An easy out along the bike path to the canal crossing. Trying to get a few of the No C.R.A.P Left Behind series. 3 finds, one DNF. No real off-roading, and only a few intervals on the way back. A cloudwashed orangesque sunset, and poignant set of Bebo Norman playing.
9 -2 hours/24 hours. 50 minutes total, PE: 6. 216/15.
Showing posts with label geocaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label geocaching. Show all posts
Monday, March 14, 2011
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Google Does It Again.
Toss out that MySQL book. The only thing you need to store location data is Google Maps.
My Maps is a feature that lets you create your own mashup on a map. Once a map is created, it can be shared with a link, or in Google Earth with a KML file. And now, it is also available via RSS–GeoRSS, to be more specific.
While viewing any My Map, click the RSS link to see the GeoRSS version of the map. In addition to all the other information about points on the map, such as business name and address, you get latitude and longitude coordinates.
This RSS feed can then be read in by any script you write instead of making a database call. The Google Maps API can even call GeoRSS files directly, loading all your locations in a single line.
My Maps is a feature that lets you create your own mashup on a map. Once a map is created, it can be shared with a link, or in Google Earth with a KML file. And now, it is also available via RSS–GeoRSS, to be more specific.
While viewing any My Map, click the RSS link to see the GeoRSS version of the map. In addition to all the other information about points on the map, such as business name and address, you get latitude and longitude coordinates.This RSS feed can then be read in by any script you write instead of making a database call. The Google Maps API can even call GeoRSS files directly, loading all your locations in a single line.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 08, 2008
I'm not Waffling, I'm Tilting.
"...one of many skirts. you've gone to the dark side. I hope at least you got an eyeful." - Ridgemaster
GC1EVZ0.
Yeah, I was there at Tilted Kilt and thought, "I can find this without the GPS." And I did find it, since I looked under the WORST POSSIBLE skirt in which to locate a cache at this location. When you go there for a beer, you'll see.
Anyway, I've given up on trying to encourage others to place good caches - I'll just find what's there and try to place good ones. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't keep him from taking a whizz in the river while he's there.
I found a few on my drive up to the 49'ers game over the weekend - worse and worse. It's not just Bako, it's just geocaching in general. We'd have hoped to keep Kern County a cut above in cache quality, but like the air quality here, whenever someone farts in Stockton, we get to smell it. The epidemic is here, the only way to fight it is to stay well yourself. Think healthy, place healthy. Find sick.
GC1EVZ0.
Yeah, I was there at Tilted Kilt and thought, "I can find this without the GPS." And I did find it, since I looked under the WORST POSSIBLE skirt in which to locate a cache at this location. When you go there for a beer, you'll see.
Anyway, I've given up on trying to encourage others to place good caches - I'll just find what's there and try to place good ones. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't keep him from taking a whizz in the river while he's there.
I found a few on my drive up to the 49'ers game over the weekend - worse and worse. It's not just Bako, it's just geocaching in general. We'd have hoped to keep Kern County a cut above in cache quality, but like the air quality here, whenever someone farts in Stockton, we get to smell it. The epidemic is here, the only way to fight it is to stay well yourself. Think healthy, place healthy. Find sick.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Geocaching vs Terracaching: Side by Side Comparison Dept.
Navicache didn't make it into this comparison because the site just doesn't have enough caches to pursue, it's clunky as hell, and damn! it's so ugly it hurts to look at it. The site is going to be discounted here until something dramatic happens there.
Friday, July 18, 2008
What makes TerraCaching different
Can't I just pay 30 bucks and get started as a plank premium member on my planet?
Sponsors function as your personal cache approvers, providing you with close attention and quick approvals. - You choose your own cache approvers (sponsors) from a list of offers. If you don't like them you can dump them and find new ones.
- Fewer "written in stone" rules allow greater creativity in cache hides.
- A cache rating system (MCE) provides the ability to rate caches, allowing each community to define their own standard of quality. Poorly rated caches are easy to ignore.
- The TerraCaching Point System (TPS) fosters an enjoyable competition.
- All caches are not worth the same value (one smiley), but are rewarded based on a measure of how challenging they are.
- Hiders are rewarded too, not just finders.
- Leaderboards provide a quick way of comparing your progress to that of your fellow cachers.
- Locationless Caches (LC) and Virtual caches are embraced, rather than considered something less than a "real" cache.
- Better information for seekers is available, such as distance and elevation gain, camouflage/mental/physical challenge estimates.
- Optional First Finder Codes and Confirmation Codes conveniently handled by web site to reduce controversy and allow creative hides that don't use a log book.
- The forums here are actually friendly.
- Oh yeah, and you can't do jack shite until you get sponsored. We did mention that, didn't we? Funny thing is, if you have no Terracachers in your sector, you're SOL until a friggin' spaceship lands on your bassackwards planet and some little green terracaching men step out of their probe and, should they decide to, glance in your direction and determine if you're a lifeform worthy of inspection. Until then, just remain in the vacuum of your impact crater and exercise patience until they do.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
And He Got the Cache Published.
