The San Diego Thread

[+TrailGators]

Check my log entry for Littlest Hurkey cache to download a map.

Hi Chuy, I did the full Iron Mountain loop a while ago before the fire and I was pretty tired after hiking the 9 miles. The total vertical around the loop had to be pushing 2500 feet. Now I see that there are all new caches around the loop that I haven't done so I'll have to go back! I'm not going at night but I would like to go back in the day sometime because the views are awesome! So could you please post your map in this forum for future reference!? It is hard to read on your page because of the high compression required for the normal site (that isn't a limitation here)!

Edited November 24, 2004 by TrailGators

[+Chuy!]

 

Hope this comes out.

 

Edit: alright, looks like I need help downloading this. Do need to save original with higher resolution? current properties are 96pixels resolution, 900X1200. Looks like resolution is low, how do I get sharper. (Almost said how do I get it up.)

Edited November 23, 2004 by Chuy

[+TrailGators]

Did you try using Cialis on your upload?

 

Where is Rocket Man when you need him! He's a wizz at doing stuff like this. Can you do a screen capture from mapsource or whatever you are using? You need the full uncompressed image for it to look good.

 

Edit: I can spell but I can't type!

Edited November 23, 2004 by TrailGators

[+PC Painter]

 

Hope this comes out.

 

Edit: alright, looks like I need help downloading this. Do need to save original with higher resolution? current properties are 96pixels resolution, 900X1200. Looks like resolution is low, how do I get sharper. (Almost said how do I get it up.)

You can email the original full size to me. I'll upload it to my website, and post it here. christopher@christopherpayne.com

[+TrailGators]

You can email the original full size to me. I'll upload it to my website, and post it here. christopher@christopherpayne.com

Thanks Chris! That will work! The Groundspeak images are too compressed!

[+Chuy!]

Where is Rocket Man when you need him! He's a wizz at doing stuff like this. Can you do a screen capture from mapsource or wahtever you are using? You need the full uncompressed image for it to look good.

I got the topo image from the website. Copied and pasted into MSPaint and did the alterations there. So the low resolution came from the website.

 

Lets try this one (I liked the topo cause it shows the elevations):

 

Edit: deleted the image; it needs cropping. I sent Chris two jpegs, the topo and a MapSource screen copy. Thanks Chris!

Edited November 23, 2004 by Chuy

[+TrailGators]

Chuy, can you do Chris' suggestion. you lost the topo part and the tracks doing it like that.

 

Edit: That thing was huge! I guess that stuff on the TV commercials really works!

Edited November 23, 2004 by TrailGators

[+PC Painter]

I'm happy to help, guys!

 

 

[+PC Painter]

Oh...I placed Trista the Tricer TB in A Little Bit Above The Box today in El Cajon/Santee. Since she's now completed her mission to get to the La Brea Tar Pits, I was hoping that someone local could help to get her home to Macon/Atlanta, Georgia.

[+FlagMan]

Oh...I placed Trista the Tricer TB in A Little Bit Above The Box today in El Cajon/Santee. Since she's now completed her mission to get to the La Brea Tar Pits, I was hoping that someone local could help to get her home to Macon/Atlanta, Georgia.

WOW! Now that's what I call paying attention to a TB's goals!! I've got about 191 of them out there, most of which could use your kind of attention. So whenever you can find some spare time........

Edited November 23, 2004 by FlagMan

[+Dr. Boggis]

The wife and I are off for a short trip to Catalina Island over Thanksgiving, staying 3 nights in Avalon. I'm hoping to score a dozen or so caches while we're there (there are 29 on the whole island), and there's a pretty good chance of getting FTF on one of them, which has been hidden for nearly 2 months without any finds, and it's only 0.8 miles from the centre of town! Ah, if only life was so easy in San Diego

 

Anyone else been caching on Catalina?

Edited November 23, 2004 by Dr. Boggis

[+PC Painter]

Oh...I placed Trista the Tricer TB in A Little Bit Above The Box today in El Cajon/Santee. Since she's now completed her mission to get to the La Brea Tar Pits, I was hoping that someone local could help to get her home to Macon/Atlanta, Georgia.

WOW! Now that's what I call paying attention to a TB's goals!! I've got about 191 of them out there, most of which could use your kind of attention. So whenever you can find some spare time........

