Lookout Lisa
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Posts posted by Lookout Lisa
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The WSGA Summer Campout 2008 is scheduled for the first weekend in August; the 1st, 2nd and 3rd. We have reserved both group sites and the dozen or so RV sites between them at Riverside State Park, just north of Spokane.
We'll get more information out as it becomes available...stay tuned!
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I like caching in the winter. The days are shorter, but there are fewer muggles to watch out for and as someone has already said, reception is better under trees without leaves
So far I've been loving these two points.
And the bugs. Lots less of them too. =)
Just thought I'd chime in here -I thought this was the evergreen state -our pine trees (out in Eastern WA) don't drop their needles in the winter like deciduous trees, but reception is pretty good year round
And the bugs are never bad here, even in the summer! But caching is great in central wa this time of year -no snakes and it's not burning hot... just the roads can be challenging. Have fun out there! -
Gee, I know our number 1 Geocacher is good but I didn't realize they had to handicap him. Nice looking handicap too with a cap just like Dad. Congrats.
Congrats Moun10bike!! Your energy, enthusiasm and continuing contributions to the game have always inspired me
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We talked to a Ranger yesterday about placing a geocache in a WA State Park. I think it will be approved, he was very receptive and likes geocaching, etc. I was pleased at how supportive he was and how the whole meeting went...
I've read everything I can find on how to go about placing a cache in one of our State Parks, but one thing I can't seem to find the answer to is --
What do I send to geocaching.com when I submit the cache? Is just telling them I have a permit enough? Do they need contact numbers, names, a copy of the permit? Anything?
I'd like to get this right the first time, if at all possible, to avoid delays or other problems. Any advice or suggestions are most welcome!
Thanks in advance!
Teri
(swaninwa)
Hi Swaninwa!
Here are the guidelines for WA State Parks. You can find this information here also. Click on 'Land Use' link at the left, then on 'State' in the top middle. Everything you ever needed to know -and then some!!
Guidelines for Cache Placement in State Parks
In an effort to promote a working relationship with the Washington State Park Service, please adhere to these guidelines (doc|pdf) for placing a cache in any Washington State Park. This Directive is official as of July 6, 2006. The guidelines are quite reasonable. We would strongly encourage everyone with a cache in a state park to go and get a permit retro actively
Before a cache may be placed within a park, the cache owner/ placer should schedule a meeting with the ranger or manager responsible for the park in question. As some park personnel are aware of GEOCACHING, others are not, be prepared to explain our sport/game.
WSGA suggests the following:
* Have a brief, yet concise explanation of GEOCACHING.
* Emphasize Cache In / Trash Out as a benefit to the park.
* Do some research of the area to determine where you would like to place a cache container.
* Take photographs of the area in which you would like to place the geocache. Show these to the ranger and offer to accompany him/her to that location.
* Have your cache container prepared and ready to hide, show them the contents to reassure them everything in it is safe.
* If the ranger determines the site you've selected is not acceptable, ask for suggestions for another location.
Cache Containers:
While many rangers may prefer transparent containers, depending on the park, you might be able to use ammo cans or other similar opaque containers. The following are minimum requirements for containers. Individual parks may have other/ additional requirements.
* Containers should be reasonably watertight.
Ammo cans, Lock-N-Lock, or similar plastic storage boxes are acceptable.
Gladware, Ziplok, and other similar disposable containers are not to be used in the parks.
* Plastic containers should be transparent, and be clearly marked with a GEOCACHING label.
* Ammo cans should be in good condition and repainted black, dark gray, or brown and be clearly marked with a GEOCACHING label.
* WSGA members should place a WSGA member label on caches, when labels become available.
* Contact information should be on the outside of every container, especially ammo cans. (Required for WSGA members)
* Contact information should include:
User Name
Contact Phone # (where you can be reached)
There should also be a GEOCACHE letter which has the cache name, waypoint #, and coordinates on it. WSGA also recommends that a business card or a 2" X 4" label with the contact information be securely attached to the inside of the container with clear package tape, double sided tape, or spray adhesive.
Placement of Caches:
* The geocache may be placed on Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission managed property only by written permission from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
* The following items shall not be placed in the geocache: Food items; illegal substances; medications; personal hygiene products, pornographic materials; inappropriate, offensive, or hazardous materials or weapons of any type. Log books are required for each cache and are to be provided by the owner of the cache.
* It is the visitor’s responsibility to orient themselves with policies and rules pertaining to State Parks areas.
* Report any incident, problem, or violation to State Parks staff.
* DO NOT BURY CACHES!
* Avoid dangerous areas, such as cliffs, areas prone to rock slides, along the banks of swift flowing rivers, etc.
* Cache sites should be accessible from existing trails, and no more than 10 feet from the trail, unless specifically approved by a park ranger. (No bushwhacking to get to a cache.)