Geocache player broke all the rules of Internet treasure hunt
Mike Vogel
Idaho's NewsChannel 7 BOISE, ID
Tuesday’s closure of Highway 55 has brought a lot of attention to something called geocaching.
Police say this green bucket beneath the Rainbow Bridge contains trinkets for a popular Internet treasure hunt game known as geocaching. It did not contain explosives as first feared.
This was not the first time that a geocache has been mistaken for a possible bomb. Police say it was the third or fourth time the Boise bomb squad has responded to a false alarm. For people who participate in Internet treasure hunts known as geocaching, there are very specific rules and guidelines to follow. But just about every one of those rules was broken when this geocache was placed underneath the Rainbow Bridge.
“It's not illegal to play these games, but the bridge is state property, just use common sense, put it by a tree or something,” said Scott Tollersen, Idaho State Police.
Common sense is one thing that would have avoided a lot of headaches for motorists and police on Tuesday. Idaho 55 had to be shutdown because of a suspicious looking green bucket that turned out to be part of an Internet treasure hunt known as a geocache. The other important thing police say those involved in geocaching should do is follow the rules of the game.
“What we suggest is follow the guidelines on the Web site, don't place it in historical locations, or on historical structures, don't place it on bridges or schools or other places that could potentially be a terrorist target,” said Kip Higby, Boise Police bomb technician.
Originally, the caches were placed off of trails or where there isn't normally a lot of traffic. Authorities say you should ask for permission if you place a geocache on private lands and make sure you find out the rules before hiding it in a national park. And finally, choosing the right container can help out any law enforcement that might come across them.
“We also encourage on their geochache to put it on a clear plastic container, rather than something that can't be seen into, if we can see into it we can rule it out rather easily,” said Tollersen.
Meanwhile, Valley County is still looking into filing charges against the man who placed that geocache under the bridge.
Mike Vogel
Idaho's NewsChannel 7 BOISE, ID
Tuesday’s closure of Highway 55 has brought a lot of attention to something called geocaching.
Police say this green bucket beneath the Rainbow Bridge contains trinkets for a popular Internet treasure hunt game known as geocaching. It did not contain explosives as first feared.
This was not the first time that a geocache has been mistaken for a possible bomb. Police say it was the third or fourth time the Boise bomb squad has responded to a false alarm. For people who participate in Internet treasure hunts known as geocaching, there are very specific rules and guidelines to follow. But just about every one of those rules was broken when this geocache was placed underneath the Rainbow Bridge.“It's not illegal to play these games, but the bridge is state property, just use common sense, put it by a tree or something,” said Scott Tollersen, Idaho State Police.
Common sense is one thing that would have avoided a lot of headaches for motorists and police on Tuesday. Idaho 55 had to be shutdown because of a suspicious looking green bucket that turned out to be part of an Internet treasure hunt known as a geocache. The other important thing police say those involved in geocaching should do is follow the rules of the game.
“What we suggest is follow the guidelines on the Web site, don't place it in historical locations, or on historical structures, don't place it on bridges or schools or other places that could potentially be a terrorist target,” said Kip Higby, Boise Police bomb technician.
Originally, the caches were placed off of trails or where there isn't normally a lot of traffic. Authorities say you should ask for permission if you place a geocache on private lands and make sure you find out the rules before hiding it in a national park. And finally, choosing the right container can help out any law enforcement that might come across them.“We also encourage on their geochache to put it on a clear plastic container, rather than something that can't be seen into, if we can see into it we can rule it out rather easily,” said Tollersen.
Meanwhile, Valley County is still looking into filing charges against the man who placed that geocache under the bridge.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Flame On.
One of the problems with the internet is that it's always open season for
the thin-skinned to take offense. Jokes are interpreted as affronts, friendly ribbing is a stab in the side. Direct criticism is punishable by electrocution.
One of the problems with a geocache rating system, the opponents argue, is that it's open to flaming. Ppl who don't like you will rate your caches into the toilet. If that's all they do, rather than actually stealing your cache containers and physically chucking them into a toilet, that's preferable, I say. But the worry is there.
I don't see why, geocaches don't care if they're winning a popularity contest. Their owners do, though. Place a cache and hover over it like a proud parent, expecting the world to queue up and coo over your baby.
All of my (active) cache babies are available for review. Not an hour after they were up, someone [read: the only other Kern cacher with reviewable caches on the site] rated a couple of mine as lowly as possible. Granted, they're pretty sucky, but maybe not meritorious of the worst possible. Am I gonna cry? I haven't yet.
I'll take my licks at the bottom end, and try to take the best ratings with a grain of salt too. The idea is to see what's trending, what kind of caches are making ppl happy or getting just a lukewarm response. The worst, I'm predicting, will be if they get no review at all - that's mediocrity at it's uh, most mediocre.
Next up: a rubric to check before cache placement - hopefully to ensure that it's not absolutely flammable. Or, to ensure that they're the type of caches I like to find. Your opinion? Blow it out your @ss.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Dumbing it Down.
Gonna begin my "Dreck-Free" campaign in earnest. No pressure on anyone else, I'm just changing the game for myself. Guess it's been building for a while, but a couple of last-straws hit me today.
