sequens vitae mortem

1. I like the idea of using a library book, but I am opposed to tearing up knowledge in order to go geocaching. In order for me to like this cache, the container would have to be a real "fake book" like those safes you see in the movies. I'm sure they exist. 2. I love the idea of leading a cacher to a REAL treasure map. That would be the coolest cache, ever. To help with the use of maps, what you may want to do is create a type of blue-print thing that needs to be printed from the cache page and lead cachers to one of those state parks where there is the little marker with the map posted to it. The cachers would have to lay your "blue-print" with notes or markings on it next to or on top of the map on the sign. Another good idea is to create several maps . . . Like take an average of how much traffic you expect in the area (maybe 50 or so) and turn it into a multi-cache. Put one piece of the map in stage one, another piece in stage two, another in stage three, and the final piece in stage four. The completed map would lead to a fifth part of the cache that is the actual FIND stage and have cachers leave their map pieces in this cache. Then, periodically, go back and move the map pieces back to their original locations. This would save you from constantly having to recreate maps to print out, and it would be a 'fun' treasure hunt. However, it would require a good bit of cache maintenance. 3. The night drive is an okay type of cache. I'm not sure if it would be something most people would get into. I for one have been spoken to the police many times for stopping and going and turning around on the same road too many times, which may be what you would run into if you had some "clueless" cachers trying to find your cache. This may alert the police to figure out what the heck is going on. 4. The audio clue would be weird to me, but it would definitely be unique. Instead of using a CD, you may get several of those memory things you see on the infomercials, where you can put a recording on the little device. As long as other cachers wouldn't record over it, it would keep the sound file at the cache at all times. 5. This is a neat idea, but you would have to have your physical person be someone who works with people in a retail environment most likely because most places of work frown on random people walking in who are people who are there for a reason they may not understand. Also, some people may be uncomfortable if you put their name, place, and hours of employment on the Internet. You may want to be the physical person. 6. The idea of the Monkey Puzzle confuses me, could you explain it further? 7. The sign cache is very interesting, and I would love doing one. The only thing that worries me is mugglers. I think it is legal to put signs along the road advertising things. People do it for yard sales all the time, don't they? 8. I don't like caching on people's private property, permission given or not. Meeting other cachers is cool, though. 9. Huge containers are super cool! Just a few opinions! Now for some ideas of my own. You could drill into the mouth of a realistic looking snake (preferably a harmless one that looks native to your area!) and put a bison container in it, then just put the snake in a dark log. Warn cachers that if they don't like creepy crawlies they shouldn't do this cache. (This makes for an excellent scare!) People will laugh. Another good idea is to use several Chinese puzzle boxes. These boxes are puzzles and you have to do certain things to get them open. You can leave partial instructions as hints on the log page. Inside several small boxes could be coordinates to a next stage in a multi-cache, or you could purchase one big one for trades. However, Chinese puzzle boxes are almost always made of wood, so you would have to find a way to protect them by using some type of varnish (which may mess up the box) or by putting them in waterproof containers.

If the tube is only a three to five in diameter and three to five feet long, you can't get your hands or fingers down there, and if it is a thick, no one can squeeze the tube to get the container to rise to the top, so you have to pour water down the tube to get the container to float where you can grab it. The hole at the top of the tube needs to be a little larger than the size of the container, and the hole at the bottom of the tube has to be very small so the water leaves slowly to allow the container to float. If the hole at the bottom was as big as the hole at the bottom, water would just flow straight through the tube, and the container wouldn't float. Also, to prevent people from taking the tube down in order to turn it upside down, you have to make sure it is tightly secured to the fencepost or tree.

I feel that we already depend on these "treatment chemicals" too much as it is. People put chemicals on their lawns to keep them green, which runs off into natural streams because they haven't put any block in to stop runoff from rain, and it can affect wildlife in and around streams for miles because it gets spread that far. This snake-a-way may hinder the niches of certain snakes in a particular area where they are needed to help the ecosystem run smoothly (correctly?) by controlling certain rodent or bug populations. I can understand if you live in an area that is inhabited by snakes, and you have young children who like to play out in the yard. You may spread this snake-a-way stuff around to prevent your kids from getting unnecessarily hurt because they were curious or they stepped somewhere and didn't see the snake. However, I am from West Virginia, and we only have two species of venomous snakes: the Northern Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake. Although they are part of the viper family, neither of these species are overly aggressive, and people usually get bitten when they try to handle them. I feel that it isn't necessary to put any type of "critter-a-way" solutions near our caches, and, if we are worried about curious children, education is something that will always work. If they learn to watch out for snakes, they will usually be able to avoid any unwanted contact with them, and they may even grow to appreciate their important role in our Appalachian ecosystem, instead of killing them and asking questions later. Many snakes get mistaken for a poisonous snake they resemble because snakes are very misunderstood. They are not looking to bite people, they are looking to protect themselves, and more often then not, they will run away if given the opportunity. This may not apply to all snake species, but it applies to caches in my state. As for larger predators, wearing bells usually alerts them, and they run away. In nature, animals rarely set out to be "man-eaters," but they usually attack out of necessity for food because their habitats get destroyed, and humans just happen to be one creature that seems to be the easiest to kill and eat. Predators look for weak prey, an easy meal, and humans sometimes fit that bill.

I do hope the cache doesn't get approved, I think that would be excellent. Maybe I can figure out who the reviewer will be and suggest to them that this cacher is talking about putting chemicals there. I think the breeder pair of King Snakes is an awesome alternative, and I will definately bring it up to him the next time we talk. I'm not even sure why he is so worried, the cache location is not in a place that is worse for snakes than any other! I will try to bring his attention to this particular forum topic as well. Thanks for all the input, I'm glad so many of you agree with me!

