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ByronForestPreserve

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Everything posted by ByronForestPreserve

  1. I ended up with 14 requests, so I guess I'm sending 14! I did have a few extras just in case. If I got your address as of this reply or so, they'll be in the mail by tomorrow. If not, then I'll send them next week as I'm out of town for a few days. Byron
  2. I ordered a couple hundred geocoins for work a few years ago as a prize for finding our caches. I'll be archiving those caches in a month or so and ordering a new coin for new caches. Seems silly to have a stack sitting around in my desk, so I will mail you one of our geocoins for free, and I'll even cover postage. I have 10 to give away. These are real unactivated geocoins from Oakcoins with tracking numbers. I'll do my best to keep an eye on this post, but will be out for the weekend.
  3. Well, the problem was that they replaced the hide but didn't remove the old container, then deleted my log when I found their geotrash.
  4. My area had a caching family banned several years ago. They put out very difficult caches and policed the heck out of them. I found a relatively easy one and got a message a couple days later: "We didn't see your name on the log and we think you didn't find it, we're going to remove your log." I replied by describing the find in detail, to which they said, "Oh, that was the OLD container. You didn't find the new one." I sometimes wondered if micromanaging their cache logs was their full-time job. I'm also convinced, but cannot prove, that they had bogus accounts to "find" caches that got NM or NA logs to make it look like the cache was in good shape. Actually, maybe someone proved it and that's why they were banned....
  5. Not sure if it's quite in the range, but West Bend, WI has a ton of great caches. They are the hosts of the Cache Bash event and the town is the "Geocaching Capital of the Midwest."
  6. That's the page I never found, thanks! I kept looking through the "Getting Started" sections of the help center, and never got to this info.
  7. This might sound silly, but I've been a premium member for years and I don't really know what comes with the free app nowadays. Someone from another forest preserve asked me what the differences are between the Premium and free accounts...I thought I knew, but reading around the forums I see that there are still PMO caches. How does that work? I thought that the free app was D 1-1.5 and T 1-1.5 and anything higher was premium/paid app. Then I wondered--with a free membership, could someone hide a D2 T3 cache? Could someone explain the teirs, please, so that I can answer correctly? I did read the FAQs and help center, but it wasn't very clear on the details. Thanks!
  8. Well, it worked on me. I'm in the process of putting out more caches for work on our new properties and saw the email. Ended up spending $100 in the store, got one box and some coins for event prizes when I'm done placing all of them. Though I wasn't spending my own money....
  9. I got two in the mail! Thank you--they are awesome! I swear I saw the message on vacation from you checking my address, but then it was lost somehow in the black hole that is the message center. But then they showed up anyway! Thanks!
  10. I will have an event soon (ish). I wanted it to be this spring but we bought new property and have a ton of stuff going on. So...late summer instead!
  11. I would happily send out a couple dozen unactivated coins at no charge if some people wanted one. It would be fun to have them spread out around the globe. Hit me up.
  12. It's gorgeous and I love it. This is technically a work geocoin, but I am in charge of our geocaches. We had thought about doing a geotour for a couple years, but it never quite made it into the budget...and then the two closest tours near us were retired, so it had less appeal. We had geocoins made instead, and I'll be putting out a dozen or so caches on our properties this spring and giving out these coins for finding them. Now I have to put those out and get on the list of area geotrails....
  13. Hi, all. We have a new piece of property, and some historical record somewhere claims that there is a marker (brass disk) on the top of a hill. I'm somewhat new to benchmarking, but I know more than most of the other folks at work, I guess, so I was asked to find it (boss suggested a metal detector, but can't give me coords, just "on top of a hill"). I've read through the forums and did one search at the NGS site, but also downloaded their add-on to Google Earth just to double check. Nothing shows, so I am concluding that it was a survey marker planted by the USGS (??) that didn't make it into the NGS database...if it's there at all. So...is there any way to narrow down where it might be? Mind you, my friends and I are excited to metal detect this old farmstead regardless, but I'd like to increase our chances of success for finding the marker. If any other information might help: the site has one of the highest elevations in the county, and we think we now have the largest tree in the state, so it's been undisturbed or used for cattle for at least 200 years. There is a cemetery on the edge of the property with stones back to 1830s. I also have an aerial survey from 1930, so I know where the open spaces were and where the farmhouse was just off the property line. Oh, and we can see our area's largish river from the property, but not much else that would be considered a landmark. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
  14. Thanks, all. Sounds like I should make it mystery or multi, and probably leave something at the site that works as a temporary permit, to address folks caching on the fly (at...night? I guess) who don't have a printer. Now on to the planning stage, and finding a few night caches to get a feel for them.
