JJnTJ

Looks like you found "Silver of Georgius VI", and if you found that one I'd say you're doing well. We found that one just before you yesterday. Most of the cache owners I've contacted have been happy to help. To contact them, just click on their name at the top of the cache page ("A cache by _________") and click on "Send Message" on their contact page.

When you view your profile page (http://www.geocaching.com/my), on the right side of the page under "Premium features" there is a link to "Set Up Notifications". You have to create a notification for each cache type; I don't see any way to be notified if a new cache of any type is created.

I started with a couple of Apps on my Android phone, using my ancient eTrex camo as a primary when the terrain got rough. The problem was that my phone was MUCH more sensitive than that old eTrex, especially in the woods. And even the free Android apps (like GeoBeagle, once you get the hang of it) are fantastic for paperless caching. It was hard to NOT use the much better phone. I have since picked up a Garmin 60CSx package at Cabela's, and the sensitivity of that unit blows my phone out of the water. I get +/- 18foot accuracy indoors, compared to 50 feet for the phone and even worse for the old eTrex. And if I drop the 60CSx on the ground or in the water, it won't be destroyed. My current plan is to keep using GeoBeagle for paperless caching. The phone GPS and mobile data stay off most of the time. I'm a premium member so I can download the GPX files to GeoBeagle and use them even without cell service. But now my phone stays safely in my pocket or car until I want to log the cache or look at the cache details.

Hey, tuts. The caches in the northern part of the Crow-Hassan park are generally pretty easy, if you don't mind walking a lot between caches. It's really pretty there and now that it's cooler it's a great place to go. Keep at it. Soon you'll learn to spot what we Minnesotans call the "beacons" (fallen trees, stumps, trees with holes in them, etc.) and make more finds. I cache with my wife, who is very good at finding hides. She doesn't have the GPS distracting her, so as soon as I say "we're within 20 feet" she jets to the nearest beacons and starts looking. She's responsible for about 70% of our finds so far. The micro and nano caches get pretty tough - especially when the Cache Owner decides to put them somewhere other than the usual beacons. The MnGCA is a good and helpful community. Check them out.