The Maritime Geocaching Association

Interview Date :14 November 2011

Caching Name :Cachescammer

Real Name : Billy Wall

1. How did you become involved in geocaching. When did you start?

I bought a jeep in 02 and with it came a key chain with geocaching.com on it so I looked into it, and there were not many in the area at that time, I had a magellin 315 and it was not user friendly at all. Any way I left and never looked into it again until a friend (Team Newfie Trio) mentioned it one day and said it would be something I might enjoy. I went on to tell him I tried and was not happy with the lack of caches in the area, and he told me to look again, and the rest is history, I’v had a GPS in my hand ever since.

2. How did you choose your caching name?

When I started I needed a quick name so I used Jeepking7, but it didn’t make any sense being I didn’t have a jeep any more so I changed it. There was local cacher in the area with the name cacheslinger and he had the Oromocto area pretty much monopolised, and I seen his name every were I went so I kinda got the name from him.

3. How many caches have you found so far?

2243

4. What brand/type of GPS do you use?

I used a magellin 315 back in 02 but it didn’t cut the mustard, and then I had a garmin vista, then a HCX, now I’m using a Gpsmap 62s, and it’s worth every penny and then some.

5. What programs/software or hardware (PDA/laptop/phone) do you use to make caching easier?

I just use the laptop, and my Iphone mainly. I use pocket queries all the time.

6. What type of cache do you prefer seeking – traditional, multi, puzzle, virtual?

I like traditional caches the most, but I’m coming around to the offset caches, and puzzles.

7. Which caches were the most challenging – physically/mentally? Why?

Any cache where I have to get dirty is a good cache, when you get half way to the cache and you say to yourself “what am I doing this for”, Is the cache I like to find, I love water fall caches, you never know what your going to find when you get there. Covered bridge caches because there is so much history in the bridge. Anything that involves a hint of danger, cliff side or rock face caches. The higher the D – T the better.

8. Do you have a favorite or favorites among the Maritime caches that you’ve found?

GC750D –  Sgurra Bhreac, It’s a cache in Cape Breton, one of the most beautiful places I’v ever stood.
GC1FG6V – The Diamond Safe, A cool cache in Hawaii that was out on a break water in the ocean.
GC2KZBV – Chirp Chirp, by sportsman01, pretty much all his caches are a favorite, Slow and steady is a good one.
GCVDR8 – Spelunky is an all time favorite

The Redden Falls Eco-Challenge, It’s archived but it was a very nice spot to find, with an awesome waterfall. There are so many caches I could mention, the Fredericton caching community is very creative bunch.

9. What’s the most unusual thing that you’ve ever found in a cache?

Nothing major, just the usual swag, I’d love to have a great story for you but I’m just not that lucky enough to find something awesome.

10. What are your current caching goals? Is there a certain cache that you can’t wait to do?

I’v got my eyes set on my 3000 already, it’s prob going to be� �GC33CVR, A true 5/5 RCR style, by Team Newfie Trio, and being I’m an RCR, its *.

11. How many caches have you placed? Do you have a current hiding goal?

I’v hidden 38 in the Fredericton area, the Handy Cap series, the Evil Island series and the Okie Doakie series. I’v also adoted a few from other cachers.

12. What advice would you give someone that wants to place a cache? What steps do YOU take when placing a cache?

Find a cache style you like and run with it, Everyone likes a good P&G, there quick and easy, but also everyone likes a challenge, If you want to hide an awesome cache look at some of Milosheart’s caches, lots of thought and time put into it, look at some of Team Newfie Trio’s caches and sportsman01, all different styles but are awesome cache makers, BTH7 had a cache I went back to almost 6 times before I found it.

13. How often do you go caching?

As often as possible, it used to be every second day, but now with work and the kids I make it out 2 maybe 3 times a week. and I plan cache trips and set goals like don’t come home until I have a set number of caches.

14. What advice would you give a beginning geocacher?

Stick with it and don’t let the weather stop you sometimes caches are more fun in the rain or snow. And don’t be afraid to stop and talk to people on the trails and go to events, there are a lot of cachers out there and they all have a certain personality trait. I’v yet to meet a mean cacher.

15. Do you collect geocoins? Of the ones that you’ve collected, which is your favorite?

I just started I have about half a dozen, the FGT coins, the Moncton coin, my 1000/2000 achievement coin. and some other coins I’v won.

16. What type of gear do you carry with you on your caching trips? What’s in your geopack?

Spare batteries, logs and containers, stickers, bison tubes, gerber tool, wire, string, and of course my walking stick

17. What is your most memorable caching experience?

I’v cached in Hawaii, did a cache run to PEI not that long ago to grab the CT caches, Team Newfie Trio and myself got almost 500 of them in 4 days, weather was a huge factor in the low numbers, but as PA would say “Its not about the numbers”.
Also I came in second in last years come out and play contest, that contest brought me all over the province, and then some.

18. What is your best caching story?

I went to do the Viking series with my wife last Christmas eve, we had the 4 wheeler and we went out a week after the December flood. The trail was wrote off, there were parts of the trail missing and washed out so, my wife wanted no part of the offroading it took to get around some of the washouts. She kept jumping off the bike I would go around the washout and she would jump back on and we would carry on. This one wash out was about 25 feet long and just as deep, so she jumped off and I made my way around it but there was a pretty steep bank I had to drive up. I’v had the 4 wheeler for over 10 years and I knew what she was capable of so I gassed it and up she came. the front wheel climbed up a small birch sapling and it didn’t break instead it flipped the bike over and it landed on top of me, so I’m sliding down this pretty steep bank with my bike completely upside down on top of me and my wife was screaming. The bike came to a stop and Shannon was in panic mode. She wouldn’t stop screaming long enough for me to get the words out that I was OK, she saw me wave to her and she came running she only had to put a bit of weight on the side of the bike and it rolled off, I was more concerned that the bike had stalled, and we were about 15 KM from the truck. she thought different, she made me call it a day and we made our way back to the truck. She kept going on about Christmas and the kids and how I was dumb to even try it. OH WELL.

19. What do you like about geocaching? What keeps you going?

I like the people and the events, always good stories and good people, they always talk about caches they did and that you should go for it, or you will prob like it, and before you know it you have the next 3 caching trips planed.

20. Besides geocaching, what other things do you like to do?

Hunting, fishing, 4 wheeling anything to do with outside, I love snow shoeing, and taking the kids caching. I love taking the Harley out for a rip on nice days, hanging out with my family every chance I can.

21. What question did you expect us to ask but didn’t. What is the answer?

Since I came in second in last years Come out and play, If I plan on playing again this year? And the answer is I don’t know yet the tasks just came out and I put so much effort in last year and spent so much time away completing tasks I don’t know if I want to do that again.

Also I love power trails, and the remaining CT caches are just a matter of time before I get them, and there will most likely be a cache trip to Nevada in the near future.

Interview Date : May 29th

Caching Name : milosheart

Real Name : Gwen & Terry LeBlanc

1. How did you become involved in geocaching. When did you start?

My sister and her late boyfriend showed us what geocaching was in August 2007 but it wasn’t until March of 2008 that we took it up ourselves to spend time with her after his death.

