rav_bunneh

Now that the 2011 CITO - Sherwood Forest is done, and the 35mm film is back from Long's! You can see the groups panoramic shots I took in my log for the event! http://www.geocaching.com/seek/log.aspx?LUID=54466f95-fc76-4832-bedd-fbab958042d9 <-- Happy Link

Popokiiti asked, "One question - can I access my field notes on the GC itself?" Rav's Magical* Guide to Editing Field Notes On the eXplorist CG: 1) Select the Geocaching icon and select the cache you need to edit the field notes on. 2) Highlight the first bar with the Checkered Flag icon. 3) Press MENU 4) Scroll down to Edit My Last Log. 5) There you go! Edit the log. Add smilies. Fix typos. Whatever. 6) Press the Check mark to save your changes and get on with your life. :3 hehe * Just because you can't see the magic doesn't mean it isn't there.

Hmm, I never tried editing it on the gps itself. Next time I've entered notes I'll see if I can figure out a way to edit them on the device. If you are on a computer the 'newlogs.txt' file is a simple text file. You can open it, edit it, close it and then upload it -- OR when you've uploaded it and press the link to compose the log you can edit what was uploaded there too.

It would depend entirely on the tools you have. Netbook, laptop, smart device, palm type device, nothing, etc. Look at what you have and what you have that you are willing to take into the field with you as you cache. You know better than us strangers what you've got going for you. :3 Let us know! I've seen people as lo-fi as printed cache listings and scribbled notes on paper.

Paperless + Value = Magellan eXplorist GC on clerance at Target for $40. You save $110.

Also, I believe, your paid membership kicks in the moment your free time runs out. That way people don't complain about losing those free days. :3

1) With the loc files as a non-premium member it will only give you the very most basic info. Where the cache is. With the gpx files you get as a premium member you get all the same info that is on the website. The GC gps comes with a one month free premium trial so you can see which you like best. 2) No. If you hand enter the lon. and lat. it'll only make a waypoint. However that is enough for some people who can remember the basics of a cache and the hint. But, once again, no you will not get all the info. 3) With the GPX files you will have all the info. If you don't have premium you can print out that geocache page from the website -- but that isn't paperless. 4) This gps, like all the paperless gps brands, really shines if you have premium membership. Like other brands of gps it you enter the location manually or use the non-premium loc files you don't get all the details. $30 is an expense, yes, but not a huge one. But use the free membership that came with the gps. 5) Target stores have the unit on clearance for $40. Whatever you do, shop for a great deal and your shopping around will pay off as you can think about all the $$ you saved as money you can use for a premium membership, if you so chose.

High Level Info: Using the eXpolrist GC Once your GPS is turned on and has locked on to a GPS signal (you have signal bars rather than - - - -) you are ready to go. 1) Press the icon that is the Geocaching Logo. This will open up all the caches that you loaded into it listed from closest to furthest away, be default. 2) Highlight the closest cache and press the tiny joystick button down. 3) You should now see all the details of that near by cache. Now press the MENU button and chose GO. At this point a map opens up with an arrow where you are. From the arrow to the geocache is a green line showing you which way to go, as the crow flies. 1) Walk. When you walk the GPS can tell which way you are going. 2) Now walk in a direction that follows the green line to the cache. If you move off course a the arrow will turn from yellow, orange or red for how off course you are. 3) If you follow the green line you will get to where the cache is. When close stop looking at the gps and look for the cache itself. Once you found it. 1) Press MENU while in map mode still. 2) Scroll down to Found and select that. 3) Your GPS will ask you if you want to take notes. HINT: This is your "paperless" bit so chose YES 4) Use the joystick and type in your notes. Back Home - uploading your notes. 0) Make sure you have the Magellan Communicator plug-in installed and that you meet the min. req. for said plug-in and are using a browser that supports the plug-in. (one time step) 1) Open your browser, got to geocaching.com, select your profile, on the right side bar press the "Access Your Field Notes for supported GPS devices and applications." link 2) plug in your gps via usb, turn it on, select Connect to PC from the gps 3) press the Upload My Field Notes link 4) Navigate to your Magellan drive to the Geocaching folder and select newlogs.txt 5) upload 6) got into each uploaded cache log, verify what you typed for typos etc., submit your logs. NOTE: There are SEVERAL ways to go about doing everything. The way I posted is only one way. You should not really need to ask people for high level direction. Instead, think of it like this. "I have a new toy. I'm going to play with my new toy. As I play with my new toy I'll also be learning all the way how to use it." Do not be afraid of your gps.

Personally I'd rather each person sign or initial the log on the caches I own rather than group sign. Just my own personal preference. :3

I have a Magellan eXplorist GC rather than and Oregon; however, what I do is start Fusion and Windoze then connect and turn on my GPS. Once on a dialog pops up from Fusion that asks if I want to connect my device to Mac or Windoze. I select Windoze and it works. If you are not getting the dialog then maybe check the Fusion preferences to ensure that it is not set to decide for you behind your back. Hope it goes well!

