Wet Pancake Touring Club
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Posts posted by Wet Pancake Touring Club
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I can confirm that it is fixed. Thanks for the quick response on this.
Skye.
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I downloaded the Hatfield/McCoy House GeoTour from the GeoTour web page. This GPX file is version 1.0, and therefore does not have any attribute data. So, I load the GPX file into GSAK, and do a 'refresh cache data' to get the attributes. The refresh is done with the API. This seems to work, I can see attributes on the caches. However, for some reason, it is not picking up the GeoTour (id=67) attribute on all of the caches. One specific cache where it fails is GC5HY91. One cache in the same GeoTour where GSAK did get the attribute is GCJTP5.
I posted this on the GSAK forum, and clyde confirmed the problem, and indicated that the attribute was not coming over via the API. Clyde was going to contact Groundspeak, and suggested that I also post our findings on this forum.
As a sanity check, I also downloaded a version 1.0.1 GPX file for cache GC5HY91 directly from the cache page. The GPX file contains the GeoTour attribute, and when I load that GPX file into GSAK, the attribute is loaded properly.
Thanks, Skye.
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I followed the link for your "Home Page". This takes me to my Profile, when you click it, it will take you to your Profile. I will assume that this is what you mean by your "Home Page".
At the top of your "Home Page", there are a number of links for trackables. For the trackables in your possession, there are two links that matter. The 'Trackables Inventory' and 'Trackables Collection'. The Trackables Inventory will show you trackables that you have in your possession that you want to move to caches. The Trackables Collection is a list of the trackables that you want to keep (such as achievement trackables, and trackables on your car, etc.), and not move to a cache.
For me, my achievement caches are in my 'Trackables Collection'. This gets them out of the list of trackables I can drop when logging a cache. To move a trackable from your Trackables Inventory into your Trackables Collection, you first need to make the trackable 'collectible'. You can do this by editing the trackable on the trackable page. Once that is done, there will be a link (under the action column) on the Trackables Inventory page to move the trackable to your collection. See this trackable help page.
Hope this helps, Skye.
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I was able to go and find a few more caches on this tour a couple of weeks ago. Basically, I have all the caches east of Wenatchee found (except Steamboat).
With a stamp based verification system, you always run the risk of the stamp going missing. What I really like about this GeoTour (this is true of the Lane County GeoTours also) is the fact that the CO's are very good at keeping the caches up and running. I had one cache where the CO wrote a note in the logs they wouldn't be able to replace the stamp for a week. They replaced it on the day they said they would, and I was able to get the stamp when I came through the area the next day. If they hadn't, I would have had to spend half a day just to get this one stamp. I also logged a DNF in one of the not yet open for the season parks. A couple of days later, the CO logged that they verified the cache was still there.
This is one of the reason that I like GeoTours. Good maintained caches.
THANKS TO ALL for putting together and maintaining this GeoTour.
Skye.
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Here's one reason, it's needed for a challenge cache. There is a challenge cache in my area that says you have to have discovered 1000 trackables in order to log. So, inflate the count, and log the cache.
And for others, its all about the numbers. (Like that matters to me, I'm becoming more selective in the caches I even attempt.)
Skye.
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I would also like to mention that there is now a GeoTour section in the forum. It is located at:
Groundspeak Forums
> General Geocaching Discussions
> Geocache Types and Additional GPS Based Gameplay
> GeoTours & Reward Geotrails
Rock Chalk maintains a list of all GeoTours and some other geotrails with awards in a pinned entry.
Or, follow this link
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It seems that special tool can be broken into two categories.
Tools that are required to 'open', or 'retrieve' the cache, and tools that are required to get to the cache. String, pliers, magnet, etc. are in the former category, while kayak, climbing gear, scuba equipment, etc. are in the latter.
Tool to open the cache should have a difficulty rating appropriate to how difficult it is to figure out what tool is required. Tools required to get to the cache make it a D5 cache, because, as pointed out earlier, they require special skills and/or expensive equipment.
Skye.
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On the other hand, check out the string of DNF's on this cache. (Actually, there has never been a find on this one.) One guy has logged over 90 of them. http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4MZ8P_do-you-like-gardening Difficulty 5, and the CO has checked on it several times.
