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Jamie Z

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Posts posted by Jamie Z

  1. Remember when you were just a wee cacher? You got your new GPS and went out in search of your first cache. Maybe you found it, maybe you didn't. Post your first caching log here.

     

    My first attempt at geocaching took place May 21, 2001 when I DNFed this cache (and then another one about 30 minutes later)

     

    icon_sad.gif Jamie Z couldn't find Mt. Zion's Valentine (Traditional Cache)

     

    My first attempt at finding a geocache proved unsuccessful. On this windy, rainy night I headed out there only to trudge around in mud and wet flora before giving up. I think I found the spot alluded to in the clue, but no ammo box was to be found. Did I just miss it in the darkness?

    A few days later, May 31 2001 I got my first find!

     

    icon_smile.gif Jamie Z found A Grand Treasure (Traditional Cache)

     

    My first successful cache, and the first to find this particular cache!

     

    Easy to find, although maybe too easy, but I think anyone who finds it will leave it alone. Stopped by on my way to work, as it's only about a mile.

     

    Jamie

    (you might note that my first find was also a FTF)

     

    Jamie

  2. hit goto - I have begun. If I end the search without a find - I log it as a DNF. Each and every time.

    This is me. Once I hit GOTO, there can only be two possible outcomes. Either I find the cache or I don't find the cache.

     

    I've got 102 documented DNFs, though I know I've missed a couple. Not because I didn't think they were DNFs, but because by the time I returned to computer access, I no longer could remember which caches I'd searched for. It's only happened a couple times.

     

    Though it doesn't bother me, I've never understood how people can decide that some DNFs aren't really DNFs and not log them.

     

    Jamie

  3. Remember when everyone wanted to be able to do Pocket Queries along a route? The world's problems could be solved if Groundspeak simply made it possible to search for caches along a route, and then they did it! :D

     

    Not only did they do it, but they made it possible to share your routes. You can make your route public and available for search by keywords. It's brilliant. I couldn't wait to see all the great routes people would post. I love to get on the road, find some cool roads, and being able to find caches along the way made it even better.

     

    It's such a great resource, and it's being wasted. :)

     

    If I do a search for keyword "Memphis," (where I live) this is a sample of the routes the come up:

     

    "St Louis Missouri to Memphis Tennessee via I-55"

    "West Memphis, AR to Little Rock, AR via I-40"

    "Atlanta, GA to Memphis, TN via I-20 and US 78"

    "Memphis TN to Littlie Rock via I-40"

     

    Who wants to take interstates? It seems like almost all the public routes are just the interstate between two cities. Booooring.

     

    A search for "motorcycle" brings up eight routes, three of which are my own (and one from Mopar).

     

    Where are all the cool routes? Is there a place we can deposit cool routes? Post 'em here if you got 'em.

     

    I'll start with my own, since I'm quite pleased with the routes I've posted.

     

    Crowley's Ridge Parkway, Arkansas

    Kentucky Covered Bridges

    Kentucky MRT

     

    Jamie

  4. In Guatemala, I was responsible for visiting and recording the coordinates of all of the Habitat for Humanity houses built in the country since 2005 (around 6000). I visited them all on a motorcycle (only 200CC so not a lot more powerful than the scooter) and it was a LOT of fun...

    :)

     

    Wow! I mean, WOW! How did you get that gig, and where do I sign up?

     

    Jamie

  5. Though it's possible that lab testing could highlight differences between the reception capabilities of modern GPSs, the differences to a geocacher are negligible.

     

    Excepting some older GPSs which didn't have parallel channels, and to some extent, the older eTrex models (not the newer eTrex models), all modern GPSs have more than good enough reception for almost any geocacher's needs. Leaving that as your prime concern is of little value.

     

    Even the best consumer GPS will only get you within 10 or 20 feet of a position, and when you're looking for a cache, remember that the hider used a consumer GPS to generate the coordinates, so the cache coordinates themselves may very well be 10-30 feet away and still within the range of error.

     

    For what it's worth, precipitation and cloudcover have negligible effect on GPS reception. Trees and buildings are the biggest factor. In some area, mountains and canyons can cause problems, and though you don't give your location, I suspect you're in the UK. The UK doesn't have much (if any) terrain which should give a modern GPS trouble.

     

    Jamie

  6. I've got about half a dozen finds where I've uploaded a dozen or more photos...

     

    Some great caches need more than just TFTC.

     

    In addition, I've got a few logs on caches I've hidden which have a dozen or more photos.

     

    That said, it takes only a few minutes to upload the pics one by one. Though the option to upload a bunch of photos at once would be helpful, it's not high on my list of wants.