* Caches should be covered in such a way to make them unnoticeable to non-cachers.
* Hollow logs and tree stumps are acceptable with ranger approval.
* Geocaches must be re-approved annually by the park staff. It may be prudent to change the location of a geocache every twelve months if a social trail is beginning to form.
* Please observe park hours, nighttime cache hunts are not recommended (permitted) in state parks.
Park personnel have the final say about all caches within the boundaries of the parks they serve. Please remember that the park rangers are on duty to protect the lands and the various user groups within the parks. If they take actions you feel are not appropriate, do not argue with them. Bring your concerns to the WSGA Advocacy Committee and let us work out any problems.
The following notice is required on all geocaches placed within Washington State Parks.
1. The geocache may be placed on Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission managed property only by written permission from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
2. The following items shall not be placed in the geocache: Food items; illegal substances; medications; personal hygiene products, pornographic materials; inappropriate, offensive, or hazardous materials or weapons of any type. Log books are required for each cache and are to be provided by the owner of the cache.
3. It is the visitor’s responsibility to orient themselves with policies and rules pertaining to State Parks areas.
4. Report any incident, problem, or violation to State Parks staff.
Copy the text below and paste it exactly as it appears into your own html.
<!--- Begin State Park sanction --->
<table>
<tr>
<td>
<img src="http://www.geocachingwa.org/images/stateparklogo.jpg" align="left">
</td>
<td>
<font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#005200">
<ol>
<li>The geocache may be placed on Washington State Parks and Recreation
Commission managed property only by written permission from the
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
<li>The following items shall not be placed in the geocache:
Food items; illegal substances; medications; personal hygiene
products, pornographic materials; inappropriate, offensive, or
hazardous materials or weapons of any type.
Log books are required for each cache and are to be provided
by the owner of the cache.
<li>It is the visitor’s responsibility to orient themselves with
policies and rules pertaining to State Parks areas.
<li>Report any incident, problem, or violation to State Parks staff.
</ol>
</td>
</tr></td>
</table>
<!--- End State Park sanction --->
Cheers!
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Congratulations to OhJoy! for finding #5000 at Cache Landing at Tull Canyon today!!!
I saw yesterday that Joy was at #4999, but just now realized she got the big 5000! Congrats Joy on the HUGE milestone!
I too saw that she was closing in on 5000 when she stayed with me in Spokane...
Way to go Joy!!!
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I'd like to congratulate Prying Pandora on her FTF by being the first to successfully finish all requirements on the Washington State Webcam Challenge -Woo Hoo!
And the vid was fun to watch -especially after our conversation about how challenges really get into your brain and can consume you.It was great to meet up with her and Ohjoy! late Thursday night when they arrived (tired and sandy) in Spokane. The challenge was published while they were only about an hour out of town, so PP was literally bouncing with excitement at her potential FTF. Alas, I couldn't walk with them the next day to the actual cache (had to run to an appointment with still wet feet from doing *.* with them!) but judging from the picture and log all was well at GZ.
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And yes, there's been a trip made over here already -but they didn't know about the extra production part, so the FTF is still available
Actually, they do, they just can't do it on the road without internet access.
Yes, they did by last night when the cache was published (about 8pm when we talked on the phone), and we had dinner later when they got into town and I brought printouts along. A very interesting trip for these cachers... I'm sure all the logs will be good reading
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Given this little requirement...
"You must create, produce, post to the internet (personal webpage, youtube.com, or something to that effect) and link in your log to this final a VIDEO on the subject of:
Your thoughts on 'what is a challenge'. This could be a talking head, slideshow with commentary, or something really creative; the sky is the limit, as long as it is a minimum of 30 seconds, and of course family friendly!"
...for the final, I'm probably not gonna work on this challange.
We don't all have high-speed, or the hardware/knowledge to do this.
Too bad. It sounded like fun.
Well, this is webcam challenge, so I wanted the final to also incorporate webcams, video, images... plus I like to hear about what makes people tick; I am excited to see what folks will come up with!
Does your cell phone or camera take video? Perhaps a friend/fellow cacher would be interested in helping out if you did decide to pursue this challenge. I am open to entertaining group find ideas...
Smile for the camera
I think it's an interesting final idea, but it is true that webcam shots are a single image, whereas you're asking for a short video, which requires more knowledge and toys (and public scrutiny). I personally wouldn't want to make a 30-sec video of myself, even though I have multiple high-tech options (cell phone, digital camera, iMac, altho never posted any vid online), so that will probably nix it for me. (Actually, the fact I'm not into webcams will nix it, but the video is the coup de grace. Alas, finally a challenge I will never finish. Boo hoo.) However, I will highly enjoy watching those of other finishers!