Skye.
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To me, it's not the date that a user last accessed the website that is important. What is geocaching.com? It is a listing service. At the heart there is a database. For me, the key is the date a person last updated the database. And, maybe it is multiple dates. Date of last log, last geocache creation, last maintenance flag reset, last forum post, etc. How they did this (website, app, API, mind meld, ESP, etc.) is not important.
And, how long is subjective. For me, my geocaching for the next couple of months may be light. I'm working on my 365 calendar, and have Jan-July covered. (And, I'm getting pickier about which caches I even attempt.) If I look at a person's stats, this may become more apparent. All of your finds are June through September, maybe you are a teacher and really can't get out during the school year, or you live at a really high elevation in Colorado. So, I'm not really in favor of categorizing people based on a date range. Just show me the date, and let me possibly evaluate other criteria.
Thanks, Skye.
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1. What do you use the bio box for? - Right now, not much. I may update with select personal information. I would keep this, and allow for images and HTML.
2. Do you display banners from caches or events on your profile? How important is it to you that you are able to display these on your profile? - For me, not very important. I can see how some may use (and abuse) this, and I think it should be allowed.
3. What do you most enjoy looking at on others' profiles? - Mostly, I'm looking to see how active they are. But, depending on why I am looking, I may end up looking at everything on their profile.
4. Below you will find all the functionality that the page currently offers.
Place the items in a stack ranked list of priority. Things that are most important to you should be at the top.
Let us know if there is anything missing from the list.
What information isn’t necessary on the page? What is taking up screen space that shouldn’t be? What do you not find useful?
Profile:
Avatar image - Yes, I recognize a lot of them, they are a great way to quickly look for someone.
Find count - Yes, but I wouldn't care if it is exact, or a range.
Trackables logged count - Yes
Send message to e-mail - Yes, I have used this a little. Of course, verified e-mail would be nice. Or, allow the user to enter the best way to contact them (assuming they want to be contacted).
'Member since:' - Yes, it gives me a feel for how experienced they are.
Status of account (Premium, Lackey, etc…) - Nice, but not critical to me.
~ Link to give gift membership - No
Location - Yes, and leave it a freeform field.
Last visit to website - NO, HOWEVER, we do need last activity data. Maybe a single field, or several. Date of last log, date of last access, date of last forum post, date of last maintenance update. This needs to be regardless of how they accessed the database. Geocaching.com is a listing service, we need to know when the user last updated the database.
Send a friend request (only shows when viewing someone else’s profile, not your own) - This is OK, but I don't have much need for it.
See forum posts - I've used this a few time. If you also included the last forum posting date, I think it may get used more often.
Geocaches: - These are all good and wonderful. If you can't add last activity data above, adding a column for last activity date on the lists would be second best.
Finds by cache type breakdown
Link to all geocache finds
Hides by cache type breakdown
Link to all geocache hides
Trackables: - I would like to see trackables owned broken into two lists. The first for those that have been released into the wild, and those that are in my collection. I use my collection list more as a personal achievements page.
List of Trackable types discovered or moved by kind
~ Icons link to search list filtered to those Trackables
List of trackable types owned
~ Icons link to search list filtered to those Trackables
Souvenirs: - I use trackables as my souvenirs, I really don't care one way or the other for the geocaching.com souvenirs. They seem to be scattered. Specific dates, some countries, states, types of caches, there doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to these. Maybe if they were further divided into sections (Countries, Special Dates, States, Cache Types, etc., that might help. (And allow each section to be displayed or not.)
List of souvenirs earned
~ Icons link to specific souvenir page
Date souvenir was acquired
Gallery: - I don't take many pictures, so my gallery is small. I do like niraD's idea that a single picture can be linked to multiple logs. And a favorites section would be nice.
Image gallery starting with most recent
Multiple pages
If image is attached to geocache log, GC code is listed
Clicking image opens bigger view that links to log page/edit
Lists: - No suggestions for changes on this.
List of all caches that user has awarded a favorite point
List of all public bookmark lists
Statistics: - Allow anyone to post their own custom statistics on this page. Maybe even go so far as to allow 'tabs', so that someone could have the 'default', the 'GSAK', and any other custom statistics tabs.