2. How did you choose your caching name?

When we started caching we each had our own accounts/names. Terry was Frogger57 and I was milosheart. Milo was a nickname of Terry’s. He logged his first 19 caches then gave up. He loves to go caching, loves the driving, travelling, meeting fellow cachers, searching and finding but could care less about the logging, planning, numbers, etc. He doesn’t know how to use the GPS and has no desire to learn, doesn’t have a clue what GSAK is, nor care. I love him more for just going with me, blindly sometimes! LOL So we just continued on using my original account and became team milosheart.

3. How many caches have you found so far?

1815, so far.

4. What brand/type of GPS do you use?

Oregon 300

5. What programs/software or hardware (PDA/laptop/phone) do you use to make caching easier?

We use GSAK.

6. What type of cache do you prefer seeking – traditional, multi, puzzle, virtual?

Our favorites are traditionals and Earthcaches. We rarely do puzzles or multis, they take too much time and brainpower that we just don’t have! LOL We figure when we’ve found everything else we’ll do all the puzzles/multis.

7. Which caches were the most challenging – physically/mentally? Why?

We’ve been to the event at Fundy every year and there is always at least one cache that is a killer physically. There’s a cache near Fredericton GC9522 Volcano by Dusty Walker that, while not the most difficult physically, was hard on our heads. We tried 3 different times to find it with no luck. We just could not find it. Other cachers kept finding it in between our DNFs; newer cachers! Grrrr. We finally found it on our 4th try after a quick search with eebee and kayakerinme.

8. Do you have a favorite or favorites among the Maritime caches that you’ve found?

Proposal Falls (GC289A6), On The Way To Mount Douglas (GCKJ8R) and Parlee Brook Natural Amphitheatre (GCVVPH). All were great treks to amazing places with great groups of friends….what geocaching is all about to us.

Do you have a favorite in a nearby Province?

Have to say the first one in Canada, GCBBA.

9. What’s the most unusual thing that you’ve ever found in a cache?

Nothing too unusual, just a spider that scared the poop out of me at GCVC5Z (thanks, Sporty!)

10. What are your current caching goals? Is there a certain cache that you can’t wait to do?

No major goals, just to keep on enjoying caching, we’ll hit the next milestone when we hit it. Caches we can’t wait to do – The Eye of the Needle, the first in NB GC760, some more of the waterfall caches in the area….that’s a start.

11. How many caches have you placed? Do you have a current hiding goal?

44 hides, of which about 21 are events. No hiding goal.

12. What advice would you give someone that wants to place a cache?

Find enough first to know what makes a good cache, what makes a good container, what makes a cache interesting.

13. How often do you go caching?

We try to get out at least once a week but life has a way of changing that. In the summer and fall we cache more. We tend to cache mostly on weekends and we usually plan our vacations around geocaching.

14. What advice would you give a beginning geocacher?

Have fun! Go to events to meet other cachers and listen to their stories. Ask questions, the caching community here in Fredericton is more than willing to help out newbies. Read the knowledge books and guidelines for hides. Read the forums of whatever website you read.

15. Do you collect geocoins? Of the ones that you’ve collected, which is your favorite?

We have some. Faves would be our Track Your World Marble, Landsharkz 4 pce totem set, our 1000th find coin.

16. What type of gear do you carry with you on your caching trips? What’s in your geopack?

Baggies, logs, cache repair stuff, batteries, First Aid Kit, bug spray, small notebook, toilet paper, latex gloves, flashlight, more batteries, a couple of inhalers, and a bunch of other stuff.

17. What is your most memorable caching experience?

Last August we took 2 weeks and flew to Calgary then, after visiting Drumheller, drove from Calgary to Canmore and Banff, then up to Jasper, back down through the Rockies to Vancouver and over to Victoria caching all the way. We didn’t get a massive amont of caches but we saw some amazing, incredible places and we came home feeling blessed for seeing so much of this beautiful country. Our most memorable single experience would have to be our recent trek to Proposal Falls or our trek to Parlee Brook Natural Amphitheatre in March of 2009.

18. What is your best caching story?

Too many to pick just one. Every cache is a story and we enjoy every single one of them!

19. What do you like about geocaching? What keeps you going?

We like the places caching takes us, the sights we see, the people we meet, and the parts of our city/province/country we probably would not see otherwise. We like the exercise, the friendship, the events, the travel, being outdoors and just about everything about caching except the BUGS.

20. Besides geocaching, what other things do you like to do?

We both love music. Terry loves hockey (particularly the Habs), NASCAR and football (the Vikings). I enjoy most sports, cooking and I took up gardening but geocaching takes up most of our weekends so my flower gardens suffer. LOL I do make sure we get the vegetable garden in though!

21. What question did you expect us to ask but didn’t. What is the answer?

None that we can think of.

Geocaching Name: Back Road Trackers

Real Name : Jason Burke

Interview Date : July 26th, 2011

1. How did you become involved in geocaching? When did you start?

My sister ( starr_shine ) and a friend went Geocaching one day and were telling me about it. I had heard about it before that but never got involved ( as I didn’t have a GPSr to use ). It was in the fall around hunting season November 21, 2009, and I went out to grab one just 500 Meters from Home. Found and took a TB and came home to see what that was about. Then I had to go find another to drop this Travel Bug I got.

2. How did you choose your caching name?

I started with just my name, “jburkenrfb”. After almost two years and finding out that you can change your name I changed it to “Back Road Trackers” which is exactly what my family loves to do.

3. How many caches have you found so far?

581

4. What brand/type of GPS do you use?

I actually use two Different GPS units. I started with my old Faithful a Garmin Rino 530HCx, I love this unit but it not the beast for storing caches on it as it won’t save hints and descriptions and so on. I have more recently bought a Garmin Dakota 20. This holds all the info and then some that I need in the Bush.

5. What programs/software or hardware (PDA/laptop/phone) do you use to make caching easier?

I have Tried GSAK but mostly do it all the old fashion way of downloading one by one.

6. What type of cache do you prefer seeking – traditional, multi, puzzle, or virtual?

Traditional Caches

7. Do you have a favorite or favorites among the Maritime caches that you’ve found?

Ghost on the Wallace River: Travelling Riverside GCTT0H is the one that stands out the most. It is in the Wentworth Valley on an old abandoned road beside an old abandoned/falling down Steel Bridge.

8. What’s the most unusual thing that you’ve ever found in a cache?

What appears to be a Marijuana Joint in Canada’s First Cache?

9. What are your current caching goals? Is there a certain cache that you can’t wait to do?

I would like to make 750 caches buy the end of the year. It’s only better than 150 away but with my work I haven’t got a lot of time to go steady at it.

10. How many caches have you placed? Do you have a current hiding goal?

73, I have 64 caches and 9 events I’ve hosted.

11. What advice would you give someone that wants to place a cache? What steps do YOU take when placing a cache?

The thing I learnt quickly is to take several readings at the hiding location and when filling out the new cache form look on the map is provides and see if it looks to be in the correct spot.

12. How often do you go caching?

I have the GPS in my truck at all times and usually go caching at the spur of a minuet notice.

13. What advice would you give a beginning geocacher?

Don’t give up because you can’t find a cache. Learn to think like a cacher. Where would the dirtiest, nastiest place to hide be and look there.

14. Do you collect geocoins? Of the ones that you’ve collected, which is your favorite?

I have almost 100 coins and my favorites are my firefighter related coins. More so my fire Truck Coin.

15. What type of gear do you carry with you on your caching trips? What’s in your geopack?

My GPS, extra Bags, new log sheets, a pen, an old fashioned compass and my phone. In my truck is a First aid kit.

