Cache U Nutter

Thanks everyone DINO-IRL comments were the most useful as it led me to a really good site GPSGEEK which sell loads of accessories for Garmin. The neoprene carrying case [for about $25 including deliv. from the U.S] looks ideal and it has a velcro strap at the back to attach to belt/ handlebarsetc. It also has a snap link to clip onto a climbing harness. Comments from others that 'I could always put it in my pocket' not appropriate as climbing harness gets in the way and these things don't work in the pocket or at least my one does'nt. Cheers everyone

I wonder if anyone has any ideas as how I can mount my GPS [Garmin Vista CX] onto my arm. I use the unit not only for Geocaching but for climbing, mountaineering and skiing. The problem with the lanyard is that it cannot be held securely against my body and in swinging around is more prone to damage or snagging from rocks/trees etc. High winds also cause the unit to twist around until I am nearly strangled and when skiing the unit just gets in the way especially after a fall [quite common with me,especially at my top registered speed of 67.9mph!] Perhaps here is some kind of elasticated netting around ? but will have to look cool so a cut off bit of panty hose will not be acceptable! Obviously the method must not affect the signal strength in any way. I have suggested my arm as it is probably the most unlikely place for the unit to get in the way. Waist mounted and you have problems with clothing / harnesses snagging. Can you help please?

Same thing happened with my Etrex Vista CX, just days outside of the warranty period. Garmin replaced the system [ which also came with an uprated memory stick] free of charge. This is why I will never purchase a system from anyone else as some what uniquely in my personal experience ,they seem to fully understand the concept of personal service. Something which a leading car warranty company I am dealing with at present do not understand and will suffer at great cost!

As news trickles in about the latest outbreak of foot and mouth in Surrey [ my county], let us all hope that the cases are isolated and that the countryside access this time will be kept open. Whilst our thoughts are with the farmers and those involved at close hand with the problem, let us hope that this time the Environmental agencies and government are able to sort things out this time after the debarkle of the previous outbreaks. If not ,Our beloved pastime will be knocked for six as well as the livelyhoods of everyone relying on the countryside for a living. We await further reports and until then vigulance from everyone will be the order of the day.

This one in England [Great Britain] is a 5/5 cache half of which involves a dive down to a submarine! GCTRRP

Good luck!, my son who is going looked at a sat view of the camping area last week and it was all underwater! I went 2 years ago to accompany him and it was heavy rock Sunday. Probably the worst music I have ever heard with the exception of Echo and the Bunny men who were playing in the small tent. The lead singer must have smoked 15 fags during their performance! Iron Maiden were truly awfull.

Whoops a repeat and I cannot delete !

I have read all the different threads with great interest. I have placed a few 5/5 caches and as a climber it is clear that this grading system is really insufficient to give a realistic assessment of the true nature of the challenge. At 5/5, specialist equipment may well be required to reduce the risk i.e abseiling gear / scuba equipt. This would make it a 5/5. However there is a requirement for an additional grade system beyond 5/5 which for those who regularly are in this environment will fully understand. This involves the element of RISK. If the overall risk is taken into account,there are occasions where e.g risk of fall, being hit by falling stones, running out of air,being biten by something nasty e.t.c are all examples where a new classification would be usefull. I have one cache @ 5/5 where a abseil is required. At all times the cacher will be securely roped up and degree of risk is low [still warranting a 5/5 grade however] Another cache just published involves a free climb with no top rope possible where a fall would probably result in death [also 5/5] hence new system required. The system I am now using is an Extreme classification grading which reflects the objective danger [risk of death or serious injury] ranging from E1 - E10 Call it a 'Grip factor' if you like ! This is similar to the British climbing grading system but adapted to the requirements of the Geocaching community. If you are looking at 5/5 be aware that there is a new and varied challenge awaiting you!!!!

Quite true, still early days yet and I don't hold the ' keys ' to the 'Diff' listing! Just had a look at your web site, very good although some links not running. There was a link on 'Parcour' which semed to be some cult outfit and it took me 15mins to decide what it was all about [its free running off buildings/ urban enviroment etc] then I realised it is asport that my mates and I were doing at uni 18 years before it had a name! We used to do it with no style however and always kept our shirts on.

Good grief, I cannot believe what I am reading! No wonder my wife thinks Geocaching is for geeks! Baden powell had an old addage about load carrying based on his experience during the Boer wars. He would prior to an expedition sort his gear into 3 piles relating to the likely hood of it's use. He would then discard the 2 piles that were less essential. Excess weight carried is a major factor in expedition failure. Also kind of looks odd on grown up men [women too] Always something strange about people carryind around large knives if you ask me!

Just thought you may be intrested in this new cache. Possibly the most difficult cache in the U.K to date??? Stick it on your watch list for a laugh, plenty of trouser splitting stuff here to entertain all you armchair cachers out there!

