Lieblweb

X2

Counts ARE NOT the point I was trying to make. It's the ACTIVITIES, it's the exposure, the experiences, the views, the scenery, its GETTING YOUR BUTT off the couch and getting outside This hobby is different things to different people. You get out of this hobby what YOU want to get out of it. Everything changes and evolves. Hobbies evolve both positively and negatively - but ultimately, they're catering to change based on the popularity of the hobby. You can't control those changes. If you control one thing, you'll have chaos somewhere else. People evolve too.....5 years ago, you may have been climbing trees but that won't be something you'll enjoy when you're older. So - is that the fault of the hobby? Or the fact that we all get older and you just don't enjoy things like you did when you were younger? Life changes.....your interests change.... So - instead of people complaining about the hobby, why not TRY to look at the hobby in a different aspect? Find parts about the hobby that you will enjoy. For example - work only on puzzles. Find benchmarks. Learn how to build a Where-i-go. Take a different aspect of the hobby and find something to enjoy within the hobby. Or.....simply find another hobby.

My improper usage of words has confused you. A person comes to this forum to complain about the hobby ....and all I can think of is: You haven't explored enough You haven't experienced enough You haven't traveled enough You haven't hiked enough You haven't kayaked enough You haven't climbed enough trees You haven't found enough creative caches You haven't solved enough puzzles You haven't found enough multis You haven't found enough earth caches You haven't found enough ........ whatever...... And if a person doesn't find enjoyment in those above things (and more) ...then the hobby isn't right for them.

It's the chance you take when you release trackables into the wild. You take it 'one day at a time' and BE HAPPY for each and every move they make because they can disappear in a heartbeat. I've got 9 trackables. Four of them are missing - all of them have been missing for more than 1 year (I can re-release them anytime). I've re-released 2 of them so far - of which, one of them has disappeared AGAIN. Ironically...the trackable name is "Don't Steal Me" My one saving grace.....my very first trackable I ever bought....back in 2002, is still alive and traveling in Germany!! I dunno....but, I think the trackables last longer overseas than they do here in the U.S.

10 years and only 1,134 finds? You're not doing it enough!! Or... If you've lost that much interest in the hobby because things have 'changed' - then, its time to find a new hobby. 10 years ago, my husband and I were introduced to geocaching (Username 'Janster'). Found 2 caches....and that was it. Those 2 caches were the closest to our house and 30 miles away. Caches were few and way too far ..... We re-discovered the hobby 3 years ago and haven't looked back. WE LOVE IT!!! We've filled our calendar AND have filled our D/T chart in those 3 years with only 1,818 finds. We've kayaked, we've biked, we've hiked, climbed trees, met some wonderful people and have seen some awesome things. Dude ...You are truly not seeing the hobby for what (I think) it should be.

Never used it to find the caches, but we use it all the time to drive-to the nearest parking areas of the caches. You can load caches into the Nuvi using several different methods - with GSAK and/or POI Loader. We currently use export function in GSAK (no POI loader or macro). I've known a couple people to use the Nuvi. Nothing wrong with using it (or any method) as long as you're having fun. Whatever method you use - You will discover if that method is suitable to YOU and/or whether you experience limitations. If you already have a smart phone, it'll be your best & most efficient option. But hell........experiment a little and try out the Nuvi. Something different and/or challenging.

What are you using to 'find' these caches? The reason I ask is.... The cache could be 'Temporarily Disabled' or even Archived (owner never retrieved the container). These caches won't show up on an iphone (geocaching app) search. Not that I've looked lately, but I don't think there's an option to include disabled in searches. And/or if you pulled a Pocket query that doesn't include ' temporarily disabled' caches.

You never mentioned it, but....... Is he/she using the proper APP? (picturing someone assuming the geocaching app will find wherigos)

Good Point. I have a vehicle TB and never knew what the 'collectible' part would do. It hasn't been discovered much, so I'm lucky nobody was stupid enough to put it in their inventory. I might go back and change that to collectible. Thanks for clearing that up for me!

