To archive, or not to archive: That is the question.

As geocache hiders, we are often faced with this question.  I have had to face it several times.  Sometimes it is difficult to find the time to replace the geocache and equally difficult to archive it.  It is a decision that all geocache placers will have to face.

When faced with this dilemma we must put pride aside and do what’s best for the geocaching community.  It may be that if you can’t make time to check on and replace the geocache, you may need to archive it and open up the area for an active geocache.  In many cases, the site will remain available giving you ample time to replace the geocache and ask the local geocache reviewer to unarchive it.

In the case of “event” geocaches, we must remember to archive it shortly after the event ends.  The guidelines published on Geocaching.com is one month.  Many people will download pocket queries to see what events are available in their area.  It is an inconvenience to rummage through events that have long since ended.

How should you react when someone requests your geocache to be archived?  Instead of looking upon it as a strike at your geocaching integrity, you should look at it as an opportunity to make things better.  Look upon it as constructive criticism and see if the problem can be corrected.  It may be that archiving the geocache is the best alternative.  But remember.  An archive post is a legitimate post.  If it weren’t, it would be available to each and every geocacher.

CarolinaCacher issues a geocaching challenge!

I am issuing a challenge to my fellow geocachers.  Micros are nice for padding numbers.  Tupperware and Lock and Locks are quaint.  But, nothing satisfies a geocacher like the sound of a steel ammo can being opened in the woods after a geocache hunt.

The challenge is that you hide a steel ammo can of 30-caliber or larger in the woods by the end of this year.  It doesn’t have to be a death-march, but, it must be in the woods.  Hiding an ammo can in the “urban jungle” is not a good thing!  Please demilitarize the ammo can by obscuring the military markings. 

When you post your geocache listing, please link to this posting so we can spread the fun.  Now go hide that can!

The evolution of Geocaching.com’s logo.

I was doing a little searching on the Wayback Machine and found some old Geocaching.com listings.  While searching for some historical geocaching events, I noticed an evolution of logos used on that site.  Here are a few of those logos:

February 3, 2001

April 13, 2001

August 5, 2001

June 2, 2002

Geocaching event to celebrate 10th anniversary of North Carolina’s first geocache has been approved.

On September 30, 2000 North Carolina’s first geocache, “Octopus Garden” was placed.  It is now ten years later.  An event has been planned to celebrate that important milestone.

“10th Anniversary of NC's Oldest Geocache” has been published on Groundspeak’s geocaching website, Geocaching.com.  The event will be held at the parking area and trail head to the “Octopus Garden” geocache.  The event will start at 2:00 PM.  Visit the Event Page for any updates to this event geocache.

Geocache find #400 – North Carolina’s oldest Geocache, GC70 Octopus Garden.

I wanted to search for North Carolina’s oldest geocache, GC70 Octopus Garden, but, I wanted it to be a milestone find.  I was approaching my 400th geocache find and decided it was time to find this 10-year old geocache. 

Milestones are points in your geocaching history worth noting.  Your first, 100th, 1000th, etc.  Sometimes the milestone just happens.  Other times you plan for a special geocache or geocaching event to coincide with the milestone.  I was wanting to find North Carolina’s oldest geocache for a long time.  Since my 400th geocache find was approaching, I decided to make it this one.  I wanted to wait for the 10th anniversary of GC70 Octopus Garden, but, I was only two geocache finds away and the anniversary was two months away.  Now’s the time to do it!

I was in Charlotte, North Carolina today scouting a location for an upcoming event (as yet to be announced).  What better time to mark number 400?  I first had to find number 399.  I chose a micro nearby for this purpose.  Sorry GC1A3T9 Altoids Sours – Tangerine.  After preparing for number 400, I found the parking area where the hunt for the Octopus Garden begins.  This was a puzzle geocache.  That means you must solve a puzzle to get the actual location of the geocache.  Luckily, the puzzle was pretty simple.   That’s good because I’m not too good at puzzles!  I solved the puzzle long ago so I already had the final coordinates.

By reading the previous logs of GC70 Octopus Garden, it was clear that the hardest part of finding the geocache was to find the right way to the geocache.  A direct course is not always the best way to get to the geocache locations.  I studied topographical and satellite maps of the area.  It was clear that a direct approach would require crossing one of two creeks.  It looks like a deviation from the prepared trail was in order.

