junglehair
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Posts posted by junglehair
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Allow me to present the perspective of someone who does this type of logging. My partner and I enjoy doing EarthCaches and have logged over 300 of them. We will go to the site, read the questions, discuss the answers, draw our conclusions, take any photos we want, then head on to the next cache. When we get home, I submit the answers for the both of us. We have a deal - I answer the EarthCaches and he answers the Virtual caches. I think I got the short end of that stick, but that's a different matter. This in no may means that he didn't visit the site, or didn't get the same lesson from it that I did, but there doesn't seem to be much point in both of us sending in the same answers.
Sure, there will always be some cheaters out there that want to get away with doing as little as possible. It boils down to - it's a game and different people will play it different ways. Unless I am certain that someone is completely armchair logging a cache and has never visited the area, I pretty much leave anything else up to their sense of right and wrong in how they want to play the game.
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My only real interaction with the DGS was attending an event in Salt Lake City which was hosted by the group there. They were a great bunch of people and this event was no different that the hundreds of other events that I have attended across North America. But my question would be: Why call yourselves the DIRTBAG Geocaching Society if you don't want to be seen as the bad guys? It seems that the entire mission of the group is to stir up trouble, but maybe not all members are drinking the Kool-Aid.
this was covered very early on in this thread. The dirtbag moniker comes from the group creators that are/were army service members. That is a term in the army, just the same as a grunt, jar head, flyboy, etc.
Thank you for that explanation, but even so - they must be aware of the negative connotations. Pardon my ignorance, but what is the true mission of this group?
We are aware of the negativity of our members that have made poor choices. There have been efforts to change this behavior since before we became members. The mission is the same as it has always been, Better caches, Better adventures.
Admirable goals. Perhaps "Delightful Geocaching Society" would have set a better tone for trying to accomplish those goals and attract the type of geocachers that could help make this happen. Just an outside observation.
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My only real interaction with the DGS was attending an event in Salt Lake City which was hosted by the group there. They were a great bunch of people and this event was no different that the hundreds of other events that I have attended across North America. But my question would be: Why call yourselves the DIRTBAG Geocaching Society if you don't want to be seen as the bad guys? It seems that the entire mission of the group is to stir up trouble, but maybe not all members are drinking the Kool-Aid.
this was covered very early on in this thread. The dirtbag moniker comes from the group creators that are/were army service members. That is a term in the army, just the same as a grunt, jar head, flyboy, etc.
Thank you for that explanation, but even so - they must be aware of the negative connotations. Pardon my ignorance, but what is the true mission of this group?
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My only real interaction with the DGS was attending an event in Salt Lake City which was hosted by the group there. They were a great bunch of people and this event was no different that the hundreds of other events that I have attended across North America. But my question would be: Why call yourselves the DIRTBAG Geocaching Society if you don't want to be seen as the bad guys? It seems that the entire mission of the group is to stir up trouble, but maybe not all members are drinking the Kool-Aid.
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Sounds like you have already gotten your answer and I'd say you've made a good choice. The smart phone is a good way to get an introduction to this great hobby. Of course, it's not as rugged, but if you are careful with it, you should be able to find a few caches that way. If you are going to be the type of geocacher that just wants to find the occasional geocache and maybe just finds a handful of caches on any given day, then the smart phone might be all that you ever need.
If you decide to get more serious, and want to go after more challenging caches involving long hikes (needing better battery life) and varying terrain (need a rugged unit), or finding 20+ caches in a day (battery life), or start hiding some caches of your own (better accuracy), then it is probably time to upgrade to a handheld GPS.
Have fun and happy geocaching!
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I would definitely post a Needs Archived log on that one, but then that's me. This is my take on the Needs Maintenance / Needs Archived logs:
Needs Maintenance - Hey cache owner, you need to visit your cache as there is a problem with it.
Needs Archived - Hey Reviewer, you should look at this one because it seems obvious that the cache owner isn't taking the necessary action.
If there has never been a NM log, then that is usually my first step. If there have been previous NM logs and still nothing has been done, then I will post a NA and get the Reviewer involved. Sometimes a note from the Reviewer is all it takes to get the cache owner to take notice. Other times, the cache owner is no longer involved in the game and will never maintain the cache. In which case, it's best to just archive the listing to free up the location for a new cache that will (hopefully) be properly maintained.
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Okay, so I never went ahead with the artificial island I originally asked about. Someone else contacted me and said he was working on something similar in the same area and asked if he could finish it.
But since those of you who answered seemed very knowledgeable on Earthcaches, (and some of you look like you might even be reviewers), I wanted to bounce off another idea. I recently found out that near this Earthcache (http://coord.info/GCQV5X) there is one of the seismic measuring devices used to detect and report earthquakes. I found a webpage describing why this is an ideal location, based on the geology (some of which is covered in the existing EC, but it only covers the mining aspect), and how the monitoring station works. I'm hoping to swing by to find the actual antenna / monitoring site and use that as an EC, with lots of information about how and why this site was chosen for that reason. There is also supposed to be an information sign near by, plus I'd like to see the makeup of the antenna and whatever other information would be located on site. Assuming the antenna is not right over the mine used for the existing EC, would this be enough of a different focus to warrant a second EC in the area?
