Fuzzywhip

Missed the WICM back in January, so I am looking forward to this event. Don't know if I can get the time off of work to attend. When will the map/list be posted? If I can attend, I would prefer to share a ride with someone, as I do not know the Tri-Cities area. Also would love to try a cache team experience. Thanks Travisl for another great event!

Reading the posts above made my mouth drop open! Dadgum! I thought I was doing pretty good when I did 32 caches in 11 hours (solo, all properly found and signed.) Included everything from LPCs to traditionals to puzzle and multis). Whidbey Island, WA July 2009.

Here! Here! I too would like to express my appreciation to reviewer mtm-man. I truly appreciate the time and effort you exert to help this great sport! Thank you!

I too face the effort of teaching my aunt (73) about using geocaching.com She has been coming with me on caching for several years. Just recently, she wanted her own account to keep track of all her 'finds'. So far, I've been entering her logs for her. Then she borrowed one of my old GPSr units (eXplorist 100) and has been learning to use it. At first, I had to explain each step to enter coords (mark) and hunt for caches (goto). Lately, thru practicing, she now can enter and hunt with no or little help from me. In the last month or so, she is the one who asks when we are going caching (and I'm obsessed!) and gets excited about building new caches. She helped me work up the details of a new cache and will probably want her own cache soon. Also, when we go caching, she has started beating me to a few 'finds'. Her geosense in improving. So, it's just a matter of teaching by example. I know that once she has her own computer system to use, she will be able to learn the geocaching web site. Most of the basic features are easy to use. (Reminds me to print out the tutorial for her to read)

Hmmm.... Wouldn't you want the circle to be a radius of 264 feet (1/2 of 528)? Then as long as the circles around the caches do not touch, they are far enough apart from each other?

I find that JB-Weld is good for cementing hard drive magnets into caches. Roughen the surface of the magnet with a file. Also roughen the area inside the cache where the magnet is placed so you get good adhesion. Use a good glop of JB-Weld to cover the magnet. The metal in the JB-Weld will want to pile up on the magnet, but I do not find this a problem. As the JB-Wend starts to thicken, use a coffee stir stick to spread the JB-Weld out so it sticks to the inside of the cache around the magnet. Let it set for at least a day, and you are ready to go!

Visited the Jimi Hendrix Memorial (and the nearby cache GC1A1EP). But I lost my camera (probably in or near the Memorial). I know ... stupid mistake ... but I had a bunch of caching photos that I need. If anyone finds a red Canon A470 (working or otherwise), please email me. Was in a black nylon case. Thanks Fuzzywhip

Was just in the Puget Sound on a geocaching vacation (116 finds in 7 days). While searching for "Preserved - GC1VZTG" I picked up a couple bags a regular trash. But there is one item dumped that I couldn't move. It's a big screen rear-projection TV! This thing is huge! There is a sign saying that it needs $400 in repairs, but the whole thing has been pushed into the woods. I ask that the local cachers could please pick this up, as the unit has been trashed, and now is ... trash! Thanks in advance Fuzzywhip Near coords N 47 54.301 W 122 13.181

105? Well, it doesn't get that hot here (95+ for the months of June, July and August - oh! and very little rain), but I go caching just the same. Wear sun protection, and an umbrella really works! Yes, I know! Using an umbrella makes you look like a dork, but it beats passing out with heat exhaustion or sun stroke!

Usually, I skip "front yard" caches as it just feels "weird". As I approach the GZ, it can be hard to tell if the "permission" stated on the cache page matches the physical property I'm about to enter. Just did one of these caches a few weeks ago. Even with explicit instructions (and it was obvious that the GZ was right in front of the yard), still felt "weird" hunting for a cache while people could be watching.