Oh, and I hear FTF is already in the bag....
I never said the cacher had to be in the video... but thanks for your thoughts! And yes, there's been a trip made over here already -but they didn't know about the extra production part, so the FTF is still available
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Given this little requirement...
"You must create, produce, post to the internet (personal webpage, youtube.com, or something to that effect) and link in your log to this final a VIDEO on the subject of:
Your thoughts on 'what is a challenge'. This could be a talking head, slideshow with commentary, or something really creative; the sky is the limit, as long as it is a minimum of 30 seconds, and of course family friendly!"
...for the final, I'm probably not gonna work on this challange.
We don't all have high-speed, or the hardware/knowledge to do this.
Too bad. It sounded like fun.
Well, this is webcam challenge, so I wanted the final to also incorporate webcams, video, images... plus I like to hear about what makes people tick; I am excited to see what folks will come up with!
Does your cell phone or camera take video? Perhaps a friend/fellow cacher would be interested in helping out if you did decide to pursue this challenge. I am open to entertaining group find ideas...
Smile for the camera
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Woo Hoo! Good news: The Washington State Webcam Challenge has just been published!
I got the green light over the weekend on my challenge idea, but since I was at the Grays Harbor Cache Machine I wasn't able to hide the final until Monday night. It was a beautiful night! I saw 2 deer on the drive up to the parking area as the sun was setting, and then I got to watch the nearly full moon rise over the city lights below as I was walking to gz. Just as I was finishing up the hide, a huge pack of coyotes started yapping and yipping away -pretty close! My dog thankfully stayed near, and didn't get spooked, although I nearly was! The moon was so bright I didn't need the headlamp for the .75 mile walk back to the georig. So, I would highly recommend doing this near dusk
Have fun everyone!
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Due to family emergency, I couldn't make the event. But I am curious if my "will attend" note for the EVENT was counted as a dinner reservation. I certainly didn't indicate I would make the dinner, so wonder if every "will attend" the event was also assumed for dinner as well? Or was the count based on actual written numbers?
August 9 by mudsneaker (1139 found)looking forward to another fun run, just hope I don't have to many already found.
Just curious......
I heard someone once suggest that perhaps there should be another drop down menu option on Event "will attend" selections. A drop down box that would appear if you selected "will attend". A drop down box that would mark how many people would attend per each caching name and that would electronically correspond to a running total of "people will attend" under the hint area where those nice little icons already are. I'm not saying that this would have prevented what happened at the GHCM dinner, but it's something to mull over and could be helpful for future event planners (cache machine, cito, beer fest, coin party, or other.)
That was me (forum link here) --I just hate combing through all the 'will attend' logs to try to sort out exactly how many 'we' are, head count and who is really in the 'clan' 'tribe' 'family' and all that. We all know that plans change as events draw near; and then folks need to post again saying sorry, or please add x to my count... so hard to track!! I just thought that a running count on the page would be very helpful.
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You must be exhausted, MtnGoat50. That's a whole buncha caching to pass 1500 finds this weekend. Wow! You and Lynn have got to be a couple of tired cachers! You should probably hit the sack for a while. Not that we'd try to surpass you again while you were napping or anything, we just figure you guys need some rest. Nighty night...
Oh. Almost forgot.
WAY TO GO ON YOUR HUGE MILESTONE! 
That is awesome!!! 1500 and counting!!! I just had a feeling that you'd make 1500 -way to go!!
Hope all those 'phone a cacher' calls last weekend didn't slow you down... -
I will check and see if we can set up a separate fund balance within the WSGA coffers earmarked for Cache Machines using our paypal account. That way if people want to contribute, they could just send some bucks via paypal into the slush fund for future needs.
I was thinking the same thing -that perhaps the WSGA could help out in the 'Petty Cash Cache Machine Fund'. But, I also think that there needs to be some sort of checks and balances and easy accounting and guidelines for us (the WSGA) and CM organizers if something like this is wanted and/or needed. Based on my experience with putting on the Spokane Cache Machine, I don't think the WSGA wants to get into the business of cache machines... but I think it certainly is within our mission to help out where we can
On a side note (for what it is worth), the Vancouver HomeTown Buffet, Vancouver Plaza, 7809-B Ne Vancouver Plaza Drive, Vancouver, WA 98662, (360) 256-9420 has a banquet room that seats 60, and of course more seating in the main area, for no fee other than dinner for those attending. Rick Adair is the manager, and they said they're pretty slow between Christmas and New Years... and I bet there are even more dining options in the area, but they do book up fast!
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Is there a suggested method of paying a share of the deficit for those of us who didn't attend the dinner, but had indicated our intention to attend at some point during the planning process? I would like to contribute my share but I don't know who to give the money too...I'm sure others are wondering the same thing.