I figure I should treat the TB like I would like others to treat mine.

 

Just put my first TB out today, btw....well...first one that I own. Not going to tell you which cache, though.

[+PC Painter]

Wow...

 

3:26PM - I submit my new cache listing

4:03PM - It get's approved

6:48PM - I get notification that FTF has been accomplished

 

Holy crap...LOL!

[+FlagMan]

Anyone else been caching on Catalina?

I have done a few caches on the island. There's a multi/virtual in a bar in town that's a hoot! Are you going to stay overnight? I can probably get you a deal at the Best Western (best hotel on the island).

[+FlagMan]

Wow...

 

3:26PM - I submit my new cache listing

4:03PM - It get's approved

6:48PM - I get notification that FTF has been accomplished

 

Holy crap...LOL!

TT must be losing his touch. Almost a full 3-hours between cache approval and logging his FTF.....

Edited November 24, 2004 by FlagMan

[+TucsonThompsen]

Wow...

 

3:26PM - I submit my new cache listing

4:03PM - It get's approved

6:48PM - I get notification that FTF has been accomplished

 

Holy crap...LOL!

I actually pulled up in front of the house and found it at 5:02 PM, if you must be hyper-accurate.

 

Don't know why admin is taking so long on approving mine: (GCJM47)

 

--TT--

[+TrailGators]

Wow...

 

3:26PM - I submit my new cache listing

4:03PM - It get's approved

6:48PM - I get notification that FTF has been accomplished

 

Holy crap...LOL!

I actually pulled up in front of the house and found it at 5:02 PM, if you must be hyper-accurate.

 

Don't know why admin is taking so long on approving mine: (GCJM47)

 

--TT--

TT are you on wireless Internet with some kind of new cache alert? You can't be camped in front of your PC hitting the refresh button.

[+RocketMan]

 

Hope this comes out.

 

Edit: alright, looks like I need help downloading this.  Do need to save original with higher resolution?  current properties are 96pixels resolution, 900X1200.  Looks like resolution is low, how do I get sharper.  (Almost said how do I get it up.)

You can email the original full size to me. I'll upload it to my website, and post it here. christopher@christopherpayne.com

Certainly, if you have a website to upload your photos to, you can upload them any size you want. You can then insert the image in your forum post using the IMG tag as PC Painter did. But, what if you don’t have your own website to upload the image to and what about maximizing the screen size of your photos in cache page uploads and in your cache logs? You usually can upload an image to a cache page or cache log and end up with a good size photo on the screen, if you do it right.

 

Rocket Man’s Cache Page/Log Image Clinic

 

Here is my advice on uploading images to cache pages and logs to maximize the screen size and still maintain a decent resolution:

 

1. Open the image in your photo editing program.

2. Change the screen size to 1000 pixels wide if it is a landscape image or 800 pixels wide if it is a portrait photo.

3. Save the image in JPEG format with 50% JPEG compression (usually going below 50% will degrade the image and will not shrink the file size significantly).

4. Check the file size of the saved image to see if it is under 125 KB (the “size limit” for GC.com images, I will talk a little bit about this later).

5. If the image is over 125 KB, reopen it, and resize it to a smaller screen size (try 800 pixels wide for landscape or 600 pixels wide for portrait.)

6. Save the image again with 50% JPEG compression.

7. Check the image file size and repeat this process until the image file size is less than 125 KB.

 

This sounds like a lot to do, but it is easy once you get the hang of it. If you have Photoshop, you can us the “Save For Web” function which will allow you to set the 50% compression level and then just adjust the pixel size until the image is under 125 KB, without having to save the image each time.

 

Notes on the 125 KB file size limit: You can upload images with a file size greater than 125 KB, but GC.com will automatically resize them to 600 pixels wide. That is the problem that Chuy was having with the above image! The only way to get a larger pixel width is to make sure your image is under 125 KB. GC.com will not resize the pixel width if the uploaded file size is under 125 KB.

 

You will find that image content will make a huge difference in the maximum screen size of your image. When there is not a lot of contrast (like on an overcast day) or there is a lot of one color (like a blue sky), you will be able to have very large screen size images and still stay under the 125 KB limit. This has to do with the way that the JPEG algorithm works. It is really efficient at compressing the image when there is not a lot of detail.