Great discussion! I have been concerned about this for several years. I am worried that the same thing that happened to CB radio in the 70's (sure dates me :-) will happen to geocaching. With increased coverage and popularity brings the wrong and worst types of people to join and ruin the hobby/sport. On the opposite side of the coin, I wish I had heard about geocaching years before I got involved. I found out about geocaching originally by chance, while searching for instructions for an old GPSr I bought on eBay. Had I known about geocaching earlier, I would have bought a proper GPSr, and probably would have a lot more smilies :-) It's the balance that is needed. I wish the GPSr manufacturers would comment about geocaching more (like in their packaging), and wish the popular media would comment less. If someone is willing to buy a hand-held GPSr (rather than the vehicle-type), they are more likely to be atuned to hiking and trekking (close relatives to the geocaching sport).

Juicepig mentioned it earlier in the thread, but I will reiterate: There is an incompatibility with one of the new satellites (a WAAS one I think). I was getting the same problem with my Legend. Update the firmware (using Garmin WebUpdater) to current version 3.90. Cured the problem for me.

Years ago (before I was geocaching), I was driving on the back roads near Granite Falls, WA. Somewhere out there was a street sign for DEAD INDIAN RD. Unfortunately, I was running late and didn't snap a photo. After all these years (and looking every time I'm in the area) I have not found this sign again. (Does anyone know where this sign is - please post coords - thanks)

I've been having the same problem for months when I print the "no logs" version of the page. I even posted in the www.geocaching.com website forum shortly after it started (11/23/08). Seem to be linked with a past upgrade of the geocaching website, because before, printing was not a problem (I use a HP 2100 laser printer - old school - but what a workhorse!) The solution that works for me is to use the "Print Preview" menu selection under the Print button. Use the "scale" pull-down and try scaling down to 95%, 90%, 85%, and so on. Usually, at around 80% to 85%, the top part of the cache page can be printed. Sometimes, even the map will fit on the first page. Then I print just the first page. I find it very handy to have the printout while caching (especially when I am travelling) so that I can write my notes about each cache I find. Usually, I do not have internet access while travelling, so I have to wait until I get home to log all my finds. The written notes helps me write proper cache logs.

OK, read this post completely before replying! There is a particular cache that I have searched for many times in the last couple years. I have been able to isolate the GZ area to a particular tree in a local park, but just cannot find the cache container. I have also taked to other cachers who have attempted the same cache, with the same problem. The questions is: is it proper to use a metal detector (I am assuming the cache is an evil micro bison tube or nano button) for the last searching method? I look at this use of a metal detector as just another tool (like a mirror, a flashlight, or a magnet) when hunting the GZ area for the hidden cache. I equate this to picking up every rock in a pile of rocks when searching in the GZ area for a hidden cache. Or perhaps pulling or pushing on everything in the GZ area while hunting. Comments?

I have chased several degrees of confluence http://www.confluence.org while out caching. I have hunted several in Washington State. One is not far from Granite Falls. Got to within 100 feet I think, but it is located on private property and I do not know anyone in the area. The other was along the Washington Coast. The confluence placed it in the front yard of a house. I rang the bell and knock, but I guess no one was home. Didn't want to trespass just for this, so I had to let it go. I think I was about 50 feet away. Whenever I go on holidays, I take my Delorme Gazette mapbook and check for confluences.

No to Category - They are still "Traditional" YES to Nano's having their own size. One step down from Micro. I have hunted and enjoyed both sizes, but I really appreciate knowing if a cache is a Micro (film canister size) or a Nano (tiny button) without having to read the entire description (if hider indicates a nano). I find it frustrating to hunt for a micro, only to find that it is a nano after all.

