hal-an-tow

I'll agree with K13 and Mudfrog : Personally I'd only contact the C.O.s to mention doubtful logs if I knew them , it might seem overly officious otherwise. If I see something like this (and it is not uncommon, unfortunately) I sometimes take a photograph of the log clearly showing the signatures and add it to my log. The only other thing I do is remember the caching name, and not place any credence on their logs in future if I'm checking to see if a cache I'm having trouble with has been found recently. When I maintain my caches I often post a log photo, especially if I'm replacing a log, and always if I'm going to archive a false log . That way if the cacher quibbles about the find, I have the evidence already there on the cache page. No-one has contested the few archivings I've done.

Ah, thank you for linking to those posts LOne.R, I was worried about this too, as the impression I had from a post on the CHS thread referencing that (without linking or quoting the original) gave me the impression that a single find after a needs maintenance cancelled it out . What Keystone says in the first linked post is "Reviewers become aware of Cache Health Score issues once the score drops below a defined threshold and a notice is sent to the CO. In the example posted by Team Microdot, the problem is that the "found it" logs affect the score positively, while the "needs maintenance" logs affect the score negatively. On balance, that cache is just a hair above the threshold that would trigger the email notice." Which does not say the subsequent find cancels out the NM, but just that it adds a positive to the score. There is no mention of the comparative weighting of the scores given to finds / nms , but I think it would be reasonable to assume that a NM negative effect is greater than a single find positive effect. It may still be a wise move to post another NM though, if each NM produces a negative (rather than on;y the first one) . I don't often add a NM on a cache I find which needs maintenance but already has an NM posted, it seems redundant to repeat it, but I may need to change that....

Doing what I suggested, i.e. " on the cache page go to log your visit, then select update co-ords from the drop down menu" updates the cache co-ordinates for all, and also adds an automatically generated note that the co-ords have been updated (which includes the distance GZ has moved) . It only appears as a log option on your owned caches..

It's not nice having your cache muggled, but it happens, especially with hides near where kids play. I've lost a few decent sized containers and the contents over the years, but it's strange that they left the swag and took the logbook, it's usually the other way round ! If your hide is at a distinctive spot , say the base of a tree that stands out or a corner of a fence you might want to consider moving the container a little as the muggles will look there again if they remember and recognise the spot. You can move the co-ordinates a short way yourself ( on the cache page go to log your visit, then select update co-ords from the drop down menu) as long as you don't get too close to another cache, or exceed the 161m limit. If you want to do that you need to contact the reviewer. Good luck, don't give up , I'm sure you will get plenty of finds if you persist.

That surprised me a great deal too, it seems a strange decision . So the red wrench stays, the cache 'needs maintenance' until the CO posts an owner maintenance log, but the CHS rescinds the NM negative score after a find ? Is that officially confirmed ? If so, the CHS needs maintenance. As we know from the found = DNF threads , all finds do is confirm the cache (or part of the cache, or a throwdown or a bit of velcro ) is (probably) there . If this is the CHS scoring system, then every cache with an NM anyone finds should have another NM posted by them, and it must be after they log the found it, not before . Crazy.

Looks like you just got a find and a needs maintenance after possible muggling ! The start of the school holidays may mean a lot of folk are away, the heat we are having at the moment is not really conducive to caching too.

I read your request as meaning you are associated with a park, and would like to introduce caching as an activity at it. So my answers are first, yes , caching can be done without cell reception. I do it all the time using a GPS. There are 'phone apps which do not require cell connection while you are out caching, but I'm no expert on them, so someone else can better advise you there. Second, yes, you can geocache without a premium account, again I'm not up to speed on how the various apps handle non-premium cachers. You can view caches on the website on a computer at home, then use an offline device to find them. I did that for a couple of years before I paid for a premium subscription. However, starting from zero knowledge of caching and then getting to a position to introduce the public to it is a very steep learning curve and will take you a lot of time and effort. My suggestion would be to check out who is active in cache setting and perhaps cache event setting in your local area, and approach them. You may find someone who will either help you, or even place some caches, run an event, lead a caching class for you.