16. What is your most memorable caching experience?

I introduced a friend into caching this past spring. I went to a few caches with them to make sure they had an idea what to do. The next day I get a phone call. They were trying to find a cache I hid on Penny’s Mountain near Truro NS. They tried to bushwhack from the 311 Highway approx. 1200 meters uphill. (You could drive to within 50 meters of the cache). They called me, because they had used their car GPS and the Batteries went dead… and they were lost. I was working and had to call a friend of mine who works with Search and Rescue with me. He lives on the side of Penny’s Mountain so he hiked and found them and brought them back out of the woods.

17. What do you like about geocaching? What keeps you going?

I love the outdoors and exploring new areas. My wife (jlellis24) and 10 year old Daughter (Little Roaming Gnome) love geocaching and the outdoors

18. Besides geocaching, what other things do you like to do?

I have been a Volunteer Firefighter for the past 13 years and have been on the local Search and Rescue team for the past 14 years.

19. What question did you expect us to ask but didn’t. What is the answer?

What is a pet peeve about caching? Mine would be the people who will not log a DID NOT FIND for whatever reason, but is willing to message you saying they can’t find the cache is there any other hints.

Interview Date : August 11, 2011

Caching Name : kmac85

Real Name : Krista MacKenzie

1. How did you become involved in geocaching. When did you start?

I started in the fall of 2009. It was October and it was a super nice day out, and I had been sitting inside all day. So I sat there racking my brain on what I could go do that didn’t involve my friends and I driving in circles around town and burning gas (yes, we used to do that…almost nightly…ha) or without me spending money at mall. I had heard of geocaching, but had never done it. So I spent a few minutes and looked it up and then explained it to one of my friends (who has since become starr_shine) and asked her if she wanted to go try one or two, and so off we went near the end of the afternoon with a car GPS, pretty much NO idea what we were doing, and we ended up getting 5 – pretty good considering the circles we walked in. I was hooked pretty quickly.

2. How did you choose your caching name?

My name! In my undergrad they made your university email address out of letters of your name and your birth year, thus making mine kmac85. And so it has just stuck for a lot of different things – including caching! I was thinking afterwards I should have just made my name Krista because for some reason I find it weird when people call me kmac haha So I tried to change it but unfortunately someone has Krista already.

3. How many caches have you found so far?

Currently at 985. ITCHING to surpass at 1000 (and I don’t have a valid reason as to why it hasn’t happened yet haha).

4. What brand/type of GPS do you use?

I have a Garmin Dakota 20 that I bought about a month into caching. My friend starr_shine bought one and I told her she was absolutely crazy for dropping almost $400 after less than a month of caching, and how did she know what we were going through wasn’t just a phase…..and then not even a week later I had the exact same one haha – and I certainly don’t regret it!

5. What programs/software or hardware (PDA/laptop/phone) do you use to make caching easier?

Nothing. I use the geocaching website and a word document. When going on planned trips I pull up a map of the area on the caching website and I plan the most sensible route, road for road. Then in a word document I make a list of the caches in the order we’ll visit them. And I hyperlink the GC# to make for easy logging

6. What type of cache do you prefer seeking – traditional, multi, puzzle, virtual?

All of them! I don’t like one more than the other, but I must say, I guess I’m a nerd and love solving puzzles. I have a document where I have a list of every puzzle in NS – most of them solved for if/when I’m ever in the area. There are some that stump me though. I keep going back and end up frustrated. Maybe one of these days I’ll get them though!

7. Which caches were the most challenging – physically/mentally? Why?

I don’t think I’ve done too many challenging ones actually. The only thing that’s standing out in my mind right now is a day in the summer of 2010 when we hiked High Head out in Wentworth. The hike itself isn’t that bad, and it’s totally worth it from the top, but of course we for some reason did it on a really hot day which was what made it physically challenging. And we were all stupid and didn’t have water haha So we were just very tired and warm.
 As for mentally…some of the puzzles on my list I mentioned above have me pretty mentally exhausted with just trying to solve them!

8. Do you have a favorite or favorites among the Maritime caches that you’ve found?

I can’t really think of any specific favourites at the moment. I must say though, I love 2 Gypsies hides. They come up with some pretty neat hides and containers – VERY creative (and they’re great people!). Doing Canada’s first was a neat experience as well.

9. What’s the most unusual thing that you’ve ever found in a cache?

I don’t think I’ve found anything super unusual. There’s always random things that you’re like “WHY would somebody leave this?” (such as fast food receipts which I’ve seen a few of). Starr_shine said we found some random candy wrapped up in some plastic wrap in one. But nothing crazy that I can remember.

10. What are your current caching goals? Is there a certain cache that you can’t wait to do?

At the start of the summer I set a number of goals for myself for the summer. I can’t wait to pass 1000. I just need to go out and do it – but it seems these days that’s easier said than done. I want to head to Moncton for the coin scavenger hunt, and I also want to finish last year’s NS Provincial Park passport program, as well as this year’s.

11. How many caches have you placed? Do you have a current hiding goal?

7 (although 1 I archived because it kept being muggled). 2 puzzles and 4 traditional. I’ve been wanting to put a multi out but I want to wait until an idea comes to me. I don’t want to just put one out to have it out there.

12. What advice would you give someone that wants to place a cache? What steps do YOU take when placing a cache?

I would say find somewhere interesting. Although mine aren’t all in a crazy unknown spot, to me they’re all nice spots – they’re not just thrown off the side of the road. Whether it’s a quick series around a local pond, or out near my cottage which is my favourite place to be <3 Once I pick a spot I take multiple readings. Then I return a few days later before I submit it for publishing to make sure the coordinates I took actually lead me to the right spot. If they do, I publish. If they don’t, I take another reading and I’ll return a day or two later to check again.

13. How often do you go caching?

Not NEARLY as often as I’d like. I really only have 2 people I go caching with and 1 works a lot. Lately I’ve gone out alone a couple times because I hate not getting out and I’ve started to refuse to let others dictate when I go, but it’s just not the same being alone. I need more cacher friends! haha So if anybody wants company while caching, I’m available! haha

14. What advice would you give a beginning geocacher?

Go with an open mind and don’t get discouraged if you don’t find them right away. I’ve taken quite a few of my friends, some of which told me I’d NEVER get them out to do it and there was “no way they were going to run around the woods to find plastic” and I was able to talk them into trying it, and all of them left saying they’d do it again (sadly they’re only up for a small handful of caches a day and I have all of Truro and area cleared out, and they’re not up for travelling just to cache). But yeah, I would say go into it with an open mind, enjoy the scenery around you, and enjoy your time outside and away from the tv/computer screens. (And enjoy the amazing sleep you’ll get after a day full of being outside in the fresh air and hiking haha)

15. Do you collect geocoins? Of the ones that you’ve collected, which is your favorite?

Not really. I do have one, a iCache coin (iPhone lover – what can I say), that I log from cache to cache with me, but other than that anything I have is just waiting to be sent out. I have sent out 2 in the past and both went missing within a month (although one has recently resurfaced after a year!) and so now I’m discouraged to send out any more It’s sad to me that some people don’t seem to care about other’s trackables.