 

Here are some examples:

 

Chuy’s Map Uploaded to GC.com (I probably could have done better with this one if I had the original image to work with - I just used the image that PC Painter posted)

 

A very large screen size image with low contrast on an overcast day:

 

A smaller screen size image with more detail:

Hey - They look familiar!

[+TrailGators]

RM is your photo software running amuck?

[+TucsonThompsen]

TT are you on wireless Internet with some kind of new cache alert?

Actually, I have compromising photos of WestCoastAdmin, SoCalAdmin, and Hemlock. They gimme cache alerts early, and they get to have happy home lives. Blackmail is a wonderful tool when used properly. [/sarcasm]

[+RocketMan]

TT are you on wireless Internet with some kind of new cache alert?

Actually, I have compromising photos of WestCoastAdmin, SoCalAdmin, and Hemlock. They gimme cache alerts early, and they get to have happy home lives. Blackmail is a wonderful tool when used properly. [/sarcasm]

How about if you resize those photos, post them to a cache page and share them here? RM

[+TrailGators]

Edited November 24, 2004 by TrailGators

[+RocketMan]

... Looking forward to the Iron Mtn night hunt that Chuy is putting together.....right Chuy??

Yep, just finished putting together a route of the Iron Mtn caches, 12 total, and about 8-9 miles of hiking to visit 11; the twelfth is a Fattboy cache you can drive up to.

Check my log entry for Littlest Hurkey cache to download a map.

If it don't print well, I can email you a better copy.

How about we meet at 9P this time? There's going to be a lot of hiking.

This aerial shot shows the entire area; zoom in to take a better look at the trails; there appears to be lots of zigging and zagging!

That's this Friday, the 26th, at 9P. If this is too early for some of you owls, we can push it back to 10P.

Here are the Iron Mountain Caches shown in NG Topo with a little more topo detail:

 

[+TrailGators]

Wow! That is sharp! Chuy you should send your tracks to RM when you're done. It would be cool to have the tracks added to this map! I guess one big advantage of night hiking is that is will be nice and cool outside which is perfect for a hike like that. The night lights should be pretty amazing from the peak as well!

[+Chuy!]

Wow, that 3D effect is very cool. I used GC's topo link, which is limiting on resolution and detail. The tracks I put in manually with the MSPaint tools, and using the aerial link as a guide.

Thanks for the info RocketMan.

[+Dr. Boggis]

Anyone else been caching on Catalina?

I have done a few caches on the island. There's a multi/virtual in a bar in town that's a hoot! Are you going to stay overnight? I can probably get you a deal at the Best Western (best hotel on the island).

We're staying for 3 nights, at the Mac Rae hotel, but thanks for the offer. Will try to get the caches near Avalon, not sure how easy it'll be to get up to the other end at this time of year.

[+RocketMan]

Wow, that 3D effect is very cool. I used GC's topo link, which is limiting on resolution and detail. The tracks I put in manually with the MSPaint tools, and using the aerial link as a guide.

Thanks for the info RocketMan.

I decided to burn up some time this morning by doing a little track mapping exercise for the Iron Mountain caches:

 

To get an accurate track, first I created the track by following the trail on an aerial map using USAPhotoMaps:

 

 

I then put this track into National Geographic Topo:

 

 

Once in NG Topo, I could create a profile:

 

 

If anyone wants to upload the track to a Garmin GPS, here is a Mapsource file with the track in it (it is actually broken into two tracks because of track point limitations).

 

Fun stuff, but I have to go do some real work now.

 

Rocket Man

[+blonds run amuck]

Not sure if It's because were blonde or the fact that I am directionally challenged and can't read your map but it appears that we are parking/walking on 67?...we had discussed parking at Ellie Lane and our opinion would be to go clock wise to Table Rock and hit Hurkey on the way back. We will get End of the Trail before or after the meet up as I believe it is on the opposite side of the road anyway. Any one else out there think like a "B.R.A"?

[+TrailGators]

Not sure if It's because were blonde or the fact that I am directionally challenged and can't read your map but it appears that we are parking/walking on 67?...we had discussed parking at Ellie Lane and our opinion would be to go clock wise to Table Rock and hit Hurkey on the way back.  We will get End of the Trail before or after the meet up as I believe it is on the opposite side of the road anyway.  Any one else out there think like a "B.R.A"?

