expatriate

Do I dare ask... what other site?

I spent some time searching the forums about virtual caches. Guess I should've done this first. I now realize that odds of a virtual getting approved are slim to none. I understand the need to weed out bad virtuals, but the idea of placing a film container with a postage stamp and a penny in it to get it approved seems silly. Besides, that would be a holiday cache... I guess the unpopulated areas will just have to go without caches. Almost Oxymoronic, isn't it? Too bad. Nice spot for a cache, just no cachers about...

If there is no Geocacher available to place and maintain a physical cache, does this mean that the area should go without a cache? Is this not one of the original ideas of a virtual? I wholeheartedly agree to limiting virtual caches to special places as is the intent. When placing a cache here in BC, it is common courtesy to ask the "local" cacher to place a cache in their area. (I have asked the opinion of the nearest cache "unfound" BTW) There are only 350 souls in the nearby area, most without electricity or internet access. If a Kyuquot local geocacher would like the cache archived, I would do it willingly. But there is no local geocacher, since there are few people who have electricity, and the only web access is via the school. A virtual placement here does not preclude any nearby caches, as the pier is most likely ~0.1 mile long anyways. British Columbia is over 1 1/3 the size of Texas, but yet has less than 1/5 of the population. Can you not see the disparity here? The approver is withholding a cache in a very unique place for geocacher to find. Take a look a Buxley's Waypoints pushpin maps and see the big voids in BC caching.

Well. I do live on the mainland...and a fair disatance away... Intersesting to note that there are only three geocaches accessible where I live with out traveling on a a few ferries...and two of these are mine. Not real fun caching around here... This area is even more desperate. Took me a couple days to get there from here. The nearest geocache is (by the placers estimate) over two and a half hours away, even though it is ~7 kms.

As per the guidelines for a virtual: "A virtual cache must be novel, of interest to other players, and have a special historic, community or geocaching quality that sets it apart from everyday subjects. Since the reward for a virtual cache is the location, the location should “WOW” the prospective finder. Signs, memorials, tombstones or historical markers are among the items that are generally too common to qualify as virtual caches. Unusual landmarks or items that would be in a coffee table book are good examples. If you don't know if it is appropriate, contact your local approver first, or post a question to the forums about your idea." Anybody been to Kyuquot, BC? I have considered a virtual at the pier in this town. Part of the proof regards a picture of the the method of transportation to this place. Have been hashing it out with the approver whether or not it is appropriate... Don't want to give away too much of the details to spoil for others. I thought it might be a good spot, since there aren't any local cachers. BTW, the approver is not "local." In fact he will probobly be hit be the remnants of hurricane Ivan soon... Opinions? Thanks.

Ramon could himself, be a virtual cache...

As Mr Gigabyte asked for some clarification, I thought I'd share with all. I had some professional surveying completed during a project I was managing. The surveyor was using a Trimble XR-Pro with a differential signal (from the Comox Coast Guard Station Transmitter, I believe) correction. I also had a similar survey completed with a Trimble Pathfinder Pro XRS12/TSCI with differential correction. Both accuracies were sub 1 meter, actually around 10 cm, IIRC. I waymarked each position both with WAAS on and WAAS off. It did take time to "lock on" the WAAS bird and apply corrections (shown by a little "D" in the sat signal strength meters). The UTM Northings and Eastings (zone 10) in WGS-84 converted to my NAD-83 waymarks exactly with WAAS on, or at least to 3 decimal minutes. With WAAS off I occasionaly noticed +/-.001' error. I checked both in real-time and after post-processing the datum. I haven't actually calculated (nor do I know) the inherent accuracy of a fix in decimal minutes, but as I said they corrolated to the survey results. Should be good enough for geocaching...

I get WAAS in Powell River on my Garmin etrex venture. With Sat 47, accuracy goes to sub 2 meter. Verified correct to 3 decimal minutes with a Trimble Pro XR with differential correction, sub 1 meter accurate. I have to have a clear South view of the sky.

Spent 11 years in US Navy, Submarines (yes... the nuclear ones...). I'm not Canadian, but don't plan on goin' back to the states (hence the name expatriate).

Look no mukluks...

hello

Sure, when?

I'm new here... so perhaps my opinion isn't valid, but I see a link! East vs. West... I grew up upstate New York, but have lived in NY, IL, FL, HI, WA, GU (that's Guam), Alberta and British Columbia. I'm an avid outdoors enthusiast wherever I have lived. My perception is that there is a difference to the sanctity (and availability) of both public and private land, particularly noticable east to west. Where it's crowded, people value and guard it more. Where it's not crowded, it's assumed it's fair game, as long as you treat it properly. Notice that Canadians haven't joined into this discussion...they can't relate! Here forestry companies open their roads to the public during non-working hours. Hiking trail cross private and public land. Very few gates. Intertidal areas cannot be owned, except in few water lease cases. Hence the name expatriot, I guess...

I'm new here... so perhaps my opinion isn't valid, but I see a link! East vs. West... I grew up upstate New York, but have lived in NY, IL, FL, HI, WA, GU (that's Guam), Alberta and British Columbia. I'm an avid outdoors enthusiast wherever I have lived. My perception is that there is a difference to the sanctity (and availability) of both public and private land, particularly noticable east to west. Where it's crowded, people value and guard it more. Where it's not crowded, it's assumed it's fair game, as long as you treat it properly. Notice that Canadians haven't joined into this discussion...they can't relate! Here forestry companies open their roads to the public during non-working hours. Hiking trail cross private and public land. Very few gates. Intertidal areas cannot be owned, except in few water lease cases. Hence the name expatriot, I guess...

Hey, I just bought a Venture too. By the time I "outgrow" it, the prices will drop or the technology will get better, or both. On a similar note. I just hid my first cache.

Hey, I just bought a Venture too. By the time I "outgrow" it, the prices will drop or the technology will get better, or both. On a similar note. I just hid my first cache.