I just did a 6000 km road trip (and naturally did a LOT of cache on the way there and back) WA -> OR -> ID -> UT -> AZ -> NV -> CA -> NV -> UT -> ID -> OR -> WA I used GoogleEarth with the geocaching KML plug-in to find the caches along the route. When I found an interesting cache, I would research the cache on an open browser page. If I wanted to hunt for the cache, I would print the page (yes, I know, I'm old-school on using paper) and upload the coords into my Legend (don't use GSAK... yet). Anyways, I was able to list over 115 caches along my planned route and found 78. May be low tech and doesn't use GSAK or Pocket Queries, but for me, it got the job done! PS: By printing out the cache page using the "No Logs" printing option, I would write my notes about the cache and the find on the printout. As I usually do not have wireless access available while travelling, this lets me accurately log my finds when I got home.

Here! Here! Well Said! Frequently, I find point #2 the obvious problem, especially when I am travelling. I prepare my cache hunting list before leaving home on a geotrip, but rarely do I have internet access to log or do research. When I find a TB or GC without a written goal attached, I usually pass it by. I do not have the ability to research the TB or GC goal before retrieving it.

Received an uncirculated Unite for Diabetes Travel Bug when I visited Groundspeak Headquraters back in January. I would like to repurpose the TB to become a regular travel bug, but still with a diabetes theme. Is this possible? Is it possible to "adopt" a U4D TB and rewrite the TB's information page?

Well, I find JB Weld is the only glue I have found that holds magnets. I roughen up the surface inside the container where the magnet is to be attached and apply the JP Weld. Stick the magnet on the glue and apply more so it laps over the top of the magnet. THEN, apply another magnet on the OUTSIDE of the container to hold the magnet in place until the JP Weld fully sets. Let it set at least 2 to 3 days minimum (longer if possible). I am a regular user of hard drive magnets, and have found JP Weld as the best.

Hmmm.... While I agree that cachers should have experience before placing their first cache, I would hate to see it become a rule or a requirement. Not everyone lives in an area where you can rack 100 'founds' to qualify to place a first cache. In my area, when I started there were few caches to be found. I think I was at found=17 when I placed my first cache. BTW, the cache is still going strong after almost 3 years. And just because a cacher has no or few finds in his account doesn't mean that they do not have experience. I have seen several young people who have cached with their parents under a family nick, and just recently made an account for themselves. Locally, I watch (and usually try for FTF) on any new cache that is approved. I have found no correlation between a cacher's experience level and the quality of the placed cache. Good caches and bad caches can happen to everyone. As a community, we should foster and help new cachers as they develop, and guide the 'old hand' who has forgotten what it was like to find their first cache! Quality, no quantity, is the key!

I did the trip last year (I'm from BC) and found the area very easy to navigate. Look into the KOA kampground at Cascade Locks, OR. I found this location a good jumping off point to doing the Original Stash Tribute cache, plus there are number of caches in the nearby area. I worked my way thru Portland to the coast, then north thru Astoria (across a super cool bridge) and into Washington state. Stayed at another KOA in the area. I see there are three close to Mt. St. Helens. If you are going to Mt. St. Helens, then look into going to Ape Cave. It's a cool underground lava tube open to the public. I went several years ago, and it cost $5 for the day to park near the entrance. Don't know what it cost now :-( (I'm a fat guy, and I was able to complete the long portion of the tube). Bring several flashlights, a warm jacket, and I would recommend a light helmet (wacked my head at several places along the tube). Mission 9: Tunnel of Light is a definite destination! Prepare to spend 2 to 3 hours minimum, as the hike thru the tunnel takes over 1/2 hour each way (for me, I stopped several times along the way to check things in the tunnel, so it took me longer). Hope this helps - Good luck on your pilgrimage!

Love this idea - wish I thought of that My biggest problem is explaining geocaching to border officials. I go on geotrips frequently that require crossing the US/Canada border. I've got a couple border guards upset when I try to describe caching as treasure hunting. Seems there are rules (?) about foreigners REAL treasure hunting. I usually blither on describing what a cache is and why I want to look for them but NOT take them with me! Many are confused or puzzled by this explanation. (Oh yes, I tried giving a border guard a caching pamphlet, but he wouldn't look at it :-)

Nicely done report! Better than most commercially producted TV spots.