Statistics that have been made public on geocaching.com/my/statistics.aspx
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Taking a completely different tack, you could consider getting with your local tourist bureau, and/or historical society, and/or town council, and/or business group, and consider putting together a GeoTour. See the GeoTour page for some info. This is a bit more involved, but I have seen it open up possibilities for cache placement. In addition, a GeoTour does generate a lot of attention. Groundspeak has also put together a "GeoTours & GeoTrails Forum" category.
Skye.
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Thanks for the update on the GeoTour. I have started this tour, and have been to 12 State Parks. I only have 10 stamps, one was missing the stamp (since replaced), and the other one was a puzzle cache that we didn't figure out (the mosquito's were ravenous). Getting all 103 is impressive, that is a lot of traveling.
Skye.
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I have heard of caches that do contain multiple containers in side of a larger one, and you have to find the one that contains the logbook. I have also seen a 'wheel of fortune' type cache where there were a lot of film pots attached around the edge, and you had to find the one that contained the log.
As for taking a mini-container, and placing it nearby, I don't think that would work out well, as lots of others have pointed out. Personally, I would just log the find, and not both with the mini-containers.
Skye.
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You should check out GPS Visualizer, at gpsvisualizer.com. I also found a youtube video (
) where a guy walks through converting an Excel spreadsheet to a GPX file. I have never used this, but it appears more robust than gpsbabel.Skye.
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Not with geocaching.com... However, what you are describing is known as the 'Traveling Salesman Problem'. There are a couple of web sites that will compute a fastest route based on lat/long. Here is one of them. http://www.gebweb.net/optimap/ While not terribly automated, you could enter the lat/long for each geocache, and let the site solve the problem. I have never used this web site before, so I don't really know how good it is.
I am sure that there are lots of others methods, again, with varying levels of automation. The traveling salesman problem is computationally intense. There is a macro available for GSAK, however it is limited to 23 caches.
Hope this help, Skye.
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I had stumbled across the GeoTours page a couple of years ago, and started watching it. Unfortunately, nothing really close by. Then I had an opportunity. I would be driving up from the San Francisco Bay Area to my home in Northern Idaho. I didn't have any real time restrictions, so I decided to try out the (at the time, only two) Eugene Cascades and Coast GeoTours. I will be honest, my motivation was the free GeoCoins for completing the GeoTours. The GeoTours are created and maintained by Travel Lane County, whose mission is to increase overnight stays in Lane County.
There are now four GeoTours available, and I have completed all four. They are:
- McKenzie River
- Florence (Coast)
- Oakridge/Westfir
- Territorial Highway
I got into Eugene in the afternoon (April, 2013), and started on the Florence edition. I was a bit disappointed at the beginning, as the first two GeoCaches were located at local businesses. But, I decided to press on, and find a few more. There is a large distance between the second and third cache in the series, and when I got to the third and fourth caches, I was hooked! Caches in forests, near covered bridges, near waterfalls. And all of the caches were regular sized, with lots of swag and a few travelers. There were still a few caches located at businesses, but the majority were out in the wild. I got into Florence around 9:00 PM, and managed to find a room for the night. Next day, I went up and down the coast and found a majority of the caches. Lighthouses, beaches, parks, all regular sized caches, well placed and maintained. I also want to say, that when the cache was located at a business, you never had to go inside, and the cache was available 24x7. This is true for all editions.
I made it back to Eugene that same day, and collected my GeoCoin for finding at least 24 of the 36 caches. As there was still daylight, I headed out on the McKenzie River edition. Just like the Florence edition, a few are located at businesses, but the majority are in really nice parks, the national forest, along the river, and other locations. When it got too dark, back to Eugene for the night. The next morning, rainy and overcast. I headed back up the McKenzie River, collecting more caches, until I got turned back by snow. Yes, on the McKenzie River edition, the latter ones might not be available in winter. I was able to get enough however, to qualify for the GeoCoin.