• I negated a new cache posting to my ignore list rather than run out the door to FTF it. That was like toeing a line in the sand.
• I reviewed my owned caches and saw this:
Only multis and puzzle caches going unfound, running neck and neck with archived caches for finds... noice. All traditional 1/1s up the list (and therefore not pictured) getting found frequently.
In my workaday life, I have to dumb down product to meet customer demand. But in my playaday life, I don't. I'm going to post caches like ones I've had to work to find, and found challenging, and therefore enjoyed, and hated, and loved to hate, and found memorable for those reasons.
So, I started by beginning to systematically delete the crappé I've placed, and to rethink all the hides I have in the pipe, and set forth with a new grim determination to only hide caches for us, and those like us (d*mn few left, heh).
They're probably not going to get found, I know. But hey, the fun is in the hide.
• I negated a new cache posting to my ignore list rather than run out the door to FTF it. That was like toeing a line in the sand.
• I reviewed my owned caches and saw this:
Only multis and puzzle caches going unfound, running neck and neck with archived caches for finds... noice. All traditional 1/1s up the list (and therefore not pictured) getting found frequently.In my workaday life, I have to dumb down product to meet customer demand. But in my playaday life, I don't. I'm going to post caches like ones I've had to work to find, and found challenging, and therefore enjoyed, and hated, and loved to hate, and found memorable for those reasons.
So, I started by beginning to systematically delete the crappé I've placed, and to rethink all the hides I have in the pipe, and set forth with a new grim determination to only hide caches for us, and those like us (d*mn few left, heh).
They're probably not going to get found, I know. But hey, the fun is in the hide.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Only a Geocacher Could Understand.
I'm catching myself getting crotchety about caching. Maybe I'm a throwback to another caching day.
From QuestMaster, not me, but I cheer and cry with every line:
>> Geocaching just isn't what it used to be.
I remember when it was more about location, location, location and less about numbers, numbers, numbers.
I remember when it was more about going places and seeing things.
I remember when it was less about finding stuff and how many.
I remember when nobody cared about being first.
I remember when people hid caches one at a time.
I remember when there was less quantity and more quality.
I remember when geocaching was more hiking in the woods and less riding around in the car.
I remember when there were no micros and nobody hid caches in parking lots.
I remember when we didn't have to practice "stealth" or play the dodge the muggle game.
I remember when geocachers were more outdoorsy and less nerdy.
I remember when caches were caches (i.e. supposed to be found) instead of "evil" hides.
I remember when geocaching was run more like a hobby and less like a business.
I remember when there were fewer rules and a lot less politics.
I remember when nobody got banned for writing a silly poem.
I remember when geocaching was a lot more fun.
I don't have a long caching past, I ain't been around all that long. But I am the future of caching. I'm gonna do my part to win back the day one cache at a time.
From QuestMaster, not me, but I cheer and cry with every line:
>> Geocaching just isn't what it used to be.
I remember when it was more about location, location, location and less about numbers, numbers, numbers.
I remember when it was more about going places and seeing things.
I remember when it was less about finding stuff and how many.
I remember when nobody cared about being first.
I remember when people hid caches one at a time.
I remember when there was less quantity and more quality.
I remember when geocaching was more hiking in the woods and less riding around in the car.
I remember when there were no micros and nobody hid caches in parking lots.
I remember when we didn't have to practice "stealth" or play the dodge the muggle game.
I remember when geocachers were more outdoorsy and less nerdy.
I remember when caches were caches (i.e. supposed to be found) instead of "evil" hides.
I remember when geocaching was run more like a hobby and less like a business.
I remember when there were fewer rules and a lot less politics.
I remember when nobody got banned for writing a silly poem.
I remember when geocaching was a lot more fun.
I don't have a long caching past, I ain't been around all that long. But I am the future of caching. I'm gonna do my part to win back the day one cache at a time.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
A Geocaching Treatise
Geocaching is silly simple. Few things in life are as good, clean out-and-about fun like this is. Well, clean except for the foxtails.
I enjoy the sense of virtual community we experience. Props to you Bakersfield cachers - you add a dimension to the fun.
Caches are fragile things - only takes one muggle or one bad cacher to ruin it for us all - but it amazingly infrequently happens that way. Geocaching is proof that there's hope for
American society.
I love those caches that are brazenly hidden in plain sight - where only those who are seeking will find 'em. If a thousand people look right at it but never see it, but anyone with
a GPSr in hand can walk right up and grab it, that's an awesome cache in my book.
I think anyone who can place one thoughtfully located, challenging but findable cache is worth more than the guy with 1000 finds but no cache hides. Creating a world class cache is a work of
art, and there's darn few out there who can do it. To those who put up the caches that inspire us to hunt, I salute you.
I believe that we're hiding caches from muggles first, and geocachers second.
You should be able to find any of my hides from the description and coords - the hint is there as a spoiler safety-net only.
I used to say here that I don't want anyone to go home with a DNF. But I realize that making sure-find caches is going to be the sure-death of geocaching. If not today, then tomorrow. They're boring. They're derivative. They're not worth the gas to get there. So I promise to make caches that either take ppl to a remarkable location, or challenge on the find, or batter your brainpan with the puzzle, or any combination of the above, or do something of another nature. Who knows?
