AustinMN

"Part II: Son of Willow Cache 2 Redux, The Sequel"

I heard this one this weekend: "I want to add some camo and move it between those three trees." Me: "I think the cache owner wanted it like this." Austin

In response to the thread about why people move caches (real or imagined), I thought some excuses for doing...odd...things with TB's because the trackable will not fit would be in order. So fill in the blank (please, other than just keeping it): The trackable woudn't fit in the cache so I _________. A few I've come up with: The trackable woudn't fit in the cache so I tied it to a branch on the "nearby" tree. The trackable woudn't fit in the cache so I cut off the stuffed bear and put that part in a different cache. The trackable woudn't fit in the cache so I replaced the bison tube with a peanut butter jar. Austin

The problem is that this is 3rd hand info. The threat to cancel the event is not third hand info. The city official told him his event was in jeopardy.

I really don't get you people telling him to sit back and wait. The city official threatened to cancel his event, which they can do if it is on city property. Austin

Well, in the thread that triggered this one, I posted these: My mother-in-law was with me and she insisted it was wrong, so I moved it. I was caching with TooMuchWiskey, so I moved it. I didn't see where my caching partner found it, but it was my turn to put it back so I moved it. I didn't like walking just off the trail, so I moved it. I like pine trees better than spruce trees, so I moved it. I'm late filing my taxes, so I moved it.

I didn't move it, I put it back where the CO obviously wanted it.

That will change. Austin

I'm with those who don't think using on-line sat images after placement is a good idea. Use it for scouting out what may be a good location, but use a GPS device (and take at least 5 readings) to determine cache placement. BTW, there's a current thread that mentions people moving caches. Ever consider the possibility that the cache was in the correct place for the coordinates, but someone moved it to what they thought was a "better" place? Austin

More realistic numbers might be: 50% natural disasters 30% animal damage 19.99999999999990% lumberjacks 0.000000000000001% people climbing trees That is how absurd your position is. Austin

My mother-in-law was with me and she insisted it was wrong, so I moved it. I was caching with TooMuchWiskey, so I moved it. I didn't see where my caching partner found it, but it was my turn to put it back so I moved it. I didn't like walking just off the trail, so I moved it. I like pine trees better than spruce trees, so I moved it. I'm late filing my taxes, so I moved it. How's that for you? Austin

I am not a lawyer and I can only speak from a U.S. perspective. But my understanding is that safety is the sole responsibility of the cacher. Groundspeak, cache hiders, land owners and managers, and governments are not liable for accidents that happen to cachers while out geocaching. I believe we all agreed to this when we signed up. http://www.geocaching.com/about/disclaimer.aspx "Geocaching.com Disclaimer Cache seekers assume all risks involved in seeking a cache. Geocaching.com is owned and operated by Groundspeak Inc. Information in the Geocaching.com database is updated regularly. Neither Groundspeak Inc., nor any agent, officer, employee of Groundspeak Inc. or any geocaching community volunteer warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information and shall not be liable for any losses caused by such reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of this information, portions may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on information obtained from Geocaching.com does so at his or her own risk. Geocaching, hiking, backpacking and other outdoor activities involve risk to both persons and property. There are many variables including, but not limited to, weather, fitness level, terrain features and outdoor experience, that must be considered prior to seeking or placing a Cache. Be prepared for your journey and be sure to check the current weather and conditions before heading outdoors. Always exercise common sense and caution..." Austin

I read about a cache like this awhile back. The CO had a sticker on their vehicle with coordinates to a final location where the cache was placed. He/She described where the vehicle was *usually* parked (at work/home) but essentially people had to find the car to in order to find the cache location. Of course, permission would be a major issue to put any sort of sticker on a bus. I think I would be evil and have the north coordinates on one car and the west coordinates on the other car. Eventually people just end up sharing the coordinates with each other but it would be fun to see who manages to be first to find it. I love the idea of a sticker with coords on our car. What do you think the difficulty rating should be on a cache like that? This would last until a overzealous cacher ran the car off the road to get the cache. If you think it would not happen, think again.

I hope I'm not dredging up a thread that is too old, but I noticed only a couple mentions of photography. While I'm not a professional, I do a lot of photography, most of it of landscapes. When I say a lot, I mean 10,000-15,000 photos a year. I am always looking for interesting places to photograph. The result is that I love more remote caches with the "scenic view" attribute (or that should have the SV but don't). Of course, I have found more than a few "scenic view" caches where the only scenery was the dumpster behind the local supermarket. But when I find a gem, I make sure I put some of those scenic view photos in the cache listing. Favorite points often go with the photos. Austin

I have recently posted longer logs. I typically only do this when: 1) There is a more substantial log book, and 2) The cache is one that is not sought after very often, and 3) It took considerable effort (for me) to reach the cache. 1.a could be that the cache is at leasdt a regular. Anything smaller than a regular is going to have a little tiny notebook not intended for much more than "Thanks, swapped trackables. Next finder should find Binford 1280 Travel Bug." Austin

Just a technical correction. DD:MM.MMM specifies to 1/60,000 of a degree. DD:MM:SS specifies to 1/3,600 of a degree. DD:MM:SS.SS specifies to 1/360,000 of a degree. Regardless of which of these measurement systems you use, GPS error is greater than the coordinate system error. Austin

Looks like you need to reset your map preferences. I know I did, after being alerted to the issue, raised in this thread: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=331158 B. Thanks, that did it. I was aware of the Map Preference, but aparently forgot where it was. I couldn't find it in my profile settings so I assumed it was gone. Austin

I thought as part of my Premium Membership, I was able to use Google Maps. But that no longer appears to be an option (noticed it yesterday). Anybody know what's going on? Austin

Which is it? Austin Oh come on. You know what I mean. I'm sorry oh great and glorious wordsmith that have used word that has so confused your mind. Yes, I do now. Your first post was deliberately distorted, and that became clear with your second. You were not approached by law enforcement. You approached them. Austin Deliberately distorted? Give me a break. I don't know how *you* define approach but it seems to me that there was some approaching from both directions. When the LEO pulled off the road to run TCs license plate he was approaching first, the TC approached the LEO, which led to what sounded like a pleasant discussion. In his first post, what he described was a cop breaking the law. What actually happened was a cop doing his job. What part of this do you not understand? Austin

Which is it? Austin Oh come on. You know what I mean. I'm sorry oh great and glorious wordsmith that have used word that has so confused your mind. Yes, I do now. Your first post was deliberately distorted, and that became clear with your second. You were not approached by law enforcement. You approached them. Austin

We don't need probable cause to hold a conversation, or to request ID. You need probable cause to come on to my land. My being there is not probable cause.

No - the cache must receive surprisingly many favourites relative to the number of PMs that visited. The easily-accessible cache might get 20 visitors but only 1 favourite point: that's not "surprisingly-many" so it wouldn't be a COTM. Another cache with 4 visitors and 1 favourite likely would be one of the 10% that was deemed COTM. niraD - where have GS discussed enhancements to the favourites system? (I missed it.) And next month it gets 6 visits and 2 favorites, so it's COTM again. Then 3 visits and 1 favorite, and guess what...

Which is it? Austin

You would not be the first to do this. Track yourself by having the trackable "visit" each cache you want on your travel history. Austin

I sometimes do a variation on this. I walk a straight line until the cache is 90° off my direction of travel, then I turn directly towards it, walk a stright line towards it, and put the GPS away when I cross it again. Austin