TrollGRG

This isn't really fair since I don't wear any clothes - but you should see what is under my beard. TrollGRG

What do you guys think of starting a trans-Canada list of caches. We could list all the caches that are (for example) 30 minutes combined time - that would be driving and walking distance to the cache - from the major highway. For example: Coal Mine's Daughter is about 5 minutes from the highway and about 10 minutes to walk in to it. That would be a total of 15 minutes. The cacher could then decide to stay longer and enjoy the rest, break or scenery or just log the cache and continue on his/her way. Just a thought - comments are welcome. I have a web site that I could list all of the caches and provide a link somewhere here - or someone else can do it if you want. TrollGRG [This message was edited by A Troll, A Lady, and Doofus the Dog on August 17, 2003 at 08:39 PM.]

Would it be possible to add a link to the home page so that we could change locations without actually changing the "home location"? What I am getting at is that, at the moment, when I travel to a new city to visit for a few days and want to get some cache sites in the local area I have to change my home location to see what is near there. It would be a lot easier to just enter a location and find the sites that are within 100 miles of it. Or maybe that is already available and I just haven't found out how. TrollGRG

I have to agree with Cache Canucks. While your idea or intent is a good one, there is a lot more to searching than just being able to navigate with a GPS. I don't know what it is like in the USA but here in Canada you will not be accepted as part of a search team unless you have taken the rest of the training associated with it. The units are very proud of their skills and capabilities and go to great lengths to ensure that everyone is competant in all aspects of search and rescue. You would have to take all the courses - starting with SAR Fundamentals - and prove that you are capable and dedicated. Gerry TrollGRG

It has been suggested several times in the last few months but nothing has come of it. It is a great suggestion though. TrollGRG

I would like to take this opportunity to try mine to. I have been trying for over a month now. Tried all of the suggestions everyone else leaves but cannot seem to get it to work. If it doesn't work this time then I guess that is it - I will give up TrollGRG

I would like to take this opportunity to try mine to. I have been trying for over a month now. Tried all of the suggestions everyone else leaves but cannot seem to get it to work. If it doesn't work this time then I guess that is it - I will give up TrollGRG

I had been using the Magellan 315 for a couple of years and found it to be a great little unit. I have since moved on to the Garmin Map 76. It has more bells and whistles and most important - the maping capability as well as being waterproof. It does not lose signals under tree canopies but then again we here in the Edmonton area don't have the rain forests of BC. I will have to go there to try it out some day - its a good excuse and I am sticking to it. Anywho, the 76 maps are the same as the other units that use the MapSource maps but the resolution of the screen on the 76 is a whole lot finer. It is a very good unit and I am glad I spent the money for it. TrollGRG [This message was edited by A Troll, A Lady, and Duncan the Dog on September 20, 2002 at 09:59 PM.]

Everyone is bias towards their own unit and I am no exception. I too am using the Garmin GPS Map 76 and I think it is the greatest. I only want to add one point here that hasn't already been addressed and that is the reference to the canoe trip. The Map 76 claims to be waterproof. You may want to consider that option in whatever unit you get. One of the reasons I got this one is because it was waterproof. I am not about to test it just to prove a point but it makes me feel better about taking it into the "great unkown". TrollGRG

Your best bet would be to enter the coordinates of both those positions on the hide and seek page and find the nearest caches (default 100 miles but you can just look for the ones within say 10 km radius or whatever you are comfortable with) rough coords of WEM 53 31.583 degrees N 113 37.006 degrees W Airport 53 18.489 degrees N 113 35.013 degrees W Good Luck TrollGRG

Rob If you are talking about Edmonton and surrounding area I recently found out that if you leave the cd in the drive when you are running mapsource you can get a whole lot more detail. For months now I have been running it from the program and files loaded onto my 'puter and I wasn't very impressed because there were no (or few) range roads etc. Not long ago my friend was over and we were talking about this lack of detail and he showed me that I was missing most of it. Unfortunately you cannot load it all onto your computer - need the disk in the drive. If you are doing this and still not happy with the detail then you are SOL because that is all you get. Troll TrollGRG

"How about Donut Shops! Log a Tim's... oh, no. Come to think of it, that's about as inane as the American Flags Virtual Cache." Funny you should mention it - it is already being done by someone. TrollGRG

Yes - I can post it here but I didn't think it was ethical or something like that ;o) Canadian Elevators TrollGRG [This message was edited by A Troll, A Lady, and Duncan the Dog on September 05, 2002 at 11:26 AM.]

