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TerryDad2

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Everything posted by TerryDad2

  1. The location is a great spot and there is a good geologic history there. There is quite a bit more you can do with these features. Have a look at http://www.murphys-haystacks.com/geo_simp.htm (short version) http://www.murphys-haystacks.com/geo_tech.htm (long version) to get information about how these landforms were formed. Try to incorporate the information and pictures. The questions could incorprate the weathering front or how high the soil was when the concave sections of the pillars formed. It sounds like these are simlar to the Inselbergs in Joshua Tree NP in California. I adoped out an EarthCache there that deal with a similar process. The ' character came across as some code.
  2. I uploaded the images to one of my first EarthCaches, then wrote some html to put them into an html table. I reuse the code on all my pages. If you right-click a page and select show source, you can see the code and the image references.
  3. In the past, i've sent a message to the reviewer and left it at that.
  4. E-mail the owner and explain your situation. I would expect that the owner will understand and accept the picture of you at the location. You could always take a mirror with you
  5. My understanding of the guidelines are that a photo unrelated to the geologic content of the EarthCache can not be required. A photo of just faces or objects should not be required for logging. There is no reason for not answering the educational questions.
  6. I second that. I've had a few emails with similar responses to some of my EarthCaches. The cachers wrote appropriate logs. No fuss no muss, the logs remain. Given the conditions described, there is no reason to delete the log or write such a response.
  7. 1. 250+, I think I have missed a category or two. I don't think I've done an impact feature. 2. I think they are fine. I learned of the details after the fact, but I think they are pretty common sense. 3. I've always enjoyed geology and those people I hike with are interested in what I point out. Many features are often overlooked. This is a great way to point them out to more people. 4. Large variance. Some places already have field guides that just need 15-20 minutes. Other places are difficult to locate information for, 6 months or so to get the library to copy the correct article. I've been able to re-use some research. 5. On-line 80% of the time. Personal books most of the rest. Library only when there's an article that looks to be essential. 6. 1-2 hrs for typical ones. 20 min when reusing research on a new site. 3-4 hrs for more complex ones 7. I've had hoops, juggling on a ball, song and dances,... you name it. I've had to "electronically sign" agreements, submit special use permits, even submit a 12 page proposal to get test cases evaluated for a season. (They passed with flying colors by the way). Right now I'm working with a National Forest district that is being very particular about the technical details of the write up. I think I'm on the 3rd draft with them. Other places they have given me blanket permission to publish locations as I find them. 8. Both 9. I never do get the html correct off of the forms. I always add that later. 10. 2 or 3 11. Great support. I had a few of the figures generated by the community 12. I would put it at moderate to difficult where permission is needed, it takes time to explain it and get their consent. Where permission isn't needed, it is just moderate. The writing and research are the challenge there. The other question of interest I find would be: 13. How long have you had to wait for permission? I'm now going on 2 years waiting for 20+ to be approved in the Inyo National Forest. They just can't find the time to say they are OK. For ones that have been approved, it was just about 1.25 years. Yosemite where I had to write the proposal.
  8. mulvaney has some good advice. When I actually talk to someone, I usually have to explain it twice to them and then get passed off to someone else to explain it twice again. Be sure to mention the educational aspect, nothing is left at the site, and that there is an existing partnership with GSA. If you do get anywhere with Inyo, please let me know. I have 20 or so proposed locations with them that have been sitting on someone's desk for the past 2 years. They keep saying they are just about to get to them. Don't let that discourage you since I am dealing with a PR person. It shouldn't stop you from publishing any either as I'm good with other people publishing sites before me.
  9. I don't see anything that would stop you. Though I made it to the EarthCaches on Dauphin Island and Gulf State Park when I was in Mobile working on the spill response and I didn't really see anything that would make for a good EarthCache related to the spill. As I understand, these parts of the coast didn't get affected all that much, so you may need to look at LA or MS for beaches/marshes that were more affected. If you do successfully find something, good on ya and go for it.
  10. The park was open to them. The park has the opportunity for hundreds. Set up as many as you want. My last contact was with Tammy Wert Fee Program Manager PO Box 168 Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190 307-344-2115 (office) 406-581-0068 (cell) 307-344-2112 (fax)
  11. I always mention that earthcache listings are maintained by Groundspeak as part of geocaching.com. I am not sure how to get permission without that basic information. But I do make sure that I describe earthcaching in detail, state that it does not involve leaving any containers in the park, and direct them to the earthcache web site. That advice is from my early attempts to obtain permission. The EarthCache program has been getting a better reception. Initially, I had a couple of rangers (from the CA State Park system in particular) that just shut me down as soon as I metioned geocaching.com. Now they at least hear me out. That is also why I prefer to contact them by e-mail so the entire program can be described before they cut me off. There are many others that are successfully getting EarthCaches approved in National Parks, so there are multiple ways to get this done.
