CrackerFL

I don't actively seek out caches that are infrequently found, it just sort of happens that way. The type of cache I like to find (high terrain ratings) just don't attract a lot of visitors. Unless there's been a string of DNF's, I just go into it realizing that it may very well be a difficult find.

FFF7 Was my first Finder's Fest, and only my second event. Not that I've been Caching a long time. I had an utter blast. I just came out for the day on Saturday, but next year I'm planning to take a little bit more time and maybe camp overnight for at least one of the nights. I'd love to have it in Ocala NF again, since I'm pretty close to that, but it would be cool to go somewhere new as well. Once I complete the move I'm planning, Lake Eaton will only be about 1 hour from my new Home 20, so that'd be awesome. If it was up in Osceola I'd have to camp for sure, that's like 3.5 hours away. Either way...I really need to beg, borrow or steal a 4wd vehicle for next year. I missed out on some serious fun as a result of my pitiful little 2wd Ranger. (I didn't mean it-I love my little truck. Just wish it was 4wd.)

I was on this trip with Riffster, and I have to say, it was a total blast. If y'all ever get the chance to do anything like it, DO IT. That is all. My preferred game is to go outside and find somewhere cool that involved a nice hike, or kayak trip, or whatever. I'm not real picky. In order to keep it interesting and keep me going to really cool places, I've decided to play a game with myself. I'm at 66 finds right now. I am only doing caches that improve my average terrain rating until I get to 100 total finds. Right now I'm at a 2.35, which seems to be a respectable bit higher than the average cacher, although I admit I have a low find count, so that skews the data. This encourages me to go out and do something really worthwhile, while getting my exercise! Who knows, I may very well continue this game after my 100th find.

Cracker's Rules of Hiking: Number 3-LOOK BEFORE YOU SIT, STEP OR TOUCH! Saves all manner of ouchfulness. I wear the 6 dollar nitrile-coated utility gloves you can get from any old hardware store. They offer really good grippiness, but they're still really flexible and let me stay dexterous. Like others have said, I use them more as protection against thorns and other spiky stuff than against being bitten by critters.

I second the paracord. If you get the real deal, with the 7 strands inside, it's absurdly strong. Since it's synthetic it also hold up to the elements well. There are a lot of knockoffs, so make sure you're getting the good stuff, and it'll serve you well.

I don't use the Groundspeak app. I have an LG Ally, and I use an app called Backcountry Navigator. It works great with the .gpx files exported from pocket queries, and since they can be emailed to my phone, I can do it all completely wirelessly. Accuracy is pretty good, most of the time. It does struggle with signal lock under heavy foliage at times. Battery life is tolerable as long as you keep the screen off as much as you can. Doing so doesn't shut down the GPS, and still allows your tracklog to show. All in all, I'm really pleased with it. That said, I still plan to upgrade to a dedicated unit soon. Probably a Garmin 62.

Pity you're on the wrong side of the big ol' lake to the (my) east.

I love finding the places I've been driving past for years, but never stopped, only to discover they hold some amazing things.

I just got a new pair of "waterproof" boots. I say it that way, because I've been wearing boots for years, and none of them have ever been eternally waterproof. What do you use to keep the water out? My last pair I was using the Kiwi brand "Camp Dry" silicone spray, which didn't seem to do that great of a job. Any advice, product recommendations or general commentary? Thanks

I'm on the verge of acquiring a Garmin GPSMap 62. (Just the basic model) Sorry if this is a repeat question, I didn't find what I was looking for using the search function. Can you load alternate maps into the unit, instead of the included base map without having to purchase the Garmin software? For example, if I can locate a free topographical map (I know there are sources out there) can I load it into this unit? Also, will it accept the file format where trails are overlaid on the maps? I can't remember whether that was a GPX or a KML file. Thanks in advance!

It wasn't an FTF prize, but the most valuable thing I've ever seen was a 100$ prepaid visa gift card. I had to leave it behind, because I didn't have anything even close to equal value I could leave. I've heard of someone getting a new iPod as an FTF, but never seen it myself.

