Trans-canada Highway Caches

[Prairie Jeepin]

Looks good!

[+wavector]

Thank you for doing such a great job wavector, now how do I add the logo to my cache pages for "planted" and Height of Land, not all that good with computer, better skeet shooter *s*

Hi gordonparsons

It is pretty straightforward to add the graphic to your cache pages, well it seemed so when I started to write this post !

Upload the image to your cache page using the Upload Image link. Once the image is uploaded it will be available through it's own link as an img file stored on the Groundspeak server, you will see the link on your cache page. After uploading you can click on the picture link and it will open up in it's own window and you can copy the URL for that window. ie If you go to Birds, Saskatchewan and click on the picture link it will open in this window

http://img.Groundspeak.com/cache/1cd77f64-7fe6-47e4-8b20-d4619f686e19.jpg

. If you upload the image to your own page everything will appear the same except the numbers at the end will be different from the numbers in the above link. Once you have the proper link for the graphic you need to edit your cache page. When you edit your cache page you will see a check box near the top that says The descriptions below are in HTML, you will need to make sure it is checked. I have been placing the graphic and text in the Short Description area. With the HTML box checked you need to add this line as a line of text in your cache page description, it will be understood by the server as a command to put a picture in,

<img src="http://img.Groundspeak.com/cache/1cd77f64-7fe6-47e4-8b20-d4619f686e19.jpg">

that line of code if unbracketed by CODE characters (which PDOP explained to me here in the forums, thanks PDOP) should produce this

 

 

Once you change your cache pages to HTML you will lose the normal text formatting, now it is hypertext. You will notice that spaces disappear and things shift around. You need to add new text commands that are explicit. The paragraphs are made using the paragraph notation, <P>, you can add <BR> breaks, bold is turned on by the bold notation <B> and turned off with a slash </B>. You can add <I> italics etc... and turn them off </I>. Any command you turn on, font, colour, needs to be turned off.

There are a lot of commands but the basic formatting is covered with a few and there are many good references for fancier hypertext linked in various threads. You can make a change or two then submit the cache and view the results, it can be a lot of fun. I added the text piece below the graphic because I know that many people use the printer friendly version and the text will stay while the graphic will go, as 3jaze pointed out, for searching and printing, the utility is in the text. The graphics are good when you are planning a trip and want to get an idea of what the country looks like ahead of your visit.

This will encourage people to visit

I really enjoyed reading about the Trans Labrador, sounds like an awesome adventure.

I am not sure what this post is going to look like. You may see a bunch of edits because I am not very good at figuring out what is going to happen when I am writing this stuff in the forums, I often get unexpected results.

 

It actually worked

Edited April 15, 2005 by wavector

[+wavector]

hi Gordon

I just looked at the caches Height of Land Cache and "planted" and imagine my surprise to see that mrandmrs 7squared visited the Height of Land cache via the bug BC or Bust. I like reading the 7squared logs when they are caching in Alberta, maybe we will see their bug here this summer !

Edited April 15, 2005 by wavector

[+VO2WW]

MrandMrs 7squared are former residents of Labrador City, think they met and married here, the wife still has relatives here which is how their TB ended up in one of my caches!!!

I was able to add the graphis quite easily thanks to your instructions. Off to Goose Bay in the a.m. but too much snow to Geocache, well maybe but I have one with me just in case. Did you ever look at the Geocache "Cashe River Cache", at least think that is the name, it is a Labrador cache at Cache River!!!

Could be listed as a TLAB Cache

[+PeterNoG]

As a committee member of Manitoba Geocaching Association, I am contacting owners of caches in Manitoba that qualify to try to get them to add TCDNMB or YLHDMB to their cache names.

 

Today I searched and found:

TCDNAB - 1 cache

TCDNSK - 1 cache

TCDA - 3 caches in New Brunswick

YLHD - 0 caches

TLAB - 0 caches

 

I hope we are all on the same page and that TCDN is the "approved" identifier. Hopefully the 3 New Brunswick caches will change to TCDNNB.

[+1Queenand4Jokers]

Added the letters TCDNMB to The Pause That Refreshes and 2 YLHDMB caches Duck, Duck, Goose! and Happy Rock Hideout.

