tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211844902024-03-07T12:16:45.472-06:00IowaAdmin's Geocaching BlogA blog by one of the volunteer reviewers for Geocaching.com. It's about geocaching and the review process -- what it takes to get your new caches listed on the world's most popular geocaching web site. ©Copyright 2012 by K.Braband. All rights reservedIowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.comBlogger225125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-67964574414494156652013-10-01T08:38:00.001-05:002013-10-01T08:38:15.066-05:0026,217<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Someone asked me how many geocaches I published during my time as a reviewer for Geocaching.com. I don't have a definitive answer because when I started, I used the I.D. "WGA2" for less than one year before switching to "IowaAdmin." However, as IowaAdmin I published 26,217 geocaches. Over ten years, that equates to an average of just over 50 per week. </div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-72973912771873955472013-09-22T17:29:00.005-05:002013-09-22T17:30:22.668-05:00This explains it pretty well<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmt03kbHTzXh5wt7Os9Y1V6hGc_xIecBDgz_f_cHn2ScQMOM3XQSa_bYLkl0iOpo3kjMygLsQ8N-9GURzMT1EJPA8JcD2k4mM2c0aXG9JCD4w5Ti1sDDHjoeYdO8zmQLUsWuM/s1600/geocaching+cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmt03kbHTzXh5wt7Os9Y1V6hGc_xIecBDgz_f_cHn2ScQMOM3XQSa_bYLkl0iOpo3kjMygLsQ8N-9GURzMT1EJPA8JcD2k4mM2c0aXG9JCD4w5Ti1sDDHjoeYdO8zmQLUsWuM/s640/geocaching+cartoon.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-71616716448324453592013-09-08T14:56:00.000-05:002013-09-08T14:56:09.881-05:00It's been fun. And so much more.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today is my final day. I'm voluntarily stepping down after 11 years as a reviewer for Geocaching.com, with about 10 of those years as the reviewer for Iowa. It wasn't an easy decision but after considering things for the past few months, I came to the conclusion that it's time for someone else to step up and assume these duties for Iowa. I'm involved in several different volunteer opportunities as well as being busy with work, recreation and exercise. One of the volunteer activities I've been devoting more of my time to is <a href="http://www.teamriverrunner.org/" target="_blank">Team River Runner,</a> which helps heal disabled veterans by getting them into kayaking. I notified Groundspeak of my decision last week and they have made arrangements for other reviewers to begin handling the Iowa queue beginning tomorrow (Monday, Sept 9). To all the geocachers I have emailed, spoken to on the phone, or met in person over the past 11 years, I say thank you for the good times -- because they truly have been good. I very much enjoyed working and playing with each of you to get your caches published. I will always cherish the friendships I've made all across the state. Iowa geocachers are the best! I'll also cherish the friendships I've made with my fellow reviewers around the world. But this is not good-bye. Even though I'm no longer going to be a reviewer, I'll always be a geocacher. I hope to see you again at upcoming events. And maybe we'll run into each other on the way to a geocache somewhere. Meanwhile, I have to get back to the review queue one last time. It's been another busy weekend with lots of new caches submitted so I want to tidy up the place before I turn it over to the next person. <br />
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All the best,<br />
Ken</div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-84292482536252159042013-08-14T14:13:00.001-05:002013-08-14T14:18:03.445-05:00A video look at Wisconsin's oldest geocache<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here's a fun video posted by the Geocaching Vlogger about his recent search to find Wisconsin's oldest geocache, "<a href="http://coord.info/GC3B1" target="_blank">Pike Powder Hike" GC3B1</a>. Check out who the cache owner is. :-) </div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-8009950386598406882013-07-02T21:53:00.000-05:002013-07-02T21:54:16.063-05:00Major promotions coming from Geocaching.com<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Geocaching.com will be rolling out three major July/August promotions to
encourage people to explore the world around them with friends and
family through geocaching. <br />
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The public announcement of these promotions will begin shortly. Meanwhile, I have been granted permission to give you a sneak peak. Aren't you glad you checked my blog to see this? :-) <b class="bbc"> </b><br />
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<b class="bbc">July 13: Geocaching Get Outdoors Day</b><br />
Saturday July 13 - It's time to warm up for 31 Days of Geocaching.
