Found a GPS in a cache

June 7, 2011

My caching buddy found a gps (a nice magellen explorist) inside a cache. His first thought was that someone forgot it while geocaching, or perhaps ditched it die to it not functioning (it didn't turn on, but all it needed was fresh batteries)

there was another cachers card with a picture of the same model gps on it in the cache, and our first thought was that it must be that persons. However, this turned out to be a coincidence, the cacher that left the card is not missing his gps.

We have emailed the CO and several of the other recent finders asking if anyone is missing a gps, or if they saw one in the cache. So far, nobody has answered.

The GPS works great, and has a number of caches loaded, and some field notes stored. If someone was meaning to "trade" the gps, I would have thought they would have erased it's memory, instead of leaving all their waypoints on it. There also was no usb cable, also leading me to believe it was not intended as a trade item. The unit had an sd card, and a topo map loaded, more valuable add ons that point to the fact that someone was actively using the unit.

None of the logs mention anything about a gps.

We have no idea what we are going to do with this thing if nobody claims it, we are contemplating just putting it back where we found it.

Can anyone think of another motive for leaving behind a gps in a cache (other than forgetting it)? Has anyone else found a lost gps?

7.7k · June 7, 2011

I've left one behind a GPS receiver by accident before, but I went back to get it. Besides, that was almost 2 years ago, so this is definitely not mine

There are a few things to check:

1. Is there a start-up message? I put contact information on mine. If it is a Garmin unit, the backlight is not on at the time, so it may be a bit hard to read.

2. Look at the field notes to see if those caches have been logged, and on or very near the dates indicated, and by whom. Remember to convert the date from UTC to local time (or just use a 1 - 2 day leeway).

I'm not sure if putting it back is a good idea. Someone not as well intentioned as you might find it. I'd suggest leaving a note in there, saying if someone lost a GPS receiver, to contact you by email with the description of the unit.

Good luck, and thank you!

9.2k · June 7, 2011

Does it have a saved track? Give any indication of where the the person may have started their journey?

A bit of detective work finding who has signed the logs of nearby caches, but not logged them on the site yet.

Edited June 7, 2011 by Bear and Ragged

3.2k · June 7, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

June 7, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

It never occurred to me that a non cacher might have put it there. That might explain why none of the other finders have responded. Of course it could also be that this cacher hasn't logged this cache, possibly to do with the fact that they can't find their gps!

7.7k · June 7, 2011

Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

I think it'd go into the dumpster in that case

June 7, 2011

Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

I think it'd go into the dumpster in that case

Personally, I'd have pawned it in that case Regardless, I hope someone emails me about it soon! The suspense is killing me!

2.1k · June 7, 2011

Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

I think it'd go into the dumpster in that case

I think my favorite is the 5$ solution. It adds a bit more of a bite to the insult when you sell each item (golf clubs, snowboards, boats) for 5$ each.

9.3k · June 7, 2011

Are there any waypoints other than caches? All of mine have one called "Home" that will lead you to my door.

June 7, 2011

Are there any waypoints other than caches? All of mine have one called "Home" that will lead you to my door.

There are other waypoints, but none called "home" they are all numbered. I don't think I have the time to plot all 40+ numbered waypoints on google earth and look up which ones are houses.

9.2k · June 7, 2011

Are there any waypoints other than caches? All of mine have one called "Home" that will lead you to my door.

There are other waypoints, but none called "home" they are all numbered. I don't think I have the time to plot all 40+ numbered waypoints on google earth and look up which ones are houses.

You dont have to plot them. Load in to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map_input?form=google

June 7, 2011

Are there any waypoints other than caches? All of mine have one called "Home" that will lead you to my door.

There are other waypoints, but none called "home" they are all numbered. I don't think I have the time to plot all 40+ numbered waypoints on google earth and look up which ones are houses.

You dont have to plot them. Load in to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map_input?form=google

Would that not require having the correct usb cable? the magellans take a funny shaped one...

