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Rathergohiking

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Posts posted by Rathergohiking

    I need help developing a Wherigo cache

    in Wherigo

    Posted · Edited by rathergohiking

    Thanks for the great responses! I figured out the problems I was having and just published the cache on Wherigo.com and the cache page ihas been sent to Geocaching.com for approval. The cache name is "Got Benchmark?" and is in Traverse City, Michigan.

     

    Wherigo.com

     

    http://www.Wherigo.com/cartridge/details.a...a7-520c827cf409

     

    Geocaching.com

     

    http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...b1-9a6de0f0086f

    I need help developing a Wherigo cache

    in Wherigo

    Posted · Edited by rathergohiking

    It might be worth describing how your cartridge works, ie. how you tell that the player has visited the first 8 zones. Normally players go to the first zone, which then activates the second zone, and so on, which would make activating the final cache zone no different.

     

    At a guess from your description, you're allowing players to go to the first 8 zones in any order i.e. they are all displayed when you start. IF this is the case how are you keeping track of this and how are you currently trying to detect it and enable the final zone?

     

    A_Snail

     

    I actually have nine zones, the last being the final zone. Right now, only the first eight appear on the GPS and they are numbered sequentially in thier title. The cache theme is finding eight benchmarks and then the final physical cach. Each zone is a benchmark, so all you have to do is get into the zone, which is generally within 10-15 feet of each benchmark.

     

    What I want to do is to have each task pop up on the GPS as a task is completed. When the eighth task is done, the final task, which includes the coordinates to the physical cache, pops up on the GPS and the cartridge is marked as complete.

     

    Again, if anyone wants to look at the file I am working on, send me an email.

     

    Thanks!!

    I need help developing a Wherigo cache

    in Wherigo

    Posted

    I am developing my first Wherigo cartridge. It is very basic. (1) I have eight tasks, each in a different zone. (2) Once they are done, the final cache (physical) is revealed and the cartridge is marked complete.

     

    The problem I am having, is once the eight tasks are done, I can't get the final location to pop up and complete the cartridge. Any advice?

     

    If you would like for me to send you the cartridge for you to look it over, please send me an email.

     

    Thanks!!

    Metal Detectors

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    In the winter time, I view a metal detector as almost a must in northern Michigan. It sure saves time and effort when you are in the backwoods in snow shoes and the snow pack is a few feet or more deep. Anytime I go after a deep woods cache, I usually bring my metal detector because I hate DNF's!

    Geocaching and Metal detecting

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I live up north in Michigan where there is snow on the ground for half of the year. I just bought a metal detector and it sure makes finding caches in the snow a LOT easier!

     

    What about developing a multi stage cache just for metal detectors? You could get dog tags engraved and tape one side with cammo duct tape and hide them in trees or on the ground. I think I might do just that when the snow clears.

    Platinum Earth Cache Master

    in EarthCaches

    Posted

    One more Michigan cacher to add to the list of Platinum EarthCache Masters: Pairomedicchick

     

    This is the updated Michigan Platinum EarthCache Masters list:

     

    Pairomedicchick

    Hitechman

    Hitechgal

    South Lyon Trekkers

    Rathergohiking

    Rattrak

    Cyclops

    Brummelbear

    The Conman

    Lost Scouts

    DeRock & the Psychic Cacher

     

    Anybody know of any other Michigan geocachers that have reached Platinum status that I've missed? Just let me know and I'll update the list.

     

    Deane

    AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

     

    Another to add: Team Kaslin

    Geocaching in the snow.

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    We get a lot of snow in Traverse City, Michigan. Already 4 inches in the yard on November 19th and looks like almost a foot more to come in the next few days. I love to cache in the snow. There's nothing like snowshoeing with man's best friend in the back woods with your GPS as your guide.

     

    This year though, I'm thinking about taking it to a new level and get a Metal Detector! That should save some digging and no ammo can will be safe! Just have to hope those tupperware containers have some metal swag too....

    Puzzle caches are not necesarily puzzles anymore...

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    In my humble opinion, we need more icons for classifying cache types:

     

    Instead of having puzzles, traditionals and mult-caches, how about the following:

     

    "Puzzles" - the cache is not at the listed coordinates. You gotta solve something in order to get the coordinates in order to find and log a cache.

    "ALR" - the cache is at the listed coordinates. You just have to do something extra to log the cache.

    "Traditionals" - at the listed coordinates, find it and log it. Simple as that.

    "Traditional multi-cache" - coordinates for interim location(s) are in physical locations; no decyphering or math involved.

    "Puzzle multi-cache" - the coordinates to the interim location(s) are not physical in nature or require some sort of computation for each stage.