Join us geocachers from around the world on Saturday July 13 to earn a
worldwide souvenir. Log a "Found it" on any geocache type and earn a
unique souvenir for Geocaching Get Outdoors Day for your Geocaching
profile. <br />
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<b class="bbc">August 1 - 31: 31 Days of Geocaching</b><br />
Geocaching HQ is challenging people to accomplish a geocaching streak
throughout the entire month of August. It's 31 Days of Geocaching. Each
day geocachers will have the opportunity to earn a unique calendar
styled souvenir representing the date, by logging a Found it or Attended
for a geocache. <br />
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<b class="bbc">August 17</b>: <b class="bbc">International Geocaching Day</b>
- The crown jewel of geocaching souvenirs remains the annual
International Geocaching Day Souvenir. Join hundreds of thousands of
geocachers around the world on International Geocaching Day on August
17. Anyone logging a Found it or Attended on August 17, will earn the
International Geocaching Day souvenir. The unique souvenirs will be
styled in the theme of the 31 Days of Geocaching souvenirs. It'll also
count at the 31 Days of Geocaching promotions souvenir for the 17th of
August. <br />
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Watch the Geocaching HQ Weekly Newsletter for more details next week!
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-74876456297175831302013-04-26T10:01:00.001-05:002013-04-26T10:01:37.919-05:00Adopting a cache<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Every so often I get a question about how to go about adopting caches of inactive geocachers. There is a <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/adopt" target="_blank">form for this on the Geocaching.com website</a> but it only works if you can get the cooperation of the inactive geocacher, which is not always easy to do, especially if they are no longer monitoring their emails sent via Geocaching.com. But if you do manage to get their cooperation and permission, have them use the page I linked to above.
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If you can’t get their permission, I’m afraid their caches can’t be adopted. In those cases, you could post a “Needs Archived” log on them,
which flags them to our attention as well as to the attention of the cache owner. We will give the cache owner a reasonable amount of time to respond. If the cache owner does not respond, the
cache will be archived and another geocacher is then able to submit a new
geocache at that location. Heck, you can even give the new cache the same name if you want to. More often, new caches at the same location as an archived cache are usually designated with a name that lets geocachers know there's "fresh meat" out there for the finding. For example, "Under the Bridge - Redux" or "Under the Bridge Take 2" or something similar. </div>
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-75768974684993861802013-02-08T10:10:00.000-06:002013-02-08T10:11:15.688-06:00On the way to 2 million active geocaches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">According
to Geocaching.com, cache hide number 2,000,000 should
be published some time during the third week of February. Officially, GC.com will begin celebrating the big 2,000,000 on February
19, with announcements in that week’s newsletter, as well as through
its Facebook, Twitter and Google+ accounts. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">Information about Groundspeak's planned activities have been shared with <a href="http://www.notaboutthenumbers.com/2013/02/08/roll-on-lucky-cache-number-two-million/" target="_blank">It's Not About the Numbers</a>. </span></span></span></div>
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-66493360220885006902013-01-11T11:25:00.000-06:002013-01-11T11:25:13.482-06:00Surviving with a broken phone... or GPSR<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Have you ever broken your smartphone and lived to tell about it? Believe it or not, it is possible despite what your middle school children may lead you to believe. But what if you're in the <i>wilderness </i>when your smartphone goes down? That's different, right? Before you eye up your geocaching companions to decide which one looks the tastiest, consider these tips for using your broken phone parts as survival tools. Some of these tips would probably also work with parts from a handheld GPS receiver. Let's hope it never comes to that. <br />
