Geoaddict

Don't be too hasty. I know geocachers who log from the field only to come back later to amend their log with more text. Unfortunately, at this time, the CO or watchers don't receive an email when a log is amended or a photo is added. I have never had a blank log, but I have found amended logs or photos when I check my cache page that I wouldn't have otherwise known about.

Sherlock Holmes Cache#2-The Maplewood Murder Plot (GCKAVK) is a 4-stage multicache. Make sure you keep track of the coordinates for each stage so you can plot them out. I use Google Earth to plot out nearby geocaches, stages of a multicache, or the corrected coordinates for a puzzle cache and identify possible areas to hide a geocache. If you use GSAK, I recommend downloading and using two macros: myGoogleEarth.gsk - plots out the location of caches, stages, and child waypoints based on what is in your database or in your filter after you have executed a GSAK search GoogleEarthCircles.gsk - plots out a circle of 161 meters - 528 feet - 0.1 mile which is the minimum separation between a geocache and other geocaches, stages of a multi, or the final of a puzzle cache. Again the circles are based on what is in your database or in your filter after you have executed a GSAK search These two macros combined would give you a good idea what areas are open. If you have GSAK and want help or if you go out and find the multicache and need help determining areas that might be open, send me an email and I'll try to help.

WOW! FTF hunts must be very interesting in your areas.

I missed the news about Grete Waitz's death. I was a long distance runner when I was in high school and remember following Grete's achievements here in the U.S. I don't do long distance running anymore, but I'll put this geocoin on my watchlist in case it comes by Chelsea, Michigan.

One of my travel bugs is called Nurse Nanna's Nemesis (TB1929X). My geocaching friend Nurse Nanna is deathly afraid of snakes. I made a travel bug out of a rubber snake with the goals: 1. Be placed in a cache outside of Chelsea, Michigan. 2. Be placed in a cache outside of Michigan. 3. Be placed in a cache outside of the United States. 4. Be placed in a cache outside of North America. 5. Be placed in the Down on the Corner (GCRFJM) cache, which is the cache that is the farthest away from Chelsea. It has traveled over 16,600 miles and it was recently dropped into a geocache in Western Australia only a few hundred miles away from its ultimate goal.

One of my caches is hidden near a hospital. I saw a log on this cache that said how excited their kids were to find all the waiting room snacks in the cache. I went out to check on it and found that almost all the swag had been removed and replaced with food items. All were individual packets (hot chocolate mix, peanut butter, soup mix, crackers, apple juice, etc.). I was fortunate to get to the cache before an animal caught wind of it. I ended up temporarily disabling the cache and taking it home to remove the food and restock it with swag. I looked at the logs to see if I could determine who put the food items in the cache, but could not figure it out.

I agree. I put a lot of historical research into my caches including photos and graphics. OC.com does not support this type of cache page.

I agree that geocaching.com isn't perfect, but at least they are making attempts to be more responsive to members. Groundspeak has pretty much developed the sport over the past ten years. They are an important part of what geocaching is today. All you need to do is to go through the opencaching.com website and see that they have duplicated much of the core aspects of geocaching.com, such as the hiding guidelines, logo colors, and replacing the GC prefix with OX for the cache number. Right now there is nothing compelling that would make me leave geocaching.com. I have enough trouble keeping up with my logs on geocaching.com without having to duplicate it over at opencaching.com. About the only thing that I like about their site, is the bullseye icon for rating difficulty, terrain, size, and awesomeness. Maybe Groundspeak can take that and incorporate it into GC.com. Lord knows, Garmin stole a lot of stuff from GC.com, it would only be fair to steal this from opencaching.com.

I do leave an FTF prize in all but the micro caches. The prize value ranges from $3 to $10. I have put in geocoins (trackable and non-trackable), a mini multi-tool w/o a knife, an inspection mirror and magnetic pickup stick, a CD featuring songs performed by Jeff Daniels (a Chelsea, Michigan native), and a AA battery holder that clips onto a belt. As my finances have become more restricted, I try to look for deals on items that might make for a good FTF prize. I do have a person that has claimed FTF on several of my caches, but I do have a variety of cachers claiming FTF so I don't have to feel that I oversupplying one cacher over others. Ultimately, financial circumstances may force me to discontinue the FTF prize.

I was told that the metal ammo cans are becoming a thing of the past as they are replaced with containers made out of other materials such as plastic and cardboard. This got me thinking -- the ammo can is considered to be the quintessential geocache -- what was the first geocache to use an ammo can for a container? If this bit of geocaching history has been covered in these forums, I haven't been able to find a post on it. If there is one, please post a link back to the topic.

I ran a My Finds PQ yesterday (4/4/2009) and it was generated at 9:52:00 PM PST. I have not received the PQ in my email (Domain: comcast.net). One of my regularly-scheduled PQ was generated at 6:52:30 AM PST and arrived in my mailbox at the same time. The other scheduled PQ that I have for Sundays was generated at 10:57:04 AM PST and has not been received by email.

