oldsoldier

My take is that, barring a handicap preventing you from walking, you are being lazy using one of those.

Ah, still, I would HIGHLY suggest going with an inexpensive GPS at least. Carrying a laptop out into the woods is inadvisable, at best. Unless you plan on doing strictly urban micros, you will, in all likelihood, drop your laptop sometime, thereby destroying it. Trust me, you WILL drop it at some point. A lappy works fine navigating to the general area you need to go to; get a GPS for getting to the cache though. You have to take into consideration weather (laptop wont be used in the rain!), terrain, clumsiness (after all, if it comes to falling down & breaking a leg, or dropping a laptop, well, lappy goes!), distance to-from the cache, not to mention, being the wierd guy wandering through the woods with a laptop. All in all, a laptop, IMHO, is not a good choice for caching, other than getting the info FOR the cache.

Ah, dont be so quick to judge. Although, I commend you on your survival sense. I have worked with search & rescue for years in MA. You'd be surprised at how many people go out unprepared. We found a kid a few years back in NH who had died from exposure. He went out, into the white mountains, with a jean jacket on. This kid, IIRC, was fairly experienced in the woods. Not something you'd expect from him. Again, I think you did great, both hiking in groups, and having that heightened sense. I just wanted to point out that not all folks who go outdoors regularly prepare for it.

The image was blocked here at work, but I have owned several blackhawk bags over the course of my military days. Personally, I wouldnt worry what other people think about your gear. Take what you like. I keep enough stuff in my jeep to disappear for a week, or longer, if need be. But, thats me. And, one of the things in there happens to be my blackhawk 3 day pack. Which I will pull out & take caching. Granted, it may be WAY overpacked for a walk of maybe, at most, a couple of miles, but, if I need something, it is there. I also have a smaller maxpedition pack I sometimes cross load stuff to, for shorter runs. I once got "turned around" just before dusk, bushwhacking, less than a mile from my jeep. I REALLY didnt feel like beating bush all the way back, and serioudly considered an unplanned night out. I had my pack with me-would have been a non-issue. I walked out, as I was more concerned with vandalism to my jeep, than staying out. But, upside was, even though I wasnt far, I had that pack, and everything I wouldve needed to spend the night. Yeah, I may overpack for caching sometimes, but, I dont get to go as often as I like, and, when I do, I plan on a full day of it. I like the option of perhaps bedding down for the night, and wandering out the next morning.

I have 3-4 flint-steel type combos hanging around. On my outdoor knife, I have a firestick (I forgot the name of it, but it is swiss made, and works GREAT!), in my jeep, I have the one manufactured by Gerber, in one kit, I have an issue flint fire starter (this is in my cache bag), and, lastly, in my PFD for kayaking I have a metal match. One thing I found works GREAT with the item you posted is a small piece of a hacksaw. You only need about 2" or so of blade; make sure it is the carbon steel blade though. produces a LOT of sparks with that.

I too use meters/ klicks as opposed to yards/feet. Spending 12 years as a grunt, I can better judge distance. The ONLY time I calculate mileage is when driving. Any time in boots, its always metric. Of course, most folks I go with cannot fathom (little pun there, haha) what 300 meters is...as I cannot visualize a "football field".

Same thing happened to me when I went to place my first cache. I was within 100' (actually, likely within 20') of another puzzle cache, and had no idea. When I asked the reviewer, they told me the name of the cache I was close to. I didnt realize HOW close until I read & figured out the clues. So, it just goes to show, you never really know. Their job is to ensure we comply with the rules. If they said you didnt, you can, of course, get clarification. But, once its explained, the result is pretty obvious; move your cache.

I found myself climbing a cliff this weekend for a cache, simply because I forgot the log page. But, I knew I wasnt in over my head, even though I spent the better part of 1/2 hour looking for it. but, I blame no one but myself; I had read the log previously, and dismissed it on my cache run this weekend, as it was 4.5. But, it was within 200 meters of another one I found, and couldnt resist. Doubtful this would have been attempted if I hadnt had previous climbing experience, or wasnt fit enough to attempt.