16. What type of gear do you carry with you on your caching trips? What’s in your geopack?

Usually nothing. In my trunk I do have 2 backpacks though. I have one little one for if I’m going on a hike – I put water in it, and it has bandaids, wet naps, hand sanitizer, replacement logs and baggies, a flashlight and 2 headlights, pens. The other big backpack has basically the same things; some replacement logs and bags, cache containers for if a spot comes to me while I’m out, all kinds of fasteners (bungee cords, string, wire, tape, etc), and some duo-tangs with various things – plain paper, routes, whatever

17. What is your most memorable caching experience?

Oh boy…where to start. The Red Dirt Dash events are certainly on that list. The first year we competed we went hard all day and came up with 76 finds. This year we upped our team and again went hard all day and came up with 121 finds – both excellent days full of laughs and adrenaline.

There’s been a few day long caching trips (up and at the first cache before dawn, and not home until 11 or 12pm) that are pretty memorable. Not the caches themselves, but just the jokes that arise, and the time with friends – sadly one of these trips hasn’t happened in a while.

Other than that, being lost in the woods in Londonderry in the complete dark without flashlights and no path – complete bushwhacking, is certainly pretty memorable – terrifying at the time and we were both almost on the verge of tears trying to find our way back to the car, but we knew if we broke down it would only hinder us. We both ended up pretty scraped and bruised and shaken but we did find the road and made our way back to the car.

K

18. What is your best caching story?

Oh boy. Can I have 2? haha because I have 2 favourites. Being questioned by the police is up there. Myself and 2 friends were out one night in the dark behind the Truro mall in the ditch looking for GC1JJRT and the police van drove by and slowed right down. They then turned around and shone their big spotlight on us. They rolled down the window and we heard “…what are you doing guuuuys?” (totally said in the way you’d talk to a 3 or 4 year old that KNOWS they’re doing something wrong which made it hilarious). We told him we were geocaching and he had no idea what it was. We described it to him and he just looked at us as if we were nuts and said ok and drove away. Not too long after that the Gypsies set up a multi in town in which part of it includes going into the Police Station 
 Another story that I love was doing GC22WR2. We were in the trees looking, and an employee from a nearby store STORMED out of the store and let me tell you, he looked like he was on a mission for sure. I thought for sure by the determined look on his face he was going to be upset with us being outside of the store and tell us to get lost. Well, once he approached us he said “Can you PLEASE tell me WHAT you are doing?!? I see people out here almost every day and I have NO idea what is going on!” He looked extremely confused and so I put the poor guy out of his misery and told him what we were doing. He said he had asked others in the past and had been told everything from “looking for tree fungus” to “looking for a double beaked woodpecker”. We died laughing. He told us he would sleep easy that night knowing why people were constantly rummaging around outside of his work and his face relaxed and he headed back in to work. From then on, between the 4 of us that were there, an inside running joke of us being “Tree Doctors” formed (and actually because our team name for the first year we competed in the Red Dirt Dash).

19. What do you like about geocaching? What keeps you going?

I started to like it because it was cheap and fun. It got me outside rather than just sitting in the house, and it allowed me to spend time with friends without us going out to eat/to the movies…aka spending money – now it’s gas money but that’s doable (if only gas would go majorly down in price though huh?).
 I LOVE the satisfaction of making the find. As much as difficult finds DRIVE me crazy, the satisfaction of saying or hearing “FOUND IT!” is awesome. That to me is the big thing. I also love that it gets me outside. I don’t think I’ve spent so much time outside since I was a little kid.

20. Besides geocaching, what other things do you like to do?

I love travelling (wish I could be a professional traveller! haha), I’m a BIG Hanson fan and I’ve seen them in concert every year since 2005 (with the exception of 2006 in which they didn’t tour) and so that involves a lot of travelling since they don’t ever come close to the maritimes. I love, love, LOVE hockey (go Habs go), I like spending time with my friends and family, music, reading, wakeboarding, photography, and I actually love my job; teaching elementary

21. What question did you expect us to ask but didn’t. What is the answer?

Hmm maybe “have you ever gotten your vehicle stuck while caching?” haha and to that I answer, yes, and twice in the same day at that! Starr_shine and I were out in Wallace back in January 2010. We were headed down a road and realized we didn’t want to be headed down that road. So since we were in the middle of nowhere I pulled a U turn. Weeeellllll, I kind of overshot/everything was covered in snow and I didn’t realize what I was doing annnnd we got stuck in the ditch. Starr_shine got out and started to push and we tried everything we could to get the car out. Then a truck came along and stopped and picture the creepiest old man you can picture with this little stub of a cigarette hanging out of his mouth getting out of this beaten up truck hahah Well, he had a rope in the truck and told us he’d pull us out. He hooked the rope on and pulled away. The rope snapped JUST as we got far enough to keep going in reverse. If I hadn’t of kept going in reverse I would have slid right back down. I JUMPED out of the car and gave this old man the biggest hug of life haha I believe I even said something along the lines of “I know I don’t even know you at all but I feel compelled to give you the biggest hug ever!” (Likely made his day….*shudder*). So off we went on our merry way to continue caching annnnnd not even half an hour later we were stuck again. This time, not on a main road – we pulled off on this little area on a back road. The snow looked like it was packed…yeah no, not the case at all. We sunk….hardcore. We pushed and pushed and pushed for an hour. We tried just about everything. We tried digging out around the tires, tried to put rubber boots under the tires to grip (yes rubber boots, I don’t know what we were thinking), took the car mats out of the car and tried to put them under the tires to give the tires something to grip, and we even saw part of a broken fence nearby that we went over and broke the rest of the way to see if the wood would do anything hahah. We had no cell service but in the right area we could get 1 bar. So we tried multiple times to call back to Truro to get help. Starr_shine called her dad (the person we could think of with a big truck) who went to get gas and then was going to head out to get us. Annnnd we managed to get ourselves out. Thankfully we laughed throughout the entire experience!

Opencaching is looking for Ambassadors! Do you have what it takes?

Do you love geocaching? Do you love meeting fellow geocachers? Do you love talking about geocaching and your favorite geocaching devices? Then we want to help you spread the love. We’re looking for enthusiastic members of the OpenCaching.com community to become official OpenCaching.com Ambassadors. Ambassadors will help spread the word about OpenCaching.comand share feedback from active geocachers around the world.

As an Ambassador your main responsibility will be to work with geocaching event organizers and geocaching associations in your area. You will attend events and association meetings to give away OpenCaching.com swag, answer questions about OpenCaching.com, gather feedback that will help shape the future of the site, and just share your Opie enthusiasm with other cachers.

Being an OpenCaching.com Ambassador is a volunteer job, but it’s not without some perks. Of course, we’ll provide you with plenty of swag to give away – making you a rock star at events. We’ll also outfit you in OpenCaching.com garb to identify you as an Opie expert. To make sure you are an expert, you’ll get sneak peeks into upcoming OpenCaching.com features and access to beta software for Garmin devices. The feedback you gather and the opinions you provide will make OpenCaching.com even better. If you’re meeting with lots of cachers and sharing great input, we might even decide you need a new Garmin handheld to show off and demonstrate.

If that sounds interesting to you, fill out the application here. We’re going to start with a small group in 2011, so let us know what makes you the ultimate OpenCaching.com Ambassador.