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-68244200936201641352013-01-10T09:27:00.000-06:002013-01-10T09:27:08.303-06:00Vote for The Weasel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here's an opportunity to show your love for a fellow Iowa geocacher. Tim -- aka The Weasel -- is in the running for Geocacher of the Month. Have you voted yet? You can do so <a href="http://blog.geocaching.com/2013/01/january-featured-geocacher-of-the-month-nominees-add-your-comments-2/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=januaryfeaturedgeocacherofthemonthnomineesaddyourcomments&utm_campaign=gotm" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-18697712883567130552013-01-04T15:59:00.001-06:002013-01-04T15:59:55.816-06:00Geocaching year in review videos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I just viewed the new Geocaching Year in Review video from Geocaching.com, which is nicely done. You can view it here: <a href="http://youtu.be/8RZf4zUjzck">http://youtu.be/8RZf4zUjzck</a> <br />
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Also nicely done and closer to home is this video from Cache Continuum. Many of you will recognize Iowa geocachers Team Gamsci in these shots. <br />
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-70715666595953560482013-01-02T14:21:00.001-06:002013-01-02T14:21:28.661-06:00List of land management policies for Iowa geocaching<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Did you know there's a handy list of links to geocaching policies posted by state, county and municipal land managers in Iowa? You can find it in the Geocaching.com Wiki at <a href="https://wiki.groundspeak.com/display/GEO/Iowa" target="_blank">this link</a>. If you know of additional policies posted by land managers, please let me know and I'll post the information in the Wiki site. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QJDWOVArTD7DdGfTFpN5XbT38GGEZi2dWFamD3H7QXdzwldqMWx16o-sMkdtDU-u-LnDaRjdwg4JNRP_-WS4auYrXKeqwpp6Mnaln6BPtGBZg59uWubczNHeTb24q2ePKnNM/s1600/Wiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QJDWOVArTD7DdGfTFpN5XbT38GGEZi2dWFamD3H7QXdzwldqMWx16o-sMkdtDU-u-LnDaRjdwg4JNRP_-WS4auYrXKeqwpp6Mnaln6BPtGBZg59uWubczNHeTb24q2ePKnNM/s640/Wiki.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-82229268750459449662012-12-02T20:40:00.002-06:002012-12-02T20:40:49.572-06:00What Google’s new game “Ingress” is really about<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Have you heard about Ingress? Wondering what it's all about? Here's <a href="http://www.techgoondu.com/2012/11/22/what-googles-new-augmented-reality-game-ingress-is-really-about/#.ULwPVYawXNJ" target="_blank">one blogger's inside information</a> about this new augmented reality game from Google. Looks like it will have great appeal to geocachers. Personally I'd be a little concerned about having my movements tracked by Google.<br />
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IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-15695917769323598072012-11-26T13:04:00.002-06:002012-11-26T13:04:41.600-06:00Signal Gothic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nWOr3Bi3M2vhZ9gzAgntffZ8dPp0BnDajmAwI9rhX-cgcgSnp9omrqEl3UMLXKycB_xJK89lTbCVF28v2UQB4jA3tewowgH2rQzS2PsiwBDcqp3047IErXwTRz1bIZ0ID7PM/s1600/Signal+GothicPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nWOr3Bi3M2vhZ9gzAgntffZ8dPp0BnDajmAwI9rhX-cgcgSnp9omrqEl3UMLXKycB_xJK89lTbCVF28v2UQB4jA3tewowgH2rQzS2PsiwBDcqp3047IErXwTRz1bIZ0ID7PM/s320/Signal+GothicPS.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
I was looking at my <a href="http://coord.info/GCAA61" target="_blank">American Gothic virtual cache</a> page just now and doing some cleanup of logs posted without the required photo, when I came across this photo that I hadn't previously noticed. Thanks, <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=f08f93a1-569a-4088-b7fb-083be392e4d4" target="_blank">bumanfam</a>, for the great photo! And thanks, <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/signal/" target="_blank">Signal</a>, for stopping by after MOGA. </div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-60655443223349047392012-11-20T09:24:00.001-06:002012-11-20T09:24:45.591-06:00Iowa DNR's geocaching rules<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
In past blog posts I have linked to the geocaching page on Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website. But because they change their website every once in awhile, now is a good time to update everyone. As you may know, the DNR requires permits for geocaches placed on DNR-managed properties. If you have submitted a geocache to Geocaching.com in the past you have probably received this reviewer note from me:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Iowa DNR has requested that all geocaches placed on
DNR-managed land first be approved by the local DNR manager. See: <a href="http://www.iowadnr.gov/Recreation/CampingFacilityRentals/RulesRegulations/Geocaching.aspx">http://www.iowadnr.gov/Recreation/CampingFacilityRentals/RulesRegulations/Geocaching.aspx</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once you have been granted a permit, please
edit your cache page to state that you have the required permit and then
re-enable the cache listing so it reappears in my review queue. If you choose
not to seek the permit, please archive this listing and remove the container.
