RaisedByWolves

Has anyone else devised a method of determining if their cache containers are trully weather-proof? Besides AFTER you’ve placed a cache and gotten a note telling you your log is soggy? I’m working on testing a few containers by putting tissue paper in them and a weight of some kind (I use large nuts or bolts dependant on the size of the container) and then placing it CAP DOWN in a bucket of water. After 3 days I’ll check. If any water got in, I’ll know by the mush that was tissue. We all know ammo cans are NOT trully waterproof. Are there any restrictions to putting silica gel bags in containers to absorb any condensation? They seem to work great on much of my gear that gets stored outside (I’d know if ammo had gotten wet pretty easily). I know Lock-n-locks are very very good, so are many of the Pelican case knock-offs but sometimes you just need a customized container 

This can easily be fixed by tossing in a silica gel packet. I use them in my ammo cans (non-cache) and gun safes. Unless someone opens the can in a downpour, humidity isnt a problem any more. Other great cache containers for weather resistance are mortar cases. Theres a multi-final here that used an old cylinder (rocket or mortar tube) loaded with everything from books to DVD's. Not only are military items great and fairly inexpensive but they are pretty darn resilliant. Heck, if you know someone in the service, particularly transport or artillery, you can pretty well bet that they can put their hands on some amazing containers, but make sure that the items are genuinely being put "out of service" to avoid Loss and Abuse issues. If you live near a military base/post, try to get to the DRMO and see what's for sale (Army is best for this as they actually let civilians on post). Another container that needs mention are home-made PVC tubes. They can be of any size from 1/2" diameter to 12" and virtually any length. Made with every day pvc plumbing pipe (dont use CPVC as its crap in the cold), a cap at one end and a clean-out at the other (properly glued of course) they can handle some pretty amazing circumstances (its water pipe afterall... since its made to keep water - or sewerage - IN, it'll darn well keep it out). If you're worried about UV resistance, upgrade the main tube to PVC electrical conduit (the gray stuff). It stays more flexible in the cold, is UV resistant and all plumbing accessories fit nicely. Hit it with some of that Krylon Fusion paint and you're good to go. One last great cache container I've found here in NC are pill or vitamin bottles (the ones with the SCREW tops like Centrum, etc, not the child-resistant amber perscription ones). Some here have been in use for years and are still in great shape. This is all USA standard stuff, I'm not sure what their equals would be "across the pond"

Vorpal Rabbits. Have you ever seen what happens to someone after an encounter with one?! Poisonous snakes, p.o'd critters and crazed humans an all be dealt with with a controlled use of small explosives.

It depends.... Bag one (in the truck at all times) less than 5#... First aid kit (with super glue... dont ask) Sharpie Pen Note pad Belt knife (Cold Steel Bushman) Walking stick Clip-on flash light Gerber tool Mini-mag Water bottle(s) TP Swag Disposable camera Compass Area map Bag two (LBE) for anything in the "back country" at least 30#... All of the above plus... Space blanket Poncho .44 Alaskan Chem stick Zip saw Spare socks Hydration bladder Canteen (I hate to run out of good water) with heaters Collapsable fly rod MRE (one if alone, two if with a partner) Polypro shirt Whistle Fast-rope gloves 50' rope 3 (or more if I could ever get them all together) caribeeners Bag three (a.l.i.c.e. pack) for the upcoming-most likely over nighter- "Turkey Pen" series.... All of the above plus my hip waders (the fly fishing up there is amazing!) My blanky I took that old moto from scouts "Be Prepared" and Semper Fidelis to mean ANYTHING short of Nuclear Winter If we bring our 2-year-old, I just do park-and-grabs. I'd need porters to carry everything I'd need for her!