9.2k · June 7, 2011

Are there any waypoints other than caches? All of mine have one called "Home" that will lead you to my door.

There are other waypoints, but none called "home" they are all numbered. I don't think I have the time to plot all 40+ numbered waypoints on google earth and look up which ones are houses.

You dont have to plot them. Load in to http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/map_input?form=google

Would that not require having the correct usb cable? the magellans take a funny shaped one...

Good point!

I'm not familiar with that make.

19k · June 7, 2011

Are there any waypoints other than caches? All of mine have one called "Home" that will lead you to my door.

There are other waypoints, but none called "home" they are all numbered. I don't think I have the time to plot all 40+ numbered waypoints on google earth and look up which ones are houses.

You dont have to plot them. Load in to http://www.gpsvisual...put?form=google

Would that not require having the correct usb cable? the magellans take a funny shaped one...

Send it to me. I'll figure it out. :lol:

Edited June 7, 2011 by knowschad

June 7, 2011

Try posting a note about it on the cache you found it in. Maybe the person will check the cache page, or try to contact the CO, if they figure out where they lost it.

2.4k · June 8, 2011

My curiosity is piqued - let us know how this works out! We have "TEAM POPOKI" on the start-up screen of the unit we have that is the same, and Popoki Nui's email... @geocaching.com - just in case we leave a GPS anywhere.

7.9k · June 8, 2011

I dunno.

I'd think it would be really hard to accidentally leave your GPSr INSIDE a cache container.

Nearby, or 'right next to', I could understand.

7.7k · June 8, 2011

I dunno.
I'd think it would be really hard to accidentally leave your GPSr INSIDE a cache container.

Nearby, or 'right next to', I could understand.

Especially if it is a micro

I can see why I might put the GPS receiver inside, say, an ammo can, rather than on the ground - if it's muddy, wet, dirty, if I'm afraid it might drop off, etc.

5.7k · June 8, 2011

I left a old Garmin unit that did not function anymore in a cache as a joke. :laughing: A friend of mine found it later. Not sure what ever became of the unit. I guess he placed it in another cache later.

June 8, 2011

I dunno.
I'd think it would be really hard to accidentally leave your GPSr INSIDE a cache container.

Nearby, or 'right next to', I could understand.

Especially if it is a micro

I can see why I might put the GPS receiver inside, say, an ammo can, rather than on the ground - if it's muddy, wet, dirty, if I'm afraid it might drop off, etc.

Oh, I can totally see myself doing that! Standing there, hands full with gps, logbook, pen, sunglasses I just took off... "Did you pick out what you want? Did you put something in? No, that won't fit...use that instead. No, only ONE item each! *sigh* It doesn't matter who puts the trade items in. Wait! Don't close it yet! Here's the logbook!" *shoves everything in hands into cache, starts hiking away* :laughing: Pretty sure I'd notice that I was missing my gps pretty quickly, but I would probably search every pocket, the backpack, etc. before I'd think to look back in the cache.

June 8, 2011

I've read cache pages where the CO will put a GPSr that they no longer use in a cache as swag. But in those cases it's because they've upgraded to a better one, & in this case it seems that the OP is talking about a really nice one.

How would you trade for that? Trading up or even with what you brought in your cache bag would be difficult, unless you came prepared after you priced out that particular GPSr..

June 8, 2011

I've read cache pages where the CO will put a GPSr that they no longer use in a cache as swag. But in those cases it's because they've upgraded to a better one, & in this case it seems that the OP is talking about a really nice one.

How would you trade for that? Trading up or even with what you brought in your cache bag would be difficult, unless you came prepared after you priced out that particular GPSr..

the thought that it might be a trade item crossed my mind, but why leave your sd card, and caches and whatnot all saved in it? And why not include its connector cable?

