nekom

I have a great idea for a cache. Where have you heard that before? Who doesn't? Well anyway I'm hoping to get some input. What I'm thinking about isn't addressed in the guidelines, and (as far as I know) doesn't violate any guidelines, but I still have concerns. The idea: A mystery box. It will be a custom designed device with some switches and a 7-segment LED (the same thing that's on your typical digital clock, able to display a number). You get the switches in the right order for each number you need, as per a puzzle to be determined at a later date. The design will take days, probably weeks, maybe months of work, though the value of the components themselves would be less than $20.00. The cache I have planned is middle of nowhere, back road. low muggle territory, but of course there are no guarentees on that front. The concerns: 1) It would require batteries. They could be provided, but of course can die. 2) It would be highly fragile. 3) It would not be EASILY replaceable. Once the programming for the simple microcontroller was finished and the schematics laid out, it could be replaced with just a few hours work, but certainly not EASILY. The questions: 1) Would you even bother with a cache that required you to bring a couple AA or AAA batteries 'Just in case' the ones provided had died? 2) Do you think the average cacher would handle it gently, and also reset the switches and dials to random positions as to not reveal the puzzle easily, remember to turn a switch off and/or disconnect the batteries provided so they don't burn out, and even bring along/replace batteries when needed? Or at least put it back in its waterproof container? 3) Is this just a little bit too elaborate? Am I nuts for even dreaming this thing up? And finally 4) If I did make such a device, should I put a 'backup' somewhere on the device, in case it doesn't work, to reveal the coordinates? And out of curiosity: Has anyone seen anything like this before? If so, how did it hold out? Sorry for the long-winded post, just really gung-ho about this idea and would love to hear some input!

When you only have 24 finds, and you want to carefully plan your 25th and make it a great one, since it's a landmark, after all.

When you only have 24 finds, and you want to carefully plan your 25th and make it a great one, since it's a landmark, after all.

oops double post. sorry again.

this isnt a new phenomna(sp??), but the chemicial(s) generally blamed are the hydrocarbons. some news hogs around may recall incidents of 'gas' sniffing in some northern canadian cities and the public outcry from about 5-10 years ago. this is also similar to the starting fluid used for diesel engines and most heavy mechanics can attest to the buzz if using the stuff in confined spaces. Well I'm certianly no expert on the subject, but my understanding of inhalant abuse is that the 'buzz' simple comes from depriving your brain of oxygen, due to any number of chemicals that you might inhale accidently, or in search of a buzz. I can tell ya it's not a ' buzz' I'd seek out, I'll stick with a couple beers thank you very much. I think the lesson I learned is that when a bottle says use only in a properly ventalated area, brother, they ain't kidding!

I don't know about evaporating off the boots, but I was spraying some sort of leather waterproofer on a pair of boots once and must have inhaled a bit too much. Didn't have proper ventalation at all (let that be a lesson!) Got real light headed, started hallucinating (walls moving around), arms felt real numb, almost passed out. That can't possibly be good for your health! Whatever chemicals are in there aren't good to inhale, that's for sure!

Yep, 36^4 = 1,679,616 as it stands. I've seen geocaches that only had GCxxxx (I'm pretty sure), which opens up an additional character for the 4th slot (NOTHING), so 37 ^ 4 = 1,874,161. Don't know how far back it goes are far as the number of characters. Add an extra character (GCxxxxx) and it's 36^5 = 60,466,176. Or make it case sensitive with the existing 4 (GCxxxx) and you've got 62 ^ 4 = 14,776,336 (and a lot of confusion to boot!) Do both (62 ^ 5) and get 916,132,832 (plus confusion) Are there REALLY near one and a half million geocaches out there?

It's all about location for me. I love to see something fascinating, or at least unusual. I'm relatively new yet, but my favorite so far is "Scattered Remains", (GC331A) a world wars era DuPont gunpowder facility with a history of at least 3 deadly explosions and a lot of structures still standing. And... fire hydrants... in the middle of the woods. Darndest thing I ever saw! What's not to like there?