In order to qualify for the GeoCoins, you must fill our a 'passport'. They use the password method, in side each cache is a password. You have to write down the password on the passport, and turn in the passport to get the GeoCoin. Of course, you have to give them your name, address and e-mail address on the passport. So, that put me on their e-mail distribution list. This is how I was notified of their additions of the Oakridge/Westfir and Territorial Highway editions.
In May, 2014, I had a business trip in the S.F. Bay Area, and at the end of that, my wife joined me, and we GeoCached our way back home. We made sure to stop and do the new GeoTours. We approached the Oakridge/Westfir by starting at the last cache, and working our way into Eugene. An early start, we found a couple of caches. We got turned back by snow on a couple of roads that had not yet been cleared. If I had a 4-WD vehicle, I might have been able to make it, but with my Mini Cooper, there was no way. Although I did find an interesting back way into one of the caches, and have a picture of the car in knee high grass on a barely used forest service road. We found most of the caches for this edition, then started on the Territorial Highway edition.
We headed to Cottage Grove, and stayed at the Village Green. I mention this because there is a mystery cache located in the gardens at the hotel. We spent the night, and started out to complete the Territorial Highway edition. This is a long loop trip around Eugene. (Begin tangent: One of the geocaching.com newsletters highlighted a cache that was located at an old airmail directional signal. Before radar and air traffic controller, beacons were placed every 10 miles or so on airmail routed. The included a concrete arrow that pointed to the next beacon. Across the road from the Village Green, you can still see one of these arrows. End tangent.) Like the rest of the GeoTours, this was a mix between caches located 'in the wild', and some located at businesses. However, if you are also interested in wine tasting, this is the GeoTour to follow. There are at least 4 wineries along the way. If you are interested in wine tasting, check out what days and hours they are open. All of the winery caches were located outside any gates, and are available 24x7. One of the caches on this edition is located in front of a nursery. Inside the cache are coupons good for a free package of seeds. We finished this edition, and went back to the hotel. The following morning, we stopped by the Adventure Center, turned in our passports, and collected our coins.
As for the GeoCoins, they are unique. They are made my local artisans. The coins for the McKenzie River and Florence editions are a pair of interlocking jig saw pieces, that form an outline of Lane County. The Oakridge/Westfir coin is a wooden coin, that has a place for the glass bead that is the Territorial Highway coin. I will try and post pictures of all of the coins when I get the chance.
All in all, for my first experience, these four GeoTours have set the standard. Every cache was a regular sized cache. They are well maintained. While caches will go missing, this group would replace them quickly. All of the caches are definitely kid-friendly.
If others have done any of these GeoTours, please share your experience. For me, I am hooked, and am planning now planning vacations around some other GeoTours.
Thanks, Skye.
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The new advanced search in beta has the ability to filter on update coords and/or has personal note. When I solve a mystery, I add corrected coords to the cache. This makes it easy for me. When I solve a mystery, I update the coords. So, this capability appears to be coming.
Skye.
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By the way, have you ever used the very special Download this GeoTour feature found at the top of each GeoTour page?
It's essentially a Pocket Query that is available to all geocachers, both Basic and Premium.
I use the Download this GeoTour feature all the time. This is how I find the caches without the GeoTour attribute. I would download every GeoTour into a special GeoTour database in GSAK, and then filter on the caches that did not have the GeoTour attribute set.
I should also mention that I use the GeoTour attribute when setting up my GPSr units. I have three GPSr units that support a limited number of caches, and two that support unlimited. So, on my limited units, I place caches that I am most interested in, my so called 'high value targets'. GeoTour caches are part of my definition of 'high value caches'.
Also, speaking of downloading the Tours, I believe most of the GeoTour GPX files are version 1.0. These means that I need to refresh the cache in GSAK to get the attributes, and other 1.01 features. I would like to see all GeoTour GPX files upgraded to 1.01.
Thanks, Skye.
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I have done the four GeoTours put up by Lane County. The first couple that they put out were all regular sized (in fact, all the containers were identical), traditional caches. They used a password located in the lid of each container. The last two GeoTours they put up included some Mystery and Multi-caches. Still, all of the containers were regular sized. The GeoTour was designed to bring tourists to the area. The placement of the caches was roughly 1/4 placed at local businesses, and the remainder at other points of interest. For a really dedicated cacher, each tour might be do-able in a single day. (For me, about a day and a half per tour.) Each of their GeoTours has a them. One was on the coast, two more followed a river valley, and the last one was a loop trip following an old territorial highway.
