April 30, 2010

Happy Anniversary!



When I first wrote about the 10 Years! Events planned for this weekend, there were only two events listed on the official Grounspeak page commemorating the milestone, and a geocaching.com site search only produced 336 event results. Now there are hundreds of official events showing on the map on the Groundspeak page, and by running the following geocaching.com search:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/nearest.aspx?key=10+Years!&submit4=Go

you'll generate a list of well over 600 different planned events. Hopefully by now, you've found one or more anniversary events to attend, but if not, you should have plenty of options. If you'd like to generate a pocket query that lists all the 10 Years! Events near you, see my previous post for instructions.

And, if you decide to attend the 10 Years! Oakland, CA event on May 2nd, please make sure to look for me and say hello. I'd love to meet you.

Cache On and Happy Anniversary!

April 24, 2010

Happy Earth Day


While we should strive to make everyday Earth Day, participating in Cache In Trash Out (CITO) Event is a great way to do something nice for the planet, and get in a little caching while you're at it. You can find a calendar of CITO events at this link. Or you can use geocaching.com's advance search feature to find a CITO Event near you.

However you decide to celebrate Earth Day this weekend, here's hoping it's full of new caches.

Cache On!

April 18, 2010

GPS Comes To The iPod Touch

Dual Electronics recently released an iPodTouch attachment that provides GPS Navigation for the iPod Touch, called the XGPS300.



While primarily intended to convert your iPod Touch into a turn-by-turn navigation device (using the NavAtlas Navigation App.), the XGPS300 will also work with many other GPS-enabled  apps. such as location-based tools (like Foursquare and Gowalla), and of course, the Geocaching application. Since the initial release of the iPhone/iPod Touchh geocaching app., we iPod Touch owners could use all of its features except for the navigation utility (unless we were within range of a wi-fi signal - a rarity out on the hiking the trails). The XGPS300 now gives us that option.


There is a nice review of the device on CNET complete with video. The main criticism, other than having to switch between GPS mode and battery mode, is the steep price - about $200.


Finally, there's a brief review of the device from a geocacher's perspective on the latest installment of the Podcacher Podcast Show. It starts at about minute 8:43 into the podcast.


As for me, it'll take much more than this before I ever give up my trusty Garmin GPSmap 60CSx GPSr. For now, I'll continue using my iPod Touch as a cache information storage device allowing me to keep it paperless out there.


Cache On!

April 10, 2010

The Numbers Game



There was a lot of discussion this week on the interwebz over the new, unofficial 24-hour cache find record, all 626 of 'em, set recently by Team Geo-Rangers and Peasinapod, as announced by Jeremy Irish in this April 7th Tweet. The majority of their caches were found along an impressive geocaching power trail in the California/Nevada desert:



Here is one of Team Geo-Rangers' logs from the record-breaking effort. There was also some discussion of this amazing feat in the forums. While most people weighing in were quick to offer their congratulations, there were those who felt that this just isn't "real geocaching".

Personally, I have no problem with these types of numbers runs, and would enjoy doing something like this, just as much as I enjoy spending weeks/months/years on challenge caches, or biking in stunningly beautiful  areas all for just a handful of caches. As far as I'm concerned, it's all good, and the variety of caching options just adds to the enjoyment of our wonderful hobby.

Congratulations to Team Geo-Rangers and Peasinapod, and Cache On!

April 3, 2010

10 Years! Events

As we get closer to May 1st, you've no doubt noticed a growing number of 10 Years! Events published under the "Upcoming Events" section of the Groundspeak Weekly Newsletter:


Groundspeak has even created a special web site for these Events. Here you will find maps and lists of various events across the country, and information about hosting a 10 Years! Event. If you think you might like to host one, here's what you need to know:

Anyone can host a 10 Years! Event April 30 - May 3, 2010. Be sure to check your local event calendar before submitting one, though: it may already be planned. In addition to the standard event cache Guidelines, there are a few additional guidelines that you will need to follow if you wish your event to qualify for a 10 Years! cache type icon.

Additional Guidelines:
  • Events must be held April 30 - May 3, 2010.
  • The name of the event needs to be formatted this way: "10 Years! (your location)."
  • At least 10 people must attend.
  • Flashmobs do not qualify.
  • A video or picture must be taken at the event.
  • The people in the video/picture should be festive. Keep it family-friendly.
At the moment, the site only lists events that are scheduled to be attended by Groundspeak Lackeys. If you'd like to find other 10 Years! Events a little closer than Seattle or Chicago, do a keyword search of "10 Years!" from the geocaching.com Hide and Seek page:


As of this posting, the search brings up 336 different events. If you want to see a list of the closest 10 Years! Events to your home coordinates, just create a pocket query using the following search criteria:
  • Show Me 500 Caches
  • Selected Types Event Cache
  • From Origin My Home Coordinates
  • Within A Radius of 500 miles [note: 500 miles is the maximum allowable]
  • Placed During Between April 30, 2010 and May 3, 2010
Leave all the other search criteria selections alone, then submit the query and preview the search. You should see a list of 10 Years! Events sorted from closest to furthest, which should help you choose which one to attend!

Finally, I'll leave you with a link to a 10 Year! Event cache in Antioch, California, which contains a very good, and very brief, description of the history of Geocaching: 10 Years! Antioch.

Cache On!