I don't, yet. I just know that I don't want to place another monkeyseemonkeydo hide and add to the cache and dash disease destroying our hobby. And I here-and-now promise never to toss a cammo'ed film canister into a dusty, spider-infested poisonous bush and call it a cache. As a hedge lover, heh, I beg you - do the same! I have enough marriage troubles without justifying leaving my own yard work to go dig through a random bush somewhere, only to sign a logsheet.
I think if you log a cache as a find when you didn't actually find the cache, well, karma says that you're gonna get your overdue IRS audit this year.
I believe that Travel Bugs should travel. Seems obvious, but most TBs seem to languish in TB jails. Travel Bug caches that attempt to impose limits on the number of bugs that may come and go are really prisons. “Take a bug, leave a bug” is a nice suggestion, but if it’s a demand, then the bugs are incarcerated. Bugs should be free to do what their owners intended for them to do, travel.
Keep 'em moving, I say!
Hey, you. Yeah, You, the one skanking geocoins from caches into your private collection. May the fleas of a 1000 camels infest your crotch, and may the sun never set on your scratching.
I believe that Happy Meal toys are most happy when cached. They transmute there, in the darkness and quiet, into treasure. Cache with a kid and you'll never feel bad about trading
toys into a cache again.
What we need is a user-compiled rating system for all caches. That way the cream can rise and the stank can sink. The problem isn't micros, it's not knowing which micros suck before
wasting an hour on them. If the FTF can say, "this one's really great" and give it five stars, or a thumbs-up rating, or, conversely, a 1-star/thumbs down instead of the abiguous notation "thanks for placing the cache, SL, yawn", those of us who follow after can concretely figure out which are worth the trip - especially at however-many bucks+ a gallon.
But yes, the premium membership, for those of you who aren't and wondering, is worth the gallon a month.
Finally,
Please, for Pete's sake, don't place micros unless you have a reason.
Trade up!
Replace 'em better than you found 'em.
Give other hiders positive feedback.
Add some TBs and Geocoins to the pool.
and
Thanks for hiding one! Without you, there's no geocache to find, and no geocaching!
I enjoy the sense of virtual community we experience. Props to you Bakersfield cachers - you add a dimension to the fun.
Caches are fragile things - only takes one muggle or one bad cacher to ruin it for us all - but it amazingly infrequently happens that way. Geocaching is proof that there's hope for
American society.
I love those caches that are brazenly hidden in plain sight - where only those who are seeking will find 'em. If a thousand people look right at it but never see it, but anyone with
a GPSr in hand can walk right up and grab it, that's an awesome cache in my book.
I think anyone who can place one thoughtfully located, challenging but findable cache is worth more than the guy with 1000 finds but no cache hides. Creating a world class cache is a work of
art, and there's darn few out there who can do it. To those who put up the caches that inspire us to hunt, I salute you.
I believe that we're hiding caches from muggles first, and geocachers second.
You should be able to find any of my hides from the description and coords - the hint is there as a spoiler safety-net only.
I used to say here that I don't want anyone to go home with a DNF. But I realize that making sure-find caches is going to be the sure-death of geocaching. If not today, then tomorrow. They're boring. They're derivative. They're not worth the gas to get there. So I promise to make caches that either take ppl to a remarkable location, or challenge on the find, or batter your brainpan with the puzzle, or any combination of the above, or do something of another nature. Who knows?
I don't, yet. I just know that I don't want to place another monkeyseemonkeydo hide and add to the cache and dash disease destroying our hobby. And I here-and-now promise never to toss a cammo'ed film canister into a dusty, spider-infested poisonous bush and call it a cache. As a hedge lover, heh, I beg you - do the same! I have enough marriage troubles without justifying leaving my own yard work to go dig through a random bush somewhere, only to sign a logsheet.
I think if you log a cache as a find when you didn't actually find the cache, well, karma says that you're gonna get your overdue IRS audit this year.
I believe that Travel Bugs should travel. Seems obvious, but most TBs seem to languish in TB jails. Travel Bug caches that attempt to impose limits on the number of bugs that may come and go are really prisons. “Take a bug, leave a bug” is a nice suggestion, but if it’s a demand, then the bugs are incarcerated. Bugs should be free to do what their owners intended for them to do, travel.
Keep 'em moving, I say!
Hey, you. Yeah, You, the one skanking geocoins from caches into your private collection. May the fleas of a 1000 camels infest your crotch, and may the sun never set on your scratching.
I believe that Happy Meal toys are most happy when cached. They transmute there, in the darkness and quiet, into treasure. Cache with a kid and you'll never feel bad about trading
toys into a cache again.
What we need is a user-compiled rating system for all caches. That way the cream can rise and the stank can sink. The problem isn't micros, it's not knowing which micros suck before
wasting an hour on them. If the FTF can say, "this one's really great" and give it five stars, or a thumbs-up rating, or, conversely, a 1-star/thumbs down instead of the abiguous notation "thanks for placing the cache, SL, yawn", those of us who follow after can concretely figure out which are worth the trip - especially at however-many bucks+ a gallon.
