GeoCraig

Google Maps http://maps.google.com/ now has a pretty good satellite photo function. I would like to zoom in a little closer, but it is still a nice function.

A very nice addition. Thanks to all involved.

What does the cache manager do? I'm hoping that .gpx files can be loaded directly into the GPS and have the same info available that we get from a PocketQuery.

How about download all the files into a holding folder, open them with GSAK, then upload them into your GPS. It's quick and easy.

USAPhotoMaps at http://jdmcox.com/ is a good resource for sat photos. It also has topo maps available. All at no charge. MS Streets and Trips is a good mapping program. I got mine at Costco for $15 after a rebate. You can upload your caches very easily.

Universal view for Best Cammo

Trogdor's Shovel AKA: P&H Model 206 for Best Hard Terrain (Terrain rating >=2.5) and Best Cache that Got You to a Great Place You'd Never Been.

I often use USAPhotoMaps as a resource while geocaching. The most topo maps in the area are way out of date. The Urban photo provides a more recent depiction of what to expect.

Has anyone hear anything about the Geocaching Management System that will be available on the Explorist 400, 500 and 600? They are supposed to be out next month.

In Los Angeles, there is a cache at the Hollywood Bowl the regularly holds tickets during the summer concert series. There is also a cache at the Disney Concert Hall that often has opera tickets.

Another way to do it is to click on the Hide and Seek tab, select your state, and you will get a list of the last cache approved. You can't tell where they are until you click on them, but it you recognize the hider's name, that is a hint that it might be in your area.

Positives: Been to many places I normally would not have gone Being able to get out hiking and exploring Negatives: Getting handcuffed Getting poison oak, again, and again, and again, and . . . (Yes, I do know what it looks like. I guess I am just a very lucky guy.)

I think I used to be able to cut a waypoint in gc.com and paste it in GSAK in the Code Search box with using the right click button. I can't do that now. Did something change or am I just imaging that I was able to do that earlier? Thanks.

Pierpont Bay WebCam by dr.bob (GCCC58) is a controlable camera. You can pan and zoom it, so you are able to get in as close as you need.

I used GSAK to create a HTML file, then use Plucker to upload it to my Palm. The channel updates sometimes take forever. Reviewing the details, after a few minutes I get a lot of Already retrieved and parsed messages. Any ideas on how I can streamline the channel update process? I don't care about image files. Perhaps I can eliminate those somehow. Thanks.

http://boulter.com/gps/ is a nice site to do a quick conversion. It also maps the location for you. It is very helpful if you are at your computer and don't want to worry about the math.

I'm guessing that the volume of the brass micro is less than 1 cc.

In TOPO, go to File Merge .tpg This will open the data in the .tpg file into the current map.

The largest cache that I've found was a 5 gal. bucket. The smallest had an interior volume of less than 1 cc.

It's a nice cache, in an area without any caches nearby. I was FTF on 9/16 and still the only one who has logged it. Where is everybody? Ken, I thought you would have been by a week ago.

If you have a bad case, call your MD right away. You can get an oral steroid that really works wonders. I can't remember the name, but it comes in a blister pack. You take 7 today, 6 tomorrow, 5 the next day, etc. I had two bad cases last year back to back---poison oak is the most common shrub in California---oh the joys of geocaching. Both times, the Rx knocked the rash and the itching down almost immediately. All the lotions and the creams are only band-aid approaches. When it's bad, go for the good stuff as soon as you can.

There are a bunch of geocaching events---picnics, pizza parties, etc---coming up in the next few weeks. Why not sign up for a few. I would imagine that you might find a few "stars."

I also have a Zire 71 and it is a great tool for geocaching. I currently use GSAK to create an HTML file then use Plucker to upload it to the PDA. Before I used GSAK, I ran a nice program called gpx2html to create the file. Both programs create a very user friendly file--it's like taking your PC on the trail with you. Please let me know if you need any help. GeoCraig

There are some nice virtuals in Yellowstone: Old Faithful Geyser, one of many, Yellowstone - Shoshone Nickname, and Yellowstone - "Hardy Pardner" were the ones that I did last year. In Sequoia NP, Rangers Fund is a quick virt, not much to it, but it is in a nice area. Southern Utah, the Mojave, and Death Valley don't sound too inviting in August. And your dog isn't going to be too welcome at most NPs. You will be mostly limited to what you can see from the truck. And with the heat, the dog won't be able to be left behind for more than a few minutes. Have a great trip and be safe.

I've never had your problem, but I do know that Topo can import is DD.ddd or DD dd.ddd. I shouldn't matter. I would look at the program you are exporting from and see if the problem is occuring when the file is created. Good luck.