As I left the trail it became abundantly clear that searching for the “Octopus Garden” shouldn’t be done just after a rain storm.  Well, I was already here, so, quit whining and start the swampy adventure.  After trekking through some very soft soil and knee high weeds and grass, I became completely soaked from the knees down.  I tried following a little use path.  It was taking me a little off course.  I found another “path” to follow.  It was a little better, but, still didn’t take me directly to the coordinates I had.  Time for bushwhacking!

After a couple hundred feet, I found what was surely the path intended to be used.  I was right…This time, anyway!  It wasn’t too long before I found the geocache.  It was right where I thought it would be.  Except for a few minor deviations, my planned path was correct.  There was no creek crossing involved.  It wouldn’t have mattered  because I was soaked anyway!

Me With The “Octopus Garden” Geocache

I stopped and reflected on my accomplishment.  I have just found North Carolina’s oldest geocache.  It was placed on September 30, 2000.  This was near the beginning of geocaching as we know it.  I thought it would be nice to have an event to celebrate this historical geocache.  I have just submitted an event cache.  I will keep you posted when it is approved.

Southside Park geocache replaced!

I finally replaced the missing geocache at Southside Park in Newton, North Carolina.  The “Southside Park – Newton, NC” geocache is a micro geocache in the middle of the park.  Be careful for muggles.  The container and hiding spot is exactly as it was before.

Southside Park is a great little city park.  There are two walking trails.  Bring your dog with you.  There are several picnic sites with grills and picnic tables.  The kids will love the playground facilities.

 Southside Park – Newton, North Carolina

Geocache ethics - Doing geocache maintenance on someone else’s geocache!

Let me preface this by saying this blog posting is as much directed towards myself as anyone else.  I am not preaching, but, rather giving a little perspective on my limited experience with geocaching.  I am sure you have read a log that goes something like this:

Found the geocache.  Couldn’t sign log.  It was so wet it was falling apart.  The rubber o-ring is gone.  Maybe the geocache owner should check on it.

Yes, the one who placed the geocache is responsible for maintaining it.  But, it really is nice when someone helps out!  So what should you and I do when we come across a geocache that is need of a little tinder, loving care?

First, if you are not prepared, you can do very little to help other than report it.  I took a year off of geocaching.  I used to carry a bag of goodies when geocaching.  Of course, the bag contained things like swag, water, wet-wipes, etc.  I also carried several other items that would help in maintaining my own geocaches and any found that needs some help.  Here is a simple list that will help you be the one praised for keeping the sport fun for all.

• Zip-lock bags of all sizes.
• Several paper towels in a zip-lock bag.
• Small bottle of alcohol.
• Paper and small notebooks.
• Assortment of rubber o-rings.
• Three complete geocaches (regular, small, and micro).
• Camouflage duct tape.
• Children’s scissors.
• Swag

This sounds like a lot of stuff to carry, but, you should be able to carry it in a small bag.  It’s probably obvious why you should carry these items.  I will go over a few just for clarification.

Zip-lock bags are used in most geocaches.  They keep the log and swag dry.  The problem is that with time, these bags will wear out.  Maybe the pen or pencil poked a hole in it and the log is getting damp.  You can find the bigger zip-lock bags at your local grocery store.  The smaller ones are a little harder to come by.  I have found all sizes available on eBay.  The prices are usually very good.  I’m sure there are other sources.

Paper towels can be used to clean yourself after searching for the geocache or to dry out a wet geocache container.  I like carrying the blue ones you find in the automotive section.  They are tough as nails!

The alcohol can be used, like the paper towels, to clean yourself of clean out a messy geocache container.  The alcohol based hand sanitizer is great for cleaning your hands, but, can make a messy container even messier.  Alcohol can take the itch away from insect bites, also!

Take a couple sheet of paper and a notepad size notebook.  The notebook can replace a full, missing, or damaged log in regular size containers.  The sheets of paper can be cut to size with the children’s scissors to fit most small and micro size geocaches.  Why children’s scissors?  They will get the job done without poking a hold in your bag.  They’re also very light weight.

The rubber o-rings that come on some of the metal pill containers (bison tube) used as micro geocaches are usually not UV (ultra-violet) proof.  With time when exposed to the UV light in sunlight and weather, they will become brittle and crack.  When that happens, you get a damp log inside.  Take one of these containers to your local hardware store and get some replacement o-rings.  Make sure they are UV rated.  I usually get them a little “thicker”.  They seem to work better for geocache use.

