the3gmen

What strategies do you use to create your pocket queries ? I am in Massachusetts and would like to have my GSAK database have all traditional and multi caches within 100 miles and update them weekly so that the current finds are there too. Should I create the PQs according to dates placed within the area or is it easier to create them base on a series of central points ? And once I have downloaded the cache data, do I just need to run them once per week and click the "has been updated in the last week" switch ?

How is phoning a friend any differnet than a group of people working together to find a cache ? I have phoned home from ground zero a couple of times, but it was only to ask my wife to re-read the cache page to me.

That reminds me of what my father did when we got him his first computer about 10 years ago. He would print out almost every interesting webpage he came to and stick it in a notebook. Eventually we broke him of that (for the most part). I guess old habits are hard to break.

When I remember to (and the skeeters aren't too bad), I try to take a picture of the cache as I find it and when I replace it, I take one of the way it was when I replaced it.

I can't imagine having a cache rejected because "you already have too many in the area" I haven't done this series of caches yet, but the approach they took to place them was very neat. A series of 28 caches placed on a trail by 15 or so different cachers. Perhaps that would be a good way to get more caches in the area. edit:removed bogus URL

Google Earth has that error built in on purpose. They don't want you to be able to zero in on caches using just Google Earth. Yes it is possible to get a good set of coordinates from Google Earth and I suppose once in a while you may get a better set that with a gpsr. But to get good coordinates consistently, a gpsr is the way to go.

One of the reasons I became a Premium Member was so that I could get the new cache postings sent to my cellphone so that I would have a chance to get a FTF once in a while. If someone wants to celebrate a milestone for another cacher, I would suggest creating a travel bug or geocoin in their honor.

Is Massachusetts in the latest version ? I've downloaded it and although I see data from the other New England states, nothing shows up for Mass.

I knew my patience would pay off. Thank You very much.

That makes sense. It would be more helpful the other way, but I understand. I guess that just makes those First to Finds a little more special.

I have set up this kind of Instant Notification to send and email to my computer and my cellphone. It works great but there is one problem. It doesn't send the coordinates. If I am away from home and get the notification on my cellphone, I need to call home and have someone look up the cache and relay the coordinates to me. It would be really neat if the email included the coordinates. Is there a way to do this ?

I use one of Microsoft's Power Toys. Once it is installed, you just right click on the picture you wat to resize and chose the size. Very simple. Find it here...

It sort of worked for me. I had to open the kml file with Google Earth and save it from there to get it to work. Sweet.

About a month ago I was making another attempt at a cache that is about a mile from my home. I had tried it 3 times before only to be turned back but (1) a child who didn't appreciate the thick bushes, (2) a sudden downpour, and (3) too much snow and ice at ground zero to find the container. Since the snow was gone from my yard, I figured that it must be gone near GZ of this cache and I would try again. When I got about 1/2 mile from my car I realized the snow was still too deep and turned back. I had to cross a small brook (about 3 ft wide). I stepped on a rock and reached out for a thin tree to steady myself and the next thing I know, a thick branch that apparently was hung up on the tree clonked me on the head. It knocked my hat into the brook and I must have looked like a fool chasing it. When I bent over to pic up my hat, I noticed a fresh blood stain in the snow and realized it was from my head. A quick dash to the car and a trip to the emergency room later I was the proud owner of 4 staples in my scalp to close the wound, and the bandage they put on me made me look like someone from a 3 stooges film. I think I'll make attempt #5 at this cache this weekend. And I'll grab the branch that hit me and bring it back for the fireplace.

I have always thought that all gpsr's have pretty much the same accuracy regardless of price. The more expensive units are more sensitive and will therefore pick up a signal where the cheaper units will be "searching for satellites"

I think that when you have been caching for a while, you tend to look at things a little differently. You look at an area and ask yourself "If I were hiding a cache here, where would I put it ?" Or you see a pile of sticks that looks a little unnatural and wonder if there might be a cache hidden there. That happened to me today. I was in a nearby wildlife reservation bushwacking towards one cache when I spotted a pile of sticks that looked out of place. Sure enough when I checked it out, it was a cache that I knew was in the area, but not the one I was looking for. I signed the log and continued on my way. I'll brag to my friend that today wa s the day that I found 5 out of the 4 caches I was actually looking for.

I like to carry a pair of binoculars. If someone comes by, I just pretend that I am looking for wildlife off in the distance.

Could you give a quick lesson on importing a GSAK created csv file into Streets and Trips ?

Is there any interest in sharing pocket queries ? I get 7 or 8 per week for my local area, but would like to get some for more of New England for when I explore further away. I know I could set up more PQ's , but I thought that it might be more helpful to set up a sharing system. We could all load our PQ's into GSAK, export them as a gpx file and email them to others who are interested.

Wow, this sure is the place to ask questions. In these 3 responses I have all of the information I need. I have configured my devices and exported over 1000 geocache waypoints as POI's. The drawbacks aren't even an issue for me (at least not yet). Now all I have to do is check out the help files for GSAK to figure out what other neat things I can have it do for me. (oh yeah, and register my copy of GSAK) Thank You for your quick responses.

I have checked out a lot of threads out here and found some amazing things that I didn't know I could do with my 60csx. I'd like to get a few things straight. I know that I can load up to 1000 waypoints (geocaches) onto my 60csx, and look at them as either waypoints or geocaches. From what I have read, I get the impression that if I use GSAK to export my geocache waypoints as Points of Interest (p.o.i's) I can store an almost unlimited number of them on the sd card in my 60csx and as a bonus, I can include other things like the hints or the descriptions. Is this correct ? If so, why would I want to do it any other way, are there any drawbacks ? Do they display the same on the gpsr maps ? I have downloaded GSAK, the "GarminCSVPoiExport" macro, the "GarminPOIcsvhelper" macro, the CustomPoiIcons, and the Garmin POI loader, but I am a little confused how to used them to create and export the POI's. I would like to export the waypoints and have them show up on my gpsr map with a different icon for different types of caches (traditional, multi, mystery, virtual, etc) and then scroll to the icon, click on it and see the name, size of the cache, and the hint. If someone could give a step by step description of the process, I think a lot of the new members out here would be very appreciative. Thanks in advance.

My spin on that one; you will inevitably find the trail AFTER the cache. I like to think of it as "the way back from a cache, is usually easier than the way to it"

I have seen some cachers with astonomically high counts. I know that there is no way that they could actually find this many single handedly. I don't consider it cheating though because there is no prize to be gained in my mind. I cache for the fun of the search and my reward is the feeling I have when I finally set my sight on the container. I would be willing to bet that most cachers have hunted with buddies every now and then. When you do this, one of you must be the one to actually FIND the cache, but I bet it doesn't stop the other cacher from signing the log. I am sure some people would consider this cheating but it's not big deal in my book though.