LDove

Yes, disappointment is fun. Taking pleasure in the misery of others is an excellent idea. How about while waiting to log the FTF, we kill that time by pushing old ladies off their walkers, and kicking puppies. Oohh, or how about you take the cache WITH you for most of the day, so that everyone ELSE has to log a DNF, and then you put it back in the evening. That'd be an EXCELLENT idea Kabuthunk - Now THAT is funny! I totally agree! Why on Earth would you get off on trying to be "evil" or "disappoint them a little"? I guess I just don't get the fun in that - haven't you got something more positive to do? How about letting someone else have the fun of finding it first?

11, but all excellent points! I hiked in one time almost a mile only to have my GPS go dead, doy... - another good reminder to bring extra batteries. I will probably give them a list of "essentials" for a pack to start off, like make sure to take along about 100 pens and 4 pairs of sunglasses because you are sure to lose them - or is it just me?

I think most newbies don't log DNF's because they are a bit embarrassed that they did not find it, at least the new ones that I have gotten out have said that - so good point. My daughter won't log for that reason, even though she caches very little due to college taking up most of her time, she is not experienced enough and feels "stupid" logging caches she can't find. I will teach them the "use your GPS like a cell phone maneuver" or to tell people you are searching for gypsy moths when getting curious looks or questions.

Of course, you have all brought up some stuff I would have forgotten, great tips. I also considered hiding a cache on the property for the class and having them find it, or watch me use my GPS to see how it works would probably save the most time. K.I.S.S. - now that's funny!

I have been asked to give a class on the basics of geocaching. I am very happy to do this and have some ideas in mind, but would ask other cachers what they think are the top 5-10 things to learn right from the start. Looking for constructive information here so that I can start these folks off on the right foot. I don't plan on getting into GPS operation, that is for another class. Just basics on the actual geocaching aspect of the game. Thanks for any ideas. I did not post this in the getting started forum, by the way, because I wanted people who have been geocaching for awhile to give the advice.

AMEN! You don't like them, pocket query them out and don't look for them. SIMPLE! This constant whining about micros is getting old and beating a dead horse. Just look for the ones you like, leave the rest for those who don't mind finding them and leave it at that. Just because they don't meet your standards, does not mean they are not fun for someone else.

Now those are cool, but wow - HEAVY! I hope you don't put them in a cache that has a 5 mile walk in and out! I have found that some of the FTF people or those right after tend to "clean out" my caches with the good stuff I leave in the beginning - anybody else notice this too?

There are many inexpensive ways to make homemade trade items without "charging" fellow cachers for them. I would not pay for one, or take one either. Do you have an interest that you could reflect into a cache trade item? This would give you and your son some nice quality time together if he helped you make some trade items to share. Here is a link of some items that others have made link Mini first aid kits are easy and cheap: a bandaid, a paperclip, rubberband, alcohol wipe, etc.. in a small 2x3 bag costs pennies and easy for you to make. If you and your son have a digital camera, how about taking home a picture of each place you visited and start a photo journal of your adventures? We try to collect lapel pins and keychains and put them in a treasure chest we bought at Hobby Lobby. If we don't find anything, it is okay, but we still leave something for the next cacher or help restock it with additional goodies. In any case, he will learn a valuable lesson that time spent with you either out on the trail or making things for others is more important than finding a toy for himself. Happy trails!

I like this idea, I think I may start from now forward. I don't know if I would have the time or ink to go back and reprint 300 finds... I wish there was a feature on gc.com to combine your finds into a "journal" of sorts. Maybe someday...

Ed, Your story brings to my mind one of my favorite words: serendipity • (noun) the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way. Your story is wonderful, it brought tears to my eyes. I believe in things happening for a reason and you seem to have overcome a quite a "mountain". Congrats to you! I should print your story and show it to the naysayers that I meet who don't get this whole thing, they think I am wasting my time going in the woods looking for "keychains". Happy caching!

This has totally enhanced my life. I use it as a stress reducer, a great way to see places and most importantly to exercise which I did not do before. Exercising in a gym was boring and walking my subdivision was boring too, now I see all sorts of new places and have met many great people. P.S. Got my college student daughter into it also, she caches with us on occasion and wishes she could devote more time to it too.

Former firefighter for 3 years, EMT for 4, then went to ski patrolling and instructing Outdoor Emergency Care. Now work as a Critical Care Tech with my EMT license, but work in an ER. Do miss the lights and sirens though... Going to have to order one of those coins, they are really neat!

We did a cache in Cozumel called "No Name Beach Club." Also a virtual in Playa Del Carmen. It was fun to have had one from out of the country. Only wish we would have taken a travel bug with us... We are going back to Cancun in November, hoping to do some there too.

"paint with liquid manure"???? and I thought my hobby of geocaching was somewhat strange. Where exactly would I get THAT? Since I really don't have time to stand behind some unfortunate cow with a bellyache, I'll pass on that helpful suggestion - ECH! LMAO!

I am confused about which coordinates to use? They list several different ones on the pages above mentioned. Some list by decimal, some by deg-min-sec, which one goes in the GPS?

Our local weather guy is a geocacher and promoting it on both his nightly weather show and on the web site: Myself and a friend were FTF on one of his hides. Click on weather and then "caching with Condella" Here is the link:

Thanks everybody. Looked at all the sites and have ordered some, will save me much time and bug bites in the woods!

I went on line to try to find pens that some cachers are using that the back pops out and stamps your name. I did not have much luck finding anything and I remember seeing a link to a company on gc.com a while back. Anybody ordered these and where did you get them from. Hope I am in the right forum for this question. THanks.

I think you got your answer regarding guidelines. Personally, I think your choice of a title for such a sensitive subject is poor - having lost several special women in my family to the disease and having had a few scares myself. I am by no means a prude, just bet you could come up with something a little more appropriate. A cache in memory of someone would be nice if you have had this affect your life or someone you love. Just my opinion, good luck.

I love theme caches! If people don't want to do them, they don't have to. I would, however, suggest a very, very good and watertight container for your cache. Perhaps a large zipper bag also inside for the books to keep stuff dry or "double container" it.

You have to be kidding me, with all the names of mountains - and I bet there are quite a few, somebody had to throw this one in... It is in poor taste, a stupid choice and should be changed. I thought this was a FAMILY oriented game? If someone named their cache that, it would not be approved. GC.com should practice what they preach.

Hope this is not a stupid question, but here goes. Twice now I have gotten e-mails from people who have forgotten to log their movement of one of my travel bugs or coins and are requesting the travel bug tag number. I would assume this is okay to give out? I did the same thing on an out of town caching trip, moved it from one cache to another before getting home and making the log so I can see how it can happen. Just wanting to be sure it is okay to give out the tag number???

Did not get mine yet either! I am hoping it is here today... I also feel like Ralphy waiting for my decoder pin...

If you go to your nearby hobby store, you can get bags that are 2x3 inches. I put a bandaid, paperclip, towelette, rubberband and a safety pin in each one (I am sure there are other things you could add, these are just a few I thought of). The items I got to put in were only pennies since I got them at the dollar store. I then put our name label on the bag and we had mini emergency packs to leave for swag. My nursing student daughter now leaves these because they are cheap to make. These are fun to do and are a good project for the kids for the summer too - they can help "stuff" the bags.