     

    jamie

  7. One suggestion I haven't seen...

     

    The ammo cans I hide don't necessarily have to have much camo. They've been far enough away from anything that I'm not worried about folks seeing it. I usually just pick a flat paint similar to the surroundings and paint the whole can a single color. Then I print up the Stash Note with the geocaching logo, the cache name, my name and phone number, and have it laminated at the local Kinkos. Then, using 3M double-sided tape, I put it on the outside of the cache.

     

    Here's one of my caches, photo taken by a finder:

     

    352d6995-1d22-4456-b4c9-760589500ee8.jpg

     

    And another cache, the pictures from the cachecamera.

     

    861f510d-af9c-4ab6-9474-6d1ba31e5e88.jpg

     

    6ed17e47-db73-4c25-b418-b2a8b43f9c01.jpg

     

    You'd be surprised how well it holds up. Several years so far, and hardly any degradation.

     

    Jamie

  8. Locally, we've had a handful of high-profile caches all but disappear.

     

    One woman found around 3000 caches in her first year or two and placed about 100 caches. She hasn't logged onto geocaching in two or three months. Many of the micros she tossed out are now showing up as missing, wet logs. It's a maintenance nightmare.

     

    Another prolific caching couple a few years ago, they found several hundred caches, hid a dozen or so good caches, and as of about two years ago, nobody has heard a word from them.

     

    We also had one very copious hider up and disappear one day. Even his wife posted on the local forums asking if anyone had seen him. We were checking to see which caches he might have gone to look for, fearing the worst. As it turns out, he'd been busted for drug dealing and was sitting in jail. :lol:

     

    I know I've gone long stretches without caching, but it's never been on purpose. Twice I've had my GPS stolen. I've taken some long-distance trips where caching wasn't involved... and in addition, I kind of got burned out on the quality of local caches (see my first story above) so I pretty much stopped searching for local caches. But I do go out once every week or two and grab a couple good ones that other cachers recommend.

     

    Jamie

  9. I also use the etrex legend hcx, the button you use for power on/off is also the display brightness, quick presses (Hold down for power on/off) press 1 goes to 50% brightness, press 2 goes to 100% brightness and press 3 goes to 0%

    Moreover, if you press the power button once to bring up the brightness level, then press it again to bring it to 50% brightness, then move the brightness to where you want using the click stick and press the click stick to return to regular GPS mode.

     

    The next time you press the power button to control the brightness, the preset brightness you chose above will be activated. It saves your brightness even through power down.

     

    Jamie

  10. To tell you the truth I've found very few micros, especially blinkies, where the owner simply couldn't have hidden a little larger cache nearby--if not in the exact same spot. Folks who say you can't hide larger caches in urban areas simply aren't trying.

     

    I'm not saying every spot can handle a regular, but nearly every worthwhile spot I've been can certainly handle at least a small.

    That's been my experience. I'm not sure if it's because people prefer to hide micros, whether they don't want to spend the money on a more significant container, or whether it's because they haven't looked very well for a good place to hide a bigger container.

     

    In other cases, I think it's just a matter of putting caches out because one isn't already there and having a few film containers in your pocket for just that reason.

     

    Jamie

  11. Part of the problem with largwr caches is the need to do maintenance. Micros and nanos just need logs replaced and I for one carry spares to assist when needed.

    What do you mean?

     

    Typically, large caches are hidden in out-of-the-way places and can go years without any maintenance problems, including the logbook. I've found caches with full-size notebooks in them for logbooks. It'll be a while before that needs replacing.

     

    Jamie

  12. Grab it.

    Drop it in the archived cache.

    Retrieve it from the archived cache.

    Place it in your new cache or in another active cache.

     

    This would probably be what most would like to see as it will attempt to correct any mileage errors. The owner of the bug would probably prefer that too.

    I hadn't thought about dropping it in the archived cache. That's a good idea.

     

    Jamie

  13. Kind of an odd situation. A couple years ago I archived a cache. I picked up the container and put it in my attic.

     

    Today I pulled the cache out of storage with the intention of putting it back out in the field. In the meantime, I looked through the contents and was surprised and dismayed to find a travel bug in the cache. ;)

     

    The archived cache never showed this bug placed in the cache. In fact the bug's last known location was several states away. I can't figure out how the bug got into my cache, and I'm a bit embarrassed that I had it in my possession without my knowledge for over two years.

     

    Nonetheless, I plan to get it back in circulation by leaving it in the cache container when I reuse it.

     

    Is there a way to simply drop it in a cache without having it in my inventory?

     

    Jamie

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