I have also started the Washington State Parks GeoTour. This one uses stamps, and you must stamp a passport. The caches were placed in cooperation between a large number of cachers. They were different sizes, and included a couple of puzzle caches.
Of the two, I prefer the password approach. With the stamps, I found a couple of caches where the stamp was missing. Can't claim the find with the stamp, so this meant a return trip. As I am traveling several hundred miles to do this Tour, returning is not an easy option.
As for the size, if you go the Tour route, I think every cache should be big enough for swag and travelers. As mentioned in another post, a Tour gets worldwide exposure. Encourage swag and travelers from far away. It also helps in making the cache kid-friendly.
As for your question on how long, I think any Tour or Trail should be at least a couple of hours, and probably no more than three or four days. Think about what you are highlighting, and who your target group of cachers are. For a nature preserve, I see this as a targeting families with children. So, a half day trip would probably be your target. The HIGHKING Tour targets hard-core hikers or backpackers. I believe it is something like 65 km long, and for most, takes around three days.
Likewise, on your question of difficulty or terrain. who are your targeting. For families, stay away from high terrain (except maybe if your Tour/Trail requires a boat for transportation). For others, maybe this is exactly who you are targeting. High terrain values if most of the caches require rock climbing, for example.
IMO, your trail should have a theme. Bring me to an area in your preserve, and explain what is going on here. If the preserve has signs, bring me to the signs, consider using a two stage multi to make me read the signs. The final location would be based on info on the sign. The real cache would be a short distance away, in a more secluded area, to reduce the possibility of muggles.
Hopefully my ramblings make sense. If I can clarify anything for you, don't hesitate to ask.
Skye.
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For me, Other for a nano could be a container within a container. We have a couple in our area that stick nano containers within another (usually something cheap that is not waterproof).
Skye.
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I have two suggestions related to GeoTours. Both of these suggestions are designed to make it easier to be notified of new GeoTours.
First, I would love to see a date created column added to the web page and to your spreadsheet. This will help me find new GeoTours worldwide.
Second, I have and will travel a fair distance for a good GeoTour. So, I created a pocket query that reports new caches with the GeoTour attribute set. This pocket query covers most of the US and Canada. The problem is, not all caches in the GeoTours have this attribute set. (Talk to Katie, I have sent her a couple of lists of caches that do not have the GeoTour attribute set.) So, I would suggest that Groundspeak put a process in place to make sure that caches in a GeoTour have the GeoTour attribute set.
By the way, my first experience with GeoTours was in Lane County, OR. They did a great job. I have done all four of their GeoTours. I am hoping that others are just as good, and am in the planning stages of doing at least two more this year.
Thanks, Skye.
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In addition to what cezanne said, I think there is another factor to consider, and that is the availability of web page translation plug-ins. If I ever do get to make the trips I would like to Iceland and Norway, I will be looking for caches that take me to interesting areas. I would first look for favorite points, and wouldn't let a foreign language stop me. If the computer based translation failed, I might contact a local CO that did post caches in my language, and ask for help.
Skye.
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I asked Garmin support, the Epix will do paperless geocaching. It support GPX files, but not GGX.
Skye.
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My gut feel is that Google Earth is trying to compete with ArcGISOnline, which is free.
Skye.
Possible to select gpx files on Garmin 62s similar to selecting img?
in How do I...?
Posted
I don't believe that there is a way to do it the way you described. It appears that with a Garmin, it will load all of the GPX files when you turn it one.
I do the same thing. I have a list of what I call 'high value' caches. These are the caches I really want to find. What I did is modify the name of the geocache for these 'high value' caches. I added a couple of really unique characters to the beginning of the cache name. Then, I could filter based on those characters.
In my case, I use Fhv for favorites, Jhv for Jasmer challenge, Dhv for D/T matrix, Thv for GeoTours, etc. Then, I can filter on 'hv' for all, or limit to specific categories.
Skye.