A cache I once visited...... had a big bag of white powdery stuff and a big bag of what could've fooled someone to thinking it was marijuana. Granted, I don't know much about either of those, but I'm pretty certain it wasn't (my college years have exposed me to the wrong people - LOL). Besides....obviously someone knows about the container and knows people visit there. A smart druggie wouldn't hide their 'very expensive' big bag of goods in a geocache! LOL

In my opinion, that's NOT a very good way to respond to them (or anyone for that matter). Their actions are totally normal given the circumstances. When you have a cache hidden, its totally obvious TO YOU how easy it is to find it or the paths to take to find it. However - people are visiting your cache are not familiar with the area and aren't familiar with the terrain. They view things differently than you do. I'm willing to bet, they're not the only ones to go thru that same scenario. They're the only ones to mention it in their logs. Not a good idea to leave the roadway? HUH?? I guess my 4X4 is useless then.... Just sayin.... In my area - bushwhacking means to WALK thru an area that isn't a trail and walking thru bushy areas (overgrowth, thorns, greenery, etc).

Before you go..... I would highly recommend trying things first. Turn OFF your cell signal on your phone (in settings). And now, experiment with what you need to do to use the phone to geocache without cell signal. I haven't tried it lately, but....when I did try it, the phone was sooooooooooooooo SLOW and locked up frequently. You're better off experimenting before you go. If the phone doesn't respond now, then it certainly won't respond there. You might be better off borrowing a handheld GPS or buy one before you go.

Usually, when the APP is offline - it means your don't have cell service and the App can't communicate with the website. Close the App and re-open it and log in again. Or Reboot the phone. Check all your settings to make sure your privacy settings aren't turned off for the APP. Or some other setting that doesn't allow the APP to use cell signal.

It's obvious you geocache with a cell phone.... nothing wrong with that, I've done it. Do you own a handheld GPS? Have you ever geocached with a handheld GPS?

I'm not exactly sure what you're asking.... It's a cell phone thing. If you're geocaching with a phone (smartphone, iphone, etc) - You need cell signal. Some folks are able to geocache with the iphone without cell signal via having Pocket queries loaded in their phones and only using the GPS. However - I've tried it - and my phone was very S L O W and locked up often. Not fun. Some of the wooded areas / hiking trails near my home do not have cell service. Dead zones.

You've been using an iphone........ You've come here to ask us whether or not you should get a GPS ..... You're having thoughts of getting a GPS..... You are ready to buy a GPS!!!!!! GET ONE!! That's exactly how it went for us. We were using the iphones for a while and discovered their limitations (for us). The biggest issues we had were battery life & caching in areas without cell signal. We cache a lot out in the woods and do a lot of hiking & outdoor activities. Don't skimp on a GPS either.... Since you're used to using an iphone, get a GPS with a 3 axis compass. Our first GPS was a Megellan Explorist. It doesn't have a 3axis compass. We hated it. Sold it after our first weekend of using it. GPS's can be complex at first, but once you learn how to use them.....you'll be glad you bought one. We still carry & use our iphones for geocaching - but the GPS's make life so much easier. Not to mention....if something happens - its much cheaper to replace a GPS than it is to replace a very very expensive iphone.

Yes!!! I live here in SE PA and am a part of the L.O.S.T group. AWESOME group of folks who are very dedicated & passionate about the hobby. Some of the folks in our group have 10,000 finds, 15,000 finds..... We have monthly dinner meetings, picnics, & events. My husband and I haven't finished the L.O.S.T 81 series yet (have 6 left) but we have finished our D/T chart and filled in our calendar in 3 years. In the last 2 years, our primary goals were to finish the calender and fill the D/T chart. It's been a lot of road trips and a lot of pre-planning. It's been challenging but we've had a blast and keeps us going. We haven't cached much this year due to various life events - but I'm excited to get out tomorrow with a group of folks to complete a 4/5 cache by L.O.S.T 81. Been eyeballing this one for a very long time!! (It's that itch that we haven't been able to scratch!!)

Not a FORUM....but.... There should be a thread topic of SAFETY (posted by Administrators only). These topics should stay CLOSED. No replies, No comments. Listing Safety items for reading only. Perhaps people could submit their own safety suggestions and/or personal experiences to administrators for approval and posting. Again - keeping it serious. Keeping it easy to read. Keeping the information in front & not lost within 50 posts. Too much riff raff - you lose the point of the topic.