Thanks. </div>
</blockquote>
</div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-24204704614293782192012-11-14T09:02:00.004-06:002012-11-14T09:02:44.820-06:00Are you receiving your emails from Geocaching.com?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
When I review newly submitted geocaches (which is an every day occurrence), I sometimes have to temporarily disable the cache page so I can gather more information or request a change from the cache owner. For example, the cache may be too close (less than 528 feet) from an existing geocache or it may be on property where a geocaching permit is required (such as land managed by the DNR). In those cases I post a reviewer note on the cache page before I disable it. This automatically sends an email to the cache owner. At least it's supposed to. It seems like more and more cache owners -- especially relatively new geocachers -- are either not receiving these emails or they are ignoring them. Over the past few months I have repeatedly posted notes to several different cache owners and then temporarily disabled their cache pages, only to have them reactivate the cache page without responding to my request or questions and without making any change to the coordinates. I'm not sure what the reason is for this. Could it be that more people have tighter spam filters and they don't realize that their cache owner emails from Geocaching.com are being blocked or sent to a junk mail folder? My advice: Check the settings in your email program and make sure you are accepting emails from the domain name geocaching.com. </div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-71637647613976842082012-10-31T19:02:00.000-05:002012-10-31T19:02:06.542-05:00The hazards of making maps<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
There was a very interesting report on the PBS Newshour this evening about digital mapmaking, crowdsourcing and how Apple stubbed its toe creating its own maps. View it here: <br />
<br />
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Watch <a href="http://video.pbs.org/video/2298428370" style="color: #4eb2fe !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">Seeing the World in a Different Way Through Digital Maps</a> on PBS. See more from <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/" style="color: #4eb2fe !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">PBS NewsHour.</a></div>
</div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-36953866566791547362012-09-12T21:01:00.004-05:002012-09-12T21:01:54.865-05:00Reviewing night<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I reviewed about 90 geocaches tonight. It's time for a beer. </div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-30650672806924782102012-09-07T09:59:00.001-05:002012-09-07T10:00:15.728-05:00A Look Back to the Early Days<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The following article was recently reposted in the Wisconsin Geocaching Association website forums. I thought it would be fun to share with you here. It was written by a Wisconsin geocacher, rpaske, after he interviewed me and other geocaching oldtimers. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #444444;">Back in February 2001, there was only one geocache around Milwaukee and a
total of three in the entire state. After Ken Braband found his first
cache, in the Chicago area, he wanted to place his own. He had skied and
hiked the trails at Pike Lake State Park for many years and always
enjoyed the view from the top of Powder Hill. Pike Powder Hike cache was
placed.Ken started to feel guilty that he did not ask for permission
from the park manager. He found the manager’s email address and advised
him about the geocache. A few days later Ken went to check on the cache
and discovered that the park manager had been there and signed the log
book. The park manager had hunted and found the cache using only a
topographic map. He wrote a message in the cache’s journal. “He didn't
write anything bad about the cache and did not confiscate it, so I took
that as tacet approval." Even at this time, dialogue between the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Wisconsin Geocaching
association continues. Additional information can be found on the
Wisconsin Geocaching Association forums.
<br /><br />
Everything was going smoothly until one day Ken learned from other
geocachers that the plastic container had been chewed open and remnants
of a candy bar and a beef stick had been found in the debris field. “It
made me realize that this sport was going to attract a broad spectrum of
people -- some with outdoor experience and some without.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Another frustrating experience concerned an email confrontation with an
out-of-state geocacher who had logged the cache as a find on </span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><a href="http://www.geocaching.com/" target="_blank">www.geocaching.com</a>
even though it was not found. Because the cache was stolen at the time,
and had not yet been replaced, “The guy got pretty indignant when I
deleted his post. His argument was that he suffered a bad scratch on his
face while searching for the cache, so he felt he deserved to log it as
a find. He accused me of being some kind of geocaching Nazi. Despite
his name-calling, I stuck to my guns.”
<br /><br />
Nowadays Ken recommends new geocachers find at least 10 geocaches before
a cache is placed. “A geocacher has to have a chance to learn what
works and what does not. I didn't have that option because there were no
other caches in the area. After you hunt a few dozen caches, you start
to build a list in your mind of what you like and don't like to see in a
cache hunt. Overall I would say create the kind of geocache that you
would enjoy hunting,” reveals Ken. His web page offers tips for finding
caches as well as his preferences.
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Ken adds “If all caches were like mine, it might get old for people
because I tend to favor long hikes in scenic locations. Some people like
caches that are very hard to find. Others like to bushwhack or solve
puzzles. We have some VERY creative geocachers in Wisconsin. In terms of
quality, creativity, and diversity, I would put Wisconsin caches up
against any other state or region.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“Geocaching is a wonderful, relatively inexpensive sport which gets
individuals and families outdoors. Geocachers can participate alone,
with a loved one, with the family, or even with a group of strangers. It
has introduced many people to the outdoors who otherwise would never
have purchased a county or state park sticker. It has also resulted in
lots of trash getting picked up and properly disposed of as we practice
'Cache In, Trash Out'".
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
There are two big challenges that Ken sees in the future. “As the sport
becomes more popular, there will come a time when geocaching is no
longer ‘under the radar.’ That time is already here in many parks.
Secondly, to keep our sport from being severely curtailed or outright
banned, we need to help develop rules and then make sure we follow
them.” Lastly, Ken offers this advice: "As GPS receivers become more
common more caches are going to be plundered by vandals. Don't give up
in frustration. Replace your cache or create a new one somewhere else."
