Fuzzywhip

Should of said WEST of Goldendale

I would recommend the Trout Lake area (Trout Lake Cache GC1E28T), but only after all the snow is gone. When up here last summer just before the Portland Cache Machine 2 to work a few WDC pages. See my log (GRM35 GCQZNM) 6/24/11 There is a great-looking canyon east of Goldendale that I want to explore more when I'm down this way again. While the cache is basic (T.T.T. GCJ3MD), the drive was quite beautiful. Fuzzywhip

I drove up to Sherman Pass in March last year, and yes, the summit was covered with 6 to 8 feet of snow. The webcam is located very near where a cache used to be hidden, and there was no way I could have found it. But the highway was quite passable in my Tracker (in 2WD) Just usual winter driving. When I arrived at Republic, there was almost no snow, so I was able to cache around town to get Page 22. The rest of the way West to Tonasket is a bit winding and downhill, but I found that the snow disappeared quite fast. (at least last year) Hope this helps!

As a cacher who visits Washington State several times a year, I find the whole Discovery Pass idea an insult. I make a choice where I take my geoholidays, so you would think TPTB would want me to spend my tourist bucks in their State. As a frequent tourist, I will continue to boycott the Discovery Pass until it disappears (which it may, as previous State Park fees have in the past.) Thankfully, I got the Washington Delorme Challenge done before the Pass would shut me out of several pages.

Hope to be able to attend. I've done some caching in CdA, but a cache machine is always an event I want to attend. Hope to see old cacher friends and met new ones!

Just read this article on Gizmodo about China's own GPS system. Thought it would interest users: http://gizmodo.com/5871351/china-military-now-has-its-own-gps

Wish I could attend (I've missed a couple cache machines recently) but I'm going to be in Seattle the week before. I'm planning to attend the next one (Coeur D'Alene in March 2012) This one is a good opportunity to find caches in some of the smaller counties (like Wahkiakum) for the Washington Counties Challenge. Was one of the harder counties to complete. Fuzzywhip

You know you have it bad when ... You are willing to drive 60 miles to a 1/1 cache because it's on a page for a Delorme Challenge, you cannot find it, you log the DNF, and then drive back 60 miles to the next cache on your list. (Happened to me!)

I've struggled over the years how to describe geocaching to muggles. It depends on who you are talking to: 1 - To regular muggles, I describe it as "Treasure hunting with a GPS" Then I explain that you do not keep the cache, but sign the logbook and rehide it. 2 - To LEOs, I describe it as "A game using a GPS" Then explain what a cache is and who/why it is hidden. Also explain that the caches are harmless. 3 - To Border Patrol / Customs / Homeland Security people, I describe it as "A game using a GPS" Do not use the words "treasure hunt" as this gets them really suspicious (seems there are laws about foreign nationals treasure hunting (in the tradition gold / silver / jewels sense.) Then I describe what a cache is, who/why it is hidden, why we look for these things, and about not keeping the cache but rehiding it. This also is important, as they ask if I'm going to bring anything back with me. For this situation, I just sign the log book and do not trade.

Yup, me too. For quite awhile, it has been hit-or-miss if any web page will load properly the first time. Not just gc.com, but other sites. Not just from home, but also at work and at my friends places. Not just ADSL, but cable as well. I feel it has to do with the amount of total bandwidth your ISP/neighborhood/town have available. In my hometown, there is one connection to the outside world (on the net.) I noticed that the problems started around the time NetFlix was made available here. Could be the large video streaming/downloading that is killing my bandwidth.

My 60CX had the same problem for quite awhile when loading waypoints from gc.com using the Communicator plug-in. I had to update the plug-in several times after it failed to find the unit. What I found to work reliably is several factors: - Use IE7 or better. (I've had problems when using FireFox and the plug-in) - Use the newest Communicator plug-in. I've had problems when installing an older version of the plug-in. - Use the cable that came with the 60CX, or a good-quality USB-miniUSB cable. I've had cables that wouldn't work with the GPSr. - Wipe all the waypoints from your GPSr before loading new ones. Several waypoints are OK, but if you have 100s, it seems to have the connection problem. I routinely wipe all the waypoints after a long trip with lots of waypoints loaded. - Sometimes the pop-up window is blank and never finishes. Seems to be a common problem. Just close the pop-up window and try to load the waypoint again. Hope that helps. Fuzzywhip

Yup, planning to attend. Since this is almost in my back yard (about 100? miles away) I'm planning to drive in and back on the same day. Since the start is in Winthrop, this means I have to start at 2AM to get across the border and to the starting point in time. Fuzzywhip