    Puzzle caches are not necesarily puzzles anymore...

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by rathergohiking

    Geocaching.com's new puzzle cache guidelines the reviewers are using, in my opinion, leave something to be desired. For the most part, if you have to do something other than signing the log book, the cache will likely be classified as a puzzle cache instead of a traditional cache, even though the cache is at the listed coordinates.

     

    For example, I recently put out a cache (now archived) where the cacher had to write an opinion about any subject he/she choose when the cache was logged on line. The cache was at the listed coordinates. The reviewer would not approve it to be published unless I classified it as a puzzle cache.

     

    Air Rats on a Light Pole

    http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...f3-508f42c06793

     

    I found this cache today and it was a puzzle cache merely because it has a camera in it and the hider requested that you take your picture when you log the cache. The cache was at the listed coordinates:

     

    The Crows Nest

    http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...3d-b518c297dc94

     

    Is "political correctness" now corrupting geocaching????

     

    You decide for yourself. Here is the puzzle cache description off of Geocaching.com:

     

    The "catch-all" of cache types, this form of cache can involve complicated puzzles you will first need to solve to determine the coordinates. Examples include sending the cache owner a verification codeword found inside the logbook, performing some task at the cache location and taking a photograph, or writing the online log in a format or with content that satisfies the cache requirements. Due to the increasing creativity of geocaching this becomes the staging ground for new and unique challenges.

    Armchair Caches

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Arm chair caches are great! Don't let the nay-sayers get you down! Cache on! It's part of the GAME.

     

    Have fun. Be Happy. Don't worry. :huh:

     

    Yes, they are called waymarks, and absolutely nobody cares about visiting them, LOL. B)

     

    I fixed it for you, in bold. And I can't believe I did, I hate when people do that. B)

     

    I've done airmchair caches before. I just logged them as "write a note" instead of a find. One winter we found a virtual in every state.

    Northern Lower MICHIGAN

    in Midwest

    Posted

    There are a lot of great caches in northern lower michigan, along with a lot of great cachers. Check out:

     

    Northern Michigan Geocachers - Northern part of the LP; Traverse City, Gaylord, Alpena, Grayling, etc.

     

    MIGO (Michigan Geocaching Organization) - Grand Rapids

     

    Great Hides - Muskegon.

     

    Good luck!

    Rathergohiking

    Traverse City, Michigan

    A different kind of event format

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by rathergohiking

    :unsure: I agree with you. I was fortunate to hold it in an area that was not very saturated. What is even better, is that all of the hiders agreed to archive each of thier hidden caches just prior to next year's event; probably the weekend before or something like that. That way, we can "recycle" the caches in the area as well.

     

    :drama: Too often an area gets stale because caches stay active too long on average, in my humble opinion.

    A different kind of event format

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by rathergohiking

    I'm curious how #4 was published since an event isn't supposed to be held for the purpose of finding caches.

     

    The event was not "solely for finding caches". It was published within existing rules. Here are the guidelines {read the second to last sentence of the next paragraph}:

     

    Event caches are gatherings that are open to all geocachers and which are organized by geocachers. While a music concert, a garage sale, an organized sporting event, a ham radio field day or a town’s fireworks display might be of interest to a large percentage of geocachers, such events are not suitable for submission as event caches because the organizers and the primary attendees are not geocachers. In addition, an event cache should not be set up for the sole purpose of drawing together cachers for an organized hunt of another cache or caches. Such group hunts are best organized using the forums or an email distribution list.

     

    For geocaching events that involve several components, such as a full weekend event that includes a geocoin trading session, a seminar and a potluck dinner, multiple event listings may be submitted if they each stand on their own merits as events meeting the listing guidelines.

     

    Event caches should be submitted no less than two weeks prior to the date of the event, so that potential attendees will have sufficient notice to make their plans. Events are generally published no more than three months prior to the date of the event, to avoid having the listing appear for a prolonged period of time on the nearest caches page and in the weekly e-mail notification of new caches. Exceptions are sometimes made for events that are designed to attract a regional, national or international group of geocachers, or if an overnight stay is expected as part of the event, requiring advance reservations and travel planning (for example, a campout). Contact your reviewer if you wish to set up such an event, which may be published up to six months prior to the event date. Groundspeak can promote Geocaching through events that may be an exception to the guidelines, if we deem that is necessary to further the game.

     

    After the event has passed, the event cache should be archived by the organizer within four weeks.

    A different kind of event format

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by rathergohiking

    Sounds like a blast, but I'm wondering how you could enforce the '.1 mile rule' with everyone hiding their caches at the same time, to allow for them all to be eligible to be published.