I've only found 2 micros so far. One took me to a park I drove by a thousand times but never bothered to stop and enjoy the river view. The other was a parking lot hide which I thought was extremely clever. I file the whole thing under different strokes for different folks. And of course there's those (I pretty much include myself in this group, so far at least) who like a little of every sort of cache. But I guess this is the never ending debate.

From a marketing standpoint, you'd think wal-mart would encourage parking lot caches. Hmm, grabbed my cache. Well, I do need milk. ooo that's a good price for 12 pounds of nutmeg!

Sounds like a no win situation You could print appeals to the culprit and place them in every nearby cache, but I doubt that would discourage them. Some people are just, well to put it lightly jerks. Game cameras were mentioned, but I wouldn't think that would amount to much. It's a crying shame, that's for sure.

oops double post, sorry.

I read a log a week or two ago of a cache that was found by a non-geocaching hunter. He signed the log, left a musket ball and replaced batteries in a flashlight. Not everyone who stumbles upon one by accident is going to wreck it, I'd like to think that 95% of people would either sign the log or at least ignore it. If I didn't know about geocaching and stumbled upon one, I suppose I'd sign the log, probably would get me into it or at least get me looking into what the deal is. Now, back when I was 14 or so I couldn't promise that You know how kids can be.

I just had my first run-in with the police recently, although I initiated it. On my way to a cache, I noticed a plastic bag full of garbage. Unfortunately, a common site in the woods around here, probably anywhere else as well. Coming back from the cache I noticed in that bag were some files. I looked around and there was everything, and I mean EVERYTHING you could want to know about some fellow. Photos, copies of driver's licence, social security number, criminal record, court dates, EVERYTHING. The documents were not well covered by the garbage bag, but barely wet so they couldn't have been there long. Debated about what was the right thing to do, and we decided to grab the documents. Took them to the park's office, which was closed and empty. Then a county sheriff's car comes down the road, so I flag him down and explain what I found. He didn't ask me what we were doing up there (it is a public park, after all), but I mentioned that we found it while geocaching, and he said he was familiar with the sport. I gave him my phone# in case he had any further questions, and of course the lat/lon where we found it, and he thanked us for bringing it to his attention. I don't know what ever came of it, or what crime, if any was committed, but it just was TOO fishy to leave it be. I think I did the right thing.

Severely bruised hand (never went to the doctor, so this is a crude self-diagnosis). hurt for well over a week (STILL a tad sore over 2 weeks later, but better every day). Missed a day of work. Doesn't stack up to the rest of ya goobers though.

84) Think before you act, dummy! Just because some rocks have been peacefully sitting for 50, 100 years or more doesn't mean they won't crumble when you try to climb them.

Well I'm pretty new to this, but I have to say that my wife enjoys the sport every bit as much as I do. It may be a simple matter of exposure? (i.e. more men than women find out about it)? just a thoght.

I'm a total newbie to geocaching (found 2 last weekend) but I LOVE interesting places. In fact, it was an inquiry to a local historian about an interesting place that put the word geocaching into my head for the first time. I view geocaching as basically a chance to see what hidden places other people think are interesting. And its a great chance for me, my wife, and our dog to get some exercise. And of course to read the logs to see who else has been there, and add my own mark. Trading a few goodies may be a distant fourth. Of course I haven't even explored the whole travel bug thing yet.

Hi. I'm incredibly interested in getting into geocachine, and plan to start searching this weekend, and I'm already plotting my first cache. I have a little bit of a question about what is and what is not acceptable, and since I want to follow the rules entirely, I figured I'd ask. I apologize if this is covered elsewhere. My question is this: Is it ok to hide a cache on what is certainly private property, but is either owned by a defunct corporation (in the case I have in mind, an old mining comany that no longer exists), or is otherwise abandoned? I realize that all property DOES belong to somebody, but the fact is these properties are effectively abandoned, and the parties that own them are surely disinterested in them. There are no posted or no tresspassing signs. There are acres upon acres of such properties around here, and I was hoping to get some clarification on whether or not these are acceptable areas to places caches. Any help is greatly appreciated.