It may seem that carrying around three complete geocaches will be a little bulky, but, if you plan it properly, it will take very little space.  Get two lock and lock type containers.  One medium size and one small.  Also carry a micro container like a 35mm film container or bison tube.  You only need a few swag items.  Make sure you have a couple pens and logs.  You can “nest” the geocache containers together to save space.  If you run upon a missing geocache, you can replace the container and notify the geocache owner that you placed a temporary container.

Why camouflage duct tape?  Well, with duct tape and WD-40 you can fix anything!  You can also use the camouflage feature to repair a camo job if needed.

Bringing a geocache back to good health gives you a rewarding feeling.  The geocache owner will be grateful and you will be making the sport better for everyone.  Now I must get my geobag ready so I won’t be such a hypocrite!

First-to-find. What is the big deal?

Ok, what’s the big deal about being FTF on a geocache?  I freely admit it.  I am an FTF hound.  Just this week, I stormed out at 1:30 AM in a severe thunderstorm just to attempt to be the FTF on a geocache.

A FTF or (first-to-find) is a term used for the geocacher who is the first to find a newly place geocache.  Some could care less about being the FTF and other obsess about it.  I think I fall in the latter category.  I currently have 61 FTF’s out of the 395 geocaches I have found.  That is a 15.4% FTF rate.  Yes, I am counting!  This confirms my obsession.  I even went as far to establish a 10% FTF club and am a proud member of the 15% FTF club.

The appeal of being FTF depends on the finder, but, I think most would agree that being the only one, other than the original geocache owner, that has seen the geocache in its original condition and hiding spot is something special.  Every time it is found after that, it will change a little.  Also, being the “first” at most things has its certain prestige.

So, how can you become a FTF hound?  You must be a premium member of Groundspeak.  Why?  One of the premium member perks is to be notified of any newly reviewed geocaches.  In my area this is a must.  There are too many FTF hounds around here.  In many cases, if you don’t find it within 2 or 3 hours after it is listed, you will not find the clean geocache log.  Also, if you have one of the new “smart” cell phones, you will have a leg-up on most others.  I have lost several FTF’s to those with an iPhone or other similar phone.  Another thing you need is the willingness to pay the price.  What do I mean?  If you are going after the FTF status, you will probably be driving a lot.  Gas ain’t cheap!

I freely admit that I am addicted.  This is more than just an obsession with me.  It is a bona fide addiction.  I fully expect to one day making the following public statement.  “Hi.  My name is Randy.  I am a FTF addict.  I have been sober for 12 days.”  (Cell phone sounds) “BEEP, BEEP, BEEP…There is a new geocache in your area.”  “Oh, crap!  I will be back in a little bit.”

Geocache Ethics – Signing the log.

When you find a geocache, you should sign the log.  If you found a regular geocache, there is probably a pretty good size log book.  I have seen everything from a wire-bound notepad to a full size composition book.

Micros are another thing altogether.  All micro size geocache have very small logs.  Some are so small you can only put your name or initials!  Those who place micro geocaches usually have to do maintenance often to replace the logs.

When I was geocaching I came across a micro with a limited space log.  Here is what I found.

Two geocachers used prepared labels for logging purposes.  On regular size geocaches, this would be fine, but, on a micro geocache, it causes excessive maintenance from the geocache owner.  The two logs are taking eight lines.  Is it really that difficult to just write your name?

When you are geocaching, please remember that the geocache owner has to maintain the geocache.  If you cause needless maintenance requirements, the owner may just think it isn’t worth it and archive the geocache.

Urban Geocaching? Use your auto GPS.

If you ever go geocaching in an urban environment that you are unfamiliar with, you will quickly find that even with your handheld GPSr, you can find yourself a little lost in the city.  I found this out one day geocaching in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

Luckily, I had a solution right under my nose…Uh…I mean in front of my eyes.  I had an automobile GPS receiver.  I am sure you have seen them.  Some popular units are TomTom, Garmin, and Magellan.  I have one called the Mio C230.  It is a basic unit, but, does help me get around unfamiliar areas.

Handheld GPS receivers are, by design, to function at its best while being carried while walking.  Automobile GPSr’s, on the other hand, don’t work very well in the woods, but, are great for getting you around town.  Most automotive GPSr’s will allow you to input coordinates.  You will have to adjust the way you input your geocache coordinates. 