Part of the trail is parallel (is side-by-side) with 67. Most people park near the Kiosk (big wooden sign thing-a-ma-bob) on the northbound side of 67 across the street from GCH7J2.

Edited November 24, 2004 by TrailGators

[+Dan-oh]

I decided to burn up some time this morning by doing a little track mapping exercise for the Iron Mountain caches:

 

To get an accurate track, first I created the track by following the trail on an aerial map using USAPhotoMaps

Yes, you do have too much time on your hands. Then again, its nothing I wouldn't have done either.

 

I sure love that USAPhotoMaps compared to TerraServer. You can import tracklogs from your reciever to get the same overlay that you did. I also like that once you review an area, thee images are saved on your computer. Even with a fast computer and w i d e bandwith, TerraServer take for ever.

 

Have you seen the 'Urabn' areas in USAPhotoMaps? I think its down to 1 meter resolution in COLOR! Not yet in SD County but most of LA and Orange. Look for Disney Land or Dodger Stadium. Very cool stuff.

[+Chuy!]

Not sure if It's because were blonde or the fact that I am directionally challenged and can't read your map but it appears that we are parking/walking on 67?...we had discussed parking at Ellie Lane and our opinion would be to go clock wise to Table Rock and hit Hurkey on the way back.  We will get End of the Trail before or after the meet up as I believe it is on the opposite side of the road anyway.  Any one else out there think like a "B.R.A"?

Part of the trail is parallel (is side-by-side) with 67. Most people park near the Kiosk (big wooden sign thing-a-ma-bob) on the northbound side of 67 across the street from GCH7J2.

We don't want to park off the 67 at night; vehicles have been vandalized there.

 

I propose we meet up near the Hurkey cache; its out of view from 67 traffic.

I drove up to it in my little 2WD truck back in July. A low clearance car won't make it.

 

The approximate coords to the turnoff are (using my MapSource): N32 58.855 W116 58.428.

I will drive up there tonight or tomorrow and post more accurate coords.

 

Yes, BRA's, I agree with your route suggestion: clockwise from the Hurkey cache to Ryan's Treasure cache and backtrack to I Can See Iron Mtn cache and return down the main trail.

 

Once again, RocketMan, thanks for the maps ; I will be printing them out and taking them with me.

[+blonds run amuck]

Part of the trail is parallel (is side-by-side) with 67. Most people park near the Kiosk (big wooden sign thing-a-ma-bob) on the northbound side of 67 across the street from GCH7J2.

We don't want to park off the 67 at night; vehicles have been vandalized there.

 

I propose we meet up near the Hurkey cache; its out of view from 67 traffic.

I drove up to it in my little 2WD truck back in July. A low clearance car won't make it.

 

The approximate coords to the turnoff are (using my MapSource): N32 58.855 W116 58.428.

I will drive up there tonight or tomorrow and post more accurate coords.

 

Yes, BRA's, I agree with your route suggestion: clockwise from the Hurkey cache to Ryan's Treasure cache and backtrack to I Can See Iron Mtn cache and return down the main trail.

 

Once again, RocketMan, thanks for the maps ; I will be printing them out and taking them with me.

I thought most of that land is private property (stay on trails) and don't know of any driving trails there. Our suggestion would be to meet at the Ellie Lane parking area and walk from there.....you know ......by the big wooden sign thing-a-ma-bob. (the trail head at the Ellie Lane Horse Trail Parking Area.....Trust us... we have hiked this area many times...then go to GCGEFN,GCMOEE,GCMOEA,GCHM8J,GC25EF,GCH6YN,GCJZ9QGCH,GC6401,

GCHN4Q, and end with GCJXF1. We plan on picking up Fattboy's End of the Line" before we meet, say around 8:30 and then go on up to Ellie Lane. But hey...this is not our gig we will do what ever and just follow along. 9 miles of Blonds nagging about how right they were could make for a long night Brownies....I think I'll make brownies....

[+RocketMan]

Not sure if It's because were blonde or the fact that I am directionally challenged and can't read your map but it appears that we are parking/walking on 67?...we had discussed parking at Ellie Lane and our opinion would be to go clock wise to Table Rock and hit Hurkey on the way back. We will get End of the Trail before or after the meet up as I believe it is on the opposite side of the road anyway. Any one else out there think like a "B.R.A"?