I did one a couple years back that was a log, hollowed out on the bottom, with a film canister stuck up in there. It was stuck among other logs. Right next to a stone wall. It took me 3 tries to get this one, and only found it through frustration...I happened to kick the correct log Weird how things turn out sometimes!

I was, until recently, carrying all my gear in my 3 day patrol pack by Blackhawk. However, I found, like I usually do, that, true to science, nature abhors a vacuum, as do I. So, I would end up cramming the pack with everything I could! My daypack weighed as much as a weekend pack. BUT, I was recently turned on to maxpeditions shoulder bags...and have trimmed down my gear alot! I essentially carry everything I'd need for an unplanned overnight stay, plus additional items for caching. All this fits into a small bag, with room left over.

Ah, the pace count! Years later, I STILL remember mine! One thing you learn; you pace count goes up DRAMATICALLY when moving cross country.

Wow, how about easing up a little? He clearly STATED that he wants to USE THE LOGS ON THE AIR. Not specifically advertise his radio station. Heck, he wouldnt even have to have the NAME of the staion anywhere on the cache; just a simple disclaimer stating that anyone logging comments for this cache must be aware that they COULD be used in the media. Get off your high horse, and help a person out. He's asking for ADVICE, not your OPINION.

From a land navigation point of view, with which I have TONS of experience, I can understand that. With a map & compass, you use handrails, visual cues, pacecounts, etc, to get where you are going. With a GPS, you are constantly looking down, then up, then down...you dont get a large enough area to view. So, on that level, it kinda makes sense. However, as most of us walk on trails, I dont see how this would actually make a difference....

I currently manage corporate accounts for a wireless company. A pretty nice job...no weekend work, good folks here, my customers are some of the best people ever.

For lighter gear, check out GoLite. I also have a 20* down bag from them, which weighs in at less than a pound. I used it last winter, in a cold snap, on a lake...I survived, and the temp was WELL below the bags rating. I also had a bivy sack, in a tent too, but, even then, I doubt it hit *20 inside.

Stupid question, but where, exactly, do you have to cut into the body to install the snorkel kit? On the panel, or through the hood? It looks on those pics that it comes through the QP, near where the badging is.

Ticks are already out. I went out this weekend in new england, and pulled a bunch off of me. And it DEFINTELY wasnt warm...tick season has begun folks! Treat your clothing!!! The best stuff is the wash in permethrin...not sure where you can get it, but it is good up to 10 washings.

Usually a book. I find that most places I hike in new england use lean to shelters, and there may be a small library in the more busy months. So, if I finish one, I exchange it!

I also found it amazing that these things existed & most people didnt know about them. Over the years, I've kind of leaned more towards quality caches-ones that require a walk, or are in cool places, things like that. I've also done some from more of the locally well known cachers, just to say I have. I've met lots of friendly folks, had alot of fun doing it, and now take my niece & nephews out, so THEY can enjoy it. I find that through the years, I go in spurts. I'll go sometimes every weekend, sometimes not for months. I am now stringing caches together in areas to conserve on gas. The game changes, or, it does for me, but, I have learned to enjoy the way I play it, and tend not to care what others do, so long as they arent being malicious. I dont care if there's 10 LPCs in one lot. If I dont feel like doing them, I wont.

Yes, but sometimes they would rather the surprise inside the big colorful box!!

I know an old Army buddy who lives in Great Falls!!! Welcome to the fold!

2006 Wrangler. Of course, gas prices kill me, as this is also my DD. So, I tend to limit my cache areas, stick to a few in a general area each time I go out. But, I love my jeep, and am not willing to give it up yet!

There WAS no superbowl!!! It was canceled this year due to lack of interest!!! Back OT, I have the same issue with a young nephew. He is constantly playing video games. I take him about every other weekend caching with me, and he LOVES it. I havent given him the GPS yet, as I dont think he would have understood how it works. This year though (in fact, next weekend), he and his sister will get their first crack at using it. They are so excited, and, in turn, makes me excited to take them with me. Glad you got them away from those games!!!

Cuba, gitmo to be exact. But, alas, the cache was not there. There was only one when I was there in 03-04. May be more now, who knows.

Corporate accounts manager for Sprint Bagpipe player-doesnt pay well, but boy, is it fun!! And, I arguably spend more time doing this than doing my paying job.