GeoCachingEdmonton.com

[brat]

Testy and I were discussing that waay back in the day, July of '04 to be exact, just how could we get into GeoCaching and how could we learn as much about it as possible. So, to maybe pass on some of what we've learned over the last little while, I thought we could maybe build a resource thread here in the forums.

Obviously, there's the GeoCaching.com website and the resources available through it, but it wasn't enough, and it's pretty tough to take your computer to bed with you and read (when all you have is a desktop model).


This book was really our first comprehensive Bible for GeoCaching, helping us understand some of the finer points, as well as helping us understand how to place our first caches.

OK...who's next?

Brat
_________________

[3jaze]

Just a few random thoughts gleaned from my experiences. And, yes I learned most of these the hard way.

CONTAINERS AND CONTENTS

Ammo cans are the supreme container.
Lock and Locks are pretty good. Not the knock-off type found at dollar stores.
The Rubbermaid fridge containers with the dark blue edging work well.
Nalgene containers work well.
Glad Freezer Bags (they are light blue) are the toughest and less prone to tearing.

Peanutbutter jars will take in moisture if laid on the ground.
Film canisters take in moisture.
Most medicine vials take in moisture.
Those light Ziplock containers crack and tear very easily.
Tin containers become rust containers after one season.

If you use containers that at one time had food in them, make sure you wash and sterilize them thoroughly. It’s amazing what attracts them little forest critters and what they can do a cache.

Place logbook, pencils, cachenote, etc into a freezer bag to protect them from moisture. If there is room, place your trade items into another freezer bag as well.

Don’t use logbooks that are so large that they just barely fit into the baggies. This usually leads to tearing the baggie, especially in sub-zero temperatures.

Coil bound logbooks work the best. The post-it type with gummed edges tend to fall apart over time.

Pencils (not mechanical) work the best for our climate.
Don’t use full-size pencils. They puncture the freezer bag and allow moisture in. Cut your full length pencils in half and include both ends. Include a pencil sharpener. Pens freeze in the winter. When moisture gets into the container, the ink runs and bleeds.

Don’t stuff your cache so full that the lid barely closes.

CACHE LOCATIONS

Hiding a cache in sparce deciduous bushes works fine in the summer, but after the leaves are gone, quite often the cache is very exposed.

Caches hidden during the winter often become exposed after the snows melt.

Avoid placing the cache in the bottom of a gully, where there is run-off in the spring. The same holds true with a cache placed near lakeshores where water levels can vary.
_________________
I cache, therefore I AM...

[Bush Creatures]

3jaze covered most of it.

Just a few more thoughts.:

Wrapping a cache in a Safeway bag will not save it from the elements. Just seems to hold moisture in even when the rest of the forest is drying out.

In the winter with snow on the ground, wait until a new snowfall before submitting your cache or you give the FTFF's (First To Find Fiends) a roadmap.

Here's a bit of a local issue too. New cachers, maybe wait a while before setting caches so you get the hang of it. Locally, I know no cachers who wouldn't be willing to team up with a new cacher for a cache outting. On the other side of the coin, old cachers, lighten up on the new ones that haven't. Only stats we really care about when checking out an unfamiliar cacher are finds vs. hides. Are you contributing?

Of course, my usual mark your car as a waypoint before you head into a bush cache, make sure someone knows where you are if you are caching alone, pack a compass as they don't run out of batteries, stay safe and if you don't like the hunt for a particular cache then back off and do a different one.

Also, don't forget the events where you meet other bozos who chase Tupperware in the bush. Heck, you don't even have to go into the bush for some events. Another beer and a chicken wing anyone? Sorry. Couldn't resist.

[testy]

[Viajero Perdido]

And uh, tuck those Ziploc corners back before sealing the container! If little corners of plastic, twigs, etc. are sticking out of the container, it sure isn't waterproof!

Voice of experience...

[Viajero Perdido]

[geonana]

just have to add my two bits worth...to those looking for those caches...PLEASE HIDE THEM AS YOU FIND THEM...OR BETTER! I think the main reason for muggled caches is that they were left exposed. I can't tell you how often I have checked on my caches, and they look nothing like the way they were set up, or come across a totally exposed cache. There...I feel better...it's my pet peeve.
The other thing I habitually do is cache maintenance for those I visit(yeah, Squirmy, I can hear you laughing...she can attest to this)...it only takes a few extra minutes...and if you've got time to cache, surely you've time to help out a fellow cacher.
and to quote one of my favorite Forest Gump lines...and that's all I have to say about THAT.
_________________
another day to play in God's giant sandbox

[Kaslo]

Big Peeve:

DO NOT POST THE TB TAG NUMBER IN YOUR LOG!!!

ie:"Dropped of TB456123". This opens up the poor bug to malicious abusers. There is a reason GC.com doesn't list the tracking number on the bug's cache page...

Also, trade fair. "Took 512 MB USB memory stick, left rotten golf ball" doesn't cut it, bozo. If anything, pay it forward and leave the cache better than when you found it. (I occasionally do this if I find a depleted cache)

<Kaslo steps down from his soapbox...>
_________________

[testy]

[Bush Creatures]

Good bunch of geo-chat.

Not sure if I agree on hide better than you found it unless the cache has been dumped in a garbage can or a coyote dragged it into the trail. Had both those experiences. On the other hand, drove a long way to a cache where the brand new FTF decided the cache was way too exposed after they found it in 20 minutes so they dug a hole and buried it and then were quite proud when nobody else found it.

Common sense seems to work both for geo-caching and life!

[bonkers]

I agree about doing some maintenance if you can. I carry a few plastic bags, golf pencils and duct tape so that if I come across a cache needing some help I can do it right then (if I remember to do it and not caught up in logging stuff in my unit).

From my perspective as a relative newcomer, if it doesn't make it too easy I appreciate an idea of what I am looking for (some people's idea of small or regular is a lot different than others).

Go to meetings/events, listen to the people who have been doing this a while and ask questions if you get the chance. As a group cachers seem to be more than happy to offer opinions (sometime quite loudly and with a great deal of feeling) and to offer help.

[Mr. Speedy]

Pack a few safeway plastic bags. They don't take much room and are really helpful to pick up all those cans and bottles that people are too lazy to carry out of the woods with them! Do you CITO effort.

When putting a cache together, don't put golf ball as swag! Similarly don't trade for golf balls. A golfer will never use a used golf ball. Golf balls are considered as geo-trash and will last in a cache longer than it takes for plastic to decompose! I usually remove golf balls from caches I find and replace with better swag. I have a bucket full of golf balls I retreived from caches.

Pack extra swag in your bag and replenish any old cache in need. I once found a cache that was wet inside. I dried it up, remove the wet content and put new swag in it. I then mentioned in my log that I fixed the cache.

Bring some towels with you to dry up wet caches, especially in the spring as it seems to happen more often in that season.

Be considerate with you trade. People put time, effort and money in building those caches.
_________________

[geonana]

Hey Speedy, there's a bunch of golf balls near "All the Fun Stuff" to add to your collection maybe you could start a new cache with them
_________________
another day to play in God's giant sandbox

[Mr. Speedy]

[geonana]

[quote="Bush Creatures"]

Not sure if I agree on hide better than you found it unless the cache-quote
OK, I'll rephrase that: please COVER up as you find it, or better if it's exposed.
_________________
another day to play in God's giant sandbox