Number 6

. . . now we need to agree on where and what time. Just to keep this moving, I suggest: 7/6 at 10:00am N35* 50.375' W78* 46.935 Be Seeing You!

. . . placing tracts in geocaches would lead people to Christ then I would consider spending every possible moment stuffing ammo boxes regardless of what rules anyone laid down (though actually doing so would be a violation of my faith). I agree that tracts should not be placed in caches though not necessarily for the same reasons as expressed by others. From faith-based and pragmatic viewpoints, I just don't think they are effective in such a context. Tracts in ammo cans remind me too much of lights under bushels. They can be great as support and followup for personal conversations, but not as a substitute for true opportunities to share the Good News. I am a committed, believing Christian. It was the Bible and the personal witness of other Christians that led me to Christ. It was, however, a much longer journey than it needed to be. Growing up, Christians would shove tracts in my face, tell me how awful I was then go on living lives that did not reflect their professed faith. Their intentions may have been honorable, but I did not see anything I wanted and fled. The Christians who got my attention lead lives that reflect their faith spirtually and practically. I've seen what Christ does for them in every part of their lives. That kind of witnessing cannot be stuffed into an ammo can. There are far too many Christians who merely profess their faith and far too few Christians who live their faith thus becoming lights unto the world. Be Seeing You!

I'm still curious to see the cache page so I can read the description and logs. Maybe the cache owner would like to join the discussion. Perhaps cyarnell would share the cache name. Be Seeing You!

That's probably the one I'm marching to. I was thinking in a different box and different specs - N35* 50.375' W78* 46.935 mid-morning on a Saturday. Be Seeing You!

Sorry about the long post, just couldn't hold back my 4 cents worth . . . After seeing this thread referenced in "[RULE] Themed Caches," I got curious about what cache started all of this, what the description says, and who hid it. My first step was to check the profile of the person who started the thread for the found/hidden link. It's 0/0 (as of 6/25 PM) so it appears they decided not to log the "offending" cache even though they found it. (Anyone else old enough to remember the "I Found It" bumper stickers and the Jews' reply, "We Never Lost It"? I didn't have a car then, but wanted one of each.) As I Christian, I naturally disagree with many of the viewpoints expressed though not surprised nor do I choose to engage in a debate (there have been many abuses committed in Christ’s name though that does not negate the Truth He brought us). As a Christian I believe we have Good News to share with the entire world. As a professional communicator, I also know a receptive, non-hostile audience results in more productive efforts. (That should invoke some equal opportunity flames.) While I applaud the evangelical intent of sharing tracts through geocaching, I do not believe they often accomplish their desired purpose in such a setting. I believe tracts are most effective when shared personally (though I like the story of the Bible that was almost recycled, but found a home). There are also practical issues involved. Tracts and other printed materials do not tend to survive well in ammo cans unless otherwise protected. They get damp, folded, and generally unattractive (not a good witness). Printed materials, in general, are not what geocachers expect or seek. My hope is that we would each be able to express ourselves through what we leave behind. I would hope that we could seek out and find our commonalities rather than things that drive us apart. In the end, the hunt is the game not the loot (we do need a name for the stuff - guess I should check that thread again). So long as what is left in the cache is not dangerous, illegal, impractical, patently offensive, or offends community standards then I suppose we must each use our own judgment about what we choose to share. Be Seeing You!

I'm interested in an informal meeting and have an idea for a location to be posted as coordinates if you would like to do it that way. Be Seeing You!

The Mapquest aerial shows a developing neighborhood nearby, but not directly adjacent to the cache. Like others, I might be inclined to reserve judgement on the "culprit's" actions. I'd want to know about what actions may have attracted the neighbor's attention, what recent area activities may have made the neighbors sensitive, and if the area was closed (for example, in a county park that closed at sunset). Two issues tend to lead me to be critical of their actions: The tone of the log does not imply (at least to me) a great deal of respect for the people they disturbed. Had they really been in trouble would the helicopter and spotlight been considered an intrusion? Be Seeing You!

I'm real happy with my standard Yellow eTrex. For more money it would be good to have an external antenna. With $250, I would get the eTrex, car power / serial cable, and appropriate mounts (bike and/or car). Mapping capabilities might be fun, but I don't know what they would add to my geocaching fun. Flames will make me smile and give me a way to get these marshmellows toasted. Be Seeing You!

I'm obviously not a tree hugger, but do believe we have responsibilities such as not cutting down or damaging a tree just for the sake of a cache. When approaching caches we need to respect erosion controls and not leave behind burning campfires. Burying caches should generally be avoided, but there are circumstances that might be proper such as on private land with permission where the burial adds to the fun of the cache. Footprints seem like a reasonable level of "littering" unless they cause erosion or create new undesirable trails (as defined by the property owner or manager such as the NPS - the Brown Rule, he who has the land rules). Some of the things I like about Geocaching.com include "Cache In, Trash Out" and simple rules of respect. A wise monk from Shangri-La once said, quote:Moderation in all things including moderation. Be Seeing You!