I was just trying to trace what I thought was the route on Chuy's map. Requaredless of the exact route you take, the topo and profile still provide some good info. RM

[+RocketMan]

Yes, you do have too much time on your hands. Then again, its nothing I wouldn't have done either.

I decided to take an extra day off to extend my TG Holiday. Yard work was planned for today, but I spent the morning goofing off. I finally got around to the yard work at noon.

 

Have you seen the 'Urabn' areas in USAPhotoMaps?  I think its down to 1 meter resolution in COLOR!  Not yet in SD County but most of LA and Orange.  Look for Disney Land or Dodger Stadium.  Very cool stuff.

 

I have never been able to get color aerials with USAPhotoMaps. Do I need to use a different version or add a plugin? I have also tried TerraClient which interestingly enough has more recent aerial images of SD, but they are not color either.

 

RM

[+blonds run amuck]

Not sure if It's because were blonde or the fact that I am directionally challenged and can't read your map but it appears that we are parking/walking on 67?...we had discussed parking at Ellie Lane and our opinion would be to go clock wise to Table Rock and hit Hurkey on the way back.  We will get End of the Trail before or after the meet up as I believe it is on the opposite side of the road anyway.  Any one else out there think like a "B.R.A"?

I was just trying to trace what I thought was the route on Chuy's map. Requaredless of the exact route you take, the topo and profile still provide some good info. RM

We appreciate the map RM....we need all the help we can get. And the life size photo of B>R>A.....well...it sure was life size. We'll now sit quietly back and wait for further directions from Chuy. With all your work on the map and stuff...will you be joining the night stalkers of Iron Mtn?

[+RocketMan]

With all your work on the map and stuff...will you be joining the night stalkers of Iron Mtn?

It sure sounds like fun, but I don't know about this whole night caching thing. I like to sleep in the middle of the night. I couldn't go even if I was a gung ho night time cacher. We are heading to the desert early on Sat. I hope you all have a great time. RM

[+Night Hunter]

The Ellie Lane Parking area has parking hours posted (can't remember what they are.) When I did Table Rock at 10 PM we walked 67 to Ellie Lane from Poway Road. I don't know if the area actually gets locked, but after hours parking is posted as prohibitted. I don't know anything about driving up to Hurkey.

[+Chuy!]

I just got back from a drive to the area.

The Ellie Lane parking area is a horse staging area and is open surise to sunset. The parking area was still open at 8P, but there is a chain used to lock the entrance, so we probably shouldn't risk parking here after hours.

 

The fireroad I found, and I can't believe no one else has used it, is at N32 58.936 W116 58.454, halfway between Ellie lane and the lighted intersection; a good parking area is at N32 58.922 W116 58.228. There are no signs prohibiting the use of this dirt road nor any fences to open or drive around. The entrance even has a short (about 20 yards) paved section. The recent rains did cut into it a bit, but I was able to drive up on my 2WD small pickup; low clearance vehicles will not make it. Other folks have driven up recently as evidenced by the tire marks I saw; I also saw evidence of foliage dumping.

If anyone needs a ride up, email me and we will figure out where to park your vehicle.

 

What we can do is post a "No Tresspassing" sign near the entrance, hymm...

Edited November 25, 2004 by Chuy

[+Dan-oh]

I have never been able to get color aerials with USAPhotoMaps.  Do I need to use a different version or add a plugin?  I have also tried TerraClient which interestingly enough has more recent aerial images of SD, but they are not color either.

 

RM

I download USAPhotoMaps about 2 months ago so I may have a slightly newer version. Prolly worth a visit to his web site. The DisneyLand photo is good but it really doesn't do it justice. The ability to zoom in and out is great.

 

[+RocketMan]

I have never been able to get color aerials with USAPhotoMaps.  Do I need to use a different version or add a plugin?  I have also tried TerraClient which interestingly enough has more recent aerial images of SD, but they are not color either.

 

RM

I download USAPhotoMaps about 2 months ago so I may have a slightly newer version. Prolly worth a visit to his web site. The DisneyLand photo is good but it really doesn't do it justice. The ability to zoom in and out is great.

 

Strange? I just updated the program to the latest version yesterday and when I fully zoom in on DL, I get this.

