Oliver1869

Early in January of this year, my brother while dining out, happened to overhear folks at the next table discussing geocaching. He knew I had a GPSr and asked if I knew anything about it. I checked out Geocaching.com and was hooked. Still a newbe with 25 finds and one cache yet to be published and lovin' it. Now my brother wants to accompany me on an outing. Maybe he will discover he needs a GPS as well.

On April 2nd a Spearfish, SD geocacher after visiting the Norbeck center, had the following to say. "The brochure for the Geocaching Adventure is not yet available. The volunteer had no information on when it would be available – I wasn’t even the first to stop by today." Check message forty (40) on the following Yahoo group. <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sioux_falls_geocaching/messages> Perhaps something has been published in the last 10 days. Ed

It's all about the hunt. If "swag" is the goal why would we bother with mini's and micro's?

Hi: Just today discovered there are forums other then "Getting Started" & "Geocaching Topics". I finally scrolled down a bit further to discover this Midwest forum. I live just west of Canton and have had a ball searching out my first 23 in in this area and northwest Iowa. I have had my Garmin 72 for a couple of years but only discovered geocaching this January and only wish I had discovered it sooner. I am retired and my hips and knees limit me to some extent however I have had good luck with those caches within 500-600 feet from the closest parking area. I can't wait for the snow to go and warmer weather to return. Being a nu-be and not reading the cache pages thoughly, I broke myself in on mirco & small caches. Actually it was good training for the sport. When the weather is rignt I am ready to place my first cache. Am anxious to meet other cachers in the area. God Bless and Good Caching Ed

"Something more to do with your GPS in South Dakota. " Hopefully Iowa will show up as a catagory soon. Am happy to see SD is now available. Ed

Retired from the electronics business (purchasing and network supervisor). I live on the farm my great grandfather homesteaded in 1869 and where I grew up. Hence the handle and the avitar. It all kind of fits. Safe caching Ed

I too like to keep them as history. Aftering finding a cache and have returned to the car I add my notes about the find on the cache page and it then goes into a page protector in a three ring binder. Back home I log the find or finds on GC using the notes from the page. Once I have printed the photos taken at the cache they are then added to the associated cache page. The binder goes with me on each outing as I have the pages for caches to be found in the cover pocket. It makes a good "brag book", also and easy way to intoduce the sport to other. My grandchildren love to page through it to see what grandpa has been up to, also they can look at the pages of the caches they helped me find. When this binder is full I will start another. At least for now I am not interested in going paperless, I had enough of that in business before I retired. You will notice I am not discounting it all together. Ed

I have yet to place my first cache, just started in January this year. My excuse is the weather, I'm going to wait until the snow and mud are gone before I place a cache in an area I have already researched. Being in the "great plains" we are not saturated by any means and have many many oppurtunities for caches that may be just plain fun to find, or an exciting hike, or a beautiful vista. I will be looking forward to comments with regard to my first and will use those to help plan my second. With regard to the 23+ that I found I the only negative comment I may have had is that one of them could have had another star or so for terrain. I am pleased that someone has taken the time to hide them, why should I complain. Since we have an abundance of oppurtunities here, parking lot caches are very rare, that being said I do have a DNF in a parking lot, which I probably will not attempt to find. By the same token when caching is congested, it is understandable why caches are hidden in high traffic areas. At least 3 or 4 of my finds were ammo cans sitting under a tree, the fun was getting there, but then I am easy to please. What a great sport.

At some point I will need to do the replacement thing. Bad knee & hips. I am new to the sport and love it. Since they give me trouble I limit myself to caches that are no more then 500 - 600 feet from the parking area. I have 23 finds and will be back at it as soon as this latest snow is gone and the weather warms. I am happy to hear that your repairs are serving you well and you can enjoy the hunt & the cache. Ed