Interview Date : July 16th, 2011

Caching Name : Team-Newfie-Trio

Real Name : Ken Vokey & Wanda-Lee Ellis

1. How did you become involved in geocaching. When did you start?

My wife Wanda was the first to get me started, it was February of 2011 and we were both bored in the house and she found a blurb about Geocaching on NB Tourism website. Since I had a GPS for work she wanted to try it. Not being aware of the proper coordinate system our first trip out was not a great success =D

2. How did you choose your caching name?

When we first started myself and my wife had separate names but I wanted to combine them into one teams name. Since we usually take the dog when we go and we are both from Newfoundland.. Team-Newfie-Trio seemed the best choice. I do primary 95% of the caching tho, and the wife is constantly urging me to change it to my own name, but she does go with me on well-groomed trails when theres no bugs! =D

3. How many caches have you found so far?

1437 caches as of July 17th, 2011

4. What brand/type of GPS do you use?

Currently using a Garmin GPSMAP 62s

5. What programs/software or hardware (PDA/laptop/phone) do you use to make caching easier?

I don’t really use any programs nowadays, I used to use GSAK before I switched to a Macbook, and with my current GPS its paperless so I don’t really need any extra help.

6. What type of cache do you prefer seeking – traditional, multi, puzzle, virtual?

Traditional is what we have most of, Some of the puzzle ones really confuse me and I really have to sit down to figure them out.

7. Which caches were the most challenging – physically/mentally? Why?

I haven’t really come across a mentally challenging one because I don’t do puzzles very often, but as for Physically I like steep terrain hiking. GCGBHX (Sherpody Mountain) or GC1CMMG (Martin Head – Fundy Footpath) were both long hikes and a lot of fun.

8. Do you have a favorite or favorites among the Maritime caches that you’ve found?

Several, GCVDR8 (Spelunky) and GCRGRA (Slow N’ Steady) are some that just come to mind.

(Feel free to list a favorite for each type of cache) Do you have a favorite in a nearby Province?

9. What’s the most unusual thing that you’ve ever found in a cache?

A live snake. It seems there was a hole in the very bottom of the peanut butter container… So I have the GPS in one hand, the container held between body and forearm and I start to open the lid and as soon as I popped the lid there was a hissing and a very annoyed looking snake with a shaking tail looking at me. Rest of the story is Top Secret.. LOL

10. What are your current caching goals? Is there a certain cache that you can’t wait to do?

Im going to try and knock out 2000 caches by the end of the summer, Myself and my buddy Cachescammer will be hiking the entire Dobson trail in 3 days. Also I really would like to get GCBBA

11. How many caches have you placed? Do you have a current hiding goal?

I have currently 22 hidden. I don’t really have a hiding goal, I just place them as the urge suits me and when I have an awesome idea.

12. What advice would you give someone that wants to place a cache? What steps do YOU take when placing a cache?

Advice is an easy one. Maintenance, Don’t place a cache if you cannot maintain it. Some steps I take is to make sure its a good container, Something that will be waterproof is essential and then try to make it fun for cachers to find, whether is be adding a theme to the cache or making it unusual to make them think.

13. How often do you go caching?

Depends on work, but I usually go on a caching excursion on the weekends with friends.

14. What advice would you give a beginning geocacher?

Don’t get frustrated if you cannot find the caches, our first times out we could barely find any! It was only after we got our geosense that we started getting them with ease.

15. Do you collect geocoins? Of the ones that you’ve collected, which is your favourite?

I have only just recently started collecting coins. I currently have 2, The New Brunswick Winter Challenge coin and the Moncton Tourism Coin. No favourite, both are awesome coins!

16. What type of gear do you carry with you on your caching trips? What’s in your geopack?

Water, pens, extra batteries and bug dope. Season dependant tho!

17. What is your most memorable caching experience?

Geocaching in Gros Mourne National Park on my Honeymoon. Lots of great caches and beautiful scenery.

18. What is your best caching story?

New Brunswick Winter Challenge: I was rushing to get to a cache down by Martins Head. We got lost on all the roads and was running out of time because of the tide pattern. The car is pushing snow, and someone had plowed up a bit of snow at the road exit, I popped over it in the car and the car hung up and had the 2 front tires off the ground… front wheel drive with no front tires on the ground is usually bad! Had to jack up the car, take my trusty hatchet I always have in the car and chip away enough ice to lower the car so that the tires could touch.

19. What do you like about geocaching? What keeps you going?

It gets me out of the house. Sometimes I hate being cooped up with nothing to do and geocaching will take us to some places which we would have never known about if I didn’t geocache.

20. Besides geocaching, what other things do you like to do?

To be honest geocaching is basically my only hobby these days, Work is just too busy sometimes to try and juggle too many hobbies. But I do like playing sports, weightlifting and running.

21. What question did you expect us to ask but didn’t. What is the answer?

I expected to be asked about my walking stick. It was made by Cachescammer and its trackable with a deer antler attached to the top. Its a beautiful piece of work.

The Weather Red Dirt Dash was Awesome!
We feared the weather might be a factor, but the day stayed sunny and warm until 11pm that night! It was a great day for caching!

We had a total of around 30 cachers from around the Maritimes show up. Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and PEI were well represented! As well as some of our Caching Cousins from South of the Border

And now onto the best part!

Congrats to team of kmac85, TheSakura, Smitty2010, and antigocache for their outstanding 121 finds and the win!

The winners revived the coveted Golden Potato for a 2nd year in a row. The winners received a very large bag of swag! Some pre-made caches, and the most awesome trophy ever (thanks dally!)

Also a big thanks to all the PEI cachers who came out to the BBQ event after, even if you didn’t race

Enable the new Download Offline Maps lab to make sure you never get lost in an unfamiliar area without a data connection, but also check out two existing mobile Google Maps labs you may not have known about.

Access to Google Maps on smartphones has helped millions avoid getting lost when they visit a new place, but until now it only worked if you had a data signal or Wi-Fi. The Download Map Area feature lets you prepare for a trip by choosing a spot in Google Places and downloading the maps for a 10-mile radius of that spot. It’s a great way to prepare for your family trip at Yellowstone or a honeymoon in Paris. Keep in mind that the download only stores base map tiles and landmarks, so you’ll still need a data connection for directions, Satellite views, Places, and 3D Buildings.

Also consider two other existing labs for Google Maps for Android:

• Measure, once enabled, will give you a red tape measure icon just above the zoom buttons. After tapping that icon you just tap two points on your currently visible map and Google Maps will calculate the distance between the two.
• Scale Bar gives the Android version of Google Maps the feature that we’ve enjoyed on the web version for years. There are approximately 20 levels of zoom from the range of 2,000 miles to 20 feet, and it’s not always apparent which scale is currently displayed. This helps you figure out if what looks like a short walk down the street is really too far away for comfort.

To access any of these labs on your Android phone, choose the menu within Google Maps and select More and then Labs. Android tablets already have the menu button in the upper-right corner. The Download Map Area lab requires Android 2.1+ and the latest version of Google Maps.

“Download map area” added to Labs in Google Maps for Android | The Official Google Blog

Via Lh

We had the formal awarding of the limited edition 2011 Moncton/MGA Geocoin yesterday to Pastor Jim 2 and 5beaver

Congratulations Guys!

Jim Nicolle, left, of Riverview and Wayne Gladstone of Salisbury show their geocaching coins at Moncton City Hall yesterday after Moncton Deputy Mayor Kathryn Barnes presented them. The City of Moncton geocaching coin can be obtained by completing the geocaching scavenger hunt, which began on Tuesday, June 7. Nicolle and Gladstone were the first to complete the hunt and did so in three hours.

Lucky Year Number 7!

The original RDD was the 1st major Geocaching event in the Maritimes.