  12. The hoops depend on the park. I've had to fill out special use permits, digitally agree to placements, write a 20 page proposal, and just send the writeups to rangers. You'll just have to see what they want. At a minimum you will need to send the coordinates and the writeup of the EarthCache. Is there one aready in the Park. If so contact that owner to see who they contacted. If not, I've used the general contact e-mail that is on the park's webpage. It may take a while to get a response. It has taken up to 5 months to get a response that way. Usually it takes just a couple of weeks. If you want to get a faster response, call up the park and ask for the Natural Resource Officer, the ranger in charge of education, or if all else fails the superintendant. Be sure to mention the educational aspect and that nothing is left behind. I would not mention geocaching if you don't have to. You can check out my profile for the letter I usually use. Feel free to contact me if you have specific questions.
  13. it has inspired me.... If it would just inspire the US NPS and Forest Service. I've got 20 or so waiting for approval. Some for the past 2 years.
  14. I'm going to be heading to Mobile Alabama in early July 1 to 17. While I'm there, I hope to get around the area to find the three EarthCaches in the area and to find some locations to list some more EarthCaches. As I will have very little time (I'm working 14, 12 hour days while I'm there), I am hoping someone that is familiar with the Mobile would have the time to guide me around during my short time off.
  15. Every once in a while I get that log that really reminds me why I like to publish EarthCaches. " As a Southern California Native, and having lived in the Anza Borrego Desert for a few years, and even after having visited the Salton Sea many times, as well as the Sea of Cortez dozens of times throughout my life, even having flown over this area scores of times in small aircraft, I must admit that this cache opened up a treasure of revelations about the processes that have given form to my land. It made much of my understanding of regional natural history come together and make total sense to me. If you were to take away all of my geocaches, and I could only have one, this is definitely the one I would keep...it has everything, geology, hydrology, tectonics, even anthropological aspects - not to mention a great view! If the reader is considering going for this one, I highly encourage you to not hesitate at all. Huge Kudos to Fossillady for sharing with us this wonderful educational experience. I will be looking for her other hides. Forever grateful, Moiler " http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?LU...94-5a001664e1ce
  16. I've got a BA in Geology. Been working for environmetnal consultants since I graduated, though we only work with soil and groundwater. I'm a Professional Geologist in California.
  17. My experience has been that an EarthCache will not be published that duplicates the information in a nearby traditional cache. Also an EarthCache can not have the identical coordinates (or even close [that is a subjective distance, but can be less than 0.1 mile, like tens of feet, and no I'll not be able to any more specific than that as I don't do reviews]) as an existing traditional.
  18. I do the same thing as KK&M, although I use Frontpage for editing. I suspect that the HTML Tidy utility on the site is messing with you. Just curious, but did you have the same problems with the old system? I know that on one of my submissions, I had to go back and reconfigure the page after geoaware did the copy/paste from the GSA site over to GC. In the old system I just copied the text out of Word into the EarthCache submittal page, then added the html once it got published. This way, I copied the text from Word into the Groundspeak submittal page, add the html, and got the screwey added page breaks. I figured out that I should do one submittal without the html, then edit the page adding the html.
  19. After waiting months to get approval, I've finally got the chance to do some more submittals. Each one has gone through Geoaware's approval very quickly. Thanks. That part works great. The Groundspeak interface is a downgrade. The description box is far to narrow to handle even rudimentary html coding. It also tries to be too smart. After pasting in my text from a word processor, I add the html coding. When I update it, Groundspeak adds line breaks all over and splits up the hyperlinks in weird places. I spend more time fixing what it "fixed" than I did adding in my html code
  20. We are looking at mid-winter. It is possible that people aren't getting out as much and snow is covering the exposures. Me, I continue waiting for manager approval.
  21. The new submittal system does not ask for the classification of the EarthCache, i.e. Cave/Karst Feature Coastal Feature Erosional Feature Fault Feature Fold Feature Fossil Feature Geomorphological Feature Glacial Feature Historical Site Hydrologic Feature Igneous (Plutonic) Feature Igneous (Volcanic) Feature Impact Feature Metamorphic Feature Mineral Site Mining Site Other Feature Are new EarthCaches going to be uncategorized or are the publishers taking care of that?
  22. I submitted mine Saturday night and it was approved Sunday morning. It went quite smoothly. I didn't see all the text noting the added requirements though.
  23. That would meet the educational requirement as it would show that they were able to identify the feature you are pointing out. I've done that a couple of times.
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