cliptwings

I'm afraid to admit this, but I hid something like this called "Scardy Cache." GCYNT2. I did it around Halloween, and bought this fake plastic headstone (1'x2') at Wally World. The coolest thing about it was that it played screaming sounds when you got near it (motion activated). The theme of the hide was to dedicate a cache to all those geocache hides that have been muggled or "killed" over the years. I hid it in a Euless city park behind a big oak tree. It was a big hit with those who found it, but I archived it when I moved from Texas to Arizona. I don't see anything disrespectful about doing it this way, and it was lot's of fun to do!

I've been using an Explorer 400 for about 8 months now and I couldn't be happier with it. I really like the black and white screen better, because (for me) it is much easier to read in bright sunlight. I also like the SD card storage, that let's me save multiple detailed map files as well as multiple geocache files. The filing system is fairly easy to understand because it is similar to the Windows system of filing items. What would I change? I would make it accept a standard USB plug like Garmin has, because the Magellan proprietary cord is not nearly as easy to use. I had a color Garmin before this one, and it was okay. But the 400 seems to keep a signal better with overhead interference, and I can read the display better. If you can get a good deal on a NEW Explorer, plus the topo or streets software program, I think you would be very happy with it.

I have an Ex400 with a 512mb card, and I have about 15 large city areas on it (so far). Each area takes up 150k to 300k. The largest file I have covers Tarrant County and Dallas County (700k). This area covers all of Fort Worth and Dallas and their suburban areas. If you don't want to spend the bucks for a new unit, the 210 should suit you. If you travel around (like I do), it's a really great feature to load maps on the SD card and just keep them ALL on the unit. By the way, I have been very pleased with the 400 overall. I like the black and white screen better than the 500's color screen because it is easier to see in bright sunlight. Price difference might not be too much of an issue, come to think of it. I bought my 400 new on Ebay for $110, including topo 3d. There are deals out there that can make the list price difference a moot point. Enjoy the warm climate in Nebraska!

I have used an Exp 400 for about 2 months now and it fits the bill for me. I prefer the mono screen because it is easier to see in bright sunlight than color screens I have used. Also, I visit cache locations all over the country, and it is really simple to file each set of caches (and detail maps for that matter) on the SD card. In my limited experience with Gekos, Garmins, Sportraks, and Explorists, the sportraks and explorists acquire and maintain satellite signals better in cluttered terrain. You will find others that will strongly disagree, of course. With the lithium-ion battery fully charged, I can do 3 days of caching (3 hours at a time) and still have half a charge left. Your preferences are unique, and that's why there are so many kinds of GPSrs. Play around with as many units as you can, and you will find one or two you are most comfortable with. I was able to buy a unit on Ebay, try it out, and then sell it for what I bought it for if it didn't meet my purpose. Just my 2 cents.

What a deal! Just received my Explorist Ultimate Value Pack out of Ebay--$109.95 + shipping, Buy it now! Found my first cache with it this morning, and I am very impressed with what I got for the money. You can't go wrong at these prices! An added bonus is that they include geocaching software that makes it easy to transfer GPX files. Great reception, reliability, and a super price!

Thanks for your comments. Just went out today to survey a short route with 3 checkpoints and hopefully easy finds. I'll let you know how it goes.

Hey, I centered my search over the Magic Kingdom and came up with coordinates of N 28 25.308, W 081 34.865. I put these coords into a geocaching.com cache search and came up with several virtual caches right on the property, with many, many regular caches surrounding the area. Give it a try!

I'm working on a way to combine two outdoor passions of mine, geocaching and running with the local Hash House Harriers (HHH) club. As some of you may know, the HHH is a running club consisting of a "hare" who marks a running course for the "hounds" to follow. This course is marked with flower or chalk and includes checkpoints with "false trails" along the way to slow down the fast runners and allow the slower runners to catch up. A more detailed description, along with history and location of clubs is located at "harrier.net." Anyway, I was thinking of building a multicache which would first lead you to a cache containing a list of 2 or 3 sets of coordinates. Only 1 of the set would be the true trail and lead you to the next cache, while the other 1 or 2 would lead to a dead end and marked as a "dead end" cache. The "true trail" would lead you to the next cache listing another 2 or 3 sets of coordinates. In this way, you may have to backtrack if you "guess" the wrong coordinates. You could build this course as long as you want, with 3 or more checkpoints, but I think I would build the first one pretty short in total length. The HHH always end their run with chilled adult beverages, so I thought I could offer a FTF prize like a gift certificate to the local pizza joint. It might inspire a competition to complete the course with the fewest mistakes or in the quickest time and log it along with the find. This could have already been done, and it sounds a bit like orienteering, but I would appreciate your comments and suggestions before I put one together.

I think the new format would be more useful with some sort of map in the background. Has anybody found a way to layer the CitySelect maps in the EasyGPS display? I tried asking the company's tech support, but failed.