T.D.M.22

I found, and double checked the co-ords of 100 caches in 2 hours on a powertrail. So 521 caches could be done in under 10 hours. A larger powertrail could be 1000 caches in 24 hours. Also I'd like to point out, that you don't know that person found all those caches on that day. You know that person logged then on the same day. Some people (like myself) don't care about stats, so if I spend 2 or 3 days caching I probably won't bother to change the dates, and just leave it as the default day (the day I'm logging them.)

It's also not just the quality of the hide you have to worry about. Even the best, most waterproof container is useless if another cacher is careless enough to break it, or even not close it properly.

Basically the answer is do whatever you want. It is ypur event after all. We have an annual 3 day event. 2 events Friday, 3 on Saturday 1 on Sunday. At each event everyone get a ticket for free and they get drawn for smaller prizes. Cache containers, gift cards, flashlights, stuff like that. The main event will also have some stuff you pay for. Usually tickets to some sort of game with a larger prize, and then a "grand prize" or 2, that you buy tickets for. A lot of these prizes are donated so the money we get goes to the events. Smaller events are usually a few prizes donated by the host, or a few other cachers, and they are just free. Of course if you're buying the prizes, paying for the tickets (say 5 for a dollar for example) to recover the cost isn't a big deal. Now if you are trying to make money, then IMO that's wrong. Notice that I said "you." We are a geocaching club, and look to make a bit of money so we can continue these events. We also don't charge registration fees or anything, so it's still not for profit.

Yes. The unknown is a sort of "catch all." Puzzles, night caches, etc. They show up tpas the bluesquestion mark on the map.

That's actually the possible expected error, so in your case plus or minus 5 meters. If it was a known, accuracy the computer would correct it. That being said that's pretty close to what you can expect with most devices, and it's good enough for geocaching. Remember you're not looking for the co-ords, you're looking for the cache. That means if the hiders GPS was off by 3 feet and yours is perfect, you'll still appear to be off by 3 feet. Then there's also the possibility that the hider didn't take a perfect reading. Maybe stood next to the cache to take the co-ords. Or maybe someone else didn't put it back in the original spot. Either of those, perfect co-ords n won't help either as you will be at the right co-ords, but the cache won't be there. So, like others have said, when you get withing 3-5 meters start looking for the cache.

That's a phone setting, same as volume and screen brightness. No reason at all for them to make the app so it, especially by default. Actually it's better for them not to do it because it would destoy the battery life which would be a more important issue than keeping the screen on.

It's the owners job to maintain the cache. If I want my cache replaced, I'll replace it. If I want it archived, I'll archive it. If I want to change it, I'll change it. If the owner doesn't want to do anything, then just mark it as needs archived and let the cache die. I say don't replace it, don't even offer to. Maybe if you personally know the owner, ok. There are only really 2 reasons to do it. One is people who do it just so they can log the cache as found (which is just dumb. The really didn't find the cache.) The other is so "other people can enjoy finding the cache." Well there's literally over a million caches, it won't even be a drop in the ocean if that cache isn't replaced. You also say nobody has been able to find it in over a year. Well then the CO really doesn't care about the cache, so you'd just be putting out another cache that won't be cared for. If you like it so much place your own after that cache is archived.

Since an event is fairly large (compared to other caches) and usually fairly obvious, you don't need spot on co-ords. What I've done in the past is find a cache near the event location and estimate the location co-ords. Check on the map. If the event is happening at Big Momma's Bar and Grill, you mention that on the event page. Maybe mention you have a reserved table so cachers know what/who to look for, The co-ords could be the front door, the parking lot, in the middle of the building. People will go to Big Momma's, not to co-ords on the map. And those that do, well, they'll figure out that it's inside. So this, combined with the fact that events aren't subject to the same guidelines other caches are (ie proximity) means the co-ords could very well be 50 or 100 feet off if it's a big building. Or you could always message a cacher from that area and ask for a bit of assistance.

You can still post it. And it will still show as disabled. And I'm not sure why it's a big deal, but I'm sure you can change the date by editing the log.

Wouldn't the site be different then too? It does say, "Country: Canada" on the site shot... No. Since then CAD/USD exchange is always changing, sometimes by quite a bit, it's easier for them to set the price as $30 USD and let the credit cards/paypal collect the appropriate amount in CAD for that days exchange.

You met other cachers at the cache. That's it that's all. Some people will ask if the late comers want to go and come back in a minute so they can look for the cache, or if they just want to sign the log.

The one you found could have been a throw down. That is when someone can't find the cache, instead of leaving it at that, they put one out "to help the cache owner." In reality it's more often than not just so they can cheat and say they found it. (What's the point of even trying to look for the cache if you're going to do that anyway. ) I'd say it's more likely, since it wasn't near the place the other cache was supposed to be, that it's an older cache that was archived (taken out of the game.) Or it could be the final location to a puzzle or multi cache which wouldnt show on the map. Or could have been from another geocaching website. You still log the cache you tried to find, only log it as a needs maintanance, so it will give the owner a heads up that it needs to be checked on. Normally I'd say log it as DNF (did not find) because you could have just been having a bad caching day, but I don't think so because of the size of the cache.