There are hidden contradictions in the minds of people who "love Nature" while deploring the "artificialities" with which "Man has spoiled 'Nature.'" The obvious contradiction lies in their choice of words, which imply that Man and his artifacts are not part of "Nature" - but beavers and their dams are. But the contradictions go deeper than this prima-facie absurdity. In declaring his love for a beaver dam (erected by beavers for beavers' purposes) and his hatred for dams erected by men (for the purposes of men) the "Naturist" reveals his hatred for his own race - i.e., his own self hatred. In the case of "Naturists" such self-hatred is understandable; they are such a sorry lot. But hatred is too strong an emotion to feel toward them; pity and contempt are the most they rate. As for me, willy-nilly I am a man, not a beaver, and H. sapiens is the only race I have or can have. Fortunately for me, I like being part of a race made up of men and women - it strikes me as a fine arrangement and perfectly "natural." Believe it or not, there were "Naturists" who opposed the first flight to old Earth's Moon as being "unnatural" and a "despoiling of Nature." - Lazarus Long as quoted by Robert A. Heinlein Be Seeing You!

I e-mailed Garmin tech support to ask what they know about GPSrs on airplanes. I got back a very good, detailed reply that cites regs and experience. Regs permit them, policy varies by airline, and technology offers no reason to disallow them. Bottom line seems to be that regardless of the airline's pro or con policy that use of a GPSr aboard an airliner is at the discretion of the Pilot in Charge. An American pilot may allow it and a Delta pilot may disallow it. They recommend asking the flight attendent to ask the pilot and never argue with the crew. Be Seeing You!

As seen in the pictures I posted, I had ground and air guards on a recent find - Falls Dam Redux Log Pictures.

. . . for a Triangle local group. Be Seeing You!

Thought my source of information (American Airlines) was reliable. Guess policies are set by the airlines not the FAA. Unfortunately for me my company's official airline is American not Delta. Be Seeing You!

A GPSr is a radio receiver and as such banned from inflight use. A real bummer because I can think of a mess of legitimate fun uses of one. Be Seeing You!

A GPSr is a radio receiver and as such banned from inflight use. A real bummer because I can think of a mess of legitimate fun uses of one. Be Seeing You!

Just got back from the park with my wife and daughter: Hide and Go Seek with waypoints Determining the speed of the swing (daughter - 4.1 mph, me - 6.4 mph) Be Seeing You!

Just got back from the park with my wife and daughter: Hide and Go Seek with waypoints Determining the speed of the swing (daughter - 4.1 mph, me - 6.4 mph) Be Seeing You!

Not sure "unsafe" is necessarily the concern. Describing this kind of behavior would be sort of like tick warnings. I wouldn't want to stumble upon hetereosexual couples engaged in what should be private behaviors either. An area like this developed in a county park in Miami a few years ago that was next to a Girl Scout camp. The inappropriate choices made by a few people devalued the land for everyone. Be Seeing You!

Cool game. I agree that photos and/or rubbings should be required. I am interested in the value that NGS could get from this or at least what their opinion is of us hunting benchmarks. Be Seeing You!

I think jef has a good point. My initial reaction was there are good reasons for banning bikes from certain areas. Using existing roads and bridle trails, however, should be a clear standard. Be Seeing You!

I wrote up two virtual caches in a North Carolina State Park that are on a bike/bridal trail: Umstead Park - Memorial Day Weekend 2002 http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=23533 Hey Boo Boo, Is That A Picanic Basket? http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=23531 Regarding clips - after years of road riding with clips and no mishaps, I recently began riding a trail bike and have rolled it twice with the road rash to prove it. I couldn't get my feet disengaged. The second roll down the face of an earth dam with my feet still clipped was actually kind of fun though embarassing. When faced with two choices, consider the third.

I wrote up two virtual caches in a North Carolina State Park that are on a bike/bridal trail: Umstead Park - Memorial Day Weekend 2002 http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=23533 Hey Boo Boo, Is That A Picanic Basket? http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=23531 Regarding clips - after years of road riding with clips and no mishaps, I recently began riding a trail bike and have rolled it twice with the road rash to prove it. I couldn't get my feet disengaged. The second roll down the face of an earth dam with my feet still clipped was actually kind of fun though embarassing. When faced with two choices, consider the third.

The first time I ever experienced a cache was as a reporter participating in war games. I played the role of war correspondent accompanying a Special Forces A-Team in a wilderness area. Our first task was to recover a cache of military equipment that had been stashed a month before just off a trail in a state park within a 1/2 mile of a major road. Somehow I don't think that A-Team did anything unique and wonder how caches like that stay hidden.

You really need a GA (Geocachers Anonymous) meeting, but the Wheres and Whens only include street addresses and you can no longer locate a mere street address. Your wife is a group leader at GEOANON. You bought a Garmin GPS V instead of paying your rent. You're three hours late coming back from lunch and you gargle some cheap booze so your boss won't know you've been out geocaching on company time again. You refer to yourself as a Friend of Jeremy I.