I thought you could do benchmarking on both sites. :3

I love macro and nano caches -- all caches actually. Each size has its own benefits. Also, there on Oahu island we are not blessed with unending wilderness. What we do have is unending urban sprawl and micro and nano caches allow us to have caches where otherwise we would have none. That said I'm not saying anyone else has to love micros or nanos. I just really really enjoy and appreciate them. If you love the bigger caches, great! They are fun too.

I live in Hawaii and it can rain a lot. So I keep a poncho in my geocaching backpack and I try to not let it stop me. However if I happen to only have on flip-flops rather than shoes it can.

Yesterday I found this really nice ammo can caches, the big 50 cal one. I was all excited then I opened the cache and inside was a used sticky McD soda cup with lid and straw in it. Disgusted as I was by it I cito'ed it out.

I'm not going to change your mind. If you want to think that censoring every newbie and every future newbie because of a few bad caches... so be it. Think that. My account is less than 2 months old; why not next beg Groundspeak to also gag newbies from talking on the forums too. Clearly, as you are pointing out, people like me who are new are too stupid to place a geocache. I guess you better delete all my caches and delete all my forum posts. Great way to foster a "community" with your totalitarian efforts to block new users from placing a cache. What you are actually doing here is antagonizing me and other new users. Get over yourself. I don't care that you started in 2001 or that you could only find 30 caches in 3 months. I've found well over 60 in 2 months -- which by your logic would make me twice a capable as you were at 3 months.

So I was totally correct. This is not about making better cachers. It is your personal agenda for weeding out the cachers you personally do not like.

If you are a mac user I'd suggest going with Garmin as Magellan refuses to make firmware updates or their Vantage Point software for the mac. If you use windows it should be an alright gps and the paperless part is ok.

Or so you assume. All it does is belittle new users and punish them for a few bad apples. I don't know where your three months number has come from other than out of thin air. It is a complete and wild assumption that if you make someone wait 3 months they will magically be a better cache hider. It is false logic. It falsely assumes the person will be active. It falsely assumes the caches they find will be a good role-model to them. I would dare say that of all the people geocaching some could have hidden and maintained a geocache well from day one. I also imagine there are a few that might never really get the hang of it. But because we are all different there is a huge spectrum of people at all points in-between. It is still my opinion that forcing every new member to wait 3 months is a laughable solution and would do nothing more than limit growth in geocaching and serve to alienate new members. However, from what I've seen from a lot of older members, that is exactly what they want -- not better cachers. They just want the geocaching to be relatively unknown rather than popular. To offer a solution of my own I'll recommend two. 1) Have Geocaching make a few instructional videos dedicated to making caches and hiding caches of various difficulty and terrain ratings. 2) Automatically recommend, based on zip code, 5 - 10 of the closest and most favorited geocaches to new users since new users can't sort by favorite. Though I'd make neither of these two options requirements.

I think having to wait three months is absolutely ridiculous. Why not encourage new members rather than making them feel unwelcome and treading on some elitist toes? I'm not even two month in to the sport and have 65 finds. What about people have been caching for months or years with someone who get their own account? Besides, people learn from doing. As you get better you will always look back and realize you could have done things different or better.

I bought and read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Geocaching 2nd Edition when I started geocaching. I found it very useful though a little to GPS centric. I'd have liked more about making and hiding caches as well as photographic examples of all five levels of Difficulties and Terrains.

I'm happy with the .1 mile rule.

Death is a hard subject as each and every person regards it differently. Some want to lock away a memory of a person while others see every item the person had as a memorial. I would have told the person that I would post online as they requested. However, I'd also leave the cache and tell them that it belongs to the late persons immediate family. If they complained about that I'd remind them that I'm a total stranger and that doesn't it make more sense that they ask an immediate family member more. :3

When setting up a trackable what is the "Make this Trackable collectible" option for? Newbie question, I know. Sorry.

Personally I would do.... nothing. At all. I'd just go on with my life, cache, enjoy all the things I enjoy. This person is clearly a loser that wants attention, who wants drama. Who cares what they think? On a secondary note: Why do we cache? For the fun of the find. For the fun of the hide and seeing who finds. Focus on that and leave the rest to the people that get all OCD over stats, drama, and petty politics. It isn't worth it at all. What ever you chose to do or don't do, good luck. :3 ** weee, typo edit

There are a lot "in town" so while you are in Waikiki or Honolulu you can just hit up any there you happen to get close too. Like the ones at the big park by the zoo. There is a "Presidents" series scattered all over. If you reach central Oahu then make a fast stop at the Central Oahu Park and there are about 5 in and around the park -- the park is that big. However, if you want to get out into the woods but not too far into the woods then I'd recommend the three Ryan's Dinosaur Train ones. The good thing about those 3 is that they are nice huge amo cans and often seem to have travel bugs in them. Also the ones around them too. All my info is about Oahu, sorry. That is whee I live and I've not been geocaching on the other islands. But Oahu alon has over 770 caches, so you'll have a lot to get too.