Team Covalt

I currently own a Vista, GPSmap76 and a 76csx (Well, this is my work GPS). I prefer the Vista because it can really zero into the location. But I’m thinking/planning on upgrading. I have been looking at the Vista Hcx, Oregon 300 and the Dakota 20. As you can tell, I want a color display. I prefer the larger display too, which the Vista doesn’t have. However, what I am most concerned about is the zeroing in to the location, which the Vista does. I like to know when I am “at” the spot (Give or take whatever the gps states). So with the above in mind, which is the better GPS for my wants? Thanks

Sadly, no one has decided to try out the new policy. Some might not like the fact that the government is involved, but fact is, some geocachers have ruined it for everyone else by leaving trash, stomping thru the environment and runining it (They are looking at their GPS and not where they are actually going). Think of the footprint you are leaving and try to make it as small as possible.

A heads up, as this cache stands, when it is placed, there will be 1 physcial cache (accessed by the road from 67). That cache will have the coords for the second physcial cache, and inside that cache, will be the coords for the 3rd and final cache, which will be a virtual one, and no, it is not the Ranch house. The plan is for it to be an event only (May 10) cache. I'm hoping that they will allow the caches to stay, but that depends on the geocachers. The County Parks will be looking at this to see what kind of damage is done, so please be careful.

I'm a Park Ranger for San Diego County. There will be 2 physcial caches placed at Goodan Ranch on May 10 (Event Day Only). County Staff will be observing to see how much negative impact these 2 caches will have. quote name='Cat & Bobby' date='Jan 7 2008, 02:04 PM' post='3245039'] Thanks Paul. I sent an email and opened discussion with the DCAO's office and introduced Tom. Chandra Wallar (Deputy Chief Administrative Officer) has already responded and directed staff to look into it. Hopefully with Tom's help and help from GC this can get resolved. Cat & Bobby

Hello all: County of San Diego Park and Recreation Department will be holding a celebration at Goodan Ranch on Saturday May 10. As a County Park Ranger (Not assigned there, but at another location) and as a geocacher, I offered to create a cache for that day at Goodan Ranch area. As you're all aware, the various Park Agencies frown on physicial caches and Geocaching.com frown on vitual caches, directing them to waypointing.com. Talking to the Ranger in charge, she is heading more to a virtual cache. I'd like some tips and suggestions on this event. I would prefer a physicial cache, but we're all aware of the bad name that a very small number of geocachers has given us by creating their own trails to the caches. The Ranger in charge has picked several sites that geocachers would have to get information off of to qualify for the cache. I look forward to your replies. Ranger Roger

Can you load 2 different Mapsource products (such as Topo and Metroguide) unto the Vista and if so, how do you switch between the 2 different maps? Thanks

Well I learned something out of all this. Only temp disable. Don't mess with archiving. If you visit this cache-watch the warning about bees. Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

Management has archived it. I can not "un" archive it and I've sent them a email twice about it and haven't heard a thing. I don't know about the rest of you, but I tend to read the logs of a cache before doing it so I can beware of any problems. Cachers that are allergic to bees should stay away. JMHO Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

Just tell them that I rather be out in the real world than hiding behind the inside of a GYM. Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

I live in San Diego County. Backcountry and urban areas you might find snakes and bees near caches. It's just a fact of life. I think knowingly placing a cache near a bee hive or a snake pit is wrong, but if bees and snakes hang out in the area, like other wildlife, what are you to do? For instance, one of my caches (Waypoint Name GCCA27 "hardly up the hill") was archived because of complaints made by "a" person to geocaching.com about the bees. Each time I've been to the cache or very close by (Great lookout area), I've never had a problem with bees, but then I am careful and I'm always watching out for bees, snakes, poison oak, etc, when I'm geocaching. Maybe I'm missing something here, but doesn't common sense dicate that we should come back later to a site if we see snakes, or in this cache's case, bees (But I have seen rattlesnakes in the area too, so should we archive all caches in this area because of snakes?). I was at this cache last weekend and there were no signs of bees, but then firestorm 2003 was burning about 3 miles away, I must add. I talked with the 20 other people in the general area if they have had problems with bees here (Most of them I know and they all live within 1 mile of this cache) and none of them ever have. SO if you agree with me that common sense dicate that we should always be on the lookout for hazards while geocaching, how do I go about convincing big brother at geocaching.com to unarchive this cache? Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

This question is from a co-worker. Looking for a GPS to be used around the world for marking charitable locations around the world. Having a GPS that stores maps is a plus, but not a necessity. Won't be used for geocaching (Atleast that is what he claims). Any recommendations?? Thanks Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

Apparently there is not a function to delete a cache from the system (Yes I know that it can be archived, but what if you no longer want it in the system). If there is a way, please post it. Wouldn't it be nice to delete (Not keep in archives) caches of yours that no longer exist for various reasons and you have no desire to keep them? Happy geocaching to all Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