So I give you…

The competition takes place on June 25th, 2011, and starts at the Cornwall/Charlottetown KOA, centrally located 9 KM south west of Charlottetown, at coords 46.213332, -63.187229.

View Printable Google Map with Directions.

Directions:

• Head northeast on Confederation Bridge – 4.0 km
• Continue onto Route 1 – 45.8 km
• Turn right at Ferry Rd – 1.7 km
• Turn right at Holiday Haven Rd. 1.4 km

All teams will meet up at 9:30AM at the camp ground. We depart at 10AM and go our separate ways for the day. Teams are due back at The Camp Ground at 7pm. Whoever gets the most caches on the Island wins.
The Dash:

• All teams will depart the Camp Ground at 10am.
• Cachers are encouraged to travel in teams. Car pooling saves on gas costs, as well as helps the enironment!
• The competition will end at 7PM PROMPTLY!
  FOR EVERY 5 MINUTES YOU ARE LATE WE WILL SUBTRACT ONE CACHE FROM YOUR TOTAL!!!
• PEI cachers are welcome to participate, but please keep in mind you cannot claim your own caches!
• For anyone who does not want to participate in the challenge, but would like to attend, by all means do so. The MGA should be setup at the campground at approximately 5:30pm.
• Note: You do not need to participate in the challenge to be able to log this cache. As long as you come to the BBQ afterward, you can claim this event as having attended.
• 7:30pm will be the awards ceremony, as well as BBQ. Please bring your own food & beverage items. There is a store nearby, as well as bigger supermarkets in Charlottetown if you need to purchase edibles.

Accommodations:
We will be reserving a block of standard 2-way hookup tent spots at the campground, which will be available on a first come/first serve
basis, at a rate of $32 CAD. Please email us if you would like to reserve one (or more). Once they’re gone, if you do not get one of the reserved spots, you will
need to contact the campground to see if they have any other spots available, or make other arrangements. When you arrive at the
campground, you can pay for your spot at the administration office. If you have an RV or camper, we would ask you contact the campground at (902)566-2421 and reserve a spot. In the morning, we
can all head out someplace for breakfast. Dont forget to save $42.50 for the bridge to come back to NB! (No charge to go there,
they only charge you if you want to leave). Alternately, there is also a ferry that runs between Caribou, NS and Wood Islands PE. You
can check their scheduling and rates out at http://www.peiferry.com/

Prizes:
1st Place – Bag of Swag! – will go to the team who finds the most caches.

More prize categories to follow.
Tiebreaker rules: In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by the following criteria

• Getting the 2 furthest caches on the Island from each other.
• Whoever can produce a larger collection of empty Tim Horton’s cups fresh from the trip.
• In the unlikely event of a tie at this stage, the competitors still tied will fight a grueling match of best of 3 rock paper scissors.

Who says you can’t change how the system works?

Groundspeak uses the same feedback system we have in play here at the MGA, Get Satisfaction, (you can see it in use on the main portion of the website, there’s a little brown “feedback” tag on the left).

What GetSatisfaction lets you do is provide feedback, negative or positive, and suggest new features for the people that run a site. One of the features (the 2nd most popular one I might add) for groundspeak to add-back to geocaching.com was the “Virtual Cache”.

From the GetSatisfaction Feedback post.

Last night Jeremy Irish posted this response:

We continue to work on the project, but unfortunately will be unable to launch something until late June or early July. I’ll update this if anything changes. We’ll be incorporating the concept into our August 20 Block Party in Seattle, so early August is the absolute latest that we’ll have something live. (13675)

Jeremy

An earthcache, which is a style of virtual cache, have proven to be rather popular the past few years, and their popularity, along with the user demand, may have prompted this move.

New Brunswick drivers enter a new era on the roads and highways in the province today.

RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

As of today, driving while talking or texting is illegal in N.B. If it’s not hands free, you can’t use any type of mobile communication, GPS or MP3 player.
Police around the province will begin enforcing new distracted driving legislation, prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones, texting devices and other portable communications and entertainment devices while driving. The act also prohibits the manual programming or adjusting of any global positioning system while driving.

And if you think police will be lenient on drivers who “forget” or ignore the law in its first few weeks, think again.

“It’s going to be enforced like any other law,” says Codiac Regional RCMP Cpl. Dan Roy. “If we stop somebody, they can face a fine of $172.50.”

A ticket also comes with a loss of three points from one’s licence.

Roy says New Brunswick drivers have known this new law was coming for months now, so “I think everybody’s pretty much had a grace period.”

The legislation was introduced Public Safety Minister Robert Trevors last fall.

“This was a high priority on my list when I came into this position,” he told Canadaeast News Service last month. “This new law will help make New Brunswick roads and highways safer for everyone.”

Trevors said he hopes the new legislation sparks a cultural shift towards improved road safety.

“We’re losing young people on New Brunswick’s highways because of terrible accidents involving hand-held devices,” he said. “We need to change the culture and encourage safety on our roads.”

Roy said Codiac RCMP is in favour of the new law.

“We’re very supportive of anything that’s going to increase safety and reduce the risk to drivers and passengers on the roads,” he said. “It is good legislation to have in place.”

Public feedback has been positive so far, both Roy and a spokesperson for Public Safety said, but the Codiac RCMP officer expects some drivers will be slow to adjust to the new law.

“I imagine we’re still going to see a lot of people talking on their cell phones, but it’s hard to speculate how it’s going to be,” Roy said.

He points to seatbelts as an example. Drivers and passengers in the province have been required to wear seatbelts since 1983, but many are still caught not wearing them.

“It’s hard to say why people do what they do, but we’re there to remind them that it is a safety issue and they can face the fine if they choose not to (obey the law),” Roy said.

According to the Canada Safety Council, drivers who take their eyes off the road to send a text message or scroll through music on a hand-held player are 23 times more likely be involved in a collision than those who don’t.

Exempt from the new ban are voice command systems, one-touch devices or built-in screens. Telecommunications workers who require special equipment, peace officers and fire and ambulance personnel are also exempt from the ban on hand-held devices when performing their duties.

Any driver will be permitted to make a 911 call as needed. Drivers of commercial vehicles will be allowed to use two-way radios, and ham radio operators will be permitted to use them for emergency search-and-rescue activities.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada has said that in addition to the fine and demerit points, drivers can also expect to see an increase in their auto insurance.

—-

What is a driver distraction?
The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) and the Strategy to Reduce Impaired Driving (STRID) have developed the following definition of driver distraction: “Distracted driving is the diversion of attention from driving, as a result of the driver focusing on a non-driving object, activity, event, or person. This diversion reduces awareness, decision-making, or performance leading to increased risk of driver-error, near-crashes, or crashes. The diversion of attention is not attributable to a medical condition, alcohol/drug use and/or fatigue.”

What is illegal and what is not under the new law?
* Telephone calls: You cannot make or take calls when driving unless your telephone is hands-free or single-touch. If there is an emergency, you can call 911. Only while driving a police, fire or ambulance vehicle are you allowed to make or take a call.
* Texting: You are not allowed. Ever.
* GPS: You can look at your GPS screen, but you cannot program or handle it.
* MP3 or other entertainment devices: You can handle built-in devices. If you have a portable device plugged in while you drive, you can listen, but you cannot touch.
* Display screen: If it is built into your vehicle, it is fine. Otherwise, you cannot have it in your view.
* Two-way radio: You can use a two-way radio if driving for commercial purposes or driving a commercial vehicle (a bus or vehicle with gross mass of 4,500 kg or more), or involved in an emergency operation or search-and-rescue.