I agree with you, I feel caching should be part of nature instead of hindering it. If this starts, what's next? weed treatment to kill poisonous plants, which would also kills off other possibly endangered plant species that are indigenous to only that area? Not to mention certain wildlife that may only be indigenous to the area where he is planning to place the cache that may be driven out because of these chemicals. I told the cacher who is planning to place this cache the same thing, but it seems like he can't be deterred from this idea! It's kind of infuriating!

I think this placard is a great idea for when you are in an area in which you are likely to get lost or injured. I realize most of us have a GPS with us, but not all of us mark our cars when we go on long hiking trips. There are many troubles you may come across such as lack of signal, an avalanche, dead batteries, lost/broken/fried GPS, or broken leg. If you didn't tell anyone where you would be, and you went missing for a while, and they found your car with the placard in it that gives coordinates for the geocache(s) you are looking for, it would give rescuers a place to start looking. Even if you DID tell someone you were going caching, for example, "in the Poconos," the only thing they know is you went caching in the "Poconos." However, the information your friend gave and the location of your car with the placard with exact coordinates may get you saved. As a matter of fact, I read an article about a rescue that did occur successfully because the caching group left something behind that would tell which caches they were going for in a particular area. . . . Just a few thoughts on the matter . . .

I personally have not done any "front yard" caches, but I would feel awkward about looking for a cache on someone else's front or back lawn simply because I would feel like I'm being watched by whoever is in the house or in neighboring houses. Second, I would never place a cache so close to my house or anyone else's because I do not want random people there all hours of the day or night. I know the geocaching community is relatively friendly, but there is always the possibility of bad seeds running amok. At the risk of sounding paranoid, I think Placing a cache in a location where someone may be tempted to look in the windows or check out the storage shed in the back would put me on edge. I know most people avoid temptations that cause them to commit crime, but there are a few who may decide to see if the window is unlocked to look for other "treasures." Wherever there is temptation, there is always a risk something may get stolen or burglarized, it just isn't a risk I would be willing to take.

I recently talked with a fellow cacher who is getting ready to place his first cache, and he is planning on putting a product called (at least I think it's called) "snake-a-way" along with other products that are supposed to deter animals from the area. I am not sure how I feel about this idea or if anyone else even does this. On one hand, I feel it may be a very good idea to minimize possible injury from poisonous or dangerous animals in a certain area. On the other hand, I feel that anyone who wants to be out in the woods looking for hidden containers assumes the risk of possibly disturbing and coming into contact with local wildlife. I know there are some cachers out there who may see this differently, but not only is caching a wonderful hobby, it is a way of making people more aware of their surroundings and of the natural environment. I feel that geocaching encourages us to promote conservation and clean up (CITO). (Partly from caching and cleaning up after ourselves and partly by teaching others about geocaching.) Isn't about leaving an almost imperceptible footprint? So, what are your thoughts? Do you think it is a wise idea to put these chemicals near a cache? How harmful do you think it will be to the environment and wildlife, or will there be any harm done at all?

I would definately like a set! Thanks for the e-mail!

Hmm... 276?

I think Cainrcc could be a lifesaver, and he would definately be doing his part to start to get me hooked. I love this community!

I think you are looking of for this coin. I don't know who made it. Hopefully someone else will. I know this doesn't help you right now, but I am seriously considering making a geocoin. As you might guess by my nickname, it will be a night caching coin. I like my avatar to the left there as the artwork for one side of it. So maybe, if I ever get it done, it can be added to your collection. Thanks for the pic, Fireboy. Night_Hunter, if you ever do make that coin, definately let me know. I think my collection will mainly consist of night cacher coins.

I think you are looking of for this coin. I don't know who made it. Hopefully someone else will. I know this doesn't help you right now, but I am seriously considering making a geocoin. As you might guess by my nickname, it will be a night caching coin. I like my avatar to the left there as the artwork for one side of it. So maybe, if I ever get it done, it can be added to your collection. Thanks for the picture, fireboy. Night_Hunter, definately keep me posted, if you ever make that coin, I would love to have it as well! I'm trying to collect as many "night" coins as possible.

Yes, that is exactly the one!

Lol, yes, this is the coin. Thanks for adding the pic!

Hey all, If anyone has a night cachers geocoin and would be willing to part with it, please let me know! I have absolutely no geocoins to trade because I'm just beginning to collect them, but this coin is what I want to jump start my collection because it would hold sentimental value to me as I met my boyfriend of four years while going on a night geocache with a mutual friend, and it has been a life-changing meeting! However, since I have no coins to trade, I am willing to purchase this particular geocoin either through a check, money order, or paypal. Please let me know if you have this coin and are willing to part with it . . . I feel as if I will do almost anything for one! Thank you so much! ~sequens. Please note: It is the one that says "When the sun goes down, the hunt goes on"

Hey all, I have no coins at all to trade. However, I have been searching very hard for a night cachers geocoin to start off my collection because it is the epitomy of how I geocache, and it would hold sentimental value to me, as my boyfriend and I met while geocaching with a mutual friend on a night cache(it's been four years, and we're thinking about getting engaged!). I was in a bidding war for one on ebay, but someone wanted it VERY badly . . . If anyone has one and is willing to part with it, please let me know, I'd love to purchase it from you! Please, please, please let me know!

I have been looking at the Magellan eXplorist series for a little while now, and I think the eXplorist 400 may be right for me. Has anyone had any serious trouble with it? So far, I've only used a Garmin Etrex because it was given to me as a gift about a year ago, but I feel I need something a little more substantial . . . Any suggestions? Ideas? Comments? Concerns? Thanks . . .