But yes, the premium membership, for those of you who aren't and wondering, is worth the gallon a month.
Finally,
Please, for Pete's sake, don't place micros unless you have a reason.
Trade up!
Replace 'em better than you found 'em.
Give other hiders positive feedback.
Add some TBs and Geocoins to the pool.
and
Thanks for hiding one! Without you, there's no geocache to find, and no geocaching!
Happy First Geoversary!
6/6/07 was my one-year anniversary caching. My year involved:
• 569 Finds, 47 Hides, 34 FTFs & 125 DNFs in 6 states
• 10 Unknowns, 14 Multi's, 6 Virts, 1 Event, 11 Benchmarks, 1 Letterbox, 1 Earthcache
• 240 Geocoins and 123 TBs Moved or Discovered; 41 Geocoins and 9 TBs Owned
• Overall find Rate: 1.55 per day, 10.86 per week
• Total days with a find: 119. Average finds per caching day: 4.78
• Best day: 3/11/07 - 31 finds in San Jose, CA
• Most consecutive days with a find: 11 from 6/05/06 to 6/15/06
• Longest caching drought: 38 days from 11/30/06 to 1/06/07
• Average total cache difficulty: 1.64 - Average total terrain rating: 1.4
• Approximate cache-to-cache distance: 26,934 miles
• 528 of the caches I'd found are still active (92.8%, but this doesn't count the muggled caches I'd DNF'ed!)
• Average log size: 17.2 words - Biggest log: 166 words - Shortest log: 1 word - Number of one-word logs: 3
• (see all your stats in the same way if you're a Premium member at itsnotaboutthenumbers.com) •
I was lucky to encounter three good caches on my first day out -
a well-stocked ammo box cleverly and elegantly hidden (Higher Class
- GCRCK9), an informative virtual (Human Powered Flight - GCBA31),
and an unpretentious, well-hidden but findable medium-sized
challenge (blair's first - GCQVMF). Thanks to luv2fly1479c, Uncle
Alaska and blairwater101, these set the tone for my early days
caching. If I'd been presented with a run of log-only micros and
skirt lifters at the onset, well, I'd not be here writing this
right now.
Noteworthy caches this year? I remember cracking a huge smile driving up on Castleman's Multi-Meter in Porterville (GCW8JG) and having a good laugh at redwoodcanoe & Pleaides' Can You Give Me A Boost? (GCPBTC) in Hanford. I loved the elegance of CA Royal Flush's Our Name Is The Game (GCV01H) puzzle cache in Bakersfield, and the straightforward defiance of Cobalt's Pitcairn (GC55B7) physical challenge not far away. I DNF'ed hard on Razor Sharp Catwalk (GCT4ZZ) in San Jose - what a heinous location! Blue Man's Orlando Airport TB Hotel (GCBDC2) in Florida held over 20 TBs and Coins, and always seems to stay stuffed with goods.
… shuffles papers, returns …
Yeah, of 569 finds this year, there were twice as many micros as regulars, and I have to admit that very few stand out as remarkable as I look back. Dreck hides are the death knell for geocaching, something we have got to get under control if Geocaching is going to have a future beyond 20-find tries. In a year, I've seen excited explorers out to cache for the first time, and, after a series of skirt lifters, obvious hides in trashy locations, standard issue micros and bush dives, return home disenchanted. Then I hear And this is the Geocaching that you're so into, Hedge? Embarrassing.
That said, I see that I'm going to be spending more time hiding than seeking this year. If only because I've exhausted caches to find in the Bakersfield area (actually, I pretty much ran the table for Kern County in my first couple of months this year) and it will take less time to plant a new hide than to drive to the finds.
I said a few things about hiding caches in the forums, under the heading "Hiding and Marking your New Cache - for Newbies!" Maybe some of it still makes sense.
• 569 Finds, 47 Hides, 34 FTFs & 125 DNFs in 6 states
• 10 Unknowns, 14 Multi's, 6 Virts, 1 Event, 11 Benchmarks, 1 Letterbox, 1 Earthcache
• 240 Geocoins and 123 TBs Moved or Discovered; 41 Geocoins and 9 TBs Owned
• Overall find Rate: 1.55 per day, 10.86 per week
• Total days with a find: 119. Average finds per caching day: 4.78
• Best day: 3/11/07 - 31 finds in San Jose, CA
• Most consecutive days with a find: 11 from 6/05/06 to 6/15/06
• Longest caching drought: 38 days from 11/30/06 to 1/06/07
• Average total cache difficulty: 1.64 - Average total terrain rating: 1.4
• Approximate cache-to-cache distance: 26,934 miles
• 528 of the caches I'd found are still active (92.8%, but this doesn't count the muggled caches I'd DNF'ed!)