What is the penalty:
Drivers who violate the legislation can be fined $172.50 and lose three points from their licence.

Tips for reducing distractions:
* Leave prepared. Read maps, program your GPS, and adjust your seat, climate controls and other devices before you leave.
* Focus on the road. Studies show that drivers who talk on a cellphone lose about 50 per cent of what is going on around them, visually, and are four times more likely to get into a crash.
* Ask your passenger(s) for help. If you are travelling with someone else and your cellphone rings, ask them to take the call for you. They can also help by adjusting controls on devices.
* Pull over in a safe place if you must care for children, make a call or have something to eat or drink.
* Let it go to voice mail. Better yet, turn the cellphone off to avoid the temptation to pick it up. Let voice mail do its job and call back later when it is safe to do so.
* Avoid intense, complicated or emotional conversations when driving.
* If you feel sleepy, find a safe place to pull over and rest.
* Source: New Brunswick Department of Public Safety

We’re proud to announce a Moncton Geocaching Scavenger Hunt in partnership with Moncton Tourism. The press has seen the coin, but the offficial unveiling to Geocachers will be tomorrow night at the Moncton Supper Event : GC2WGG0

Be sure to come along to get a look at the coin! The official Tourism Moncton Scavenger Hunt geocache GC2B8EJ will be released Tuesday, June 7th.

From the Official Moncton Press Release :

MONCTON – The City of Moncton is happy to be celebrating National Tourism Week from June 6 -12, 2011. At a press conference held this morning at Moncton City Hall, the Geocaching Scavenger Hunt was launched along with a coupon booklet, in partnership with the local hotel association and a new tourism video. The Times & Transcript will be publishing a special tourism supplement on Saturday, June 4, 2011 that will highlight various activities happening for National Tourism Week and this summer.

The City of Moncton unveiled its very first geocaching coin which can be obtained by completing the scavenger hunt. The Geocaching Scavenger Hunt is a collaboration between the City of Moncton and Maritime Geocaching Association. The scavenger hunt will take people on a journey to some tourist attractions in and around the Greater Moncton area. Interested participants should go to www.geocaching.com and search for GC2B8EJ to find directions to the first cache. This site goes live on Tuesday, June 7, 2011.

“This initiative is a wonderful way for tourists and residents alike to explore Moncton and the surrounding area in a fun and adventurous way,” says Rob Durdle from Maritime Geocaching. “Geocaching is becoming a popular world-wide activity and it is so amazing to have Moncton on board.”

Tourism Moncton is known for its great partnerships and is very pleased to partner with the Greater Moncton Hotel Association to announce a bundle of discounts and savings at local hotels, attractions and restaurants with a coupon booklet. This booklet will be available at Tourism Day in the Plaza on June 10th. The City of Moncton also unveiled its new tourism video at the press conference. This video will promote the city to various markets and is also available for use by the industry partners.

“Tourism is a major industry in Moncton as total tourism expenditures in 2010, in our market place, were $385.3 million. Room sales in Moncton, during 2010, increased by 10.3% over 2009 figures and, in fact, 2010 proved to be our best year on record for overall tourism performance across all categories,” states Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc.

From the Times and Transcript Insert coming out June 4th in the Saturday Paper.

Tourism Moncton’s Geocaching Scavenger Hunt Launch

by Heather Ferguson

Tourism Moncton is pleased to present the exciting Geocaching Scavenger Hunt which will be introduced at a special launch on June 6. An ingenious way to attract visitors to some of the region’s finest local attractions and hotel destinations, the dovetailing of the hobby of Geocaching with exposure to area landmarks, parks, and historic towns is a unique way to learn more about the region and to hone competitive skills for one of the world’s fastest growing pastimes. Tourism Moncton is partnering with La Pays de la Sagouine and Olivier Soapery in Bouctouche, Shediac Bay Cruises in Shediac, The Rocks at Hopewell Cape, the Town of Sackville, and a number of major hotels in and around the Greater Moncton Area and nearby towns in South-eastern New Brunswick. Tapping into a hobby which has a wide appeal to every age demographic, Tourism Moncton’s Geocaching Scavenger Hunt will be initiated with an online clue, which will lead the Geocachers to a bilingual game sheet with directions on how to play the game. A series of hints will lead participants to local attraction destinations where they must find a clue to answer a question on an accompanying game sheet. Geocachers successfully completing 8 out of 11 questions will receive a specially designed, limited edition geo-coin with a unique tracking number. That tracking number allows Geocachers, to track the coins position as it moves around the world from one Geocache to another. Not all Geocachers will choose to “release” their coin into the wild though, choosing instead to collect the unique coin like one would collect a piece of art.

The idea for the Geocaching Scavenger Hunt came about as a result of an idea jointly developed by Tourism Moncton employee Charlene Fox and Maritime Geocaching representative Rob Durdle, who is himself an avid enthusiast of the hobby. “I’m very excited about the launch of this event”, Charlene says, “This is the ‘in’ thing amongst people from all walks of life. I am amazed that there are 15 or 20 caches on Main Street in Moncton alone!” A fast growing hobby, there are now 1.6 million caches worldwide, the last 0.6 million developed in the last year alone adding to the 1 million it took 10 years to develop. “People geocache for various reasons,” says Charlene. “Some people love to collect geo-coins, while others like to pass them along to other caches that they visit, allowing them to track the coins journey across the country, or even around the world.”

Geocaching as a hobby began in 2000 when the U.S. military made GPS signals available to civilians. Founder Dave Ulmer began by testing his GPS device on a hidden object and the Geocaching idea was born. Caches containing items were hidden throughout communities across the world with the express purpose of utilizing GPS devices to locate them. Participants were urged to place an item in the cache they found and take an item out, posting findings and comments on a special Internet user site. A decade later, the hobby has taken on various forms, from snowshoeing Geocaching in the Antarctic to traversing the sand dunes of Asia. Sites such as www.geocaching.com and www.Maritime-Geocaching.com can offer assistance to the beginner with their forums for tips and suggestions.

The Tourism Moncton’s Geocaching Scavenger Hunt lends a new dimension to the traditional hobby with a new twist to the game designed to showcase the best our region has to offer. Join the Geocaching Scavenger Hunt. You’ll have the time of your life and learn a lot about our little corner of the earth.

Interview Date : 03.22.11

Caching Name : TreeHugger21

Real Name : Nathalie

1. How did you become involved in geocaching. When did you start?

I read about it in an organization’s newsletter and asked a friend who had a GPS to take me out. i started in the summer of 2007

2. How did you choose your caching name?

It was a nickname that some friends had for me and it represents my personnality well.

3. How many caches have you found so far?

1774 (2000 as of last week, Congrats! -Dragoon)

4. What brand/type of GPS do you use?

Garmin Oregon

5. What programs/software or hardware (PDA/laptop/phone) do you use to make caching easier?

GSAK. I try to keep it simple since i am not big on computers and electronics

6. What type of cache do you prefer seeking – traditional, multi, puzzle, virtual?

Traditional when I am close to home, and virtual when I travel (I have found some virtuals in England, France and Italy). I also like the cool earthcaches that take me to some really neat places, like one that I did in Maine this winter.

7. Which caches were the most challenging – physically/mentally? Why?

The run of 5/5 caches that I did this winter with Coopsquared and Unruly Canuck. It was a LONG day of driving and caching, and featured some very challenging caches. I think my brain gave out on me faster than my body did that time.