So hands up then... how many UK cachers go armed with 'trowels' when caching? My wife had a cyst removed from about HER BODY! The surgeon used a scalpel and not a trowel however! Not sure if he was a geocacher or a Frenchie however.

Have just read a very intresting article in Saturdays Travel section of the Telegraph.[14th July] The article by Jon Bryant was mainly about 'Cistes' that being the French equivalent of Geocacheing. Whilst the article did mention Geocaching, it was only referred to as secondary to the Ciste organisation and by implication derided geocaching. To quote 'cistes.. will never be as big in Britain because British people don't have such a strong attachment to the countryside and local history' Also the article mentioned another organisation'Terracaching' as having better treasure/ harder clues than Geocaches, and 'letter boxing' as well. France has some 20,000 'cistes' and we now have somewhere in the region of 20,00 Geocaches in this country so do not really know what they are going on about! I feel that the article should have more accurately expressed the strength of Geocaching what does every one else think? Should perhaps GAGB put the Telegraph right on these issues and at the same time promote our cause?

GC122K9 Looking Glass Cache in the park at Market Bosworth in Leicestershire has some fantastic examples of the Giant variety within yards from the cache.

I cannot log on to this site as it does not accept my user name/password. My stats are also not listed. I have used this site in the past without any problems, Any ideas? Also, the 20 most difficult cache listing on this site seems rather arbitary. Not sure what criteria was used as some of the listings involve nothing more than a 'long walk' !

Last week whilst carrying out a maintenance check on one of my caches near Dorking in Surrey [broadwood Tower GC10JNM] I noticed the cache had been moved[most probably by the National Trust who were doing some scrub clearance work in the area] I was not over concerned as it was still in a good spot not too far away and was grateful for the N.T that it was'nt destroyed [although they were informed that there was a cache in the area] What suprised me was that about a metre away from my cache was another cache [ a screw top drinks beaker] in a partially decomposed plastic bag. I opened it up and inside was a rubber John Bull type stamp and a log book [empty] The stamp was a very well made picture of the tower at the cache location. The log book contained a phone number which was an 081 prefix not used in London for 8 years or so. I signed the log and carefully rehid it. I Phoned the number and left a message. The next day a lady phoned me back and said that this was a 'Letterbox' one of 4 in the Box Hill Country Park. She went on to say that no one had logged this one for over 10 years and that when she last went to look for it herself 8 years ago she couln't find it! Letter boxing obviously predates Geocaching by a considerable number of years, and started up in Dartmoor. We should be grateful for these early pioneers. Any one know where these logs are listed and how one would have reported the log ?[This would have been pre E mail era ifyou can believe those times existed] Aso any one else come across these letterboxes on Box Hill?

i'm afraid not, now that would have been a laugh! Sadex got some photos of them getting 'gripped' on The Beast 666 today however!

Thanks Father Jack and simply Paul, will try and incorporate these. Watch this space --as they say!

Thanks for that, have had a look and despite all the technospeak the sites look good. May be an opportunity for a bigger opportunity here?

Sounds good Paul What is the cache no. of vertigo? Please forward photo, I think there is definately a oportunity for us all to post photos somewhere. May open up a new debate on this point?

Shocking news Best wishes for a speedy recovery Still awaiting the photo incidently!

I am putting together a collection of photos of cachers completing some of my more extreme cache challenges[5*/5*] they are of people hanging upside down or doing equally other foolish things but are very funny. I have been asked if I can publish a photo montage but am not really sure how. I do not wish to add them to the cache decription as they may well act as spoilers., I would like to maintain editorial control for this reason. The photos could remain annon. save for a listing of the caches involved. Any ideas? Not too hot on p.c issues Help would be appreciated !!! many thanks

...Cache U Nutter, yes, I had problems finding one of his caches in Reigate...and that neither on a bridge or up a mountain...or not that I'm aware of! Confirmed Mr Goldpot Cherchefelle is neither up a mountain or on a bridge,BUT some cachers attempting it have been climbing up and bridging out to try and find it!

Even harder when they're not in situ: GC1113G Jeremy, and after all that help I offered On The Aiguille Du Midi !, shame on you !!! Cache is still in place ,its just that only the Brits are probably up to finding it!

You make a very good point, as long as those trying to reach the cache do so at their own risk, and the cache owners disclose as much information as possible as regards the risk then there should not be a problem. However if the cache owner fails to mention that lets say swimming is required to reach the cache and the cacher opts to climb to the cache instead and has an accident, then the owner is at fault. Owners must disclose all risks by way of a 'risk assesment' [this is what we call it in the U.K anyway] and then the cacher can make up their own mind. For my peace of mind, where climbing is involved to my caches I also incorporate a 'risk' grade on top of the normal grades which reflect the actual danger involved i.e chances of decking it or being hit by falling rocks. I guess this could include the chances of being attacked by bears or giant porcupines having read some of the cache notes of some W.V caches! Good that you are receptive to the idea of these caches, it would be very east to not allow them on the basis that they are dangerous.