It doesn't sound as if you have actually used a GPS yourself, only 'phones, perhaps you could make a more informed decision if you did ? I have used both for caching (and an android tablet and an i-pad just to check them out) and if I was handing over a smartphone or a GPS to a child or adolescent to cache with in the great outdoors,, I'd be considering the robustness of the device, the complexity of it , the opportunity of it to go wrong by pressing the wrong button (and the frustration that produces) , the opportunity for deliberate misuse , how it would be carried (in the hand ? On a lanyard ? ) the way it is powered , and not least, how much time I would have to spend sorting the device out after use so it is ready for the next time. That's not even thinking about cost, accuracy, or expected lifespan of the device. Or the creative misuse many junior hackers can put a smartphone to ... even without a sim card. All that inbuilt bloatware is an invitation to fiddle around inside and see what can be changed.

I think the distinction may be in who removes the throwdown : if it is a throwdown masquerading as MY cache, I should remove it as it purports to belong to me, I'm responsible for the listing and the cache it leads to. If , however I find a throwdown on another C.O.s cache, I shouldn't remove it myself as it would be theft. I admit I've removed throwdowns on friends caches twice, but only when I've found both the original and the throwdown (within inches of each other) . Which was the throwdown in each case was obvious , it was a valueless camp free micro container. I uploaded a photo of the throwdown to the listing and left the throwdown's log in the actual cache if there were signatures on there other than just that of the throwdown-er. If I suspect a cache I find is a throwdown , how can I be absolutely sure unless I find the original too? I can't, the log, or even the whole container may have been replaced by the owner and no update on the page made, or maintenance log placed. Plus a C.O. I don't personally know may have different ideas about how to treat this sort of thing, or may even encourage it . So if I suspect a conntainer is a throwdown I'll mention it in my log so the C.O. can take appropriate action (if they can be bothered) and I add a link to the appropriate guideline in the hope that the rules on throwdowns become better known.

Free aerial maps , I've not seen any. The garmin version of free OS maps are pretty poor, I couldn't use them at all on my recently purchased 30x. So, I installed a memory card, moved the built in maps onto it ( just in case !) and added the far superior free O.S. based maps from talky toaster to the memory card and set them as the map source. It frees up a comparatively huge amout of memory in the device for caches. Search for talky toaster, he has a range of UK & Europe maps, both free and reasonably priced, to either download or buy on a memory card if that's easier for you, and the site is very helpful.

So many world cups to choose from, according to google they include : Athletics, badminton, baseball, basketball, chess, cricket, show jumping, rugby league, gymnastics, hockey (field ) , hockey (ice) tennis, triathlon, canoe slalom, diving, water polo, synchronised swimming, skiing, archery, boxing, fencing, kabaddi, netball, orienteering, lacrosse, wrestling tae kwan do ... Have I missed anything out ? Yes, I'm joking ...

They are not decribed by Groundspeak as 'rules' but as 'guidelines'. There is a subtle difference in meaning which provides wiggle room to excuse any inconsistencies on their part.

Life isn't always either logical or fair, neither are humans, and that includes caching database running ones. HQ is the only arbiter of what does or does not get into their database, they are a business not a democratically elected government with checks and balances and international law to ensure their behaviour is fair. In short, they can claim whatever they want. Best be philosophical and move on. If those virtual loggers got to GZ and saw whatever it was*, they had the full experience of the virtual, no one can take that away. They get to keep the treasured memory of the fun they had (if indeed they had that fun ... ) and just lost a meaningless +1 on a database. * Virtual caches are not there but you find them. It's a bit of a conundrum that something that used to not be there but could be found is now not there and actually not there so can't be found ... <sound FX of brain exploding>