I'd still like some lettering for several of mine just a couple of miles off the Yellowhead route. The Yellowhead deliberately misses several amazing towns and I'm hoping travellers won't miss these caches just because they're not rated at a 2 or because they are 10 miles off the highway instead of 1. These towns are dying as it is and have stories that need to be heard. I'd certainly like the option of going 10 miles off. How about an added X for Xtra good or something?

(I still use miles because the change to kms happened in grade 5 and I never have switched mentally plus being from a rural community metric just never quite caught on.)

[+PeterNoG]

We are getting some more now:

 

Today I searched and found:

Total TCDN - 8 including:

• TCDNAB - 3
  
• TCDNSK - 1
  
• TCDNMB - 1
  
• TCDN - 3 in New Brunswick (that used to be TCDA)
  

YLHDMB - 2

 

TLAB - 0

[+PDOP's]

A request for Wavector. Could you make up a graphic for YellowHead in Alberta using the Maple Leaf and YellowHead signs with 16 in them and the YLHD designation? The signs are usually paired on the highway in Alberta so it will match what travellers see on the road.

[+wavector]

I can do that.

I will work on some more graphics in the near future and I will make that one for you PDOP, work keeps interfering with my geocaching !

I will be doing another set of graphics and cleaning some of the images up a little. I made some dual highway graphics a little earlier in the thread, were you thinking of something along those lines ? One suggestion was also directed at caches that are accessible from one direction of travel and not another. I used some of the dual graphic space for that direction marker, I wonder if that idea is worth retaining ? I just reviewed the instructions I put together for gordon and realized that I forgot to mention the very first step, modifying the cache name itself to include the letters for the keyword search.

The keyword search actually works on the characters added to the cache name itself, if you want the cache returned for searchers you have to include the TCDN or TLAB or YLHD in the cache name. I took that a step further and added a text line under the graphic in the Birds, Saskatchewan cache that reiterated the basic TCDN code, added a text Direction and used the rest of the space for an RV Access Y/N check. The TCDN idea has to work for the text friendly page and the text itself is the basis of the search, very important to remember that I think. It is good to see some caches appearing on the TCDN search, I expect that summer travellers will appreciate 3jaze's suggestion.

[+PDOP's]

I made some dual highway graphics a little earlier in the thread, were you thinking of something along those lines ?

Yes exactly that

[+3jaze]

It’s nice to see a few TCDN caches coming on line. Not that many geocachers frequent the forums so perhaps another way to encourage the TCDN designation would be to have you, the geocacher, mention in your log that the cache you just found would/could meet the TCDN guidelines. Having some kind of brief explanation about the TCDN designation on file that could be cut and pasted to your log would help notify both cacheowners, and those reading the logs that there is this designation available to them. If you feel that the cachelog is not the place for this, then a simple contact with the cacheowner with your cut and paste explanation could also be of value to spread the word.

[+despot&smitten]

3Jaze, that is such an excellent idea, I could almost forgive your for having found every single cache I've ever gone looking for before me. Almost.

 

This will make plotting caches along summer day trips SO much easier. And gives me a great idea for a hide, too.

 

Thanks!

[+wavector]

I have added a dual graphic for caches along the Yellowhead route. I have changed the 1 to a 16 so that it accurately reflects the view a driver will see when driving that route.

Since I don't have any Yellowhead caches I added the graphic to the Birds, Saskatchewan TCDNSK cache. Here is what it looks like, if you want any changes PDOP just holler.

I will be adding a couple more TCDN caches to my area in the future.

Edited May 6, 2005 by wavector

[+PDOP's]

Thanks wavector I've added the image and YLHD designation to five of my caches. I've got a couple more that I want to check if the road distance to the cache meets the criteria.

[+PDOP's]

Bump Only 11 caches show up on a search for YLHD (9 are mine ) so far. Hope the rest of you Yellow Head cache owners will add yours to the list.

 

You can copy and paste this code into the "Short Description" on your cache pages

 

<center><img src="http://img.Groundspeak.com/cache/8a6a8678-9471-4068-bc19-f6fca0099481.jpg"</center>

 

to have the logo (below) on your cache pages.

 

 

Also remember to add YLHD to the cache name.

[+PDOP's]

Updated logo and code to make it a clickable link to the search results

 

<CENTER><A HREF="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?key=YLHD&submit4=Find"><img src="http://img.Groundspeak.com/cache/95415534-1a56-4167-ba76-55c3414c5128.jpg"></A></CENTER>

 

[+mrking]

We should ask for this to be pinned. And all the info need placed in the very first post.