A Chirp cache is something different and people enjoy 'different'....We have one placed. Like anything that transmits and/or receives - there are so many different variables to consider - which - even if you test a million times and retest the next day - you'll get different results. I would highly recommend NOT enclosing the chirp in anything - this will greatly weaken the signal. My husband and I ran some 'tests' at home (indoors & outdoors) testing the chirp in a variety of different situations & with both our Garmin GPS's. We discovered that the signal is much weaker (and/or non-existant) when enclosed. Our chirp is located in a pavillion, under the roof, in a corner about 6' high away from the rain/elements. Our cache instructions specifically mention the Chirp feature must be enabled to work. Like technology in general.... sometimes you gotta be patient, by walking around to find the signal. Sometimes you gotta disable & re-enable the chirp feature.... etc. All of which we mention in our instructions. Again....TESTING TESTING TESTING..... And after you publish the chirp cache - your cache logs will tell the story and/or if you need to correct any issues.

GSAK is as popular or more so and probably does much more now than it did 6 years ago (but I don't know...I wasn't caching 6 years ago). Paperless? Smartphones and Geocacing Apps allow you to search for caches at your current location, navigate to them, and log them online immediately. If you're out of cell coverage - you can log the caches in the app and it'll save those logs in the app until you're within cell coverage to upload them to Groundspeak. GPS's have Paperless features also. You log them as 'found' in the unit. When you get home, plug the GPS to the computer and upload 'field notes'. Garmin Car GPS's (like the NUVI) allow you to upload geocaches into those units also via GSAK and/or POI Loader. Treasure chests will show up on the screen of your Nuvi as you're driving along. It's pretty slick....but can be a headache to load (many different ways of doing it). It allows you to pick a geocache, hit GO...and it'll take you on route to the cache (within parking distance).

Run a Pocket Query 'caches along a route' and when you open the 'listing' - look at the caches with the most favorite points.

Sounds like you're doing a huge part to keep things active in the hobby!! I praise you & your wife for all the efforts. I know - it's a HUGE amount of work (that most people don't realize). We started back in 99 with a Toyota truck. Around here, there's a pretty big jeep following with 2 very big jeep clubs. Having that Toyota history - we always wanted to get everyone (non-jeep) folks together to go offroading. We had started our own club and it lasted for several years until some politics & lack of people wanting to help out - it dissolved. The Jeep clubs have always been nice to include non-jeeps, but it was never the same. And then Paragon Adventure Park closed up. That place was awesome!! Rausch Creek was just getting started at that time - we help mark & cut trails for them. That was fun. After 10 years of wheelin.... We started geocaching. This is my 'pavement queen' geocaching vehicle. After all those years (and vehicles) of needing to do mud/maintenance - I vowed to keep this one clean & prestine.

Personally for me.....a Driving GPS for the car only. I need a large screen for a driving GPS. The larger the screen is, the easier it is to look at while you're driving, especially if you're alone. If the screen is too small, you're spending more time concentrating on looking at the small screen and what your next turn is and how far = less time paying attention to the road. So, with that in mind....a larger screen unit isn't ideal for wooded areas and not waterproof. Anytime you want to combine everything you want....handheld gps in a package that'll do everything a driving GPS will do with a large screen, and is waterproof = EXPENSIVE. You can get a really good driving GPS's for under $200. Garmin Nuvi's can be loaded with geocaches so you can drive within parking distance of geocaches. Besides... if you're out caching in an unfamiliar area, and you drop/break or lose your GPS - How are you going to get home? You'll have to find a store and buy a map or hope the nearest guy gives you accurate directions. (sorry, had to say it)

Nice! About 5 years ago, we sold our YJ. Loved that thing! But, the main offroad park disappeared, the clubs fell apart, and we got older and moved on. Lots of offroading memories

Surely....everyone's change after that first few days when you start! After several years - goals change, etc. We still totally love the hobby..... Lately... LIFE has taken priority. More recently - haven't been cachin due to a variety of things. Changing jobs...home interior upgrades...buying/selling a home... packing & moving..unpacking...etc. After all that dust settles in the next month or so and we take a trip to Cozumel...we'll be ready to do some cachin!! Goals? Our main goals have been accomplished (full calender & full D/T chart). Can't do any type of streaks....we work for a living! Can't wait to get the kayaks & bikes out this summer!