I'm absolutely with you for most of your comments, to structure my answer I've taken each bullet point bolded part to comment on . Yes, high minimum number of finds is uneasonably exclusive in some situations, which is why I suggested a two option qualification (I don't recall how many finds I gave as an example - maybe 10 or 20) of either n finds or 30 days after the first find. My thinking is to not exclude folk in cache poor areas, or who find themselves normal members in the middle of a premium rich location, or beginners surrounded by '?' caches, whilst still giving them pause to think before rushing out in that first burst of enthusiasm with a poorly planned and executed cache . Mandatory owner visits are a daft idea. Armchair O.M. logs would be the obvious and easy answer by COs who don't care, so it wouldn't impact quality in the slightest. I'm guessing that folk suggesting this are mainly the ones who go for numbers of drive-by caches and neither imagine or appreciate the problems of visiting more remote caches. I bet most of them don't actually own any caches which involve any kind of effort on foot. If such a rule was to be made, to avoid having huge swathes of quality adventurous caches (the sort that often get on the cache of the week ) lost to Groundspeak , it would have to involve some sort of sliding scale of OM frequency based on difficulty of access: something along the lines of roadside = 6 monthly , 3 mile hiking round trip once per year , extra time % for canoeing/rock climbing whatever. But I can't see it happening. Groundspeak needs the adventurous caches to sell the game, just like the car manufacturers sell SUVs with outdoorsy images of them up mountains when most of the ones you see in Europe are really cheaper 2 wheel drive look-alikes . Drive to the car park in your pretend 4X4, find a micro at the edge of it ... living the adventure ! Just like the adverts. No, that's never going to happen is it ? Bring that rule in and every drive-by micro evaporates ... the app would have tumbleweed blowing through it. I've set regular caches with a good stock of swag, and found them empty when I maintain them within a year. Requiring good quality swag, or any swag at all, would be the equivalent of telling cache owners to leave half an hour's wages in small denomination bills in each container, for strangers to take at will. That would be ridiculous. The folk who want big, child friendly , expensive swag packed treasure boxes can set an example locally and place the sort of thing they want to find, encouraging those who find it to follow their wonderful example and set something similar for them to find. Either the area will become a haven of delightful caches, or they will rapidly be disillusioned about how folk treat such boxes. My money would be on the latter. Because everyone gets a prize , right ? Sheesh, if there's no challenge (I might not find it after travelling here) what's the point ? People who see a DNF as a problem with the cache are missing the major possibility that the problem just might be with their search. I should know, I've logged hundreds of the things ... quite a few of which were apparently a quick easy find for the next searcher . 10 DNFs in a row by individual , experienced cachers on a low D cache , maybe. But not a blanket , one size fits all rule. Every cache should be in the top 10% of caches . No , don't correct me on that, I know it's impossible ! But hey, surveys say most peoples driving is above average (as assessed by themselves) , the understanding of statistics is less than wonderful in the population at large. Favourite points are nice, they show appreciation, I like getting them. But they are not always awarded for reasons of quality ( FTF fav.s , mates fav.s , fav.s given because the finder likes the film character the cache is named for ... ) so unless fav. point awarders are somehow (impossibly) obliged to rigidly stick to cache quality (whatever that turns out to be) to select those exceptional 1 in 10, then it's not a true measure of quality. No, not a lone voice, I'm howling too ... I said elsewhere in the forum that I wonder if Groundspeaks database can serve both audiences, the numbers/drive by/largely app based cache setters and the interesting experience/outdoor adventure/mostly off-grid GPS using setters. Notice I said setters, not finders. The finding audience being wooed currently is the app one: that is clear from things like changing the website to match the app (rather than vice-versa) , and no doubt follows the $$$, GS being a company which is there to make profit. But, but ... those quality, outdoorsy, advertising image caches - the ones with photos of happy shiney young folk out on an adventure finding an ammo can in perfect weather with stunning scenery in the background .... in short, the image GS uses to sell the idea of caching - if GS don't have any caches like that (like yours !) what image have they left to sell ? If GS value the requirements of the finders (who bring in the cash) over those of the setters (who at their own expense and effort make and place caches, then allow them to be publicised on the GS database for zero return) and , more particularly, the quality cache setters who make exceptional efforts , they are like a gardener chopping off the inconvenient roots of a tree that are protruding and spoiling a path, then being surprised when later the trunk rots and the whole thing crashes down dead..