Much of the stuff Clan Riffster posts is a pretty amusing read. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4e51ddd2-6a7c-48b7-bd9d-3ff088839abe This one is one of the caches he owns. The description amuses me.

It doesn't really matter to me whether a cache is PO or basic. I got my Premium for 2 reasons: First and foremost, the bookmark feature. I really wanted a smoother way to organize what I was planning to do. Second, I enjoy this, and I know all too well how expensive it can get to run a website. I don't mind supporting one that brings me substantial enjoyment. I also don't have cable TV. 30 Dollars isn't "chump change" to me, but it isn't really that much. Bring your lunch to work with you for a week, and you're set to go. Or, have a few less beers, or give up smoking. It's pretty easy to come up with. (Incidentally, you should give up smoking anyway. About 10 years ago, I saw a statistic saying that if you start smoking on your 18th birthday, and smoke one pack per day until you turn 40, you'll have spent over 100,000$ on cigarettes. And they smell bad.)

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. -Theodore Roosevelt

Gators would be crazy to see while caching also. That's one thing for sure I don't have to worry about in Ohio! Shucks, if I don't get to see a gator somewhere along the hike, I'm not convinced it's a good cache! I joke. There are some wonderful places out in the woods too, I just love a nice hike along a stream/lake. Preferably through the woods too.

I have to ask, what do you need the UV flashlight for? I've only ever heard of them for use in tracking things like blood. I'm just curious how it would help when caching. Does it work sort of like a blacklight, where certain things you can't otherwise see just light up like crazy? Scorpions. They're UV reactive and something I'm terrified of. don't even like em when they're encased in acrylic. Seriously? Scorpions are UV Reactive? That's awesome! In hindsight, now that someone said it, I guess I did know that blacklights are UV. Makes sense that some fake stuff would light up under that exposure. That'd be a really sneaky, very handy way to beat some clever geo-flage! Does it work ok in the daytime, or is it more of a night thing? I'd imagine you'd need a pretty high-lumen rated light to use in daylight, yes?

I have to ask, what do you need the UV flashlight for? I've only ever heard of them for use in tracking things like blood. I'm just curious how it would help when caching. Does it work sort of like a blacklight, where certain things you can't otherwise see just light up like crazy?

Thank you! Thank You! Thank You! You, sir, are fixing to get some nice, interesting logs. I have a whole list of caches I need to hunt down in the ONF, and just as soon as I can get a day to mosey over there, I intend to start logging some of yours. They look like a lot of fun. I'm hoping very much to meet you at the FFF7 in October.

I've sat through more hurricanes than I can count. They don't bother me anymore, but I still respect their destructive power. Now, for geocaching, I generally won't go out and START caching in the rain. If I'm already out there and I get rained upon? Ah well. Wet now, might as well keep going. Keeps the bugs down, at least. If you're anticipating that kind of flooding, you might want to disable your cache and go get the box until the storm passes. Of course, if you anticipate that kind of flooding, then you might question whether the cache is really at the top of your priority list.

I've seen a few out in the woods in Florida. So far, none poisonous. I don't mind snakes, provided they stay over there. As much as possible, I'll leave them be. That said, I have only ever drawn my gun with intent to use it once...and it was against a snake. I was in knee high pine needles, and couldn't seen him, but I could sure hear him. I did not like that feeling. (All ended well. He boogied his way, and I boogied mine. No snakes were harmed in the creation of this message, although a large number of electrons were seriously inconvenienced.)

Huh. Interesting replies. Much appreciated. SeekeroftheWay, you make a good point. The burned areas are sometimes pretty neat looking. I've never gone out and roamed around in one though. Might have to do that sometime. By the way, my parents live right down in your neck of the woods. I visit there a fair amount. Grew up in Sarasota, and just nabbed a few caches in Oscar Scherer State Park this week. Hope to get out to Myakka soon.