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
More than 80 Geocachers have found Pike Powder Hike. A few of the
finders expressed their views about geocaching. One of the later
geocachers to have located this cache is sullyb007. “Geocaching gave me
another reason to turn off the TV and go get some exercise. I thought I
knew about most of the parks and nature areas. I couldn’t have been more
wrong! Geocaching takes me to new places that, otherwise, I would never
have seen.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
JeremyV agrees. “The number one reason I keep geocaching is that it gets
me to parts of the state of Wisconsin that I otherwise wouldn't visit. I
do a lot of back road driving. So often, when I go looking for a cache,
I realize that I've driven by the cache site before. Geocaching gets me
to stop the car or motorcycle and go explore some pretty interesting
areas on foot. If there wasn't a cache sitting out there to be found, I
would simply pass by these places and miss the great experiences that
they have to offer.” JeremyV adds, “I would like to thank Ken Braband
for hiding the two geocaches ‘Pike Powder Hike’ and ‘New Prospect’ back
in March 2001. Unofficially, though I strongly believe this is the case,
these two caches have attracted more Wisconsin residents to the sport
of geocaching than any other pair of caches in the state. They have also
served as good examples of how to create quality caches. This was very
important back in the ‘early days’, when people were still trying to get
a handle on what exactly this crazy geocaching thing was supposed to
be.
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Sullyb007 is not the only geocacher to share this view. One of the first
ten geocachers to have found Pike Powder Hike cache was Kevin Winter.
“Geocaching is a great way to get outside, either by oneself or with
friends. I still support it but not in the same manner as others. I
usually don’t bother logging my finds. I felt it was developing into a
contest of numbers and bragging rights between cachers.” On a recent
trip to Oregon, Kevin found three sites and left nothing but footprints.
“Nothing wrong with folks that log every find, I just don't want too. I
worry about the impact on areas if the caches don't get moved every so
often. I tend to avoid some of the more delicate ecosystems or very
popular sites.” Kevin adds, “most of the Geocachers that I have met are
usually very eco-conscious.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
GrouseTales, also one of the first teams to have found Pike Powder Hike
replies, “I love outdoor activities and embrace any chance I can get to
be in the woods. Geocaching lures me back into the forest after the
hunting seasons are over. I find Geocaching is an activity that brings
my family together and gives us a chance to spend quality time together.
I don't hear many complaints when I say that we are all going
Geocaching. “ Reflecting on finding Pike Powder Hike, GrouseTales
continued, “In the winter of 2001, I was considering the purchase of a
new GPS and had been surfing the web looking for information. One
website I stumbled upon was: Joe Mehaffey & Jack Yeazel's GPS
information site (www.GPSinformation.net).”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“Right around April 1st I discovered a link to Geocaching.com on Joe and
Jacks' website. I immediately became very excited and couldn't wait to
give Geocaching a try. I did a search of Wisconsin and found
approximately 8 Geocaches in WI. The nearest caches were ‘Pike Powder
Hike’ and ‘New Prospect.’ Both of these caches were placed by Kbraband.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“So on my next off day, I picked up the kids from school and told them
we were going to find some treasure. We drove up to Pike Lake and
started hiking. Once we reached the area of the cache, it only took a
few minutes for one of my sons to find it. We took our pictures,
exchanged items and signed the log.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“My Son's and I had a really great time. I finally had a use for my GPS
besides hunting and fishing. I was now hooked on the sport.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
In the winter of 2001, several other cachers and I formed the Wisconsin
Geocaching Association. Being actively involved in the WGA keeps me
motivated to keep on caching. Even when the weather isn't conducive to
caching, I can still keep involved by participating on the WGA website.
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
One of the last geocachers to have found Pike Powder Hike is the
PharmTeam. “It is a good way to get exercise without it seeming like a
chore. We have also met quite a few nice and interesting geocachers
either on the trails, at WGA events, or through the online discussion
boards, or geocaching email.” When the PharmTeam began to geocache with
their son, Geocaching served as a way for the family to get together for
a picnic, or a nice view. “One geocache would be found per day. Now,
geocaching has turned into trips for the purpose of seeking out as many
caches as can be found in one day.