• Average log size: 17.2 words - Biggest log: 166 words - Shortest log: 1 word - Number of one-word logs: 3
• (see all your stats in the same way if you're a Premium member at itsnotaboutthenumbers.com) •
I was lucky to encounter three good caches on my first day out -
a well-stocked ammo box cleverly and elegantly hidden (Higher Class
- GCRCK9), an informative virtual (Human Powered Flight - GCBA31),
and an unpretentious, well-hidden but findable medium-sized
challenge (blair's first - GCQVMF). Thanks to luv2fly1479c, Uncle
Alaska and blairwater101, these set the tone for my early days
caching. If I'd been presented with a run of log-only micros and
skirt lifters at the onset, well, I'd not be here writing this
right now.
Noteworthy caches this year? I remember cracking a huge smile driving up on Castleman's Multi-Meter in Porterville (GCW8JG) and having a good laugh at redwoodcanoe & Pleaides' Can You Give Me A Boost? (GCPBTC) in Hanford. I loved the elegance of CA Royal Flush's Our Name Is The Game (GCV01H) puzzle cache in Bakersfield, and the straightforward defiance of Cobalt's Pitcairn (GC55B7) physical challenge not far away. I DNF'ed hard on Razor Sharp Catwalk (GCT4ZZ) in San Jose - what a heinous location! Blue Man's Orlando Airport TB Hotel (GCBDC2) in Florida held over 20 TBs and Coins, and always seems to stay stuffed with goods.
… shuffles papers, returns …
Yeah, of 569 finds this year, there were twice as many micros as regulars, and I have to admit that very few stand out as remarkable as I look back. Dreck hides are the death knell for geocaching, something we have got to get under control if Geocaching is going to have a future beyond 20-find tries. In a year, I've seen excited explorers out to cache for the first time, and, after a series of skirt lifters, obvious hides in trashy locations, standard issue micros and bush dives, return home disenchanted. Then I hear And this is the Geocaching that you're so into, Hedge? Embarrassing.
That said, I see that I'm going to be spending more time hiding than seeking this year. If only because I've exhausted caches to find in the Bakersfield area (actually, I pretty much ran the table for Kern County in my first couple of months this year) and it will take less time to plant a new hide than to drive to the finds.
I said a few things about hiding caches in the forums, under the heading "Hiding and Marking your New Cache - for Newbies!" Maybe some of it still makes sense.
Happy Second Geoversary!
After two years caching, here's what my stats looked like. Draw your own conclusions.
| Stat Summary |
 |
| Charts and Graphs |
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 |
 |
My 777th find on 2/21/08 was an unknown: GC12N21 - Central Park Carousel in NYC. Guess that number was significant for me, mostly because it wasn't a skirt lifter milesone. |
Snarky Geocache Logs We'd Like to See
Enjoyed finding your cache. After much deliberation,
we decided to take the emerald earrings, and leave a rolex watch.
It's not every day that one finds such a high class hide. Let's
hope it never gets muggled. Thanks for the fun.
This was the 7th cache of the day. Thank you for bringing us to the
dumpster behind the take out chicken place. I had no idea that
grease baking in the sun could smell that bad.
Thanks for bringing us to your very special place!
My, what a lame cache. As soon as I came in site of the Wal-mart
sign I knew what I was going to find and where to look. Parked 200
feet away and left GPSr in the car to add to the challenge.
A 12-billion dollar satellite system overhead, and this is the best
hide you could come up with! TNLN and almost didn't bother signing
the log!!
This cache is still making me angry!
This cache made me fall in love with caching again! Nice view of
the alley!
Thanks for introducing me to a new area. Left a Travel Bug so
others could see how bad this cache is.
This cache was a head-scratcher!
This cache is the reason the phrase TNLNSL was coined. One more for
the record books!!
AWESOME CACHE!! THE ADDITION OF BEER CANS AND BROKEN GLASS AS CAMO WAS TIMELESS!!! POISONOUS SPIDERS AND OLEANDER ONLY ADDED TO THE AMBIANCE!!!! A+++++++++++++++!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
we decided to take the emerald earrings, and leave a rolex watch.
It's not every day that one finds such a high class hide. Let's
hope it never gets muggled. Thanks for the fun.
This was the 7th cache of the day. Thank you for bringing us to the
dumpster behind the take out chicken place. I had no idea that
grease baking in the sun could smell that bad.
Thanks for bringing us to your very special place!
My, what a lame cache. As soon as I came in site of the Wal-mart
sign I knew what I was going to find and where to look. Parked 200
feet away and left GPSr in the car to add to the challenge.
A 12-billion dollar satellite system overhead, and this is the best
hide you could come up with! TNLN and almost didn't bother signing
the log!!
This cache is still making me angry!
This cache made me fall in love with caching again! Nice view of
the alley!
Thanks for introducing me to a new area. Left a Travel Bug so
others could see how bad this cache is.
This cache was a head-scratcher!
This cache is the reason the phrase TNLNSL was coined. One more for
the record books!!
AWESOME CACHE!! THE ADDITION OF BEER CANS AND BROKEN GLASS AS CAMO WAS TIMELESS!!! POISONOUS SPIDERS AND OLEANDER ONLY ADDED TO THE AMBIANCE!!!! A+++++++++++++++!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
How To: Placing Your First Geocache
Hiding and Marking your New Cache - for Newbies!
You want to place your cache, and you want to do it right. Here's some advice I've not seen in other places.
