Icyjane

We got our first digital camera over the weekend. Managed to get a few pics between showers yesterday. Bachelor's Button wild Phlox

I made hiking every weekend my resolution this year. So far I have only skipped 4 weekends. In January 2 miles would kick my butt...up to 6 miles now. My next planned hike will be 7.8 miles on the Grassy Cove(Brady Mtn) trail, which is part of the Cumberland Trail, and I am looking forward to the challenge. I adpoted a section of the Cumberland Trail near my house last week, and am hoping to get a 50 miler award by the end of the year. My friend and fellow cacher lets me tag along while he does trail maintenance and makes maps for the CT website. I've been learning about trail reports, and how the state will reimburse various organizations for volunteer work you can do while you hike, as well as give them money based on the mileage you drove to hike/volunteer there. The CT, which will stretch across TN is being built by volunteer work only, and we plan on volunteering for some trailbuilding in the near future. I guess that gives me a new goal.

We bought a 2005 Rubicon Unlimited last week. Had a chance to go after some 4x4 caches over the weekend. It was our 1st ever off road trip, so we took it easy. It was sooo much fun! Still taking it easy since it's new to us, but here are a few pics. Here we are near the cache, with our buddy, who led the way.

I use a tent from Sportsman' Guide. It's not a fancy name brand, but it does what I need it to do. Listed as a 1 man tent, but I have had 2 adults in it. Only weighs 2.5lbs and under 30 bucks! Not good with posting pics, so here's a link. Backpacking tent

Here's my big boy, Scout. We got him at the pound, so breed is questionable, definitely some shepard in there. Caching trips with him are getting shorter, as he is aging and just can't handle too much hill climbing...wait, am I talking about the dog or myself, hmm?!

I found a product called "Super Ivy Dry" and keep it with me when I go out caching. I once ended up thigh deep in a patch of PI, and had to wade 0.2 miles through it (and back), wearing shorts. When I got back to my truck, I swabbed both legs down with this stuff, and not one itchy place ever showed up. The label indicates it is for the treatment of poison ivy, but I use it as a preventative immediately after exposure and so far it is working.

What about this scenario: Went to grab a cache in a series of bison tubes one day recently. GPSr gets me to ground zero, I see the geotrail, clues tell me I'm in the right spot, but no cache. I logged my DNF once I was home. The next day I get an email from the owner stating the cache was missing, but a group of cachers that were there after me had called him to report his missing bison tube. So, the group of cachers just happened to have a bison tube and a new log, signed it, therefore replacing his cache for him. No where on the cache page, or any of the cachers logs after me mentioned the cache was missing/replaced. I deleted my DNF, went back and found the cache, and posted my new "found it" log. I also emailed the owner and let him know why I deleted the DNF. I'm all for people doing cache maintenance, I often replace full logs, failing ziploc bags etc, but I think replacing a cache thats been muggled in order to avoid a DNF is a little sketchy. Of course, that's my opinion, and I figure that and 59 cents will get me a Krystal. What's the boards opinion on this kind of thing?

I took a suggestion from an above poster and checked my local Goodwill store for a backpack.. Lo and behold I find a Camelbak for $2.99. It was still in the original packaging and the seal hadn't even been broken on the mouthpiece!! Holds 2 liters of water, many pockets for storage. I love it, thanks for the tip!

One day there might be a 12 step program for this! I saw a blurb on t.v. about geocaching last November and have been obsessed ever since! Some days I can barely pay attetion to the road because I am distracted looking for places to hide caches.

I was the same way...the first time I saw an FJ I was smitten too!

We got our coin today! Love it, can't wait til the next one comes out. Thanks for a smooth transaction!

Same goes for me. Is it too late to get one?

I drive a 2000 Tacoma TRD. I love it. Before that I had the same model, but it was totaled in a head on collision. I didn't have as much as a scratch on me, the other driver, who crossed the center line, wasn't so lucky. Needless to say, that is why I replaced it with the exact same vehicle, only in a different color. Hopefully I will be as safe if I ever have another accident!

test 1...just learnin' the ropes!