Superb idea, especially along bike paths or fishing holes. During hunting season if I happened to cache on my way through to game lands and found that I'd most likely call it a successful day and go home (at least I got *something*) Wow, nice run-on sentence.....I'll edit later and see if I can make it longer

Those LED mini-lights are a dream-come-true for me.... I'm always using them (fishing, hunting, caching, tormenting the dogs, etc). Mini carabiners... oh heck, yes! Besides, how else am I to hook my LED light to my pack? Rain ponchos.... always handy. They'll even keep you warm in the months when its NOT 80+ Banaids... have you ever pulled duct tape off a really hairy spot? Ouchless boo-boo strips for this he-man please. Travel Bugs!!! Whistles... they're great for the search party to find you and what better way to terrorize Mom and Dad on the way home in the car? Gold US dollar coins... heck, they're only worth a buck but kinda cool (especially for the historical re-enactment crowd) A fly that works in that area (for us fly fisherpersons out there). For the out-of-staters or "tourists" (we're all tourists at one point)... some kind of small inexpensive (but tasteful) item stating where the cache was found. Those little spoons or pins saying "North Carolina" or some such thing. I never thought of AA batteries... what a great idea! Now to go swag shopping... woohoo!

Ugh... I'd take poison ivy or oak any day over chiggers. Worst I ever got them was servicing a customer's heating/cooling system..... they had landscaped with pine bark.... looked pretty and the chigers thought so also. My helper and I both scratched for DAYS afterwards. Yes, clear (pink clashes with my tool belt) nail polish works - Stings at first, but works. A really *H-O-T* bath will take the edge off for a bit also. ::Hums along to the old kibbles and bits commercial:: "chiggers and ticks, chiggers and ticks.... North Carolina is loaded with chiggers and ticks"

Woops, my fault... I meant to say HDDD MM.mmm . Thanks for the clarification IV Warrior. As for the technicallity of UTM, athe most basic, its very simple.... the grid lines on your local topo map (1:25,000 or 7.5 minute scale) are UTM not longitude / latitude. That little misunderstanding had me stumped years ago when I first thought that with a map and compass alone I could find my way "there and back again". Silly child, you need to learn how to use them, they dont have a mind of their own ::snicker:: I guess it's true what they say; with age comes wisdom (getting lost at age 8 will do it to you also). Anyhow, after a moment of clarity (they're few and far between), I realized two things: 1.) We use the format we use with GPSr's in mind, not map/compass. Why know deg.min.sec when the GPSr points you in the right direction? 2.) With the simple push of a button, I can convert ANY coordinate system to whatever coordinate system *I* prefer. I know what happened... I stopped to think and forgot to start again.

Recently, while out in the mountains of western North Carolina (my home) I was caught with the most dreaded of GPSr messages..."weak signal. Move to a clear view of the sky". Um.... I'm 2600 feet high in a clearing with a good view. How will I ever find my way to that elusive cache?! Well.... seeing as I had been playing in the remote appalachians for most of my life, I know the value of a good topo map and a compass AND how to use them. Needless to say, I found where I was and where I wanted to go without the need of AA batteries, clear sky and an electronic gizmo. Now, I'm in no way coming down on the use of a GPSr for this great game. Nor do I dislike those that rely on them while hunting, fishing, backpacking or geocaching. GPSr's are a great tool and SO much fun to play with, but I think you all can agree with me that their use can only be relied upon in limited scopes. I have some questions for you all, however.... First.... why oh why do you all give coordinates to caches in dd.mm.ss.ss? If you've ever used a USGS topo map (7.5 minute series) you know that trying to get accurate lon/lat coord's with them is nearly an excersize in futility. Especially if you don't have a Quadtool. The lon/lat tics aren't printed very readily and unless you have a yard stick, good luck getting aligned (especially in the dark). Personally, I an set up to use the UTMsetup on my Garmin with NAD27 coord's in order to get accurate coroboration with my maps. Using NAD27 and UTM, I can get within 10 meters on a topo (better than my Garmin in most locations). Second.... how many of you acually understand the UTM system? Again, I'm in no way trying to make anyone feel "inferior" or ignorant here. I'm so excited to be part of this group and from what I've read in these forums, you all seem to be pretty down-to-earth folks (no pun intended, hehe) of high moral fortitude. I'm simply asking a question of mechanics pertaining to the Great Game. I hope to hear some good input on this.

Wow! You people actually catch fish regularly with fly rods?! I've been doing this for years and can count the "keeper size trout" I've actually caught on one hand. I'm still addicted though.... much like geocaching now.