  15. Sure. My question is how a meaningless self-printed waiver addresses your General Use Ordinance's requirement that after-dusk use requires the presence of preserve staff. Does the permit/waiver also deputize the geocachers to be unpaid preserve staff? It's worded "with permission" I think. We do have one primitive camp site used by Boy Scouts, so there are exceptions. Honestly, I opened a can of worms asking the Risk Management contact, because she said we should already be using a night permit/waiver for evening programs like night hikes, observatory use, glow in the dark golfing, and so on. Oops. Hmmm...a paper at the trailhead would absolutely work. We have one location already that I was thinking of using...it's our equine preserve, and people have to fill out a form to take their horses on the trail. It's far enough away from our main buildings that the police don't patrol the parking lot. It would be much easier to tell the police department that an empty car there means a geocacher...I can't think of why anyone would walk out on the prairie at night there otherwise, where they could certainly be up to mischief at our main site. Good thinking. EDITED TO ADD: Oh. Duh. A multi-cache! First waypoint takes them to a box with the laminated permit, which they must carry with them and has instructions for the rest of it. I'll just have to keep an eye out and make sure there are always copies available. Several others of you bring up good suggestions and points. I have been asked by the board and the director to expand geocaching on our property. Isn't that great? We were very nearly set up to do a Geotour last year, but a deck renovation bid came in way over budget, so we didn't get the funding for a tour. However I have enough budgeted to order a Geocoin, good containers, food and prizes for an event, and whatever else I need. Geocaching fits in very well with our mission and draws the right number of people for the cost--not so many that they trash delicate areas, but enough to spread the word about our hiking trails and amenities. We are opening new preserves this summer, so it's a good way to get a few extra people out and draw them to places where we want people. The reason I'm thinking of a night cache in particular is because I want to add as many diverse caches as possible this spring with the idea of "something for everyone." Since I am not setting up a geotour, I figure that this is a good way to draw people from farther away. Yes, I'll list it as a Geo Trail, but that's another topic. Thanks for the great responses!
  16. Good considerations, thanks. A mystery cache might work. I might finagle just having the cache page itself be the permit, so it can be shown on a phone screen (or GPSr). My biggest concern was indeed that most cachers wouldn't read the cache page. Shame. Of course, having the permit be the cache page text would be like someone signing a waiver or agreeing to ToS without reading it first...which never happens anywhere ever. Viajero Perdido: we have a decent number of regular caches on our properties. This would only be to cache at night. Knowing that night caches appeal to some people and that there aren't many around, I would think they would jump through at least one straightforward "hoop" to get that one.
  17. I spoke with our Risk Management Consultant about setting up a night cache on our property. Because we're a forest preserve, our General Use Ordinance states that we close at dusk unless there is staff around for an event or rental. Anyone on our trails at night could theoretically be forcefully removed by the local police (and they definitely patrol our buildings). So...how to set up a night cache? Her suggestion was to have a permit on the cache page that needed to be printed and signed by a cacher who planned on being on our property at night. It's all legal, of course: anyone hurt on our property at night who didn't belong there doesn't have much chance to win a court case. The permit gives permission, but also acts as a waiver/"you understand the risks associated with caching at night, &etc." I pointed out that 75% of cachers probably wouldn't print and sign and carry the permit, in which case we are back to them being there without permission. Sort of. Would you? Would it be worth the hassle? Anyone have alternate suggestions? (This might be a theoretical discusion, as setting up a GOOD night cache would be completely new for me. There are so few night caches around, and I've only ever tried to do one. I never even found the first firetack. But it seems like it could be awesome.)
  18. Awesome! Even better. I was under the impression that it would always download the "quick" list/PQ (without the extra cache info) over wireless or bluetooth. Wow. Cordless will be excellent. And yes, I bookmarked the Wiki and saw that what's there should be applicable. Thank you! It has arrived, and I'm putting a screen protector on and batteries in right now.