3.3k · June 8, 2011

I would look in your local area forums to see if there is a recent thread that says something like "I can't believe a cacher stole my GPS" which just might give you a clue as to the owner. :lol:

June 8, 2011

I've read cache pages where the CO will put a GPSr that they no longer use in a cache as swag. But in those cases it's because they've upgraded to a better one, & in this case it seems that the OP is talking about a really nice one.

How would you trade for that? Trading up or even with what you brought in your cache bag would be difficult, unless you came prepared after you priced out that particular GPSr..

the thought that it might be a trade item crossed my mind, but why leave your sd card, and caches and whatnot all saved in it? And why not include its connector cable?

Oh, I agree. It doesn't seem like the one you found was intended for trade. If so, it was a poorly executed trade. One would think the cable would be included, as well as a note explaining that it was a trade item.

at the moment I don't know what else you can do, other than wait to hear back from the various cachers you contacted & keep an eye on the forums.

I was just mentioning that it wasn't unheard of for them to be trade items. & then of course wondering how someone would trade up or even for it..I was in no way implying that it was an item you should have traded for, I'm sorry if I came across that way. Your intentions are obviously good, & I don't mean to put you in a bad light in any way.

9.3k · June 8, 2011

My caching buddy found a gps (a nice magellen explorist) inside a cache.

I wish someone would find my GPSr TB in a cache.

June 8, 2011

You don't mention if this was an urban or remote cache. You could check with the appropriate law enforcement agency (or park ranger, etc.) to see if anybody has reported it lost. I think generally their policy is to hold the item for a while (if it has any actual value) and then return it to the finder if it goes unclaimed.

Is there a local geocaching club/organization in your area? They may have a forum or other means to report lost or found equipment. You might also try posting in the appropriate regional forum here.

I know if I lost something that valuable, I'd be putting the word out to local cachers to be watching for it.

I agree with previous posters who said don't put it back in the cache as the next person who finds it may not be ethical about it. The closest I would come would be to post a piece of paper in the cache saying, "Lost your GPS? Email me a description of it and let's talk. <email addresss>"

And when it's all said and done... if the true owner can't be found, you might consider donating it to a school or something.

June 8, 2011

Maybe someone has given up the sport and passing on the equipment to someone you will use it. Maybe someone is deploying overseas or some such. If it is inside, it is there on purpose.

June 8, 2011

I found one near a cache once. Luckily it had the owner information set, and had enough battery life left to power it up a couple of times so I could write down the address. It turns out the address was on my way home, so I dropped it off. That's the day I finally took the time to setup the owner information in my own GPS. That reminds me, I haven't done that with my new one yet.

38.2k · June 8, 2011

I've known a few cachers who bought a new GPS and left the old one in a cache.

4.2k · June 8, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

how would the non cacher know what/where the nearest cache is? :blink:

June 8, 2011

i didnt' read all the way through, but i'm wondering if it is an spouse who is looking for some time with their partner who is always caching

LOL!

i can imagine this spouse (with hands on hips) well if your caching friends are such great friends then you will get it back, wont you! and in the meantime you can take me to dinner, i haven't seen you in months!

8.3k · June 8, 2011

i didnt' read all the way through, but i'm wondering if it is an spouse who is looking for some time with their partner who is always caching

LOL!

i can imagine this spouse (with hands on hips) well if your caching friends are such great friends then you will get it back, wont you! and in the meantime you can take me to dinner, i haven't seen you in months!

Cats are like that too. Fortunately they don't have opposable thumbs and can't open the cache containers.

1.2k · June 9, 2011

A few months ago I was going to a cache in the nearby state park. I decided to do a little bushwhack between caches instead of following the twisty trail. On my way I spotted a case. It was a brand new (stickers still on it) digital camera. Yet it was in a flood plain and had been there for awhile. The camera itself was destroyed, but the SD card worked I found photos of the owner and searched all nearby caches. It had been over a year since it was lost, but someone mentioned it and I looked at their GC gallery. Sure enough it was a match. Then I sent her the SD card.

