, finding many more than I have even though I have more than a year on them. I have also gotten my mom (Ms Marily) involved (got her a Gecko for her birthday), though I expect she will do only a few here and there. There aren't many caches out in her part of the woods. I have another friend HazelEyes that is getting to be pretty active. I have taken a couple of people out as well, but so far they haven't really picked up on it, though I am working on one person at work. I figure that I am responsible for Garmin selling 7 receivers and am still waiting for my royalty check

My zip is 95136, and I overlap some of Marky's area. But he still has me beat. 1.84 caches/sq. mile (and one of their newer ones is almost in my backyard!)

I have purchased a couple of bicycles at Walt's Bike and Fitness in Sunnyvale. It is located on Evelyn and Carrol Walt's. Can't really say how good they are, but I have always felt that I got a good deal there and the people are helpful to someone who knows which way you are suppose to face when riding a bike (and that is about it)

I picked one up. We'll see if Ruffles likes it. He is kind of a small dog (but not a rat dog ) Wonder if he will mind carry around that bottle of water for me.

I would suggest contacting Hike America. I have one of their staffs and really like it. Here is a link to their Hiking Staff page. They are based in Redwood City and the owner seems like a really nice guy. I would guess that he wouldn't mind you inspecting and finding the best one for you. Also, El Diablo makes custom ones. Here is a link to his web page. I have heard many good comments about them, though I haven't seen one for myself (the pictures look great though).

I understand the reasoning behind including the date on the file name. But I use a script to parse and set up my queries. That would mean an update to the script every time I wanted to run it. Maybe an option? I do like having the name though.

Don't be silly - NO ONE would do that would they? **BLUSH!** I know someone who managed to hike up to the top of a hill and then all the way back down again, a good mile or two of very hilly terrain with switchbacks on the trail. During this time I, I mean they, watched the distance to the cache get relatively close, then far away, then very close again. When the cache was finally found it was discoverted that we could have walked on flat land for about a third of that distance. Guess what route I took back to the car. Though I was clueless as to the best route to take to get there, I did see some good scenery.

It took me three tries to find the first one I searched for End of the Road, though I did find some other ones before I finally found it. I didn't realize that the topo maps were a different datum, so I was on the wrong side of the slough, or at least kept trying to get to the wrong side. It was exciting when I did finally find it. The first one I actually did find, Questa Quest was a pretty easy one. Both of those are still active and have been found in the last few days, even though it has been just about 3 years since I found them Still remember those with great fondness!

Here's a thought, though you can't do it right now. If you could create locationless cache where you are required to post a picture of yourself in the midst of a CITO adventure. Wonder if TPTB would consider allowing that one to be created. It would be good for logging all over the place and not just that one cache location and maybe even get some good PR.

They used stars in the article, but we don't have any star smilies. Thought the frogs would be a little humorous while still getting the point across.

The online article doesn't contain some of the specifics about the 60C. It also doesn't include the rating for each. Here is how he rated them. Garmin GPSMap 60C Garmin IQUE 3600 Magellan Meridian Color Traveler Lowrance IFinder Pro (and a budget value) Cobra 500

Just checked out the April 2004 edition of Men's Journal. There is an article comparing GPS receivers in there. So I took a look to see what was the latest and greatest. To my surprise was the reviewer. Our very own Jeremy Irish! Now we all know which one he uses on his treks!

My mistake! El Diablo makes the hiking staffs. (Could never keep the devils straight Sorry about that El Diablo. Couldn't remember who it was last time I mentioned them, and then this time I mentioned the wrong name. Maybe next time I will get it right. Apologies to all. But that is the right site for the medallions, and I always like working with him.

I have a collection of the medallions on my hiking staff, and even use one for my signature item (see my avatar). If you are interested in the staff, or collecting more of the medallions, check out the Hike America website. I think they are the people that make and distribute most of those. Also, Lil Devil makes some wonderful staffs. Haven't seen one for myself except for pictures, but people are always raving about them. He could probably do up something custom for you to display them.