NicknPapa

Windows XP will open zip files without any additional software. I use EasyGPSto move the files around because it's easy and I'm lazy. There are also several useful applications on Groundspeak's Software Download Page.

I also suspect it is a local thing although I am seeing a different version of the same pattern in my area. I haven't kept track (not a statistic fiend, I hate math) but I would guess the ratio of archived to published notices I get would be two or three to one. Maybe more.

Premium members are alotted one Favorite point for every 10 caches they find. You can assign a Favorite point to any cache you have found. I don't think you get it back if the cache gets archived. I've wanted to give a Favorite point to a couple of caches that I DNF'd, just because the location was so cool, but it won't let you do that, you have to log a Find on it first. You can only assign one Favorite point to any particular cache. I think it's a good thing. It rewards CO's who put a little more effort into their hides and gives mediocre CO's a good example of what people like out there, maybe give them some inspiration. Anything that raises the bar is a good thing. Like I said earlier, it's also good information to have when planning a caching trip. I don't exclude all the non-Favorited caches when I'm planning an outing, but I do make sure to include at least a couple of multiple Favorite point caches in the mix, sometimes arranging my trip with them as the grand finale. I like to end the day on a high note Thanks for the explanation, I will look for this as well and be sure to use these points judiciously myself. I would add a word of caution here, favorites points can be deceptive if you don't look any farther. I have two examples near here that illustrate my point. The first has 55 favorites points. Impressive, no? But look farther and you will find that the cache has been abandoned for almost two years, the original container is long gone and it is now a key holder on a guard rail that only has a dry log when someone just happens to have a spare in the car to replace the wet one with. If you click the favorites button on the top right of the page you will see that 55 points is only 12% of the premium logs. The second example only has three points. Not a lot to brag about? Maybe, but those three points represent 75% of the premium logs and I know it gets maintained on a regular basis. I'm not saying that favorite points don't work, they can be a valuable tool and I use them myself, especially when traveling. You just need to take the time to do a little extra research to be sure the great cache three years ago is still great today.

I carry a few copies of THIS FLIER and when approached I give them a copy and a brief explanation of the game. For some reason it seems that being able to hand them a piece of paper does more good than an hour of talking.....

My thought as a cache owner is yes, a NM log would be appropriate and appreciated. However I would suggest leaving the public log vague, i.e. "The logbook has been defaced and is in need of attention." If you feel that more complete information is needed I would prefer that it be sent via email as opposed to a public log. Going straight to email would also be acceptable to me, just please ask me to confirm that I received it and use the NM if I don't. I don't know that it happens but I have seen reports of emails getting lost around here. If removing the offensive material wouldn't effect any other logs I would be OK with it but if it would effect other logs I would rather do it myself. If I lived farther away I might think differently but my farthest cache can be accessed in less than 30 minutes if needed. (edited to add last paragraph)

I like this one. Nobody would buy them and I'd just have to feed 'em.....

Our local reviewer links to Dave's ("drat19's") Opinions on Geocache Hiding in his review logs. That is well worth reading.

The main advantage for using the GC code is to make it easier for accidental finders to search for the correct cache. Codes are unique, cache names can be assigned to multiple caches.

You must be an engineer

I was a Life scout and the Nick half of our team is currently Star with a couple of requirements to complete for Life. He was helping one of the older boys in the troop work on his Eagle project when he found a geocache by accident and got us started on this.

Probably not. 10/10/10 was the 10th anniversary of geocaching, that's what the souvenir was for.

That's a neat story that does a good job of defining why I started geocaching. It's usually not the geocache that I enjoy the most, it's the journey to find it.

For the record I don't care for the term "mugglers" either but it is accurate, at least sometimes. A "muggler" would be someone who muggles in the same way that a juggler would be someone who juggles. Caches can be "muggled", therefor the muggleing would be done by a muggler. It does sound really dumb though.

When you get to the area of the cache look for anything that is "not quite right", especially when searching in less urban areas i.e. parks and so forth. Sometimes it will be fairly obvious, a pile of sticks that are all lined up the same way, rocks leaning against each other, etc. Sometimes it is more difficult to say exactly what isn't right, just something "over there" doesn't seem right.

I've never understood why that is such a popular way of hosting photos for the forums. Hasn't anyone ever heard of imgur or ImageShack? Just one less Internet account to manage, narrowing your personal presence on the 'Net. Neither require accounts to upload photos, although ImageShack tries pretty hard to encourage users to make one, which is why I prefer imgur. Another consideration is image "life". A lot of images hosted off site have disappeared for one reason or the other, i.e. membership limits, account closures, etc. As long as they are hosted on the geocaching website they should remain available for viewing which makes a much more pleasant experience than seeing "Posted image".

Here are a few of mine, quick dirty uploads with little or no editing other than resizing so I didn't have to wait till next month for them to finish uploading. Anyone that is interested is welcome to take a peek at more of my photos HERE

For myself, if there is any question what size the cache is I'll list it as the smaller size. Most people I know would rather be surprised because the cache is bigger than expected than because it's smaller.

It is also possible that the reviewer works funny hours or is just a night person like me

I like the kind that interest my grandson enough to get him out of the house. For my own personal enjoyment I like puzzles, virtuals, anything that takes me someplace interesting. Even a crappy MKH on a bridge is great "IF" the bridge is in the right place.

Our largest find was a three gallon bucket. It could have been great in a different location but there really wasn't a place for one that large where it was. Our largest hide is GC2R29N Secrets From The Past. It was fun to hide but I guess the puzzle was harder than I thought because it's only been found three times since it was hidden on March 30th.

Maybe. IF one that interests me gets published and I happen to see it. So far that hasn't happened but then there has only been one published in my area and I see no real value in going back to that spot.....

The container labels that come from Groundspeak have a field for the waypoint. I assume that is for the coordinates where the cache was hidden. The only reason I can think of for putting them on the label is in case the cache has been moved or possibly to make it look more "official" to accidental finders.

OK FTF and 2 quarters will get you a soda at the machine over on Main street. As a real bonus - just the 2 quarters work equally well. Not true. A soda costs at least 60 cents from any machine around here.

I just took a quick look and your new cache doesn't show as PM only. Must have been a temporary glitch of some sort.

LOL! Ammo cans have to pass U.S. gubbamint safety standards to be used in battle no less. Go ahead and use it. If you can't find an OSHA regulation against it, and you won't, I say go on wit yer bad self. Sometimes it's easier to say "sorry" than "please" when it comes to committees. I'm not claiming to be all knowledgable, but I am the OSHA compliance guy for my company. I agree with snoogans BUT I would add, Good luck convincing safety people of ANYTHING......