Kevin I too am new to this exciting sport. This is what I have found to work really well for me. I search out the radius (5,10,15, etc. miles) that I wish to search. After selecting the ones that appear to work for this "tiring" body, I print out each one and number them 1,2,3, etc. I then enter the coordinates (my computer is to old to work with my GPS and Mapsource) manually with the GPSr waypoint number (i.e. 001,002, etc.) on the GPS cooresponding to the number I put on each printed page. The GPS then shows me in which order to search to save back tracking etc., I then arrange my printed pages in that order and I am off in search of the "elusive" caches. Back at the car I make appropriate notes on the cooresponding sheet for that cache and then erase the waypoint from the GPS. The page then goes into a sheet protector and a three ring binder, thereby becoming my history, which by the way my 9 year old granddaughter loves to page through to see what grandpa has found. She will be accomping me the next time we visit her home in Burnsville, MN. I have no interest in going paperless, it's fun to review my finds and to share it with others. I also take picutres of the cache or area and insert them with the approiate cache page in my 3 ring binder. Once home I use my notes to log find. Please, if this doesn't make sense let me know and I will try to clarify. God Bless and enjoy this great hobby. Oliver1869

I'm not a preimum member as of yet but I can tell you if you read all the getting started info on the GC website including the glossary you will get you questions answered. Then review your receiver manual and you will be off and running. Believe me you have not been "scammed". Have fun. Oliver1869

I am really new to this exciting sport. That being said, I thought I would expound on what I have found to work really well for me. I search out the radius (5,10,15, etc. miles) that I wish to search. After selecting the ones that appear to work for this "tiring" body, I print out each one and number them 1,2,3, etc. I then enter the coordinates (my computer is to old to work with my GPS and Mapsource) manually with the waypoint number on the GPS cooresponding to the number I put on each printed page. The GPS then shows me in which order to search to save back tracking etc., I then arrange my printed pages in that order and I am off in search of the "elusive" caches. Back at the car I make appropriate notes on the cooresponding sheet for that cache and then erase the waypoint from the GPS. The page then goes into a sheet protector and a three ring binder, thereby becoming my history, which by the way my 9 year old granddaughter loves to page through to see what grandpa has found. She will be accomping me the next time we visit her home in Burnsville. That was a long winded way of saying I erase as I find. Have fun - God Bless Oliver1869

I had my "Garmin 72" long before I discovered geocaching.com. I'm really happy with it and it has served me very well. Easy to learn and operate. Cost was reasonable at the time I purchased it. I realize everyone has their favorite so listen to the suggestions and do your research and you will find one that fits your needs. Welcome to a great sport. Oliver1869

Congrats - I thought I was doing so good with 23 after joining in January. I can't wait for this snow to go - and I am out hunting again. Ohh - - - your no longer a newbie after you've locked your keys in the car on the last find on a cold day, just at sunset. It happened on my forth. My 5 year old grandson was with and he still thought it was a great adventure. To add to the disappointment the terrain was to tough for these old legs so we returned to the car only to find the keys locked inside. Even so I'm still a newbie and I expect to be one until the sport gets boring. Oliver1869 in S.D.

Being a newbee (23), I have been pretty lucky in that I have not had to search more then 15 - 20 minutes or so. However I have had one that I returned to a forth time with a clue from the owner before finding. It was in January and didn't spend a lot of time searching each time. With good weather I would not want to give up very easily.

I am about to raise the average. I'm seventy Two and sorry I didn't know about this sport 5-6 years ago when my knees were in better shape. Still I have had a ball since I discoverd the sport in January of this year. 23 caches found so far and still hunting. I limit myself to 1-2 star terrian, check maps, etc. to know what I am getting myself into. Also I go forward only on those caches that the GPS indicates to be within 500 feet or so from nearest parking area.

I am a (nearly) 72 year old newbee and appreciate your question. As much as I love this new found sport (23 finds), I also realize my limitations. I am really thankful for those caches that are within 500 feet or so from the nearest parking area. Thats not to say that there shouldn't also be those caches that give hikers the enjoyment they too are seeking. I have a couple of caches in this area I wish to find but will not attempt it untill I have someone to go with me. The number of stars for Terrian are really important to me. Use good judgement and as previously stated "read the logs". I have yet to hide any caches, obviously they will be accessable to my "older and/or physically challenged" fellow cachers.