Haughtily Fun First To Find

In Stem, NC on the way to work and standing on the fringe of a cemetery. An old one with some of the dates going back to the late 1700s.

The hide itself was placed very nicely into an old tree hole with well placed bark as cover. A very eerie yet peaceful FTF. Not sure why I am attracted to cemeteries but they are fascinating. Must be something with the history that has been and the time passed.

I currently have a very cool cemetery hide myself and have received nothing but nice comments to it's Uniqueness. Its GC1NK95 "At Peace and Not To Be Forgotten" if interested.

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Finally Some FTF Respect

(RESPECT patio stone on top of regular sized geocache)

I had tried this easy and quite inventive geocache late last week and had to DNF it. Mainly because the cache wasn't hidden at time of publishing. Little details. For some magical reason it remained unfound all weekend so I swooped in this morning and snagged it.

If anything I have a great motivation to make a GeoSnippits video on guidelines for how NOT to hide a geocache.
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Springtime Beauty in the Woods

We were soggy in the woods and among the browns and subtle greens was these blossoms.
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Doing The Walk in the Woods Series

Not having the best of Geocaching days today. After an inch of rain fell last night the trails were soaked and we ended up bush whacking to keep dry. There were five geocaches to the series and we ended up with three. The pond and dam areas were overflowing over the trails in spots but we kept on for the three mile hike.

We saw one huge turtle, frogs and minnows in pond. I had a blast but Miss Geoness was a bit fatigued.

Hope the rest of the afternoon goes better.
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Taking The Kids To A Geocaching First To Find

This was an extremely rainy wet Saturday afternoon when my BlackBerry went off telling me a geocache just published. I quickly read over the description and found that it was only five miles away. After stopping myself from leaping into my car all by myself I asked my daughter Geoness if she wanted to go for her second FTF.

"Can Maria come?", she asked. This was her neighborhood friend of which they are usually joined at the hip doing "pre-teen" stuff.

"Sure no problem", says I but I warned that Maria needed to ask her parents for permission first.

After a few minutes we all jumped into the geocache-mobile and were off for the 1/1 find.

The cache site was interesting being in a small garden of a Church. It was even more interesting because a Saturday service was in process. I slowly drove to the back of the parking lot without a single muggle in sight. They apparently were all inside which gave us the opportunity to check out the geocache and possibly get the FTF.

Being a 1/1 it was a quick find and the girls quickly went through and traded swag before we put everything back in it's hidey hole. The First To Find was ours.

On the way back I asked if Maria liked her first taste of geocaching and her first words was to ask if we could do some more. That of course was when the gully washer rain started so we will have to postpone for another day.

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Tutorial Video on Loading Waypoints and POIs onto a Garmin 60CSx

HeadHardHat got himself a new toy and boy is it fun for Geocaching. I have in my hot little hands a brand spanking new Garmin 60CSx GPS. Some of you with the more up to date GPSs may just go "big deal", but I have done my research and pound for pound I have found that the 60CSx is the work horse's work horse. I know it has been on the market for several years now and there is a reason why it is still the most popular handheld GPS to date.

When discussing what Geocachers like about their 60CSx units the top three faves is accuracy, durability and ease of use. As of this post I have had mine for three weeks and I couldn't agree more.

The shear size of memory for maps and POIs with the addition of an SD card (I upgraded from the factory 256Meg to 2Gig) is quite useful. I currently have my standard 1000 Geocache waypoints and the addition of the 20,000 - yes 20,000 additional geocaches loaded as Points of Interest (POIs). The kicker is that has barely scratched the memory surface and there is tons of room for custom maps.

Okay I just know you are asking yourself why would I bother with keeping 20,000 geocaches on my GPS? Go ahead ask, I'm right here... The reason is it takes almost no time to load and maintain that many when you use an application like GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife). GSAK stores all my .GPX files that I receive from geocaching.com which is also known as Pocket Queries. You simply drag and drop them onto GSAK and it loads them automatically. Then I run a filter to clean up the geocaches the way I want and download them to the Garmin. That's it, and I can do the whole thing in about 15 minutes. Now I can know the whereabouts of pretty much every geocache in my state. Tell me that's not helpful.

So speaking of geocache waypoints and POIs, interested in having multitudes on your GPS? Glad you asked so lets get to it.

GeoSnippits - Load POIs and Waypoints to Garmin 60CSx Part One
Part One shows you how to get the necessary .gpx files via geocaching.com's Pocket Queries. Then how to load them into GSAK which will then load the geocache waypoints onto your Garmin 60CSx GPS.