We are all used to seeing a GPS coordinate in this format:

N 35° 37.017 W 081° 16.962

This is the standard format used on Geocaching.com and other geocaching listing services.  This format works great in your handheld GPSr, but, most automotive GPSr’s require the digital format like this:

35.61695 -81.2827

Both coordinates are exactly the same, but, in different formats.  Since your geocache coordinates will be loaded into your GPSr, you can simply tell your handheld GPSr to display the digital format.  I have had several handheld GPSr’s and all have allowed me to do this.  Here is how it looks on the Garmin GPSmap 60CSx:

The format highlighted in yellow is the decimal format.  Now when you view all of your waypoints on your handheld GPSr, it will show them in the format compatible with your automotive GPSr.  Don’t worry.  You can always change the format back.

Now all you have to do is look at the coordinates of the geocache you are trying to find and enter the decimal format into your automotive GPSr.  You can use your automotive GPSr to take you to the area of your geocache hunt!  It is easier and quicker than using your handheld unit.  This saves time and gasoline…And time and gas are money.

Garmin technical support. As good as the hype?

I have heard many say that the Garmin technical support is the best in the GPS industry.  You really don’t know whether this is hype or truth until you can see for yourself.  I had an opportunity to test this belief.

I use GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife) along with my Garmin GPSmap 60CSx for geocaching.  In addition to loading waypoints, I use the GarminCsvPoiExport-v2 macro to load POI’s (points of interest).  Why POI’s?  Because you are limited to the number of waypoints that can be loaded.  POI’s are virtually unlimited to the number you can load to your GPSr (GPS receiver).   It is only limited by the memory space on your memory card.  Other features of the POI’s way of loading geocaches to your GPSr is you can have custom icons matching the ones on Geocaching.com and you can have information from the geocache page like the hint and description as well as notes you make…All available from your GPSr.

I have been doing this without a hiccup for years.  A few days ago  this changed!  While using Garmin’s POI loader, I received an error message.  The message said, “invalid string position”.  No matter what I did, I could not get rid of the message.  I tried only loading one POI thinking it may be some errant characters in a recent waypoint added.  The same error message was displayed.  I tried restoring my computer to a date that I knew the POI loader worked.  Still, the same problem appeared.

After doing as much as I could do, I called Garmin’s technical  support.  The wait time to talk to a real person was pretty short!  Usually, you have to wait a half hour or better for some technical support calls.  I spoke to a person and explained the problem.  I emailed them the entire error message to see if this would tell them anything.  After about seven minutes, I was basically told to reinstall the POI loader software and if that didn’t work quit using the POI feature of my Garmin GPSr. 

This is just unacceptable.  They were just admitting they either didn’t have the time to help me with the problem or they were unable to help me with the problem.  This didn’t match the hype.  Reality had just set in pertaining to my experience with the legendary Garmin technical support staff.

Unwilling to just give up, I searched the internet to see if anyone else had a similar problem.  Mr. Google is a fantastic tool.  After a few minutes of searching, I had a theory of what the problem was.  And this would explain why Garmin either wouldn’t or couldn’t help me.

I found another person having the same problem using another Garmin device.  When he was loading POI’s he got the exact same error I did.  The current version of Garmin POI loader is 2.5.4.  That is the version I have been using.  Apparently, there is a string of characters that this not recognized by the loader.  I also read an upgrade document for Garmin’s MapSource program version 4.13. One fix says, “Fixed an issue where MapSource would crash if the registry value that stored the user preference for distance units, which was set by MapSource 4.09 and older, contained an invalid value. Now, if an invalid string is encountered for this preference, MapSource will replace it with the default value.”  I think that the latest version of Garmin’s POI loader does not handle this error well.  It should basically ignore it or replace it with the “default value” and go along it’s merry way!  The fix the other person had was to install an older version of the POI loader.

I called Garmin’s technical support again and spoke to a different person.  He was a little more helpful and didn’t seem anxious to just finish the call.  I explained the “fix” I had discovered and asked him if he could send me a link to an older version of the POI loader.  I was surprised that he did.  Most companies don’t want to give you older software!  He sent me a link where I could download version 2.4.2.  I installed that version and it worked great!  Now I can load thousands of geocaching POI’s without a hiccup.

My conclusion based on my experience with Garmin’s technical support staff is it depends on who you get.  The first person I spoke with and the person helping him seemed to just want me gone.  Maybe it was because I had a problem they couldn’t solve or maybe they was busy on something else.  Either way, they should have spent more time with someone who has spent several hundred dollars with them.  The second person seemed clueless on how to solve my problem, too, but, at least he did help me with the fix I discovered.  I sent the technical service staff an email documenting the problem I had and the solution I discovered.  Maybe they can include it in their fix database.