A punchline for the joke ? Well , the caches I mentioned were all named after fish ... Genuinely, they were.

Heh , we used to have a canal series nearby my home where the CO chose the numbered pegs driven in to define angler's spots for competitions as handy hint items to locate his micros by . Not the most cunning of plans ....

I have an etrex 20, it's been a faithful caching companion for 3 years, and has survived plenty of rough treatment with no issues. However, I've worn out the rubber on the top of the little joystick thingy (probably because I keep it in a trouser pocket while walking, as well as all the use it has had in its actual function over 3000 cache finds ) .So, having found a repair from Garmin would be insanely expensive ( yes, I could buy a new bit of rubber off an auction site, and try to sort it out myself but then ... well, lets just say I'm far better at taking things apart than I am at getting them back together again ...) I thought I'd better see what was out there in case my little caching friend is no longer waterproof, and fails next time I fall in a river with it ... The etrex 30x with mapping included was actually on offer at a lower price than an etrex 20 without mapping , so I decided to snap one up now, and get it set up and stashed away ready to take over seamlessly on the sad day when the faithful old 20 dies. However, although the case is the same, the interface is the same (or perhaps that should be, still entirely unintuitive !) etc etc, there is something I find most annoying with the 'X' : the startup screen (where I put my e-mail & caching name in case of loss) is so dark, you can't read the startup text. Then the display itself is significantly darker than the 20 (no 'x') to the point where I've had to try out most of the colour scheme options to find one that gives enough contrast to ovecome the poor readability. It also means that with the low contrast colours garmin used in their mapping I couldn't even see paths on the map when I was outdoors (I've now moved the inbuilt maps to micro SD card and proper, free, talky toaster, sensibly coloured ones are installed there too and selected to use ) I wonder if the vaunted increase in screen resolution (why bother? It's tiny anyway ... if they want an improvement to shout about, fix the awful zoom & pan on the map screen ) may have involved a trade off between resolution and brightness, or maybe the backlight has been underpowered to extend quoted battery life if the higher resolution screen needs more power ? Whatever the reason, I'm a mite miffed with the 'X' model, and if I was to recommend a garmin I'd say snap up an etrex20 but not a 20X , don't pay for garmin maps either, get the free ones I mentioned.

Optimist gets the ding for Jules Verne , honourable mention to dodgydaved for adding another 33% of the answer . Yep, from 'Round the World in 80 days ' (and more recently, expensive crisps) Phileas Fogg, his servant Passepartout ( French for goes all places, also a word for a passkey/masterkey ) and the third one was Captain Nemo from 20000 Leagues under the Sea : nemo is Latin for no one. As often happens the bit I though was the giveaway folk would get first (nemo) turned out to be nothing of the kind !

Interesting, but no, the author I'm after wrote books with a higher reading age ... and the 'no-one' is not translated from German ... Further clues: the first two characters were travel companions in the same book , 'no-one ' was a villan in a different book, both books have been filmed ( probably several times ). The author died when Huxley and Lewis were still schoolboys ...

Not him, sorry. Hintage : I've used (approximate) translations into english, or definitions of. the character's actual names. And as with the JFK question, the third one on the list is probably the easiest way to the answer ...

Keeping to the book theme: Which author's characters include a master key, low cloud and no one ?

Sorry, only just came back and spotted I was awarded the nearest-mis- to-the-target ding The next question will be posted asap.

