Team GPSaxophone

Something like this? It was surprisingly difficult to get all the hides onto one map due to the distances involved, so I took the California ones and just made an inset area. To get the PQ data I bookmarked all of my caches (even the archived ones) and created a PQ from it. I clicked to display the PQ on the map then switched to the new beta map, disabled all cache types and selected hybrid view. The same technique can be used to map someone else's caches.

Yep, you arrive in the country where the cache is and some guy comes running up to you with an ammo can and pulls out the log for you to sign. No bloody pocket frog caches!

Sax Man's Campout (8th annual) has been published!

It does violate the section on terrorism, and in a way does involve trespassing. It may be perfectly legal to use the bridge over the tracks and even stop there to watch trains. When you leave a suspicious device on that bridge you are no longer welcome there, even if that suspicious device turns out to be a harmless geocache.

Have you ever met the Sausage King of Chicago? I have.

You should probably unbury it so no one gets the wrong idea about why it's a 5/5.

Archive it and submit a new cache after the event. Give finders an extra smiley.

I do not include puzzles on the route since adding them would allow some people to find the cache without solving the puzzle.

1632 within 10 miles. I still need to find 982 of those.

Add yet another reason why I live in one of those white states. We have lots of deer but ticks aren't a problem here like they are in some areas.

Each cache machine is in a different area, so chances are most participants won't have found all the caches in each area already. In fact, I don't have a single find on the route for this one. By planning the route the group stays together to an extent, although the vehicles do get spread out over the course of a couple of hours. You build a certain camaraderie with the other cachers in your vehicle as you go. There's even a little bit of competition as one group tries to re-hide the cache before the next group gets there. Many of the caches are otherwise unremarkable park and grabs but by putting them on the route we have fun finding them as opposed to "just another LPC" in a parking lot.

I plan my cache machine routes with Google maps on satellite view. Can't see how it would be cheating.

I'm hosting my 3rd cache machine later this month. The first one was great, the second one had traffic issues (as I expected it would), but this one should run much smoother.

And, as others have mentioned, Hide the final FAR from the playground. Not only do lone male cachers get mistaken as weirdo's but caches in playgrounds get found and taken by the kids very quickly. Not everybody needs to find every cache. If somebody is uncomfortable searching for a cache for any reason--be it muggles, terrain, or whatever--then they should just walk away. How long a container would last near a playground is worth considering, though. If the cache owner isn't smart enough to place an urban cache appropriately, then they deserve to have it muggled.

Have you tried it with a different browser or from another computer to rule out your settings?

Your cache is rated 3/2 not 3/5, 2/5.

THIS.

I don't think that four people is what they mean when they say "cache machine". As I understand it they are talking about a large number of people all traveling together in a caravan of vehicles. I could be wrong though. A group of four could be fun. A group of forty converging on every cache I would not find fun. The first couple of caches on the route may have 40 people, but then the vehicles spread out. You might have two vehicles together for several caches then go solo for a few. Think of it as the first vehicle occupants find the cache and sign the log then leave while the second vehicle occupants sign and replace the cache. The first group doesn't hang around for the next group to sign, but have to make sure someone in that group knows exactly where the cache goes.

The problem is that you don't need just the scuba gear to do an underwater cache. JoeRandomCacher wants to do a scuba cache. Can he do it as it is now? NO, because he doesn't have scuba gear. Ok, so there's your T5. Now he goes to a dive shop to rent some gear. But they won't let him rent it, because he's not certified. But he's lucky and knows someone who has a complete set of gear and (irresponsibly) let's him borrow it. Can he do the scuba cache now? NO, because he doesn't know what the heck he's doing and is likely do end up dead or very injured. So he goes and takes a scuba course. It takes him 10 hours of theory classes, 10 hours of pool exercises and 4 checkout dives to get certified and to be able to safely do the dives. Here's your D5. Can he go do the scuba cache now? NO, because he still doesn't have scuba gear and needs to rent it. Yep, so it's T5 as well. There's no such issues when doing an island cache with a boat. You can just get the boat and head over. But I'm not really posting here. That's why mountain climbers add a decimal after the 5. A 5.4 may be relatively easy but no novice is going to be able to do a 5.9 until they gain some significant experience (and thus are no longer a novice). For geocaching, just calling either one a "5" is good enough. Are some 5's harder than others? Sure, but our rating system is only there to give you an idea of what to expect, not to be a definitive guide to everything you may encounter.

Not necessarily. You may need special equipment (a boat) to get to a cache but if it's in plain sight when you get there, it isn't a "5" for difficulty, only terrain. Oops, yes, you're correct and wasn't what I'd intended to say. It was just quick typing and leaving out that part of the equation since the discussion was around the scuba example. I commented on the SCUBA example earlier, too.

Perhaps you should review the definition of "implied", as outlined by the Dictionary, and stop making up your own. If it said it, it wouldn't be implied now, would it? Perhaps you should stick to what the guidelines actually say, instead of making up your own implications Perhaps you should read my edit, then, reread the guidelines. While I've always read the T5 requirement as also having the knowledge to use the equipment (otherwise, what good is having it), the problem with the KB write-up is that the training is in BOTH categories: Difficulty: 5 star Extreme A serious mental or physical challenge. Requires specialized knowledge, skills, or equipment to find cache. Terrain: 5 star Requires specialized equipment and knowledge or experience (boat, 4WD, rock climbing, SCUBA, etc.) or is otherwise extremely difficult. So according to that, a 5/5 is anything you need the specialized skill to complete. Not necessarily. You may need special equipment (a boat) to get to a cache but if it's in plain sight when you get there, it isn't a "5" for difficulty, only terrain.

I started a travelbug capture the flag game in Colorado years ago. It was great fun, but you'd be amazed at how many things you won't think of ahead of time. Ultimately the game broke down because we had to keep adding rules for this or that. What was supposed to be a simple "here are the points you get for placing the TB" turned into "here are the penalties for not following the directions." You'll also need an impartial referee (or group of them) because you won't be able to do it if you're playing the game.

I don't think that's quite the same level of training, 30 minutes of instructions should be enough. Doesn't qualify as "very specialized knowledge or skills" in my book. At least that's what I've seen people doing, I'm not a climber myself, so I don't really know.I knew I should have just stuck to the scuba diving example, you completely missed the point. I forget that some people refuse to connect the dots and need it drawn out for them. Let me rephrase: Ability to use the equipment is implied in the need for special equipment. Otherwise, an "in the open" ammo can and a nano that looks like a rock piece of corral would have the same D rating when placed on the same rock-faced cliff corral reef. No I didn't miss the point, I just don't agree. According to your logic, an ammo can hidden in 60 feet of water would get the same ratings as an ammo can on an island. That doesn't seem right. If you need a boat (special equipment) to get to that island, it's a "5" for terrain. If you need SCUBA gear (special equipment) to get a cache 60' down, that's a "5" for terrain. If the island cache is in plain sight or its location is obvious, it's a "1" for difficulty. If the underwater cache is blaze orange with nothing around it, that makes its location obvious so it gets a "1" for difficulty. Where's the problem?

How about no. There are lots of animal products that have nothing to do with food: Leather, wool, catgut, down/feathers, etc. Unless you're a vegan, you probably don't realize just how many animal products are used in just about everything.