I hope someone from Garmin reads this and will let their technical support staff they need to work with those who call.  Most geocachers are pretty electronics savvy.  Don’t assume they are just dumb users of their devices.  Listen to them.  Try fixes outside your database “box”.  Use internet search engines to see if anyone has had and solved this problem on their own!  It’s ok to admit that you don’t know how to fix it right now, but, at least assure the caller that you will work on the problem.  Telling us to just quit using the feature is totally unacceptable. 

Happy Independence Day

Our nation was born 234 years ago today.  We should reflect on how important that day was.  No only was we changed as a people, but, the forming of our nation changed the world.  We decided that no person is more important than another.  We wanted a government where it was lead by one of the people and not a monarch. 

We decided that tyranny was now longer acceptable.  We decided that we will have a say in our destiny and not to be dictated by any one person.  Liberty was an unknown practice of much of the world at that time.  It is hard to overstate how much of a change it was!

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The freedoms we enjoy today are the fruits of our fore fathers who voted to remove the yoke of a tyrannical King and put our future in the hands of the people.  It was a decision that made the traitors of England and, if caught, they would hang!

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Independence day is the day we declared independence from Great Britain with the “Declaration of Independence”.  This ultimately lead to The United States Constitution that was adopted on September 17, 1787.  It is the oldest written constitution still in use by any nation of the world.  The ideas expressed on that piece of paper didn’t give us any rights.  It only confirmed rights that we already had, but, were suppressed.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. 

As you enjoy the Fourth of July, remember the true meaning of the celebration.  It is a celebration of freedom.

Unfound geocaches in Geitner Park!

There are two geocaches listed on GPSgames.org that are unfound!  Both are hidden in Geitner Park in Hickory, North Carolina.

The first is “JUST OFF THE BEATEN PATH”.  This little Lock & Lock is just off the asphalt walking path.  It is easy to get to.  You may need to use a little stealth if you are there during the peak walking time.

Be prepared to copy the confirmation code!  You will need it to log your find.

The next unfound geocache is “Geitner Park Stash”.  This is a camouflaged Nalgene bottle.This one is a on the trails leading into the wooded area behind the picnic shelter. 

It will be a little harder to find.  Remember to download the additional waypoints linked on the geocache listing page as the trails take several turns.

Geitner Park has several geocaches hidden there from three different listing services.  There are paved walking trails and hiking trails through the woods.  Picnic tables, grills, and a shelter are available.  Fishing and a boat launch add to the appeal of this fine park.

If you are new to GPSgame.org, you will find that it is not your typical geocaching website.  It is far less restrictive than Geocaching.com.  It is more for the pioneer spirit.  One who is not impressed by the huge numbers of the “frog” service.

Use this opportunity to expand your geocaching experience.

Riverbend Park in Conover, NC

The Catawba County government has decided that to save money, our use of the parks will be sacrificed.  Several parks and library hours have been cut.  This affects the Riverbend Park…Home of several geocaches.

OPERATING HOURS TO CHANGE AT CATAWBA COUNTY LIBRARIES, PARKS AS OF JULY 1, 2010 
Due to budget cuts as revenues have declined, especially from sales tax and fee collection, operating hours at Catawba County Libraries and Parks will be changing as of July 1, 2010.
Baker's Mountain, St. Stephens and Riverbend Parks will be open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, and closed Tuesdays through Thursdays beginning on July 1.
The parks will continue operating during the same seasonal hours as are now in place, opening at 8 a.m. and closing at dusk (varying from a 6 p.m. close from November through February to an 8 p.m. close from April through September).

It’s a shame that in the middle of summer when school age children are out of school don’t have these parks to visit during weekdays. 

I did a little geocaching today in Riverbend Park.  I was there early in the morning, but, it was still hot and muggy.  The humidity was high enough to fog my camera lens.  During my geocaching, I took a few pictures.

 (One of the trails in Riverbend Park)

(I came across a patch of very small orange mushrooms)

(These mushrooms were about the size of a dime)

 (Don’t eat them!  They are surely poisonous)

My Canon PowerShot S1 IS finally gave out after many years of service.  I decided to go with a cheaper “point-n-shoot” type camera.  The Canon PowerShot A490 is a fantastic camera for the price.  Here are a few more pictures.

 (It could be easy to get turned around on the myriad of trails)

(An example of the wildlife in Riverbend Park)

I had a good morning geocaching.  I only found one, but, as you can see by the pictures, there is more to Riverbend Park than geocaching.