Thanks again.
Nighthawk700
Well the topic is certainly different, so I don't think you would have any issues there. It also doesn't matter how close it is to the existing EarthCache - the 0.10 mile guideline doesn't apply to EarthCaches.
One thing you would need to consider is if the seismograph is located in an area that is open to the public. If it is inside someone's private office, then I'm not sure if this would work. It could be difficult to develop site-specific logging tasks. Certainly worth investigating though. The EarthCache Reviewer for Maryland is geoawareCA: http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=7e13dbcf-c440-400b-9e33-f1aee9a2acc2 They might be able to provide further assistance.
Good luck.
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I absolutely would have posted a NA on that cache. One or two DNFs before me, and feeling fairly certain it's missing, I would have just posted a Needs Maintenance. But 9 DNF logs? Obviously the cache owner is not doing proper maintenance on their cache. I would hit the NA button.
What I find really funny about this whole thing is the cache owner's log stating:
It will forever blow my mind how if someone doesn't find something easily, if there is a twist to it, the first thing they do is log "Needs archived", without ever once emailing the owner. I'm sure this cache is still there but will make a point to go check on it this week.Ok wait - you're complaining that people post a NA just because they don't find it easily, but then you post a blasting message like that WITHOUT even going to check on the cache first????
I wouldn't lose any sleep over this. Let the reviewer deal with the cache owner and move on.
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For years I was a big Garmin supporter, but I have lost faith in that company. My next GPS will very likely NOT be a Garmin.
I have been caching for over 10 years now. I started with the blue eTrex Legend - a pretty dependable little unit and good for a beginner. After about a year, it started having issue with getting lines across the screen. This was a common issue with those units. I passed that one off to a family member that doesn't cache as much as I do and replaced it with a new eTrex Legend.
When the 60 series came out, I bought the 60C. It was very intuitive and easy to use. Then I upgraded to a 60Cx which, in my opinion, is the best unit that Garmin ever made. This is the unit that won Garmin the market share of GPS users. Even die-hard Magellan users were switching over to Garmin. It was the unit of choice for all serious cachers. The accuracy and ability to lock on and hold satellite reception was unmatched.
Then Garmin released the Colorado which was a colossal failure. Shortly after they came out with the Oregon. I eventually upgraded to the Oregon 550. It was nice to have the paperless features, but overall the unit was no where near as good as the 60Cx. The software is buggy and even after many firmware updates, there are still issues with this unit. It will freeze up or suddenly lose all your waypoints other than parking coordinates. The reception on this unit is no where near as good as the 60Cx. I walk near a tree (whether it has leaves on it or not) and I seem to lose signal. It will eventually lead you to ground zero, but only after sending you around in circles for 5 or 10 minutes. My original eTrex Legend had better signal in tree cover than this unit does.
I've talked to others that don't have an issue with the accuracy on their Oregons, but most often it seems that the person never cached with a 60Cx or 60CSx. Those that had seem to have the same frustrations that I do.
I had hopes for the 62 series when they were introduced, but the reviews they received were underwhelming. I never bothered to get one of those. I haven't tried any of the new eTrex series either. It just seems that Garmin peaked with the 60Cx and 60CSx units and has been going downhill ever since.
The last straw for me was when they started up a competitive site to geocaching.com. This seems like biting the hand that feeds you, to me. My Oregon is starting to have issues with the power button, so it seems I might be due for a new unit soon. Delorme is looking better and better to me.
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That's 451 logged attendances, but many accounts have more than one person on their team. I beleive the official attendance was over 700.
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Personally, I don't understand the flash mob craze. Sure, the first one that I attended was fun because it was unique and different and we actually did the "converge on this spot at this time and disperse after 15 minutes to leave everyone wondering what the heck just happened there" bit.
I love going to events. I enjoy meeting other cachers and trading caching stories. A flash mob says "I don't really want to talk to you or get to know any of you - I just want the smiley".
Now trying to turn CITO events into flash mobs is just plain silly in my opinion. It's like "I don't really want to pick up garbage - I just want the smiley. Here's the grocery bag of trash I managed to pick up in a flash."
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Why don't you try to develop an EarthCache on Chesapeake Bay? I see there is one nearby that deals mostly with the watershed/estuary and another for the bolide, but there is not really one that discusses how the Bay formed. The watershed one provides some of that info in their cache write up, but the lesson is mainly on the watershed.
You could discuss things like how the rise and fall of the sea level has shaped this area. Just google "geology Chesapeake Bay" and you should get a few links that might help. The tough part might be trying to come up with some good site-specific logging tasks.
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Sorry - can't think of any way that you could turn that into a geological lesson.
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I think it would depend a great deal on the write up. Strictly speaking, I don't think a man-made island would qualify. It wouldn't be an example of the geological processes that shape our Earth. The first guideline states: "They take people to sites that can help explain the formation of landscapes or to sites of interesting phenomena such as folds, faults, intrusions."