All good points and all well taken. As a former National Park Ranger (Hence my geocacher name), you won't believe the number of people that are trying to see so much in such a short period (when they visit a park). My thought with placing virutal geocaches inside Parks would be to get people to see stuff that they might not normally be looking for. But then we are placing geocaches for geocachers, a different breed of person. As geocachers we are always looking for a new place for a geocaches ("Hey look over there! Great spot for a cache!). So I guess in placing geocaches, I got to remember that we are a different breed. Have a nice day everyone. Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

This is a possibility, but will the 1/10 mile/528 feet rule still apply? Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

While placing a virutal cache inside Death Valley National Park (Remember we can't place tradional caches inside NP Parks-Rangers will remove them), I was told of this rule "Geocaches must be a minimum of 528 feet or one-tenth of a mile from all existing Geocaches. We do this so that any given area does not become saturated." While I understand the saturated part for tradional caches, for virutals it's different, because in most cases you're looking for some sort of object or clue/verfication word to get credit for the cache. For a place like Death Valley, especially like Scotty's Castle and Furance Creek Ranch area, there are lots of areas that are interesting that could become a virutal cache (Got to do something when the temps are over 100 degrees). JMHO, hopefully others will agree. Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

You can load all of the disks for TOPO! on your HD, while Delorme you can't (unless it's the USA one). I hate having to switch back and forth disks, so I prefer TOPO! Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

Well, I use to be a National Park Service Ranger, and my first name is Roger, hence "Ranger Roger". And my 6 year old son loves Legos, hence his name of "lego Dan" Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

Anyone out there using any solar chargers for their nimh batteries? Would appricate any recommendations. Thanks Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

This Cafepress site does sell other geocaching related items (among lots of other stuff). One thing that there really isn't enough of is geocaching merchandise. I would like to buy geocaching coins and cards too. Wish I could find a site that selld that stuff at a fair price. Will this site hurt the income that Jermey gets from selling the products at geocaching.com? I doubt it. The geocaching logo is nice and gets right to the point. I've bought stuff there before and will again (just placed another order too). While I got a smile out of some of the stuff at the cafepress site, I don't see myself buying any of it. Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

Check this site out for comparsion: http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM If ordering online, I tend to buy Maha thru this firm: http://thomasdistributing.com/maha.htm When I just can't wait and got to have them now, I go to the local target or Walmart and buy the Energizer brand (1850 mah for AA at about $12.99 for a pack of 4. They were on sale a few months ago for $9.99 and I wished I had bought more then.) I've been told by many others that Maha are the best. I use the maha c204 charger. The first web site I listed above thinks highly of them. What I've been told and what I've read if that you don't want to go with the fast chargers because they tend to lessen the life and power of the batteries. Of course all of the above is JMHO Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

Hi: I've bought Maha batteries (among others) in the past and have noted that they now have a 2000 mah battery: http://www.thomas-distributing.com/mh-4aa200.htm I've also noted that IPOWER now has a 2100 mah battery: http://thomas-distributing.com/ipower_2100mah_nimh_batteries.htm I've also read the comments and reviews of the various batteries at various sites including: http://www.imaging-resource.com/ACCS/BATTS/BATTS.HTM Does anyone have any experience with the IPOWER brand? SHould I just stick with the MAHA, or is the IPOWER brand of such quality that I should go with that (both are about the same price)? Batteries are used with my Garmin Vista and my digital camera (Olympus D-40),plus various things around the house. Also, who sells the batteries at the lowest price? Thanks for your comments. Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

I've had a street pilot for awhile and one day at work, Nscaler brought his latest toy and was telling people about his latest hobby, geocaching. Seeing that it would force me to get outside more with my son, I went out and bought a Vista. Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot and a partridge in a pear tree

Garlic is supposely a natural-homeopathic way to go to prevent the ticks and fleas from staying on you. Been using it (tablet and natural form) for several years with family and dogs with no problem. It's when we lay off the garlic is when the ticks show up on our dogs and 5 year old son. It works with us Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot

Thanks for the comment, mikechim. People need to realize that inside the Ranger is a human being. I've seen some new Rangers do everything by the book to impress their Supervisors for later hopes for promotion. Basically, like almost any job that is a dog eat dog job, if you want that promotion, you kiss alot of supervisors A%%. Screw the visitor-they won't get you that promotion. Remember that alot of outdoor loving people have always dreamed about being a Park Ranger and because of that there are always tens of thousands applying for that one spot. You'll have the easy laid back Ranger that is ahppy where they are, then you have the ones that fight for the chance for that promotion. I don't think I was ever one of those "gotta kiss to get that promotion. I was always more concern about the visitor. But you do get pressure from above to produce and if you want to keep that job, you need to produce. Start a friendship with one of the Rangers and more than likely they will look the other way if you're nice. Be a dick about placing a cache and they will yank it out of the Park. I hope to return to being a Park Ranger someday, but before that I want enough money to live okay on. NPS Rangers (and most any other Ranger) aren't paid a whole lot. Peace Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot

Sorry to all about the negative post. jfitzpat Gave me a good slap. I'd been taking the negative comments here personally (since I started the thread). Long hours at work does that to some Garmin Vista Garmin Street Pilot