BadSquirrel

Sorry...forum didn't post correctly. Here's an odd one...I have been experiencing offsets at exactly 089 degrees for the past 6 months or so. They started being consistent 25' or so, and are now consistently 50-55'. What I am saying, is given a known point (specifically a survey monument), I will "Go To" it, and when I the GPSr says I am right on top of it (say 6' accuracy, 0 ft away) the actual monument will be 51' away at a bearing of 271. Also, any track log I download and pipe to Google Earth shows me 50' to the east of the trail, or driving on the sidewalk. This isn't just typical GPSr "noise", since it is consistently off on the same line of bearing. The problem will spontaneously resolve itself in the field sometimes, or not. Or on startup, will be accurate, then manifest the problem. Or will start up with the offset. Very odd. I've checked datum, as this sounds like a datum error. It's WGS84, no problem. I've done a full reset as well. I've also updated all software and firmware. Still no joy. My unit's 2 years old, so I'm calling Garmin, but I understand if they tell me to go away since I'm out of warranty. It seems to me like a firmware problem. Anyone heard of anything like this?

We'll be in Anaheim Saturday (for Mrs. BS's b-day) and recovering Sunday, but we'd be up for a "Bataan Cache March" the next weekend...

That has my vote! Great shot! It has my vote too! BTW, this was our last cache of the day, started at 0945 and done at 4:30...only one minor meltdown, and look at what a happy monkey she is! She also put a bunch of swag in the cache "for the next guy who finds it".

Found on the Hike N Cache trail, ~4pm, near "Curium" (GC1QKT9). Can a herpetologist save me some Google time and ID this guy? Gopher snake?

I spent the morning at the Gooden Ranch area, looking for a surveying monument. (I found it.) Is there a back story on why there are no caches there? I only saw a disabled multi. Were caches banned from the area?

Why I oughta!!! A long time ago, Jeff (TT) gave me a San Diego exclusive on particularly nasty piece of work that showed up on the Tucson caching scene. With FlagMan managing to keep a 12 mile radius clear, I had been thinking about dusting off Jeff's strategy of dropping a puzzle bomb -- perhaps in the vicinity of southeast Scripps Ranch. Problem is that I just don't have a sufficiently mean streak in me to actually do it... ...but then again, I am showing signs of weakening morals... Bring it on! :> Mrs. BS and I have a couple of ideas for puzzles, but our monkeys have unfortunately kept us busy. This thread has spurred me to action; I hope to place one in a couple weeks.

<quote> A friend of Toby's Gang put together this view of MCAS Miramar based on the county assessor's data back in 2006. Shortly before this, I had an encounter with the MPs in the "no-go" zone. The information they gave me was very much in alignment with this view. Later, when the Marines discovered that they had caches on base, they asked to have them archived. Again, they were very consistent with the county assessors' data. Far from being "overeager" (unlike a certain desert park supervisor) they've been fine with caches pretty much right up to the line... (PIC) Here's what the caches in the area look like using the points provided by BadSquirrel. Just a couple of them (northern ones in Shepherd Canyon) encroach a very small bit to the west... (PIC) <unquote> The reason I posted is I found (actually DNF'd) a cache MIA just south of the MCAS border over by the landfill. (J&J's "Whay We Recycle"). A fellow DNF'r also DNF'd a J&J cache east of the landfill, along that line of latitude, and opined it was removed by the PMO. I wouldn't be surprised if it was a PMO; I'm not sure they are given precise GPS posits when they patrol. I could see the cache's location being mistaken for on MCAS property, as it is well north of the fence by the landfill. I think a clear note in the log of these close caches would help them stay around. Also, interestingly enough, a couple of those caches that infringe in FM's pic (specifically "Refit and Reconstitute") had notes in the logs by the PMO's that said, in effect, "don't go any farther north or east". I agree they *do* infringe; this supports my assertion that the PMO's do not have precise coords. They're good guys, with good intentions...I want to make sure they protect MCAS land, but only MCAS land. And yes, I realize this applies to only about 10 caches in the county.

