countrycachers

The exact same thing happened to me. Don't worry about it - just get out there and have fun! When you go to relog all of your entries, go to seek/find caches. At the bottom will be a search option for "found by username____________" or something to that sort. Enter your old username, and bam, you have your whole list ready to go. This is much easier than searching by zip or name. HTH.

whoa! I was feeling pretty guilty about THINKING of getting a new GPSr... Now I feel ashamed I don't have another one or two! I need to show this to my wife! Weee! My one and only trusty- Maggie SporTrak Map- Does everything that I NEED, but there are so many cool GPRr's out there!

thanks. you sound like you know what you're doing, could you help me set up paperless with my outfit?

I realize this is probably elementary for most of you, but can you point me in the right direction? I have pocket queries... now how the heck to I get those downloaded on my GPSr or MapSend? I have a Magellan SporTrak Map, and a crappy old Windows 98 computer. I also have a Palm IIIxe, but am getting a bit agrivated with all the technological gliches... I think i'll stay about from "paperless" caching, because I keep an efficient little notebook, but would like to have all the cache locations on my GPSr.. Help! Thank you.

Gotcha...also, I'm pretty sure the 500LE has been discontinued, although there are still plenty in stock... Argh, I think I'll stick with my SporTrak. It's a great GPSr. I don't think I can justify a few hundred for more memory! It's never done me wrong!

But the 400 and 500 are identical except for the color screen, and I don't think I've heard anyone complain about problems with the color screen. Have I missed something? Search the Web for 500 reviews. A lot of people with issues, and next to no answers from Magellan's support. I suppose a negative experience may motivate one to "warn" others about a product more than somebody who is pleased, but it is alarming. A few locals have switch to Garmin for similar reasons. I, however, have had no problems

I have the SporTrak Map, and have been pleased with it. Two areas which I wish were different is in the area of memory (only 2MB), and color screen. Obviously memory is more important. I am considering "upgrading" to an Explorist 400, which would serve its purpose well with me. Is this a good idea to upgrade purely for memory? The color version 500, I have heard too many horror stories about. What other ideas do you all have?

I've been thinking about getting a new GPSr for about a year now, and I believe I've made the decision to go ahead (and my wife is OK with it!) We got a new computer, and it does not have an extra COMP plug in the back. It only has one, and it is for the monitor. So, that means my Magellan SportTrak Map is not compatible, and I need a new one....trust me! I've about $350 to spend on the GPSr, case, memory card, adapter and mapping software. So far, I see the Explorist 400 and 500 bundles that are in the price range. I'm just wondering what you're experience with these recievers are, or any other suggestions for the money. I seek more internal memory (24MB) or SD card, easy to use, and color. I guess color is not a neccesity, but it would be nice. Thanks for your feedback!

I have a fairly nice GPS unit, though it lacks memory and more up to date maps etc. I am in the market for a new PDA, and was wondering what options there are in GPS software that is compatible with PDAs. I am pretty good technologically, but this is all new. A friend was given a GPS chip (bluetooth?) and software to go with his laptop. What does it take to do this with a PDA? Also, is the software/GPS on a PDA as good as the good ole' GPS? Thanks!

Does anybody know what to use to clean mountain dew off of a computer monitor and keyboard?! Thanks a lot!!! My boss is going to kill me!!! But seriously, geocaching instead of playing "cards." I'd start to wonder what "FTF" [/i]really means!!!

I was in Las Vegas with my company recentally. Stayed at a very nice strip hotel. I will say that we certainly did not have time to cache (although I was prepared!). There are a number of virtual, webcam and micro caches on and within a very close walk of the strip. Why not prepare a list of local caches, with brief instructions, perhaps some sort of lessons, and let them go at it? Just brainstorming. That way nobody is obligated to do it, and it encourages them to see the locale that is Las Vegas.

