Not New Topic- Want info: Geocaching

“Hey everyone -
I saw on the threads that this has been brought up before - but i had more specific questions.

I am pumped about this GeoCaching thing, but one thing worries me. Are there Caches out there I have to hike to. Alot of them seem to be get out of a parcking lot and walk .25 miles to big damn tree.

Do you know if there are many caches on the trails - AT, or other hiking trails?

I was also thinking of picking up a Garmin ETrex GPS at Galyans for $109.00.

Any input on a GPS for a novice - I would also be using this when hiking for saftey reasons.

I have also heard of complaints about GPS's not working well in the forest because of all the trees - any input?

Thanks in Advance,
Saltlick”

“Geocaching...It's the spawn of the Devil!”

“ever find that bugs had raided your geocache?”

“Go here:

http://www.fs.fed.us/database/gps/

Before buying any unit check out the tests of various models. These are unbiased tests under realistic field conditions and using standard testing criteria. The manufacturers' in-house tests are unreliable.

There are also links to other GPS pages.
======================

None of the recreational grade units are as accurate as the dislay screen indicates. I personally have seen a 1,000 foot error in a Garmin III whike the screen was indicating 30 feet.

Canopy does degrade the signal and increase positional error. The amount of error varies considerably with a number of factors.”

“Not all caches are a few yards away from the car, check out the ones in your zip code for level 2's and up in terms of terrain, and read the description. Funny, I put one on Loomis Peak, just outside of the park (Paradox, 96001 zip code, the rangers loved it) because it offers a great hike, none of the folks that have found it have gone any further then the cache, even though the summit offers some of the best views in the area. One man's day hike is another's death march!

The geocache site will help you find caches in your area.
Geocaching

Here is a great site for information on all aspects of the sport...I think you will find posts on geocaching in your area here....check the posts in Geocaching Groups By Region/State.

Groundspeak

I have heard that GPS's that have "averaging" built in are much easier to use, mine does and I have never had a comment about my coordinates being off, usually they say they are spot on.






Of course you still need to learn the secret handshake, and partake in some of the human sacrifice rituals...................”

“Birch caught the bug at Zeleski. He's been figuring on how he can get hisself a GPS ever since we returned! That site will come in handy Gordon, thanks.”

“The ones I am seeing so far.. look WAY out.. not just a half mile walk.. some really EVIL folks out there.. :)

Ya.. descriptions like.. "you might not NEED a boat for this one.. but if you don't have a boat, you better be able to rock climb."”

“Something to think about.....

A GPS is no substitute for good map and compass skills...relying on a GPS to get you home on a hike or a x-c backpacking trip is an invitation to disaster. Geocaching can be a good way to learn some of these skills, walking around in circles waiting for your coordinates to line up will make this very clear!


On the subject of "the evil ones".....
The Rangers and I are plotting to put a couple caches just outside Lassen Park this winter, at least one will require an overnite stay..............”

“Exactly.. I am considering putting one out when I go to Roan Mt in a week and a half.. thinking surely I can find a rock precipice somewhere to hide my cache.

:)”

“I have two locations I am considering for next Spring.

One is in a cave. The coordinates will be the cave opening which is very well hidden and requires crawling to enter.

The other is on a bench behind a small waterfall.

Of course, I must consider the safety of the searchers, so I have not yet decided to use these locations.”

“I'm wondering...has anyone out there done any geocaching without a GPS? Seems like if you read your map carefully enough, you should be able to get almost as close as a GPS...but I'm wondering if anyone has tried it.”

“mtnstv,

Hat Creek?
Mill Creek?
Deer Creek?
Caribou?
1000 Lakes?”

“Dunk....


40deg 30.7806n / 121deg 34.6907w

40deg 34.2576n / 121deg 35.6105w

to start..”

“Boo Hiss

I protest the use of WGS84 datum and the hddd mm.mmm coordinant format.

NAD 27 datum in UTM/UPS format is much better.”

“I feel your pain.....

With SAR they insist on using lat and long, although they do use NAD 27.

Most of the Geocaching sites are presented in WGS84 datum and the D mm.mmm coordinate format. Luckily all you need to do is push a button to change from one to another”

“We suffer together. The GPS is less intuitive than a VCR. The significance of Map Datum and format were hidden in the back of my Garmin 12 manual. Hopefully some of the newer units are more user friendly. I guess until Clinton turned off SA it really didn't matter.”

“All the old maps and many of the present maps are in NAD27, hence its popularity. Almost all the spatial data on the internet is NAD27. Unfortunately, the state of California uses a custom projection (Teale, a derivative of Albers) instead of one of the existing standards. Projection conversion is a real pain and introduces errors.

I prefer to use UTM coordinates because the math is much easier when calculating angles, distance, etc.”

“Amen Gordon.

If I am at 15S 0489668, 3864639 and I need to be at 15S 0489768, 3864639. I walk 100 meters due East.

Easy Peasy”

“Take a simple calculator with trig functions (now available in credit card size) with you and calculate bearings with a few keystrokes. Far more accurate and less chance of error than drawing a line and using the compass. Of course, the real outdoorsman will calculate bearings from the coordinates with paper and pencil, not a calculator -- longhand trig!

Also with USGS quads using meter elevations calculating slope is so easy you can do it in your head.”