 

Great stuff!

[+PDOP's]

Bump

[+PDOP's]

Bump again.

[+Deneye]

bumpity-bump-bump...

 

gotta love those canuck speed bumps eh?

 

(culvert ditches from deactivated FSRs and washouts)

[+derico]

Now that I've confirmed it still exists, I've added my IH Research Farm cache I see my brother-in-law has added his 2 caches near Indian Head as well. So three more in Saskatchewan.

[+VO2WW]

Labrador, Route 500, has five TLAB caches!!!!

[+VO2WW]

TLAB Geocaches growing every month!!!!!

[+PDOP's]

A census of sorts

• YLHD - 44
  
• YLHDBC - 0
  
• YLHDAB - 28
  
• YLHDSK - 11
  
• YLHDMB - 3
  

• TCDN - 25
  
• TCDNBC - 0
  
• TCDNAB - 4
  
• TCDNSK - 5
  
• TCDNMB - 7
  
• TCDNON - 2
  
• TCDNQC - 0
  
• TCDNNB - 1
  
• TCDNNS - 0
  
• TCDNNL - 0
  
• TCDNPE - 0
  

• TLAB - 11
  

The sum of the provincial designations deos not add up because some caches are just YHLD or TCDN. I put the YLHD first... only because that's where I live.

[+V-I-cacher]

I was just about to buy some Lock'n'Locks to place some TCDNBC and/or TCDNAB

caches, when I came across this section of the GC.com guidelines:

---

Placing Caches on Vacation / Beyond Your Maintainable Distance

 

Placing caches on vacation or outside of your normal caching area is unacceptable and these caches may not be listed. As the cache owner you are obligated to be in a position to manage your caches, and caches placed on vacation require someone else to maintain them for you. It is not uncommon for areas to be cleared, trails to be blocked or closed, objects used for virtual or multi-caches to be moved or removed, etc. You must be able to react to negative cache logs and investigate the location quickly. Please be responsible. This guideline applies to all types of caches including virtual caches.

 

The territory in which a geocacher is able to maintain caches responsibly will vary from one person to the next. An active geocacher who regularly visits areas hundreds of miles apart can demonstrate their ability to maintain a cache 100 miles from home. A geocacher whose previous finds and hides are all within 25 miles of their home would likely not see their cache listed if placed 250 miles away from their home.

 

If you have special circumstances, please describe these on your cache page or in a note to the reviewer. For example, if you have made arrangements with a local geocacher to watch over your distant cache for you, that geocacher’s name should be mentioned on your cache page.

---

 

How in the world is the TCD-project supposed to take off that way?!?

So far I assumed it as *normal* to place caches on vacation, as how-the-h*** are

else caches to appear in far away places? Or up on mountains? Heck, would you

necessarily climb back up the M3, just cause someone had troubles finding it?

(and then again you wouldn't necessarily live within 100 miles of the M3)

 

Is GC just being narrow-minded or is that section in the guidelines just *there*,

but not being taken serious when "off-the-record"?

[+VO2WW]

I think a number of factors come into play.......... how many caches are in the area you want to place one in.............. do you regularly find caches in the same area........... can you have a local check on it for you................. difficulty in reaching the cache etc. I have one 450 km away and one 825 kms away, neither are TLAB caches but I do have some quite a way from home.

[+V-I-cacher]

how many caches in the same area: well, none of course :-P

 

can I have a local: apparently not, else they would have placed a cache there!!!

 

difficulty: these are gonna be 1/1s to be picked up while on transit, a good way

to stop for 5 min and stretch your back and legs

 

I personally have no regular time of passing thru here...

...I do about 2, maybe 3 trips max. per year out that direction,

so that would make it 4 or max. 6 stops per year to check on it.

[+V-I-cacher]

there seem to be several TCDA caches still out there... maybe contact them to "convert"?

[+Piper Air]

there seem to be several TCDA caches still out there... maybe contact them to "convert"?

OK, I guess I'm a bit late in getting in on this. Should we be listing our Caches that meet the requirements as TCDA or TCDN. I have a cache that meets the requirements and would like to know which I should use. Thanks

[+PDOP's]

Use TCDN and your province designator which in your case is BC so you should use TCDNBC in your cache name.