If you are on the new logging page, opt out , once on the proper sorry, old logging page, look for 'how to format' on the green bar , click on it and an' info box appears, right at the bottom of which are the available codes nezt to the image they produce. Copy the code and paste it into your log text. Please, not like this though ... it's no fun getting 20 carbon copies land in your cache owning e-mail inbox, each emoji reduced to its constituent symbols ...

Yep, that's how I mark corrected co-ords in GSAK, works fine for me (I keep a regularly updated GPX file of all updated/unfounds in my etrex all the time, and have a filter saved so I can run a query for it with ease. I love GSAK !) Whilst the yellow triangle shows corrected co-ords on the GSAK screen, there is no indication on my gps to distinguish updated co-ords from unsolved puzzles though. If that is what you want, this may help : if you right click on a cache one of the (huge!) list of options is 'edit' , and there you can change much of the information as it shows in the database (and therefore exports in the GPX file) . I've not tried it, so no guarantees, but I think you should be able add a character at the start of the corrected caches name , which would then show on your device display. Beware , that would wreck alphabetical sorting by cache name ! I'f I'm going to mess around with GSAK to try something like that out, I'll preserve my main 'default' database by clicking 'database' , then 'new' , create a new database 'experiment' or something, and drag/drop into it a GPX file I made earlier of a few caches to mess with from 'default' d.base. That way the default d.base is not affected by any mayhem I may cause , just the experiment d.base which can be deleted when finished with. You can have as many databases as you like, which is handy when you want a range of caches which is impossible to get GSAK filter for - I've made ones for all trads in a certain radius, not including ones T5 or with the tree climbing attribute, plus only solved puzzles/multis, plus puzzles with the word 'challenge' which show the user flag (my way of showing challenges I qualify for, or stand a chance of doing in the future so may as well sign if I'm nearby). Export GPX to the garmin, and I've everything in that area I might go for, and nothing that is way out of my grasp (literally ) . That database can be deleted after use, with no effect on the default one. Did I mention, I love GSAK ?

I'll applaud and agree with all your comments apart from the last one, which I think is based on a misunderstanding of what Groundspeak is: their remit is simple, but it's overlain with publicity puff which causes a higher than sustainable level of expectation from their customers. I'll explain: I've said it before, I'll no doubt say it again : Groundspeak is not geocaching, Groundspeak is a company who have made a business out of hosting a database of geocaches other people set ( at their own expense) and volunteers review ( for no financial reward ) . The advertising and publicity material giving a happy shiny impression of their centrality to the world of geocaching and fostering a club type feel raises the expectations of people that Groundspeak will be far more engaged in the actual experience of caching (and cachers) than they are. The business is about selling access to the database, selling advertising , selling trackable numbers, selling apps. Essentially any disputes between cachers are going to be a business expense of time spent by paid workers (unless there are yet more unpaid volunteers doing that too for 'work experience' of course ... ) . Therefore for any dispute or complaint a quick decision and a stock reply is unfortunately going to be the likely response to what may be a complex and nuanced situation in a country the worker making the decision probably has never even been to. . What's in it for Groundspeak ? Nothing to be gained, just a loss of respect from at least one party in the disagreement, and possibly a tiny revenue loss if they later renounce paid membership. A dodgy unpleasant GZ is no worry to Groundspeak, as long as it appears to follow the rules, they will allow it. Then all responsibility for the listing is on the cache setter, all responsibility for choosing to go to GZ is on the cache hunter - Groundspeak's hands are washed, their interest is minimal. Companies who foster a 'warm & fuzzy', best of friends impression as an outer layer over their basic, profit motivated purpose are courting enormous disappointment from their paying customers when circumstances eventually part the fluff, and reveal the hard reality beneath. .Trust me on this, I'm in the process of car buying, and I'm meeting a lot of lovely new best friends in dealers showrooms who are highly skilled at the warm and fuzzy routine, simply to get their hands on my money , it's fun (if slightly wearing) to observe their technique .I notice that strangely several of them share my slightly unusual muscial tastes, but without being able to name any performers , just agreeing with the names I mention ...