I have a question. How do we as Canadians learn about caches planted in Canada? I know about the 100 mile thing that will list the caches within 100 miles from your home coords but what about locationless caches? I posted a locationless cache for Canadians but after thinking about it, I don't know if anyone would get to see that it is there for them to find in their part of the country. Troll [This message was edited by A Troll, A Lady, and Duncan the Dog on September 05, 2002 at 09:43 AM.]

I agree fully. I see that some of the threadsd on testing avitars are up to 70 and 80 or more. By the time all of those avitars are loaded you could have gone out and hidden a new cache. I must admit that I am as guilty as the next guy so I agree that a separate section would be very usefull without being intrusive on other threads. TrollGRG

I can only speak for the GPS I am using which is the Garmin Map 76. The map that came with it (installed in it) is very detailed. They advertize using "MapSource"tm maps that you can purchase and upload to the unit but I found that the map that is integral to the unit is much more detailed than what mapsource has available. I have been using other units for years including the Magellans and other Garmins and found this to be the one for me. It is a bit expensive and from the discussion here, I think people would generally recommend the Garmin GPS V. I have never used it and never even seen it but everyone here thinks it is great. A lot has to do with how much you are willing to spend. If you want to discuss it more my email address is TrollGRG@aol.com You can also check out the units and prices at GPS city in Calgary. They offer good prices and free delivery if your order is over a certain amount. TrollGRG

I agree that it is easier to let the GPS do the work but if you want to get comfortable with the compass (which everyone should) you may want to do this as mental exercises for yourself. Having said that, generally speaking, if your variation/declination is EAST then the magnetic bearing will be LEAST (smaller). Conversly, if the variation/declination is WEST then the magnetic bearing is BEST (bigger). If you have both the true bearing and the variation but you don't know if you are supposed to add it or subtract it then follow that simple rule. e.g. True Bearing of 097 degrees with a variation/declination of 3 degrees east will give you a magnetic bearing of 097 - 003 or 094 degrees. A Troll, A Lady and Duncan the Dog

Paces are a good method of measuring long distances when travelling through heavily wooded areas and I have been teaching it for 20 years now. However, wouldn't it be better for the author to just use distances e.g. 40 metres, yards, feet, miles etc then we can all use our own distance measuring to get there. TrollGRG A Troll, A Lady and Duncan the Dog

I agree with BreezeWay. It would be very nice to have the entire list in one file. We are just starting this and it seems like fun but I don't know if I want to make a major commitment like being a charter member at this time. A Troll, A lady and Duncan the Dog

Originally posted by Mopar:

All great information. One more point, when you leave your vehicle punch in the position on your GPS. I am always forgetting to do it and have to do a back track to get back to the vehicle sometimes. It isn't too bad if you are close by in the city but if you get way out in the woods, it is nice to know what direction to go to get back - and it isn't always the same route you took to get in. A Troll, A Lady and Duncan the Dog [This message was edited by A Troll, A Lady, and Duncan the Dog on August 04, 2002 at 09:50 PM.]

All great information. One more point, when you leave your vehicle punch in the position on your GPS. I am always forgetting to do it and have to do a back track to get back to the vehicle sometimes. It isn't too bad if you are close by in the city but if you get way out in the woods, it is nice to know what direction to go to get back - and it isn't always the same route you took to get in. A Troll, A Lady and Duncan the Dog [This message was edited by A Troll, A Lady, and Duncan the Dog on August 04, 2002 at 09:50 PM.]