Well, I'm definitely a newbie. Just logged my 24th find today. What I tend to do is follow the leader on the paper cache-If most people are taking up a full page to themselves (One cache I just did was like that) then I'll do the same, and put a little bit of detail into my paper log. Others just put down date, username, and a TFTC or what have you. I generally will do that too, or some variation like "Nice hide! Enjoyed the hike!" However, when I do my log entry on the website, I'll usually tell a little bit more detail about the cache hunt, or the hike, or something I saw, or whatever. For example, here's one of my recent entries: I don't get mad about people making "stupid" logs, but I really enjoy reading other people's stories when they put a little bit of effort into their logs.

Native Floridian, so I don't mind the heat and hate the cold. Summertime, I'm in nylon/polyester convertible pants (25$ at Bass Pro. Don't pay 60 for Columbias!) with UnderArmour (or knockoff) compression shorts and undershirt for moisture wicking. Over top, I wear a t-shirt or cutoff tee. Sometimes I'll go with one of the columbia style fishing shirts with all the vents on it. I find that having an moisture-wicking underlayer helps out substantially. Footwear is sort of in flux right now. I'm not thrilled with what I have. I normally wear one of two pairs of boots. One is a surplus jungle boot, which works well but fits horribly. Rubs the skin off my little toe. The other pair is a beat up set of Thorogoods, which are super comfortable, but nearing the end of their life cycle. I'm looking to upgrade footwear (I like boots) to something snakeproof and waterproof. So, I'm looking at hunting boots, or possibly more combat-style boots with snake gaiters over top. Dont' really know yet. In any case, I like wool or synthetic socks with boots. Wool is wamer, but works really well, even when wet. Top it all off with either an outback or a cowboy hat. AND LOTS AND LOTS OF DEET. In the winter, I just wear everything I have. Seriously though, I hate the cold. It's usually a pair of jeans with cotton (bad Cracker! Bad!) or synthetic compression shorts, an undershirt and a long sleeve shirt, then a sweater or vest with a jacket shell over top. Headwear really depends on how cold it is. Really cold, I wear a watch cap. Not as cold, usually an Outback style or a cowboy hat.

I had a thought yesterday while reading through a log on a local cache. The cache is placed in a State Park (with permission). This park regularly conducts controlled burns, meaning this cache is in jeopardy of being burned up. The log entry related that the container was in really bad shape, suggesting maybe the next finder could bring out a new one, as the CO is inactive. While I didn't end up making it to the site, it got me thinking.... How do you deal with wildfire, controlled burns, or other fire issues? Obviously, these could present a serious threat to a cache. If time permitted, the best bet would be to deactivate and retrieve the container, but that can't happen all the time. Do you attempt to use fire-proof containers? Is a burned cache just automatically archived? Assuming your cache does get caught in a blaze, what happens then? Obviously most people aren't going to be so keen on hunting through a charred wasteland looking for a crispy ammo can. Sorry for the rambling, this has just been on my mind lately, due in no small part to the rather fiery summer Florida has enjoyed this year.

After stomping around some pretty snake-y looking terrain on my past few cache visits, I'm seriously considering a set of high snake boots. Do any of you folks own/wear a pair of these? The ones I've mainly seen that look to be worth the expense are pretty high. Most are like 15 inch boots, which would bring them almost to my knee. I like that, because it obviously offers the highest level of snake bite protection, but it looks like that could be cumbersome. (As a side note, they're pretty much all waterproof, which would be really awesome as well.) How do you wear them? Pants tucked down inside? Pants over the top, with long socks? (I have my soccer socks, which are long enough to go over my knee.) Are they comfortable? How much ankle flex is generally in there? Can you drive in them comfortably? These are the style I've been seeing the most of: http://www.basspro.com/Rocky-15-Rattler-Zip-Snake-GORE-TEX-Boots-for-Men/product/90212/-1341952?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL#prodDescription Are they fairly good? I'm currently wearing out my old pair of boots pretty fast. They are 8inch waterproof, but non-snakeproof. They're also a little too low for most of the water I encounter, so I'd like something higher, I think. To recap, here's my priorities: -Snakeproof -Waterproof -Snuggable fit, but not crazy tight (Basically, I want it laced or zip-up. Not looking for pure pull-on.) -High tops I'm certainly open to any suggestion of brands I should take a look at. The only large outfitter with a good boot selection anywhere near me is Bass Pro Shops. Thank you!