This concerns MTRP north of the 52, south of MCAS. Is there interest in getting an authoritative definition of the MCAS border in this area? Right now, I have two posits that are very good, but need to be double and triple checked: P1: N32 51.179/W117 03.233, and P2: N32 52.494/W117 03.222 P1 is right by the 52; anything west of it is on MCAS property. P2 is almost due north of P1; anything north of it is on MCAS property. Plug the points into Google Maps and it'll be more clear. Those posits are informally from the MCAS GIS mapping team, so I like them, but I want to be super-sure, so I plan to get survey info from the deed, confirm the coords defined by the survey info, and make those available. Then cache hiders in MTRP North could put a note that says something like: "I understand MCAS property's southern boundary is XXX; this cache is at YYY which is south and not on MCAS property. I can be contacted at ZZZ-ZZZZ if there are questions or issues." I'd hate to see overeager PMO's removing caches that are not on MCAS property. So what's the interest level? PM me if you care.

Springfield Armory .45 Ultra-compact; usually only when mountain lions are out.

Found the Waterfall Source today! My metal detector idea would not have worked. Cache container was a blue plastic waterproof doodad. I almost regret finding it, b/c it keeps the cache alive for other finders, and I thought it was a bit of a miserable hike, with ants, maybe a tick, and pampas grass. Hum baby! I came in from the top as LLOT suggested...I'd say it was a bit easier, though less direct, but much steeper, than the bottom route. I think it's a wash either way. (But if you're afraid of falling, go from the top). Now Jahoadi & John have to go back and avenge their DNF!! Ha!!

[i have a metal detector but I have not used it in years. Don't know if it still works. That said, my recollection of the cache is that the container was plastic (but it was a long time ago and my memory may not be accurate.) Here is a photo that shows the cache exactly the way that I found it... I have heard that subsequently it may have been moved... By the way, I have been to GZ up from the bottom and down from the top. Down from the top is WAY EASIER than up from the bottom. Grrr. I re-re-reread the logs, and saw the container went from metal to metal to "waterproof container" in October of '04. It was apparently picked up and left "in a bush" in '06, so I don't think the photo is accurate anymore. This is sounding like a 5.11 pants & machete cache...I had really hoped my metal detector idea had promise... And LLOT, where'd you park when ingressing from the top? The bottom route wasn't *that* bad...good grief!

I don't have a metal detector but I might be able to get one. When are you planning this little trek? Here's the link to the cache page if anyone is interested. GCHV3Y I'd look to do it next weekend, maybe Saturday morning. I should rephrase it's not terribly remote (right off the 15 at Scripps-Poway Pky) but the GZ itself is quite remote...up the set of rocks. So if someone thinks this is a day hike, it's not...more like a park, scramble for 10 mins, search for however long, and make the find. Good opportunity to get some North County caches as well; there are quite a few in the area. I think I have over 200 within 2 miles of my house.

Any fellow cacher have a portable metal detector? I'm going after "Waterfall's Source", which is in a very remote area, and is made of metal. It hasn't been found for almost a year, and it's been on my "close to home" list for too long. I'd like to bring it back to life. Would someone like to either loan me their detector, or accomany me on the find? I think it is pretty cool to find a cache that hasn't been found for many months. Ingress to the GZ nvolves a climb up a series of rocks...I did it in Tevas, but good shoes are better. It's also quite muddy. PM me?

This is probably not too appealing, but does any North County/Scripps Ranch area cacher want to visit two caches tomorrow? I'm planning to do "Ghost of Cypress Creek" (subterranean multi) and "Waterfall Source" (micro in a marsh, owner is incommunicado, hasn't been found for ~a year). Like I said, not real appealing, but since Mrs. BadSquirrel is out of town,I'm doing all the non-family-friendly caches close to home. PM me if interested...though I'm not holding my breath. Cheers!

OK...figured out how to get this in the right topic. I am off to Norfolk a week from Monday; if anyone has coins or TBs headed east, please advise and I can courier them on over. I also live near Max's Favorite Park. Cheers, -Chris

-Posted in worng group...trying to delete....-