Hopefully you can find the owner and get it back home. If not free unit.

June 9, 2011

I wish someone would find my GPSr TB in a cache.

lol, looking at the logs, it appears that your TB was a cache killer :laughing:

3.2k · June 9, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

how would the non cacher know what/where the nearest cache is?

There's a whole website dedicated to the subject.... maybe use Google?

1k · June 9, 2011

Are there any waypoints other than caches? All of mine have one called "Home" that will lead you to my door.

There are other waypoints, but none called "home" they are all numbered. I don't think I have the time to plot all 40+ numbered waypoints on google earth and look up which ones are houses.

You dont have to plot them. Load in to http://www.gpsvisual...put?form=google

Would that not require having the correct usb cable? the magellans take a funny shaped one...

No, the Explorist series uses a basic USB cable. I have the Explorist GC.

If you want, there are files on it that could help track the owner down.

1k · June 9, 2011

I just grabbed my Explorist GC to look.

From the main menu (the 5 bubble icons) go to the one with the wrench and screwdriver (tools), click on it.

Scroll to the last option on the Tool Menu and you will see "Owner Info".

Click on that and if they entered any identification information it will be there.

If there is nothing there, try getting the serial number (it is in the battery compartment) and call Magellan customer service at 800 707 9971. They are very helpful. They may not give you the owner info, but may contact the owner and forward your contact info to them.

Good luck. And thank you for being a good person, trying to find the owner.

June 9, 2011

I just grabbed my Explorist GC to look.

From the main menu (the 5 bubble icons) go to the one with the wrench and screwdriver (tools), click on it.

Scroll to the last option on the Tool Menu and you will see "Owner Info".

Click on that and if they entered any identification information it will be there.

If there is nothing there, try getting the serial number (it is in the battery compartment) and call Magellan customer service at 800 707 9971. They are very helpful. They may not give you the owner info, but may contact the owner and forward your contact info to them.

Good luck. And thank you for being a good person, trying to find the owner.

This one is not the same model as yours, it takes a different cable. It is not a standard USB.

There is no owner information, no waypoint called "home" or anything similar, and nothing on the gps indicates where it came from. It even auto-deletes found caches from the memory.

Out of my own miscieviousness, and frustration with the whole thing, I have set the "personalization" to a Mr. Frank N. Furter from Transexual Transylvania, hopefully when I find the owner and they go to put their own name in so this doesn't happen again, they will get a chuckle out of that. If they don't, at least i got a chuckle out of it.

I am combing craiglslist now to see if anyone has placed an add in the lost and found, failing finding a lost ad, I will post a "found" ad.

11.6k · June 9, 2011

I dunno.

I'd think it would be really hard to accidentally leave your GPSr INSIDE a cache container.

Nearby, or 'right next to', I could understand.

That depends on the cacher. I tend to set my GPSr on the ground when opening a cache to check trackables & sign the log (when I have a perfectly good belt clip, where I should put the GPSr so I wouldn't lose it). I'll then begin wandering down the trail, and realize there's no GPSr on my belt clip. If I'm real lucky, I'll also notice I don't have my hat nor my walking stick. And that I didn't actually leave a couple of things in the container that I had really meant to leave. And that I'm still holding the cache log & its pen. And that I forgot to take a picture. And I also left my camera. I would almost surprise myself if I DIDN'T absent-mindedly scoop everything into the container, close it and walk away (except the walking stick, that won't fit).

11.6k · June 9, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

It never occurred to me that a non cacher might have put it there. That might explain why none of the other finders have responded. Of course it could also be that this cacher hasn't logged this cache, possibly to do with the fact that they can't find their gps!

I'd swear that lots of times, a PM around here never gets out of the servers (it's like a glitch or something). Or their response gets lost. One or the other. Either that, or 99% of cachers ignore their PMs.

That's an interesting thought, that the cacher's just wracking his brain trying to figure out what happened to the GPS. And then forgot which cache he could have left it inside of. And having no identification on the thing, it would be tough to expect it to arrive on his doorstep.