If someone finds or sees something suspicious, it should be reported and responded to accordingly. Depending on which action you think is the overreaction, I may disagree with you: I don't see a problem with how authorities reacted to this, but I do see a problem with how OP reacted to this. I agree that the OP overreacted to it. But think about it, just about EVERY cache can be considered suspicious. Should law enforcement act like this every time someone encounters a cache and doesn't know what it is? Yes they should react exactly like this. What they did was secure the area and investigate it, then found out it was not dangerous. Overreaction would be not taking the time to investigate or anything, and just blowing it up. How would the police (or even us for that matter) know that it's a geocache without opening it? Are you serious? And why not? Whiles it's highly unlikely, it's still possible. They get a call about a "bomb" and look at geocaching.com to see there's a geocache there. So they leave it. Turns out there really was a bomb (the cache is in a rosebush 3 feet away), it blows up, people blame the police. What do you, in your infinite wisdom, suggest they do? You're not a police officer, nor do you know why they make certain decisions, like these. The majority of their job is to assume the worst, and protect the public from it, until it can be ruled safe. Bombs, bank robbers, etc. It's been explained, and honestly anybody who refuse to understand why they police still have to check and ensure public safety really shouldn't be hiding geocaches.

If someone finds or sees something suspicious, it should be reported and responded to accordingly. Depending on which action you think is the overreaction, I may disagree with you: I don't see a problem with how authorities reacted to this, but I do see a problem with how OP reacted to this. I agree that the OP overreacted to it. But think about it, just about EVERY cache can be considered suspicious. Should law enforcement act like this every time someone encounters a cache and doesn't know what it is? Yes they should react exactly like this. What they did was secure the area and investigate it, then found out it was not dangerous. Overreaction would be not taking the time to investigate or anything, and just blowing it up. How would the police (or even us for that matter) know that it's a geocache without opening it? And why would they open it if they think it's a bomb? And what if it is a bomb ,ade to look like a cache? Or a bomb placed near a cache? If it's good enough to hide a cache, why isn't it a good enough place to hide a bomb?

I would say get the Magellan. Simply because it's made for geocaching. No there's no messing around downtown loading the right maps or whatever. It's a decently simple unit. Of course if you don't like it, or you want to upgrade in the future, you can. I'd still say take the free gps. If they don't like it, it was free, so no loss.

While it may be reviewed in 5 minutes (my personal fastest review) it may take up to a week. Reviewers get busy, sick, go on vacation, etc. so don't worry if you don't hear anything in a few days. To contact your reviewer go to their profile. There's something to the effect of "Contact this user" to find your reviewer go to a local cache and to the very first log. It will say "published" and that's your reviewer. Or if not that person will put you in contact with the reviewer. For most caches nothing much is required, but if the reviewer questions your placement (on private property for example) a picture of the location could help, but I wouldn't unless you're asked to. All Reviewers will have a free premium membership for their reviewer account, (and their personal account.) Actually I think everyone working for Groundspeak gets a free premium membership. To answer the question you didn't ask, how to become a reviewer? Find and hide tons of caches, all over. Show you know the guidelines by following them when hiding caches. Host and attend events. Then if a reviewer is needed, my understanding is that you'll be asked. Since experience is important, I probably wouldn't count on being asked, as there are a lot of people who have be chosen before you. Now if you stick with this, then you might be one of those people eventually,

Some providers have a character limit for email to SMS (text) and cuts off some stuff. If the link was cut off it won't take you to the proper page. A solution if you're using a smartphone, is to use an email app. I use Gmail. The app alerts me whenever I get a new email. I don't have to worry about this problem, and I can access the emails anywhere, any device.

Are you seriously a moderator?? No other advice you can offer a newbie geocacher except a smart a** comment? We'll done. Are you seriously offended by an answer that would solve your problem?

It does allow access. You just have to be a premium member. Honestly it probably is just so they can make money. No it is not wrong. It's a bussiness, providing a service you use. They need to make money somehow. It's also not affecting anyone's ability to play the game. The app is merely another perk to being a premium member. You are free to use any other app out there (some of which have permission from Groundspeak to use the api.) Heck, you don't even need to use any app. So, no they're not doing anything wrong to us. (Now if they aren't providing a product that people like, it's wrong in the fact that a bad product isn't good for bussiness) And no you are not the first to not like the new app, there are many threads with many more posts about it.

If you're not ending up in the right location in assuming you have actually entered the coords and tried to navigate to them. That leads me to think that maybe you are not using the correct format. Make sure that the gps is set to the same format as the coords that you have solved.

Caches will show what tractable inventory they have on the page. And there's also icons next to the name on the list. But it's pointless as it shows what's been logged in but not logged out. A lot (and I mean a lot) of travkables go missing. People take them and never log them. So they show as being in a cache. Sometimes people don't log them into the cache, so they're in there but you dont know it. Sometimes people simply haven't logged them yet (not everbody logs caches instantly.) So the only real way to know is by just finding caches. Otherwise you'll be let down.

A geotour will be set up with help from Groundspeak. The cost could be several thousands of dollars. It include more than the listing, but I won't get into that here. In the end though they are just geocaches. The same as you find everyday. They could be existing caches added to the tour, or caches placed just for the tour. Could take you to historic, or other interesting places. Could be a prize of some sort for completing it. The thing is most of it has nothing to do with Groundspeak, lots to do with the people organising it (you)

Number one, geocaching does nothing more than list the caches. They really have no control over what's in them (or not) or who geocaches. Number two, ya it would be a good idea. But how exactly are you going to police it? Sure you could go after the people who last logged the trackables but that's not fair. I have had several trackables that I have given people who don't log them from me. So I should be banned because someone else didn't log the trackable I gave to them?

Remember it doesn't take you to the cache, it take you to the co-ords. So If your gps, or the hiders gps is off it won't be perfect. Same if someone didn't put it on the exact spot the found it.

Or you could use a GPS and keep your caches saved on it. Or you could just navigate using the co-ords like you would finding a mystery cache.