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
LindaFawn thought that this would be a good way to get out of the house
and get some exercise. “I was minding my own business, when my nephew
asked if I wanted to go for a walk with him.” Together, they found her
first cache. “After that I was hooked.” LindaFawn adds, “the world is
full of things to do, this happens to put all the little things I love
into one hobby: Going for a walk; puzzles; looking for treasures;
relaxing; looking at nature; being with friends or being alone if you so
desire. Geocaching takes my mind off the hustle and bustle of
day-to-day life.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Lance Newton of team BOOBoys enjoys the opportunity to get outside and
discover what Mother Nature has placed there. “Geocaching helps to take
one’s mind off the normal grind of life. It sure beats sitting inside
watching television or playing videos. Imagine yourself going back in
time trudging through the woods with a treasure map looking for that
lost fortune. Yes, you could actually be a modern day Indiana Jones
looking for that lost cache of small trinkets for trading.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Like Ken, these geocachers have also shared a few geocaching challenges.
Lance continues, “I personally like the challenging caches. We have
found quite a few that are just put out for the purpose of getting
people outside. There is nothing wrong with that. Certain areas may
become over saturated with caches which are less challenging. I also
worry about non-geocachers treating the caches properly.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“I do have some concerns regarding the future of Geocaching,” says Brian
Sullivan of team sullyb007. Among them are “People who steal caches for
their own kicks. They have been around a long time and have come to be
known as Geo-terrorists. It always seems to be someone out there who
only finds joy in ruining the fun for others. My second concern is the
destruction of parks and nature areas. The more people walking through
the woods means more people who might be throwing garbage on the ground
or trampling endangered plants and disturbing natural habitats. My third
concern is the over abundance of caches in a general area. Eventually,
every local and state park will contain multiple caches. This may make
it frustrating for new Geocachers to create their own cache and hide it
someplace original. One solution might be to set time limits on caches
to remain in the same place, one year for example.
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“My fear,” says LindaFawn, “is that, the government will step in and
require that geocachers have to pay to do this. I also fear that someone
will say just how many geocaches can be in one area. My hope for the
future is a carefree, fun loving hobby without a lot of rules and
regulations, which will ruin the hunt of this hobby.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
The PharmTeam, is amazed that geocaching.com is able to process all of
the messages that it does and hopes that it will continue doing so.
“There should also be a way to handle caches that seem to be abandoned.
Perhaps some more general guidelines or uniformity of restrictions about
cache placement need to be developed. It varies quite a bit from state
to state.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
JeremyV adds, “Most of the challenges we'll face in the future will have
to do with the exponential growth of the sport. We've got the whole
issue of regulation of geocaching by government agencies, which is a
direct result of the growth of the sport. Back when I found "Pike Powder
Hike", the DNR certainly didn't care about the three or four plastic
containers sitting on "their" land or the dozen or so people looking for
them. The WGA is trying to be proactive in this area and is working
with the DNR to come up with a geocaching policy that both parties can
live with. Hopefully Wisconsin county and local parks will also adopt
this policy if they decide to get into the geocaching regulation
business. There are other problems that are caused by the sheer number
of caches that are now being placed. When are there too many caches in
an area? How close together can two caches be placed? Should caches be
forced into retirement after being out in the field for a certain number
of years? How to deal with "low quality" caches, etc.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Continuing with this thought, GrouseTales adds, “I think that as the
number of caches increases, the rules are going to become more
restrictive. We have already seen many rule changes on the
Geocaching.com website. These changes have made it more restrictive to
place virtual caches and put limits on how close a cache can be to an
existing cache. I think these changes have been made because of the high
volume of caches being placed in urban areas. Sooner or later the metro
areas are going to run out of parks to place a cache”.
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“I think that GC.com will be forced to set limits on the amount of
caches placed. There may be limits on how often a cacher can actually
place a cache, or the total number of caches they can place. I think the
biggest challenge is going to be working with municipalities to allow
caching to continue. I think most cites or counties are still unaware of
caches in their parks, or choose to ignore them. Sooner or later these
parks will have some problem with a cache and will probably set up some
rules to govern them. If a community doesn't have a Geocaching
organization in their area to represent their interests, it is likely
that some parks may outlaw caches in their systems. As Geocaching
continues to grow, I think it will be vital for cachers to form local
organizations and be prepared to work with Governments to address
problems and fight for the 'rights' of Geocachers.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Brian Sullivan of team sullyb007 believes that preparation and equipment
should be considered when beginning geocaching. “Geocaching sounds
pretty easy in theory, but it can get frustrating when you just take a
GPS into the woods and find out you should have brought some waders
along because you started out on the wrong side of a river. You’ll also
learn pretty quickly to carry a can of bug spray with you in the summer;
for some reason, people like to hide their caches in mosquito
hatcheries! “
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“Start out by reading about the possible caches. Decide if the
difficulty and terrain match your desires and ability.” advises the
PharmTeam. “I would start with nearby ones that are moderate or easy
before trying the very difficult ones which people are logging as
difficult to find. Difficulty and terrain may also make a difference if
you are doing geocaching as a family with young children. Our other son
has children under 3. He usually picks the easy ones so that the
children can have fun helping with the search.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“Geocaching is not a competition. The number of finds you have does not
matter. You don't have to go geocaching every day, or every week, or
even every month and, you certainly don't have to go out at 2am in a
blizzard to be the first to find a new cache. The important thing is
that you have fun.” JeremyV says.