First off, I'd say don't try to place caches till you've found 75 to 100 of 'em. You'll have the hankering to do it sooner, but after seeing what's out there, you'll know better what's a lame hide and what's a good one. Then the ones you make will be better, less likely to get stolen, etc. I remember finding my first skirt lifter and thinking, "Pretty ingenious hide!" ... and then I found another, and another, and another ... good thing I didn't place one under a skirt early on, I'd have kicked myself later.
Ask yourself:
Is this a location that's worth visiting? • If it's not, can't you place this same cache somewhere better?
What's unique about this cache? • If it's just like the one you saw someone else do, why don't you take a minute to plus it up a bit and make it one better?
Is this likely to be seen by some as a danger or threat? • If you're placing an ammo can next to the Police Dept's building, maybe it's time to rethink that placement.
How can I make the description better? • One, you can check your spelling. Two, add images. Just borrow source code from a cache description that uses images and swap out the name of the old image for the image you're using. Three, don't put a list of all the original items in the cache - no one thinks you're generous but you. If you must, put the list in as the first note as you activate the cache. Four, less is more.
What's just enough of a hint to help someone who's looked for 20 minutes without giving it away? • Ah heck, people read the hint before leaving their computers. But there is one hard and fast rule of thumb for hints: No one appreciates decoding a hint that reads, "Too easy for a hint" or something as inane as that. If your cache is going to be in a high-traffic area, put a spoiler hint in so your seekers will know if the cache is muggled and that's why they can't find it.
You don't have to place a cache just because there's no cache here. The world doesn't need another really lame cache, really. Really!
Be certain when you do hide one, that the only people who can find it are geocachers - if you're worried that it might get muggled when you place it, then it is probably going to get muggled... And muggled sooner rather than later. If you walk away thinking that it's hidden well, you'll sleep better at night. Nothing's more demoralizing than reading DNF logs from frustrated cachers who came to find your cache but it wasn't there - face it - because you didn't hide it well enough. Not to mention the time and expense of replacing the cache and contents.
I've also found with my unit that having different batteries makes a big difference. Rechargeables at 1.25 volts lead me 40 feet away from every cache, where 1.5 volt non-rechargeables give me dead-on coords. Guess what? It's right there in the owner's manual: my GPS is rated for 1.5 volt batteries. Finding out what voltage batteries your GPSr is made to use is so simple, but can make a huge difference when finding and marking!
I know I sweated bullets placing my first few because I didn't trust my marked coordinates. I have a cheapy yellow eTrex, which is just fine for finding caches, but I still want to make sure that my posted coords are dead on the mark.
For my first couple of caches, I made sure to come back on multiple days to test the coords. That doesn't hurt one bit! But one thing you should do each visit when placing is to take a few marks, then go away a good football field or so, turn your GPSr off and then back on, then walk back trying to find your cache using the GPS. You'll see in a hurry which mark is the best, and how far off the bad ones are. You can also take a moment to adjust the coords using your compass, then find again, and again, until you're right on the money.
(How to do this? Say you're now standing on your cache again, but the GPS is saying it's 22 feet South. You have "too much South and not enough North." Just raise the N coordinate number, say by a couple of ticks. Alternately, if the GPS is saying it's 22 feet SouthWest, you have "too much South and West." You'd raise the North number a tick or two, and lower the West number a tick or two. Doing this a few times should get you spot on, even under weerd conditions.)
If you're under power lines, or between high walls and having wacky readings, you can do what I call "Bi-angulation." Walk directly North until you have clear sky. Here, your North reading will be totally off (it will be higher than the cache), but your West reading will be the same as the cache location. Make a note of the West coord, then do the same directly West of your cache location - and you have a good North coord for your cache, too.
Finally, don't be in a hurry to place and publish your cache. Be sure before you pull the trigger on it. Feeling like you gotta get it done so you can get the reviewer to publish it today will only cause you to make a mistake, or settle for a worse placement or concept than you should. Take your time! Take your Time!
Place the cache container, and wait for a day or two. Come back and find it under a fresh constellation of satellites to re-check your coords.
If you have a fellow cacher who's willing, have them pre-publish find it and tell you what they experienced. Feel free to move it if they think there's a better hide 10 feet away. Feel free to change the coords if their GPS didn't agree with your mark. Feel free to upgrade the container, add camo, add swag, ruminate on a good hint... Giving it time can improve your cache in so many ways. Don't feel that you have to publish it right NOW.
Look at it this way, if you think the cache is going to stay in place for years for cachers to enjoy and find, what's another day or two for it to sit in place before it's published? It's just additional time for the hide to weather a bit, get good and dusty and blend in, so the FTF has to work for their trophy. Right?
There's lots of other stuff to say, but let's not go overly long. I'll keep it short by saying simply,
PLEASE FOR PETE'S SAKE DON'T PLACE MICROS UNLESS YOU HAVE A GOOD REASON!
Trade up!
Replace 'em better than you found 'em!
Give other hiders positive feedback!
Add some TBs and Geocoins to the pool!
and
Thanks for hiding one! Without you, there's no geocache to find, and no geocaching!
You want to place your cache, and you want to do it right. Here's some advice I've not seen in other places.