That's a can of worms I'm going to hand to Travis. (Sorry Travis!) The money came from those who attended. No names were taken and no accounting was made other than tallying the total to ensure that the restaurant received the amount they had been promised. It was like the ending of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. Perhaps whatever comes in to compensate for that can go into a Cache Machine Slush Fund or some such.
I just wanted to say that the additional funds that I put in the collection basket at the end of dinner I consider a contribution to Good Caching Karma
No need to reimburse me. -
I just want to get a quick shout out to congratulate Dream Cache R for reaching 600 at the Grays Harbor Cache Machine Dinner, and to Trevor and Kate for reaching 2600 somewhere along the fine WA coast caches during the Grays Harbor Cache Machine!! It was a fun day, and we made a great team for the machine.
I'm sure other folks met milestones this weekend -Way to go folks!!
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Hey... I have another one... Logan's Birthday Cache,POINT of VIEW
(GCWR09). Its on top of Red Horse Mtn. On http://www.firelookout.com/idcda.html Red Horse is listed as having a lookout tower there at one time, but its not there anymore... I'm looking for more information... and will be visiting the museum in the next few weeks to get that Really Nice Book!!! And yea, I did also find it yesterday. It was just too tempting for me not to do...
The Steaks
Thanks for the head's up: Red Horse was a L-4 cab back in 1945, then destroyed ~1952
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Thanks to dshifter, we have another fine lookout cache to add to area 6: Indian Hill Lookout - In Memory of Patch
I'm so very sorry to hear about Patch
Our geodogs are so very important. -
Prying Pandora hit the big 5000 today at Alpine Lookout
Woo Hoo -sounds like a great day, hike and milestone -congrats!
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I wanted to put a quick note in here to let everyone know that we (both members of Team Misguided) are spending as much time as we possibly can every night working on reviewing new caches. We were off-line for the Labor Day weekend and came back to more caches in the review queue than I've ever seen before.
With this also being the first week of school, it's been especially busy in the Misguided household. We appreciate the patience that everyone has shown so far and ask that you bear with us for just a bit longer. We will get caught up soon.
Keep up the great work -your dedication and amazing efforts are not going unnoticed!
Thanks!
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I think this is the best we're going to be able to do with such a large crowd visiting a relatively small town. I've got my fire retardant suit on -- flame away.
Here's what's waiting for whoever does:
Thank you for all of your efforts, Travis!!!
Great pic! I'm with ya, and looking forward to the entire event, including the dinner
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And congratulations to Yellow Alligator for passing 1,400 caches, AND organizing a fantastic event on the same day: Fiesta de Caro
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Quite a few new caches have been added to the bookmark list, the latest of which is Bertha Lookout, hidden by Ogeo for the challenge -thanks!
So, from a humble start of just 43 lookout caches, we are now up to 74!! Big thanks for all who have pointed out caches for the list, and those out hiding them
If any of you want to join the challenge, just drop me a note with a link to your bookmark list of hidden/found lookout caches in Idaho. Cheers!
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Have you tried:
Best Buffet
(360) 538-0088
2701 Sumner Ave Aberdeen, WA 98520-432
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Hmmm. Ocean Palace (dinner) wants to have a flat fee of $15 + tax/tip per person (less for kids), family style dining. They also want a $200 deposit to guarantee 100 people, and for me to be personally on the hook for any difference if less than 100 people. I'm leaning towards agreeing to it, but in the unlikely circumstance that someone would like to volunteer to split the risk, I'd welcome it.
Otherwise... any other ideas before I write them a check and pray for good weather and high turnout?
At a flat fee $15 + tax/tip, this is very expensive for a family of 4. I am not sure that we could afford to eat there.
This could be a little pricey for you if by chance there is not 100 people, however, in the past there as been very large group. I am not sure what the numbers have been at past event dinners.
What about a community center or civic hall, that could be rented for a small fee and have a potluck?
Pot lucks are really hard to do as most everyone will be coming from out of town, staying in hotels or camping even. Plus, I know that I'm pretty tired by dinner time, and really appreciate a nice dinner for a nice price.
Unfortunately, I don't have any brilliant ideas on how to solve the problem... is there a casino nearby?
And the bugs are never bad here, even in the summer! 
And the vid was fun to watch -especially after our conversation about how challenges really get into your brain and can consume you.
That is awesome!!! 1500 and counting!!! 
Our geodogs are so very important.
2008 WSGA Campout - Spokane
in Northwest
Posted
Yes, this is a great park, and the campsites are right by the river. Surprisingly though, the mosquitoes are not bad at all, and by this time of year (August) the ticks shouldn't be bad either. Of course we've had strange weather, so our mileage this summer may vary! I'm outdoors a lot in the summer, and I usually only get a small handful of mosquito bites all year around Spokane