  19. Ooh, yes indeed. That combination is listed as "high accuracy." Interesting, and I will try it out with device only. Thanks!
  20. Hiya! I read every single post on this thread (okay I skimmed a couple) as I was putting the Oregon 700 into my digital shopping cart. I'm replacing a DeLorme PN60, so definitely an upgrade. Soooo...is my summary correct: I can use the new Garmin Oregon 7xx the exact same way as I would have my DeLorme, by connecting the USB to my computer and downloading any/all of my PQs, and off I go. All relevant information, such as D/T, description, and hint are contained therein and are accessible. In addition, I can cache "on the fly" with Geocaching Live, and so long as I have reliable data connection through my phone with Bluetooth, can download all pertinent cache information. If I don't have data service on the trail but after the initial area search/PQ download, I can still navigate to the cache, but with no description, hint, etc. Sound about right? Any changes in functionality since the last firmware update? Anyone change their mind on this product after using it for six months? I saw that the top reviews on my shopping site of choice all complained that the Live function does not work at all, but the forum posts here indicate that it's all fixed and working as advertised (limited, but does what it says). I'm sure I'll be back (or reading the Wiki) to figure it out this weekend! Thanks for all of your info! It made all the difference in making a decision. My other choice was a GPSMAP 64s, but I thought I'd enjoy the touchscreen, better graphics, etc. And I do often find myself deciding to cache when I have nothing loaded on my DeLorme (or don't have the DeLorme with me). Whenever I try using my phone, it seems to get stuck at "36 feet away" every time. So...limited though the Live function might be, seems like the best of both worlds!
  21. It's about the same. When the Ingress game first came out, users submitted photos and descriptions for potential "portal" locations. They tended to be historical markers and things like churches. Niantec simply imported those locations and made them Pokestops. In other words, the locatons were vetted at about the same level as most geocaches--if it wasn't blatantly and obviously terrible, it passed muster. Just as some caches turn out to be on private property, so too are some Pokestops. Honestly though, I've been educated about things in my town by reading them. As to Pokemon Go versus Geocaching...From what I understand, pokemon tend to show up where Niantec noted high cell phone data usage, also gathered for the Ingress game (from Google services or some such). There's bound to be a lot of overlap between caches and Pokemon in urban areas, but there are zero Pokestops or critters when you get out onto trails. For example, I work at a forest preserve, and our observatory is a gym and there are three Pokestops at our main site (two buildings and a memorial bench). We are out of town and a mile drive (or walk or bike) up a hill. There have been probably a hundred people up there over the last week just for those. So yes, it's crazy. However, none of them have gone out on the trails or near any caches. Aspects of PG that I like? Being able to walk out my door and play without any prep. I can't walk or bike to any caches from my house; I need a decent block of time to go caching because I have to drive a half hour first. What would I adapt to geocaching? Can I get a lure to attach to a cache that will attract trackables?
  22. I use two for those kinds of things--Map My Hike for tracks, and GPS Waypoint Finder by Keuwlsoft (free and no ads). The first is great for distance traveled, speed, etc. and I can look at the screen to get back to any part of the hike. It also has an online version with extra details. The second is a very simple compass screen and a button to add, edit, import (including gpx files), or export waypoints. Arrows scroll previous and next waypoints, while settings change sound, units, or coord input (degrees, minutes, seconds). Very straightforward.
  23. Hmmmm...while I don't like the idea of having to pay for premium membership to see most caches, I understand GS needing to stay solvent. Dunno why the $10 had to go...I guess new players would do one but not the other. But like...PMO caches are now pretty much the same as having a Mystery Cache or a D/T over 1.5? Huh. The suggestion I really like is unlocking as you go... "Find ten more caches to unlock Multi-Caches! Find 25 more caches to unlock Mystery Caches!" That is a fantastic idea.
  24. I've been a premium member for years...how does the new app work, then? It's free now, no $10, but people can't see any but low T/D regular caches, or what? I understand that the $10 full app vs. $30 premium member confused the heck out of new players, but is a premium membership the only way to use the app to its full capability now?
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