First off, I'd say don't try to place caches till you've found 75 to 100 of 'em. You'll have the hankering to do it sooner, but after seeing what's out there, you'll know better what's a lame hide and what's a good one. Then the ones you make will be better, less likely to get stolen, etc. I remember finding my first skirt lifter and thinking, "Pretty ingenious hide!" ... and then I found another, and another, and another ... good thing I didn't place one under a skirt early on, I'd have kicked myself later.
Ask yourself:
Is this a location that's worth visiting? • If it's not, can't you place this same cache somewhere better?
What's unique about this cache? • If it's just like the one you saw someone else do, why don't you take a minute to plus it up a bit and make it one better?
Is this likely to be seen by some as a danger or threat? • If you're placing an ammo can next to the Police Dept's building, maybe it's time to rethink that placement.
How can I make the description better? • One, you can check your spelling. Two, add images. Just borrow source code from a cache description that uses images and swap out the name of the old image for the image you're using. Three, don't put a list of all the original items in the cache - no one thinks you're generous but you. If you must, put the list in as the first note as you activate the cache. Four, less is more.
What's just enough of a hint to help someone who's looked for 20 minutes without giving it away? • Ah heck, people read the hint before leaving their computers. But there is one hard and fast rule of thumb for hints: No one appreciates decoding a hint that reads, "Too easy for a hint" or something as inane as that. If your cache is going to be in a high-traffic area, put a spoiler hint in so your seekers will know if the cache is muggled and that's why they can't find it.
You don't have to place a cache just because there's no cache here. The world doesn't need another really lame cache, really. Really!
Be certain when you do hide one, that the only people who can find it are geocachers - if you're worried that it might get muggled when you place it, then it is probably going to get muggled... And muggled sooner rather than later. If you walk away thinking that it's hidden well, you'll sleep better at night. Nothing's more demoralizing than reading DNF logs from frustrated cachers who came to find your cache but it wasn't there - face it - because you didn't hide it well enough. Not to mention the time and expense of replacing the cache and contents.
I've also found with my unit that having different batteries makes a big difference. Rechargeables at 1.25 volts lead me 40 feet away from every cache, where 1.5 volt non-rechargeables give me dead-on coords. Guess what? It's right there in the owner's manual: my GPS is rated for 1.5 volt batteries. Finding out what voltage batteries your GPSr is made to use is so simple, but can make a huge difference when finding and marking!
I know I sweated bullets placing my first few because I didn't trust my marked coordinates. I have a cheapy yellow eTrex, which is just fine for finding caches, but I still want to make sure that my posted coords are dead on the mark.
For my first couple of caches, I made sure to come back on multiple days to test the coords. That doesn't hurt one bit! But one thing you should do each visit when placing is to take a few marks, then go away a good football field or so, turn your GPSr off and then back on, then walk back trying to find your cache using the GPS. You'll see in a hurry which mark is the best, and how far off the bad ones are. You can also take a moment to adjust the coords using your compass, then find again, and again, until you're right on the money.
(How to do this? Say you're now standing on your cache again, but the GPS is saying it's 22 feet South. You have "too much South and not enough North." Just raise the N coordinate number, say by a couple of ticks. Alternately, if the GPS is saying it's 22 feet SouthWest, you have "too much South and West." You'd raise the North number a tick or two, and lower the West number a tick or two. Doing this a few times should get you spot on, even under weerd conditions.)
If you're under power lines, or between high walls and having wacky readings, you can do what I call "Bi-angulation." Walk directly North until you have clear sky. Here, your North reading will be totally off (it will be higher than the cache), but your West reading will be the same as the cache location. Make a note of the West coord, then do the same directly West of your cache location - and you have a good North coord for your cache, too.
Finally, don't be in a hurry to place and publish your cache. Be sure before you pull the trigger on it. Feeling like you gotta get it done so you can get the reviewer to publish it today will only cause you to make a mistake, or settle for a worse placement or concept than you should. Take your time! Take your Time!
Place the cache container, and wait for a day or two. Come back and find it under a fresh constellation of satellites to re-check your coords.
If you have a fellow cacher who's willing, have them pre-publish find it and tell you what they experienced. Feel free to move it if they think there's a better hide 10 feet away. Feel free to change the coords if their GPS didn't agree with your mark. Feel free to upgrade the container, add camo, add swag, ruminate on a good hint... Giving it time can improve your cache in so many ways. Don't feel that you have to publish it right NOW.
Look at it this way, if you think the cache is going to stay in place for years for cachers to enjoy and find, what's another day or two for it to sit in place before it's published? It's just additional time for the hide to weather a bit, get good and dusty and blend in, so the FTF has to work for their trophy. Right?
There's lots of other stuff to say, but let's not go overly long. I'll keep it short by saying simply,
PLEASE FOR PETE'S SAKE DON'T PLACE MICROS UNLESS YOU HAVE A GOOD REASON!
Trade up!
Replace 'em better than you found 'em!
Give other hiders positive feedback!
Add some TBs and Geocoins to the pool!
and
Thanks for hiding one! Without you, there's no geocache to find, and no geocaching!
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