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Finally, the GrouseTales have this to add, “Pick a few caches near your
house and take your families along. Geocaching is great family sport. If
you have younger children, keep the walks short, and let them find the
cache if possible. Young children will quickly become irritable if the
walks are too long. If they have a bad experience they will most likely
not want to go Geocaching in the future. If I am the one to find the
cache, I like to keep quiet and try to steer the kids in the direction
of the cache so they can find it.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
The GrouseTales continue, “Try to pace your self. Set a goal to find X
amount of caches per week or month. Sit back and enjoy the views. I
personally don't exchange cache trinkets very often. My reward for
finding the cache is usually to see a new park or to enjoy some
beautiful views. It's real easy to get in the mode of going straight to
the cache and then hurrying back. It's nice to walk around and take in
the surroundings.”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
“Don't feel that you need to keep pace with other cachers in the area. A
lot of people get competitive when viewing other people's ‘finds
number.’”
</span>
<span style="color: #444444;"><br /><br />
Still another geocacher says, “My advice to people who are just starting
out, is to get off their little butts and get some exercise, the world
is full of things to do.”</span>
</div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-12647918546903439712012-08-21T17:08:00.002-05:002012-08-21T17:08:37.403-05:00REAL hidden treasure<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here's a story that should fascinate geocachers. <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/08/19/forrest-fenn-wants-you-to-find-his-treasure-and-his-bones.html" target="_blank">Newsweek 8/20/12</a><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmJ6yJFw0iln_JfxnvFIQt53TLHu62tjAbTO8-py03QLJ-_0nv5q9VR6BWcatgrp_wVWF5-U4vV7nFaX6R-7RSgyYdErPPD-xz9bDmO66SSJpJM8EhtDZXhs4dbEtqW0TCPyT/s1600/1345312163632.cached.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUmJ6yJFw0iln_JfxnvFIQt53TLHu62tjAbTO8-py03QLJ-_0nv5q9VR6BWcatgrp_wVWF5-U4vV7nFaX6R-7RSgyYdErPPD-xz9bDmO66SSJpJM8EhtDZXhs4dbEtqW0TCPyT/s320/1345312163632.cached.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forrest Fenn has hidden a million dollars of his treasure—and he wants you to find it. (Brent Humphreys for Newsweek)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-49863864006114351342012-08-08T07:35:00.001-05:002012-08-08T07:35:53.559-05:00Nine years of reviewing for Groundspeak<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday I received this nice card in the mail from the volunteer coordinators at Groundspeak in Seattle. It's been a terrific nine years of reviewing! So many fun times and I'm still loving my daily contact with geocachers across Iowa and around the world.<br />
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<br /></div>IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-7244785467679162422012-06-21T23:26:00.001-05:002012-06-21T23:26:17.082-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/uXWb-yx-WPY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
A nice video from Groundspeak that explains the role of the Geocaching.com volunteer. Makes me even more proud to be one!</div>IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-90675974175099178432012-06-04T11:50:00.001-05:002012-06-04T11:50:49.346-05:00MOGA Update<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been a few weeks since I attended <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC2QM9C" target="_blank">MOGA </a>so I want to do some catching up and post some photos. This was an incredible geocaching event and
very well organized. My hat is off to all the directors and their team
members. And Richard (<a href="http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=f08f93a1-569a-4088-b7fb-083be392e4d4" target="_blank">Bumanfam</a>) at the awards ceremony was one of the funniest MC's
I have seen. He should go into show business. My thanks to all the
long-time geocachers who I saw again, and to
all the geocachers who I met at this event. By my count I reviewed and
published over 400 new caches in preparation for MOGA. It took a lot of
time over the past few months, but it wasn't as much work for me as it
was for those who went out and actually hid the MOGA caches. Now be sure to
maintain them! :-)<br />
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</div>IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-64684650670936694472012-04-26T18:30:00.001-05:002012-04-26T18:30:34.323-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Making my way to <a href="http://2012.mogageo.com/" target="_blank">MOGA</a>. Stopping to review and publish new geocaches at highway rest stop just now.<br />
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<br /></div>IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-16329904301220201652012-04-26T12:02:00.000-05:002012-11-14T09:06:43.636-06:00Let's Call Them "Issues". A Blog in INATN.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The New Zealand-based geocaching blog "<a href="http://www.notaboutthenumbers.com/2012/04/26/reviewing-our-bad-geo-habits" target="_blank">It's Not About the Numbers</a>" recently asked me to write a guest post on the topic of the most common mistakes that geocache owners make that prevent me from publishing their caches on the first go-round. You can read my post on their blog. I'm also posting it below to improve the search engine optimization for my blog. :)<br />