8. Do you have a favorite or favorites among the Maritime caches that you’ve found?

The ice walk event and the race for cache event are among my favorite caches, since they bring a whole new element to the game. I love any cache that will take me on a nice hike, including those at Fundy Park and along the dobson trail. I also did a nice series in the hopewell area that i really enjoyed. I have done a few really clever ones that i have really enjoyed as well, like the wooden ankle, along another line, and a few others whose names i forget. I Nova-Scotia i did most of the Clare series, which was also a lot of fun.

9. What’s the most unusual thing that you’ve ever found in a cache?

a strawberry flavored condom (in a cemetery cache).

10. What are your current caching goals? Is there a certain cache that you can’t wait to do?

I would like to climb Mount Carleton this summer and get a few caches on the way and finish Jim52′s puzzle series. I would also like to hit 2000 caches by the end of the summer.

11. How many caches have you placed? Do you have a current hiding goal?

I have 38 caches hidden, a lot of those being events. I believe in maintaining what i put out there, so i dont expect that i will be hiding many more, until i archive some of my old ones. I do plan on putting out more events though, include a few more CITO’s (We have adopted a highway that we must clean up twice a year) and the second annual Snapshots event.

12. What advice would you give someone that wants to place a cache?

What steps do YOU take when placing a cache? Dont put it just anywhere for the sake of hiding a cache. Choose a good location. Make sure the container is of good quality and is waterproof

13. How often do you go caching?

it depends. I have gone every day for a week or two on end, then not gone at all for months at a time. I like to go once every couple of weeks if time permits. I have been going more often now that i have gotten to know some of the geocachers in the area.

14. What advice would you give a beginning geocacher?

Watch out! its addictive. you’d better know what you are getting yourself into!

15. Do you collect geocoins?

Of the ones that you’ve collected, which is your favorite? I dont actively collect anymore, but i do have a few in my collection. My favorite is probably my 1000 finds achievement coin.

16. What type of gear do you carry with you on your caching trips? What’s in your geopack?

a first aid kit and knee brace. lots of water. spare batteries. flashlight. snacks. and most importantly, A PEN!

17. What is your most memorable caching experience?

grabbing 124 caches along the Stud Mill Road with some members of Team Norkak (Coopsquared and Forest Fauna).

18. What is your best caching story?

The best? i dont even know where to start. haha. I guess i would have to say the time i grabbed a cache near the hospital in Moncton and turned around just in time to see a man in a hospital gown (the kind that opens on the back) getting patted down over a police car.

19. What do you like about geocaching? What keeps you going?

I like spending time outdoors and going to new places. and it keeps me active throughout all seasons.

20. Besides geocaching, what other things do you like to do?

I have been spending a lot of time at the gym lately, and reading books. I like canoeing in the summer, but i dont do it nearly as much as i would like. Travel

21. What question did you expect us to ask but didn’t. What is the answer?

I really cant think of anything other than maybe, how do you feel about micros in the woods. i hate them.

It’s amazing what you uncover while geocaching. A geocacher finds an ancient artifact… and does the right thing, leaving the artifact and calling archaeologists. Congrats and thanks CariocaeFilhos!

Joanna Dodder/The Daily Courier Dave Kurr and his family admire a rare Yavapai Indian jar Kurr found on the Prescott National Forest.

When Dave Kurr was a kid exploring the hills north of Prescott with his friends, he was bummed out when they would find arrowheads and he never did.

It took him until he was 43 years old to find an Indian artifact, but he’s made up for it by finding an amazingly rare ceramic jar on thePrescott National Forest.

And instead of keeping it to show his friends, he chose to do the right thing by leaving it where it was and reporting it to archaeologists, so everyone could learn more about the people who created it.

“It’s not going to do me any good in my house,” Kurr said. “I thought it would be more beneficial to them.”

Read more: http://bit.ly/hzNIPX

One of the greatest things about geocaching is that anyone with a GPS-enabled device can participate in the activity. Whether you are a parent with young children, an extreme sports fanatic or a disabled individual, there are geocaches designed with you in mind.

As a Cache Owner, you can help fellow geocachers determine whether your cache is a good fit for their needs. Simply addattributes to your cache listing. Attributes are icons that indicate what to expect on the geocache journey and at the cache location. “Recommended for kids,” “climbing gear required” and “wheelchair accessible” are just a few of the dozens of attributes.

Cache Owners who are planning to add the “wheelchair accessible” attribute to their cache page or are debating whether their cache deserves a 1-star, 1.5-star, or 2-star terrain rating should check out handicaching.com. As you can see from this video, just because the ground is flat does not necessarily mean that a geocache is wheelchair accessible. Handicaching.com will help you determine the accessibility of your cache based on five factors: distance to cache, route surface, route slope, route obstructions and cache height. When in doubt, mark the terrain rating as 1.5 stars and explain the details in your Long Description on the cache page.

The ability to rate caches based on accessibility is not limited to Cache Owners; everyone can help. All geocachers are welcome to contribute their input at handicaching.com. Thank you for your efforts to make geocaching more accessible for all!

Via Latitude 47

Prepare for your first geocaching adventure with two new easy to understand videos from Geocaching.com. Discover the tips and tricks of selecting and finding your first geocache. You’ll learn the best type of cache to select, what to bring and even tips on where to look. It’s all to give you the greatest chance for success in your inaugural GPS-enabled treasure hunt.

Start by watching: Selecting Your First Geocache

Next watch: Finding Your First Geocache

Veteran geocachers can share these videos with your newbie friends to help them log their first smiley. Find these videos and dozens more  here.

Via Latitude 47

It is hard to say exactly what makes geocaching so addictive. Is it the fresh air? The exercise? The amazing places this activity has taken you? It’s most likely all of the above and more. We’re willing to bet that one of the many reasons you love geocaching is that each geocache you find feels like a small victory; you had to meet and overcome a challenge in order to find that cache.

The challenge for you might be in solving a puzzle to determine the coordinates for a Mystery/Puzzle Cache, surviving the journey to the cache location, discovering the cache, and/or figuring out how to retrieve the logbook from a tricky cache container. Cache owners spend a lot of time and energy designing these experiences. You can help preserve them for others by keeping information that might spoil such moments private. This could include videos of a cache find or the answers to Question and Answer stages of a Multi-Cache.

If you would like to contact a cache owner to request permission to post spoilers publicly, you can email them through Geocaching.com. Thank you for helping to ensure that the experience at each cache you’ve found remains just as it was for you!

Via LATITUDE 47

The Geocaching Shop A rather unique new cache container, I can see El_Nimrod plastering PEI with these things

I’m looking to pick up a few of these next time I make an order, if anybody is interested let me know!

An adaptation to the world famous Joani designed custom made nano cache. Perfect for your local urban Geocaching experience. A built in magnet makes it easy to hide these cache containers in various settings.

Now with built in speaker and heat sensitive chip. Are you sick of spending hours trying to find these tiny magnetic geocache containers? Well we’ve decided enough is enough, these little critters are spoiling our fun so we’ve manufactured these genius nano containers.

Built into the base is a heat sensitive chip so if a fellow geocacher is within 500 yards their body heat will be detected and trigger the audible device to send out a high pitch tone through the speaker on the base. The geocacher can then easily follow the sound directly to the find and move quickly onto the next cache.

Extra log included as well as a gasket to water proof the container as normal.