That said, there may still be ways to provide a geological lesson. Just be prepared that you might need to do a bit of extra effort to get it to meet the guidelines. Perhaps there are comparisons that can be made between a natural island and the man-made one? Perhaps the island has had impacts on the surrounding geology? You need to consider the things that a visitor can learn about how the Earth is naturally formed, then focus your EarthCache on those aspects.
Perhaps if you could provide more details about the island, I could offer better suggestions.
Good luck.
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Shows you how much I pay attention to souvenirs - I thought the US State ones were just the blue/yellow state outline. I never realized that if you click on them you get to see a different image.
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My current GPS unit cost more than all the premium memberships I have paid in my 10 years of geocaching. Groundspeak has managed to survive and expand during a time when the global economy has been doing poorly. They are a smart company, but they are not at the same level as Apple or Microsoft or even Garmin. Kudos to them for being successful. They only have a monopoly on this game because they made smart moves along the way.
GPS Unit: $100 - $500
Premium Membership: $30/year
All the wonderful places it has taken me to, and amazing friends I have made along the way: PRICELESS!
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I once helped some friends to find a cache via the phone. I don't remember the exact details - either I was looking up something for them to solve a puzzle cache, or was getting updated coordinates or something. Anyway, when they found the cache I said "put my name in the log too - I helped!" As far as I know, they did write my name in the log book. I've also joked with people I know that were going on vacation to some exotic place that they should put my name in the log books there. Not sure if any of them did that or not, but I never actually claimed any of these logs online.
I am pretty easy going and believe in letting people play the game however they want. Even still, if that was my cache I would politely ask them to delete their log.
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I have to agree that the official geocaching app is probably the best for the iPhone. I still use my Oregon when I'm caching, but I look it up on the iPhone if I want to see the attributes, or photos, or older logs. If I don't have my GPS with me, but have some time to go look for a cache, then it's great to have the geocaching app on my iPhone to just check and see if anything is nearby. It's nice to be able to log your find immediately too if you want, or you can use logging notes and upload them later.
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I'm not sure where the frustration lies. I read someone's signature line once that said "it's not an adventure until something goes wrong" and it's so true. I guarantee you will remember this cache outing. It seems it was not the fault of the cache or the cache owner, but an unwise choice on how to approach it. Perhaps the cache owner could have posted parking or trailhead coordinates to help out those that are not familiar with the area.
I never could stay clean for more than about 5 minutes - geocaching is a perfect fit for me.
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It is possible to manually decypher a bar code - at least with the old thin and thick lines method like the fake bar code on the TB tags. I did that for a puzzle cache once before I owned a smart phone.
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For a megavent, yes. I know the rules and that's why I used 499 and 501 in my example. My question maybe should have been phrased "Why does it make any difference to anyone whether or not the EC event has mega status"? Why is this seen like an award? A great event is a great event.
In a way - it makes no difference. I anxiously awaited for registration to open so I could sign up for this event - Mega or not. However, it's still cool that it revieved Mega status. For one thing, it shows that it's successful and could encourage future events like this. For another thing, my stats show that I have attended over 200 events, but only 5 Mega events. I like going for the rarer icons (webcams, virtuals, etc.) whenever possible. It just adds another dimension to this game.
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Altitude and measurements are pretty frowned upon because they are so easy to grab online. I can look at a satellite map, then switch to a topo and have the answer. Same with the "measure the distance from x to y.
What about the possibility of a multiple choice question asking about rock type, dealing with stratum? I went to Google Maps and it's not clear enough to see rocks from the satellite imagery.
To me, that would make your EarthCache about rock types rather than the sinkhole unless there is some correlation between the two. I'd prefer to see questions that directly relate to the topic. If there is debate about whether this is a sinkhole or not, you could have people examine a few things at the site and give their opinion on how the area formed and describe what they saw. What supports that theory? What doesn't?
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My first cache was an ammo can with some interesting trade items, hidden under a pile of sticks in a lovely little park I had never visited before about 2 or 3 miles from my house. It was the closest cache for me at that time. Mind you, that was over 10 years ago now. I feel kind of sorry for those of you who were introduced to this game by finding a boring old magnetic keyholder on a section of guardrail. My log
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Sigh, I really wish I could go to this, but as it's sort of far from Arkansas, and well, I'm a school teacher, I can't make it.
You know...Arkansas IS called the Natural State...maybe the next event can be down here?
I seem to recall in one of the posts about this event, that it would count towards professional development credits (or whatever you call them) for teachers. Not that that helps you to finance the trip, but it might give you some added incentive.
I am fortunate enough to live within driving distance. Ok, so it's a good 7 hour drive or so, but still doable. I'm looking forward to it.
Can't log in to Wherigo site using IE
in Wherigo
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There seems to be an issue with the Wherigo site. We tried to download a cartridge this evening, but it would not let us sign in. We tried on two different computers (both running Windows 7), using Internet Explorer (version 11). Either the link for "Sign In" wouldn't do anything, or if you did get to the sign in page and enter your information, it didn't do anything from there. Finally I tried to access it using FireFox, and that worked.