[+VO2WW]

A TLAB cache of mine was written up in a News Magazine,

here is the link, not a bad little article, have a look.

http://home.crrstv.net/53north/Golgotha.pdf

[+V-I-cacher]

What a nightmare this trip has been...

...I so hoped to not only place caches, but also visit some more of them.

The 2-car-crash on the TCDN #1 in Yoho National Park kept me "parked"

for 4 hours (3 fatalities, 4 injured...the red Jeep Cherokee looked better, then the blue convertible Chrysler[? hard to tell was all mingled up])!

(co-ordinates: 51°15'14.00" N 116°35'12.50 W

if you hack that into your GoogleEarth, you will see, that there is a "road" right around the area, but in real life, that is just for 4x4 if at all and even so, both ends of which are blocked with big boulders)

 

There are still plenty of "Stop-worthy" spots left along the road.

Maybe someone would like to put one up at the Rogers Pass Reststop?

 

The two new caches are:

GCQF1B

and

GCQF1D

 

I still have that list of caches that I wanted to go to... most of which do no yet have the TCDN-tag (although I contacted the owners)

 

the only icon I found for the TCDN-caches seems to be on the first page of this thread... but they are still TCDA-marked there???

Is there a new icon? OR shall I edit that one?

Edited September 6, 2005 by V-I-cacher

[+Team K1W1]

I have a couple of caches about 6km (that's 6 easy km) from Hwy 5 between Merritt & Kamloops. Is this considered too far from the highway??

 

Road to Ross Moore is an easy access.

 

Sidewinder is a short walk from "Road to Ross Moore"

also Nooky Hill by J&JLoveVegas and Mayfly are close.

 

Team K1W1

[+V-I-cacher]

slowly, but surely, GC.com is loosing its attractiveness...

...apparently they do no longer want hard to access caches added to the current list of caches... ...I always thought that that's what geocaching is all about:

a box hidden somewhere in the Himalayas or in the dessert or any other crueling mountain-peak, that usually doesn't get to see any visitors.

No wonder that there are offspring webpages, that might not be as easy to use or with equally as much of features as GC.com, but atleast they don't care where the heck you place your cache.

 

When I went to hide my caches on this trip (well, atleast thats true for 50% of them) I did not plan on it beforehand... for crying out loud, I just was on the road,

seen a spot, that I thought suitable and stuck it there!

 

Now here is what Cache-Advance had to say about it:

---

Sorry, but 360 miles from your home is just to far to consider a maintainable distance.

Either find a local cacher who will maintain the cache, and post their name on in the description part of the cache page, or otherwise, please remove the cache as soon as convenient.

 

Hoping someone will maintain your cache for you without first making such arrangements will lead to maintenance problem.

 

Thank you for your cooperation.

---

 

How possibly could I have pre-arranged local cachers, if I didn't even know where

I'm gonna end up placing it?!???

 

In any case... if there is someone out there, who would like to co-maintain GCQF1B

with me (Canmore, AB,-area), please contact me ASAP.

 

thx!

 

V-I-cacher

[+PDOP's]

slowly, but surely, GC.com is loosing its attractiveness...

...apparently they do no longer want hard to access caches added to the current list of caches... ...

The issue here is ease of maintenance not access or only allowing easy caches. There has been a long standing policy against "vacation caches" where the cache owner is not in a position to do necessary maintenance required.

 

IMO It's a good policy that helps to prevent unmaintained abandoned caches that deteriorate into garbage over time.

[+V-I-cacher]

every cache over time turns into garbage, wether you maintain it or not...

...first it would have to survive before it can turn into garbage by simply degrading

thru the environment it sits in.

 

Key Problem is, that there simply is not a global coverage of cachers.

If I want to find a cache somewhere in the boonies of Canada, I can not do so,

unless somebody else bothered getting there in the first place to plant a cache;

Now, if that one person who bothers placing a cache *there* doesn't live around

that particular corner of Canada, then it is "being aborted in embryonic state"?

 

This might sound harsh, but thats basically what that rule would burn down to.

 

In any case, I'm now bugging every single cacher in the closer vacinity of the cache that I placed there (50km and counting) just to get someone say:

"hey, sure, I let you place my name up on there"

 

The problem that I see with this rule is already apparent to me, as I got caches

on the island which I hardly ever get around to even bother to look at remotely.