Sounds like a strange question, but here is what is happening: I passed my Magellan eXplorist '100' (the bottom of the line orange GPSr) to my aunt, who just passed her 500th cache. The '100' has larger, clearer lettering for her to read, plus is easier for her to use (technology is difficult for her to learn.) Many times, when she first starts the GPSr, it will either take several minutes to even begin finding satellites, or will give an error message about no being able to find satellites. Then she has to reset the GPSr from the menu, which takes several more minutes before finding enough satellites to get a 4D fix. Once up and working, the '100' working perfectly and has good accuracy. At the same time, I have started my 60Cx and get a 4D fix in less than a minute. The firmware on the '100' is dated Thanes 2004. Is there a flaw in the firmware for it to work properly with the new satellites launched in the last few years? This unit does not have the ability to connect to my computer (no connector) so I cannot update the firmware. (The reason I ask is that I had the 'vertical line problem' on my Garmin Legend back several years ago when a new type of GPS satellite was put into service. There was a glitch in the Legend's firmware. After several months, Garmin brought out a firmware upgrade that fixed the problem.)

Puzzled the same question on my 60Cx! If you enter the coords as a waypoint, and try to FIND using the 'Waypoints' section, then "Delete" will be the option at the bottom of the compass screen. If you enter the coords and change the icon to the 'unfound geocache', and try to FIND using the 'Geocaches' section, then "Found" will be the option.

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Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll try on this trip, or make a special trip for this Page. (If my health was better, and I had other cachers with me, then I would be more adventurous. I have a fear of getting lost in the mountains, especially in WA. One fallen tree that blocks the one road in/out, and I'm stuck! Not as worried about bears, but getting stuck in the mountains overnight (or worse) doesn't thrill me!) Fuzzywhip Thanks everyone for suggestions on Page 34. I found Cascade River, North Fork GC1P38J a couple days ago. Also polished off 19 other pages, so there are only a few left! Fuzzywhip

Thanks everyone for your emails. I have a navigator lined up for Saturday (first time I've done a cache machine this way.) Usually, I've either soloed or had a ride with someone. Should be a blast! See everyone on Saturday (I have to get up at 4AM to make it to the start on time! Really hard on a nightbird like me!) Fuzzywhip

Thanks travisl for the map and list for PCMII. Good Stuff! I am still looking for a ride if someone has an open seat. Otherwise, I could use a navigator in my GeoMobile. (I have to leave a little early if that makes a difference. Wish I didn't have to, but I have an event on Sunday, so I have to drive back to Tacoma Sat PM. I'll check my email tomorrow, then I'm out of communication range for the next week.) Fuzzywhip

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I'll try on this trip, or make a special trip for this Page. (If my health was better, and I had other cachers with me, then I would be more adventurous. I have a fear of getting lost in the mountains, especially in WA. One fallen tree that blocks the one road in/out, and I'm stuck! Not as worried about bears, but getting stuck in the mountains overnight (or worse) doesn't thrill me!) Fuzzywhip

I'm planning a trip soon so I can find more pages for this challenge. But one page - Page 34 - has me puzzled. I can see the few caches in the block, but how do you get to them without a serious 4x4 or very long hiking? While I have a small 4x4, I prefer (for safety reasons) to be able to drive on reasonable roads. I'm not averse to gravel for the last push to a cache, but I don't want to drive 50 miles thru bad gravel roads. Anyone have suggestions for several relatively good accessible caches for this page? Thanks Fuzzywhip

Yup, I've had something like that happen to me! I have (had) a TB (Tabi 2 TB - TB1213T) that was supposed to travel to Japan, then stay in Japan and visit Shrines + Temples. The TB was clearly marked with its mission. I even had a Japanese translation on the TB so it would stay in Japan. Started in Seattle, WA and finally made it to Japan. Travelled around for awhile, then a cacher took it to Sweden! From Sweden, it went to Germany, and finally to California, USA. I thought: at least its in a spot to get back to Japan ... but no! Someone took it to Florida, USA. Now the TB has been marked "missing!" Grrrr!!! (At least it travelled all the way around the world!

After almost 5 1/2 years of caching, Fuzzywhip finally found #2000! Near the GZ for "X-Cape" GC1FBHM Took me 3 years to get my first 500, 1 year to get 500 more, and now 1 1/2 years to get 1000 more for a grand total of 2000!

I'm really confused about the Discovery Pass. As an out-of-state cacher, is there a good web page or map that shows all the places that this pass is required? I cache in Washington State a number of times a year, and need to know to be able to plan my trip efficently. Thanks Fuzzywhip

"Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the state of Oregon." -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland,_Oregon Thanks (doi!) This whole permit thing has me freaked. Wasn't thinking ...

Is Rocky Butte State Park (#146) going to need one of the new WA Park permits?