 

 

This is not a cached image either, I just downloaded it a few minutes ago. It looks like it is time to ask the question in the SW forum.

 

Edit: I just posted the question here.

Edited November 25, 2004 by Rocket Man

[+Dan-oh]

Strange? I just updated the program to the latest version yesterday and when I fully zoom in on DL, I get this.

 

Are you clicking View/Map Type/Urban Areas on the tool bar?

BTW, I have USAPhotoMaps version 2.40, October 1, 2004

[+Dan-oh]

from 11-26-04 UT, San Diego section

 

Suspicious woman on bridge arrested

BONSALL - A woman acting in a suspicious manner while parked on the West Lilac Road bridge over Interstate 15 yesterday was arrested by sheriff's deputies on several outstanding warrants.

The woman was seen in a car about 12:30 pm. The bridge was closed while deputies and California Highway Patrol officers talked to the woman.

Freeway traffic was not interrupted.

 

I think someone needs to fess up and log a DNF on Kawikaturn's 'The Bridge to Lilac' (GCKCMV).

 

(most likely they interrupted something of a more conclusive nature)

[+Chuy!]

On the way to Grandma's house, my daughters and I took another drive up the fireroad to Hurkey's cache around 1P. Dirtroad looks good and I found more trash dumpsites up on the little mesa.

 

But, I've changed my mind about parking up here. I figure if the Ellie Lane parking area remains unlocked at 9P (and I have a feeling it will), chances are it will remain unlocked the rest of the night. So, let's go ahead and meet there first. If it's closed, then the backup plan is to drive up the fireroad. I will drive up the fireroad just in case anyone ends up there before checking this message.

 

I will have my FRS radio on channel 3.

[+Night Hunter]

But, I've changed my mind about parking up here. I figure if the Ellie Lane parking area remains unlocked at 9P (and I have a feeling it will), chances are it will remain unlocked the rest of the night.

And what happens if it is unlocked at 9p but then suddenly becomes locked at...say...12a. I agree, highly unlikly, but what if?

[+FlagMan]

Hey, for anyone out there who might be interested, KAOS has never been more accessible. In its current configuration, I put the terrain rating at about 2 and the difficulty rating is probably no more than 3-1/2 or so.

[+Chuy!]

But, I've changed my mind about parking up here.  I figure if the Ellie Lane parking area remains unlocked at 9P (and I have a feeling it will), chances are it will remain unlocked the rest of the night.

And what happens if it is unlocked at 9p but then suddenly becomes locked at...say...12a. I agree, highly unlikly, but what if?

I have bolt cutters , really, I do.

 

We can aslo bring our own padlock and lock ourselves in.

 

Lets meet there anyways and discuss our options as a group.

 

BTY At least two co-workers will be joining us; a third may come with his two golden retrievers. If he does, I'm bringing Ginger. I can vouch for his dogs they are people friendly.

 

Edit: coords to Ellis Lane parking area: N32 59.256 W116 58.615.

Edited November 26, 2004 by Chuy

[+blonds run amuck]

The Kahlua brownies are ready so all you night stalkers get out to Iron Mountain at 9pm....i t's even a full moon...hope to see you there.....

[+PC Painter]

Since San Diego is a Navy/Marine town, I'm hoping someone here can help out a TB I put out, in honor and in thanks to our troops.

 

Here is his link...

 

http://www.geocaching.com/track/details.aspx?tracker=TBHWW4

 

He needs someone to find a way to get him safely to Iraq. Maybe you know someone about to depart for Iraq, or know someone that can maybe even mail him safely there? Can one of you please help him? He's in my cache... We Must Protect This House!

 

Thanks to anyone that can help!

[+FlagMan]

Just saw National Treasure. Now there's a cache you would want to be FTF on!! This is the ultimate adventure movie for geocachers. It is a must-see! Gave me a few ideas for some caches of my own, too! Parts of it are reminiscent of "A Treasure Hard To Attain" by MMNB.

[+Duncan!]

The Kahlua brownies are ready so all you night stalkers get out to Iron Mountain at 9pm....i t's even a full moon...hope to see you there.....

Dang! Got back from Ontario (CA) and Crestline at 8:30PM, visting the grandparents. Of course, I did all the driving. At least I got eight caches over the two days... You guys have fun! I'll miss those brownies....

 

D!