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It’s Not About the Numbers was kind enough to ask me to
write a guest blog on the topic of “the biggest/most common mistakes you see as
a reviewer when players submit a new cache listing.” But since geocachers are
Groundspeak’s customers, I prefer not to call them “mistakes.” How about referring
to them as “issues”?</div>
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<br /></div>
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It’s pretty easy for me to say what the most common issue is
that I see: placing a cache too close to an existing geocache. This is
sometimes called the proximity issue. As all seasoned geocachers know,
Geocaching.com guidelines call for spacing of at least 528 ft. (0.1 mile or 161
m) between geocaches and between physical waypoints of different multicaches. If
there’s one issue that red-flags a new geocache and causes a delay in
publishing, it’s mostly likely the proximity issue, and it’s often the result
of the cache owner neglecting to check the location of nearby geocaches before
placing his or her new cache. In those cases, I try to work with the geocacher
to let them find a new location so they don’t have to resubmit an entirely new
cache page. </div>
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My second most common issue is when a multicache or puzzle
cache doesn’t have the final coordinates listed as an additional waypoint. Sometimes
geocachers will post the final coordinates in a reviewer note, but that doesn’t
really help me much because I would then have to enter those coordinates myself
as an additional waypoint before I could determine if it’s too close to another
geocache. That’s why it’s important that cache owners use the “add/edit
waypoints” feature to enter the coordinates for all the waypoints that are
physical caches, including the final location. This not only makes it easier
for reviewers to review the new geocache, it also helps ensure that future
geocaches don't encroach on the caches we publish. </div>
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Third on my list of most common “issues” are caches that
appear to have commercial overtones, which is a violation of Geocaching.com’s
guidelines regarding commercial caches. Many times the cache owners are just
big fans of the business or organization and have no direct financial connections.
They simply want other geocachers to know about the great sandwiches, the
delicious ice cream, or the helpful service they receive inside the store. However,
such an endorsement of a business still crosses the line beyond what
Groundspeak wants to publish on its website. In these situations, it’s usually
easy to correct the issue. Usually all it takes is the cache owner removing the
name of the business from the geocache title and/or removing the endorsement
from the description. </div>
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In addition to those, I also see lots of others issues; ones
readers of this blog are likely familiar with such as: too close to railroad
tracks, on school property or near a government building without permission, and
for Iowa, on land managed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources without
permission. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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One of the oddest issues that I encounter is seeing a newly
submitted cache with the same coordinates and the same name as an existing geocache,
but submitted by a different geocacher. The first time I saw it, I scratched my
head as I tried to figure out what was going on. Eventually I was able to
determine that the new listing was not actually a new geocache hide. It was
meant to be a “found it” log but the newbie geocacher was mistakenly using the
“submit a cache” form to log his find. Believe it not, I’ve seen this happen a
number of times so when I see it again it’s easier to recognize the reason. </div>
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So there you have it. My list of the most common “issues” may
be different than it is for other reviewers around the world. But all the
volunteer reviewers will assure you that we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">don’t</i>
seek ways to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">deny</i> new geocaches. Our
goal is to help cache owners get their caches listed within the guidelines
Groundspeak has established for its listing service. Sometimes that requires a
few details to be resolved before publication. My thanks to cache owners for
their patience and cooperation as I work with them to keep this activity fun
for everyone. </div>
</div>
IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21184490.post-89736634278898689172012-04-24T15:20:00.000-05:002012-04-24T15:20:17.664-05:00New "Submit a Listing" Form<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Groundspeak has been working on an update and refinement of the "Submit a Cache Listing" form. They've just released a <a href="http://www.geocaching.com/hide/cachebasics.aspx" target="_blank">new wizard</a> that is intended to improve the process and help prevent mistakes. Have you tried it yet? If so, what do you think?</div>IowaAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11811000785911559567noreply@blogger.com0