 

The reason why they do not turn into a problem is, because I always managed so far to have the last cacher who found it (or not) replace/fix the cache if problems occur.

[+Red90]

You are joking right? You live in Victoria, place a cache near Canmore and expect it to be approved.

 

You might want to try reading the guidelines before placing a cache:

 

Placing Caches on Vacation / Beyond Your Maintainable Distance

 

Placing caches on vacation or outside of your normal caching area is unacceptable and these caches may not be listed.

 

It is not rocket science.

[+Cache-tech]

Please keep to the topic of this thread, Thank you.

[+wavector]

I have a couple of caches about 6km (that's 6 easy km) from Hwy 5 between Merritt & Kamloops. Is this considered too far from the highway??

 

Road to Ross Moore is an easy access.

 

Sidewinder is a short walk from "Road to Ross Moore"

also Nooky Hill by J&JLoveVegas and Mayfly are close.

 

Team K1W1

Hi Team K1W1

We did discuss the distance as part of the TCDN idea first suggested by 3jaze and some of the suggested guidelines for the TCDN caches were -

- TransCanada cache, a cache near a TransCanada highway route

- TCDN is a series of caches, searchable using keyword

- Traditional cache, difficulty 2 or less

- No more than 2 miles (3 km from highway)

- Takes less than 1/2 hour

 

I hope that helps. We don't actually have any rules, just suggested guidelines. The TCDN designation does work, people driving the highway do stop and visit TCDN caches, the ease of access and the distance are probably important considerations for travellers, the ones who actually benefit from the TCDN designation.

[+wavector]

the only icon I found for the TCDN-caches seems to be on the first page of this thread... but they are still TCDA-marked there???

Is there a new icon? OR shall I edit that one?

Hi V-I-cacher

There several TCDN related graphics available on the Birds, Saskatchewan TCDNSK cache page. I can also make you one if you have a special request or you can take the graphics and do edits yourself as well.

[+CasheKicker]

OK now with all these acronym changes myhead hurts.

 

I feel dizzy.

[+wavector]

Bump

[BC Tripper]

WOW! Great idea guys and gals. I'd be happy to adopt this idea. Hell, I'll even try and place a few caches while im at it.

 

BC Tripper

[+wavector]

Added a new TransCanada cache in Tompkins, SK called Yellowheaded Blackbird.

[+wavector]

I have just searched and currently there are 37 caches that show up with the TCDN keyword search.

There are 62 caches which show up using the YLHD keyword search for a total of 99 YLHD/TCDN caches.

Edited December 14, 2005 by wavector

[+wavector]

I added another TCDNAB cache, this one is also a TB cache. It will not be published for ten more days but it is approved. It is in the city of Medicine Hat and is very convenient for travelers.

I guess I will have to place another TCDN cache whenever this thread sinks out of sight!

[+dogbreathcanada]

I've created five Trans-Canada Highway bookmarks and populated them all with TCDN and TCDA caches (all that I could find via a keywords search):

 

Trans-Canada Highway - West

Trans-Canada Highway - Prairie

Trans-Canada Highway - Ontario

Trans-Canada Highway - Quebec

Trans-Canada Highway - Maritimes

 

A lot of Trans-Canada Highway caches are not marked with the familiar TCDN (or the older TCDA) codes. If you know of any not in the bookmark lists, please post here (or email me the link/waypoint code). Thanks.

[+VO2WW]

Great idea, I travel a lot and really enjoy being able to locate a cache that is along my route and short enough to do as part of a leg stretch, having them in folders sure makes it simple.

[+dogbreathcanada]

Great idea, I travel a lot and really enjoy being able to locate a cache that is along my route and short enough to do as part of a leg stretch, having them in folders sure makes it simple.

Added a bookmark list for

 

Trans Labrador Highway

[+dogbreathcanada]

Great idea, I travel a lot and really enjoy being able to locate a cache that is along my route and short enough to do as part of a leg stretch, having them in folders sure makes it simple.

Added a bookmark list for

 

Trans Labrador Highway

The Google Earth geocache browser really helps to locate all those caches that aren't labeled with a TLAB designation. Just scroll along the entire highway and pull-up those caches that weren't in the original keyword search. Eventually found an additional 23 caches (for a total of 35).