I think starting from the cache it was found in, with a little detective work, you can figure out what happened. And if you never find an owner, one option is to someday just drop it into a cache container, and not mention it. Oh wait, that wouldn't work.

June 9, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

It never occurred to me that a non cacher might have put it there. That might explain why none of the other finders have responded. Of course it could also be that this cacher hasn't logged this cache, possibly to do with the fact that they can't find their gps!

I'd swear that lots of times, a PM around here never gets out of the servers (it's like a glitch or something). Or their response gets lost. One or the other. Either that, or 99% of cachers ignore their PMs.

That's an interesting thought, that the cacher's just wracking his brain trying to figure out what happened to the GPS. And then forgot which cache he could have left it inside of. And having no identification on the thing, it would be tough to expect it to arrive on his doorstep.

I think starting from the cache it was found in, with a little detective work, you can figure out what happened. And if you never find an owner, one option is to someday just drop it into a cache container, and not mention it. Oh wait, that wouldn't work.

AHAHAH lol

9.2k · June 9, 2011

It's the solution to a tricky Puzzle cache.

You have to go and find all the caches loaded on the unit.

One of them is the Puzzle cache!

4.2k · June 9, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

how would the non cacher know what/where the nearest cache is?

There's a whole website dedicated to the subject.... maybe use Google?

whatever that site is the idea is extremely far fetched in the case of someone that has no clue what geocaching is, but w/e

3.2k · June 9, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

how would the non cacher know what/where the nearest cache is?

There's a whole website dedicated to the subject.... maybe use Google?

whatever that site is the idea is extremely far fetched in the case of someone that has no clue what geocaching is, but w/e

I think you underestimate the number of people that know about caching but have never participated. How many non caching friends do you have that you've personally told about your activity? Multiply by an estimate of the number of active cachers... big number.

1k · June 9, 2011

Do you know what model GPSr it is? I thought all the Magellan Explorists were pretty much the same.

Is there a serial number in the battery compartment?

7.7k · June 9, 2011

Do you know what model GPSr it is? I thought all the Magellan Explorists were pretty much the same.
Is there a serial number in the battery compartment?

It's probably best not to disclose too much details about the GPS receiver here where it is easily searchable by others if the intention is to reunite it with the rightful owner.

June 9, 2011

Do you know what model GPSr it is? I thought all the Magellan Explorists were pretty much the same.
Is there a serial number in the battery compartment?

It's probably best not to disclose too much details about the GPS receiver here where it is easily searchable by others if the intention is to reunite it with the rightful owner.

exactly my thinking. I have already received several emails from people trying to claim the gps, that obviously didn't lose it.

I can tell you though, that not all the explorists function the same. They all look similar, but there are differences. (source, youtube)

3.2k · June 10, 2011

Do you know what model GPSr it is? I thought all the Magellan Explorists were pretty much the same.
Is there a serial number in the battery compartment?

It's probably best not to disclose too much details about the GPS receiver here where it is easily searchable by others if the intention is to reunite it with the rightful owner.

exactly my thinking. I have already received several emails from people trying to claim the gps, that obviously didn't lose it.

I can tell you though, that not all the explorists function the same. They all look similar, but there are differences. (source, youtube)

Ahaa that's an angle I'd not thought of... maybe someone in Germany was armchairing the cache and left it there.

June 10, 2011

Could be a someone lost it and a non cacher found it and put it in the nearest cache to his home. Were the coordinates for the cache you found it in entered in the GPS? Or maybe someone got thrown out of the house and the spouse is getting rid of his stuff.

how would the non cacher know what/where the nearest cache is?

Maybe they used the gps they just picked up that has caches loaded into it.

June 10, 2011

The guy might of signed the physical log but not logged online because he can't remember all the caches he was at. Go back and look at the logbook.

Found a GPS in a cache

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