If you could present an existing, real-world example or two of an "out of hand" ALR, your claim might be more persuasive. A couple of examples of how the whole ALR thing is accelerating down the slippery slope.... Challenging Challenge Challenge The Anti Challenge Challenge What's next? The Anti Challenging Challenge Anti Anti Challenge? Come on get real. Both of those examples would meet the definition of a permissible challenge cache. In the Anti Challenge Challenge the CO would not be able to log the cache since he has found at least one challenge cache (but let's not even get into the debate about the CO logging a find on their own cache ). However, it would be true that a "substantial number of other geocachers would be able to do so." On the Challenging Challenge Challenge there are already five finds and others that have written notes that they are already well underway to completing the challenge. If I were the cache owner, I would certainly argue that a "substantial number of other geocachers" would be able to log a find on the challenge.

GC1NH64 is a good example. You probably cannot read the cache page, so I will translate: "You are only allowed to log if: 1. ...you did not find any caches in a week. 2. ...you mailed the solution to the puzzle to geo.antonego@gmail.com. 3. ...you are carrying a confirmation that everything is ok. 4. ...you make a photo of the logging attempt. 5. ...you are dressed up as one of the actors from the movie from which the hiders' nick name derives. 6. ...you have not used a helpline in the last year. 7. ...you have found at least 25 caches. 8. ...you have found at least one cache of type [OFZE]. 9. ...you have a cup of coffee in your hand and add a photo of this to the log. 10. ...you can prove you have met all requirements above." I'd say that's pretty extreme, and I for one am glad that the rising tide of idiotic ALR's has been stopped. Hans While extreme, I note the difficulty on this cache is 4.5. If you don't want to take the time to rack up a 4.5 difficulty cache, then don't do it. If you eliminate the ALR, as extreme as it might be , you have downgraded a 4.5 cache to a 1.0-1.5. I think the standard for ALRs and Challenges should be "Is it substantially achievable?" So what now will make a cache a difficulty of 4.0 to 5.0?

I agree with the others to go ahead and hide more good-quality caches. Hiding of cluster of caches will make it worthwhile for someone to take the time to travel to find those caches.

I do not go back and edit a DNF log. If I have multiple DNFs, each gets a separate log. When I finally find it, I log the smiley. I don't place all of my DNFs on my watchlist. If I am curious if the cache is missing or just difficult, then I will watch it. If I see someone gets a find after my DNF, then I know that it was me and not the cache.

It only took me about 10 seconds to bring it into view on both of the stereograms.

It depends on what is causing the container to break. Some of my first cache containers were learning experiences. What I thought was waterproof and cold-weather hardy was not. I use Lock N Lock containers a lot, so I'm kind of surprised that your last container broke. These containers are usually very hardy and hold up well in all kinds of weather. Also, they are certainly weatherproof. Since the last log mentioned that the cache was cracked and frozen in place, it might be an indicator that you should look for a drier location where water and snowmelt won't pond and freeze. I would guess that the container could have become cracked trying to wrestle it out of the ice. If the cache is wedged into a small space that requires some work to get it out into the open, that might also lead to damage. Certainly, you can archive the cache, but you might look for a better hiding spot nearby and submit the new coordinates. I'll see if I can take a trip up there in a few days to find your cache. I might be able to e-mail you with some possible better hiding places or ways to keep the cache from being damaged.

Here's another comprehensive resource: GeoLex

Another method is to go to the cache page and edit attributes and uncheck the needs maintenance attribute.

I had a travel bug that went missing. I decided to re-release the TB as a Discover Only TB that I took to events. Nearly, a year after is went missing, it turned up. I let that travel bug move from cache to cache, but I still keep my Discover Only version for events.

Here's a link to a section on the Geocacher University site. Look on the left side for the menu of which item you want to download.

I give the cacher as much information as they want and that I can provide. Some of the calls that I have made are to rule out certain areas or to be sure that I'm on the track, but I don't ask for too much information because I want to earn the find.

We grow 'em big here in Michigan! BIG BOY Archived Just another Film Canister Cache Archived BIG Orange Travel Bug Convention Center

I believe that you are allowed to put a link to an audio file that is off-site provided that you include a Groundspeak-approved disclaimer. Contact your reviewer for more information.

I've found that most caches where the coordinates are off are newbies. It drives me nuts when I see that a cache where the coords are off has been hidden by a cacher with only one find, or worse, no finds. They barely know their way around the geocaching.com website, let alone doing something as advanced as correcting the coordinates. If they didn't know how to take the coordinates correctly in the first place, it's unlikely that they would know what to do to correct it. Most just drop out of geocaching in frustration and leave the rest of us wandering aimlessly trying to find the cache.