Everyone has such well thought out plans for packing. I believe our mantra is "gear geek am I." Maybe I just wish I lived in the mountains were a well rounded pack for changing weather, dramatic trails and long treks are the norm. Or, as one mentioned, where it is 110 degrees. Where I'm from, we don't have those extremes. To me, less is more. Briansnat, I understand your philosophy, and you are probably thinking, "Someday I'll run across Kensho on a trail dead from underpacking." What I can tell you is that if you tell someone (wife or husband) where you are going to geocache, you ought to be ok in my neck of the woods. parks are small, and often crowded. I spent time in the great Colorado wilderness, and it truly is a different story there. Sometimes I forget how diverse and BIG of a country we live in.

Great thought process. I tend to agree with you. I guess I also need to keep in mind that I'm in rural Iowa, a safe place, with straight forward terain (no, Iowa is not completely flat with nothing but fields of corn and soy). I just can't figure why somebody would want to carry all of the extra weight... I carry enough around my midsection!

Funny! I would be that bastard of an investment advisor. A week at the Wynn in Vegas, rough times. All expenses paid. How's the paperwork? hehehe.

I'm a fairly new cacher, and lhave spent some time reading through the numerous posts on "the perfect pack" for geocaching. There are some pretty sweet packs described here (briansnat, for example). I would venture to say that 95% of the caches in my area of NE Iowa, caches are within a miles walk from parking. Do I really need waterproof matches, first aid kit (other than maybe a bandage), flashlight, space blanket, rain jacket (even on a beautiful day, with no rain in the forcast?), etc. Perhaps we could start an "Ultralight Geocaching" sect, where one would take their GPSr, Palm Pilot (or whatever), a peice of swag in your pocket, and perhaps a water bottle. I'm in. I am ultralight cacher man! So, why do you take all of your gear? Are your hikes really that intense? Do you like comfort? Do you like heavy backpacks?

Oh Great Sept1icTank. Are you The Enlightened One? He he he. Funny.

Does anybody practice meditation while on their way to a cache? If so, what do you bring with? Cushions? It seems like a great opportunity for zazen while in nature.

Let me preface this reply: I AM NOT A TECHNO GEEK! I AM TECHNO-IMPAIRED. Ok, now that that is out of the way. Unless you wanted to put several, say hundreds, of caches onto your iPod (which I don't see as logical... how many can you bag in a good weekend? Say 10, 20? The others are worthless!) wouldn't it be less of a headache with all this "download this, open that, unzip hers, zip yours, etc" and just take 5 minutes to type in the neccesary info (cache name, coord., any helpful descriptions) into Word Text, and than sending to your iPod notes? You can erase them when your done, even have some extras in case on your way home from work you get an itch, etc? Am I making any sense? I just get so frustrated with trying to figure these darn programs out, especially when I tried my hand at spinner, GSAK and plucker for my Palm. Argh. To heck with it, maybe I should just keep a small journal with neccesary info. I carry one anyways just in case a log is full.

I have two seperate week-long trips to the RMNP area this summer. One I'll be staying on the SE side near Grand Lake, the second on the NE side in Estes Park. I am from Iowa, and caches are usually within 1 mile of a parking lot. I would love for my wife and I to have a few 10-15 mile day hikes when we are out there. What trails do you know of near this area with some good cache opportunities? Thanks for your input!

I have a Mountainsmith Bugaboo from that is about 2000 cu.inches. It is more or less my ultimate cache-sack. It holds all the safety essentials, geocaching essentials, raingear, fleece jacket, and enough room for food, enough water and anything the kids might like to play with. I can certainly bring this bag into the woods to cache, but as noted, most of the caches around Iowa are within a miles walk, and this is overkill. So also in this bag is a Mountainsmith Lumbar Pack, maybe 12L. It can be worn arround my waist, over the shoulder with a detachable strap, or if you purchase other straps, you can wear it as a backpack. I used this to summit Long's Peak, a 16 mile round trip. There is ample space for food, 2 pouches for nalgenes, caching essentials and rain gear. I think of my big bag as my storage bag that I keep in my car, and my Lumbar Pack as my "pack as needed" bag. This system has worked out really well. I'm prepared for any short hike to a day's hike. Overnight's are obviously a different story.