     

    :unsure: It was easy. I had my Mapsource on my laptop with all of the current hides in the area in it. I had found all of the puzzle caches in the area, so I new those final coordinates as well. The area the event was at was primarily state land with a relatively small amount of active caches in the area. Anyone was free to look at the map of current caches in Mapsource beforehand and load the coordinates in thier GPS to prevent them from hiding a cache to close to another one. It was pretty obvious when the caches were being hidden if someone was too close to one another or not, so we did not have any problems. Also, I put all of the newly hidden caches in Mapsource, so I could identify any caches that were too close. There were none. I then downloaded the cache coordinates for all of the newly hidden caches into everyone's GPS prior to the SEEK portion of the event.

     

    To sum it up, the distance between caches was essentially a non-issue.

    A different kind of event format

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    :drama: I just hosted an event in the woods of northern Michigan that was really great. The format was as follows:

     

    1) Noon: Lunch - I supplied burgers/dogs, attendees brought a dish and drinks.

    2) Flash mob #1: Everyone went and hid a cache somewhere in the vicinity.

    3) When everyone returned, we did a prize drawing from donated items; everyone got something.

    4) Flash mob #2 Everyone was given the coordinates to all of the hidden caches and were free to find them.

    5) Aftermath: The hiders got thier new caches published. The title of each cache was Geoswarm: [Cacher's name].

     

    :unsure: The event was a lot of fun and I plan on doing it every year, if possible. It is a great format and I highly recommend it if it is plausible to do where you live.

     

    Here is a link to a bookmark with all of the caches:

    http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.a...91-763cb535eb7a

     

    Here is a link to the Event cache page:

    http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...45-544cd6b0d244

    Best Caching Logs

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    :ph34r: I found this cache on 12/23/06 GCG6T0 "1346 Muskrat View" and here is the log:

     

    This was definitely the most memorable cache we have ever done! When we got to the cache site, there were goose feathers and blood everywhere. Other body parts that appeared to belong to an unfortunate goose were scattered about on the boardwalk. We kicked them into the water. That’s the first part of the story. The second part in much more entertaining:

     

    The cache was partially submerged, but dry. It was found quickly by my son, TheWaypointKid. In his eagerness to get the cache, he inadvertently kicked my Garmin 60CS into the water under the board walk. Having a $500+ GPS lost in a swamp a thousand miles away from home was not my idea of fun. We tried to reach over the boardwalk and retrieve my GPS, but the water depth was about a foot more than we could reach. The water was very cold and murky. My brother, whom I will refer to as Dr. Guts (a Gastroentrologist in his muggle life) mentioned going back to his house and getting something to fish it out with. It was getting late. I figured the by the time we did that, it would be in the dark.

     

    So, I did the next best thing and took off my pants, shoes and socks and jumped in the thigh high muck to find the GPS. After feeling around a bit, I dished something out that felt like a GPS. It was not my GPS. It was a rock that was shaped like a GPS. Possibly a decoy put there as a bad joke? I quickly deduced that the GPS had to be further under the boardwalk and was possibly floating away just off the bottom, which meant one thing. I was going to be wet to at least my waist, or more, and needed to do it quickly. The water was not getting any warmer either.

     

    The thought of spending $500+ again motivated me to reach further under the boardwalk. So I groped around some more, until finally I found my GPS floating upright just off the bottom. I immediately grabbed it and jumped back on the boardwalk. The GPS was still on and “no satellite reception” was glaring at me. I pushed a button, and everything went upside down on the screen. The supposedly waterproof Garmin 60CS was not waterproof in a real life field test! Hopefully, it will work again after it is dried out.

     

    After I was shivering on the boardwalk, Dr. Guts took pity on me and literally gave me the shirt off his back, which I used for a towel. Since there was nobody around, I quickly put my jeans on “cowboy style” before Dr. Guts could give me a free rectal exam. We then signed/stamped the logs for the geocache and letterbox, left nothing, grabbed a hand warmer out of the cache and took my wet underwear with us.

     

    Thanks for the memorable cache!!

     

    Rathergohiking & TheWaypointKid

    Traverse City, Michigan

     

     

    NOTE: 12/31/06: After drying out for about a week my GPS came back to life today!!

    Urban Micro Lovers

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I hate urban micros

     

    1) I like the woods

    2) I don't like muggles

    3) I don't care about poison ivy

    4) I prefer mud over concrete

    5) I prefer stumps over statues

    6) It's not about numbers; its about quality caches

     

    Just my humble biased opinion. If you differ, get over it!

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