Go To Video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPgfyX9nArA


GeoSnippits - Load POIs and Waypoints to Garmin 60CSx Part Two
Part Two shows you how to load all those thousands of Points Of Interest (POI)s onto your SD card in the Garmin GPS. One complete you have the latest and greatest information for potentially thousands of geocaches. So what are you waiting for? Lets Get Started...



Go To Video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iyxZDLUOR0

I hope you enjoy this tutorial and feel free to let me know your comments and suggestions. If fact 90% of all the GeoSnippits tutorials we make are from suggestions by geocachers and people like you.

Thanks in advance -HHH


Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com/

My Early Morning 1/1 Geocaching Nightmare

In the geocaching world there is a rating for how difficult the terrain surrounding the cache site (or getting to it) is and another for how difficult it is actually hidden. The range for both is from one to five. So if you ever look at a geocache listing you will see references like D3.5/T2. The easiest of geocaches to find is a 1/1. Normally a cache of this ease is accessable by wheelchairs and usually is wide open or has obvious where-a-bouts like flashing neon arrows and the like.

So when I saw two 1.1's publish last night my first assumption was - cool, piece of cake. Ever see the comedian Benny Hill talk about the word ASSUME. The punch line is how assuming makes an ASS out of U and ME. Well hee-haw for me cuz that's what I felt like by the time I got home.


Geocache #1. Drove into the parking lot near ground zero and after reading the description I walked over to the geocache site and immediately noticed that the terrain was not correct and anybody with a wheelchair better have 4x4 mode to get there. Not completely terrible but definitely not a 1. That little .5 makes all the difference. Started looking around and was greeted by a host of dense bushes. Thought sure no problem and started looking for the small container, and looked and looked. Bush after bush with nada, zip, nothing. Expanded my search even though there was nothing else around and still found nothing but a good soaking from the well rained on bushes.

Well shoot. Checked out the hint that said "Under RESPECT" which made no sense. I figured a sign or some other clue to point me to this simple park and grab..... and bupkis. Okay fine, I wasn't pleased with myself but hey there was a second FTF prospect and so I would go check that out and come back for a second swing. Little did I know that my temporary grief was going to get worse.

Geocache #2. The second geocache was about ten miles away and even though the early morning traffic was increasing it was not all that bad as I pulled into the parking lot. The ground zero was about 140 feet from the parking lot across a grassy yard and pointed to a large tree. Now again the difference in terrain is only slight but would need to be adjusted in my humble opinion and no biggie.

Walked to large oak tree which had a nice crown in the center and nothing else. Looked around and found nothing. Looked in all the reachable places and nothing. This was another small hidden by the same hider as my first geocache today. A pattern was forming in my head. I looked around one last time and expanded to the fence that was about twenty feet from the tree. Nothing. Eventually I figured that maybe the geocaches were posted before the hider realized that they needed to be in place. Didn't know at that point and started walking back to my car. That's when I saw the blue lights and heard the quick "whoop!" that told me the law was behind me. I turned around and smiled while walking over to the car.

The officer was very nice and asked what I was doing there. I informed him about the geocache and that I was just leaving. He then pointed out the white No Tresspassing after hours sign that was on the outside of said wooden fence. I told him I didn't see it from where I came from and that I hoped the hider had permission from the business owner to hid it here. He said no problem and promptly left but it was just one other thing to have to deal with this disaster.

When I went home I wrote to the first time hider and explained a few things including what had happened. For me I am just going to put it behind me and if anything it once again makes for a good story. I do know though that in the not to distant future I am making a GeoSnippits tutorial on some tips for first time hiders. I am hearing more and more about geocachers who have almost no experience and then trying to do hides without knowing the proper procedures and etiquette's. All part of the fun of the game I guess. Then again I have a twisted idea of what fun is.

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Bad Hide and No Luck With Number Three FTF

Well you can't win them all. I found ground zero which was a grate but I have a feeling the cache took the plunge. No sign of it after an extensive looking. The thing I am not all that keen is what is shown in the photo. I believe it is supposed to be the focal point of the cache with Who killed Kenny as the theme. This is an eight foot small coffin sized hole with a one foot skirt surrounding it. It's about 13 feet from ground zero and I didn't find the cache here either. I would be concerned with someone doing a night cache or kids. Another example of where Not to Hide.
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After Work FTF

Going after work back to Henderson, NC. This was a nice park and grab which makes two First To Finds today. The weather was cold with some sprinkles.
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Lunchtime FTF

I literally had time for one out of three First To Find grabs in Henderson, NC. Choose this one and back for a meeting.
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And A Good FTF Morning To You

A second new geocache popped up last night. I just had to make the attempt for the First To Find grab. Walking in da woods before the sun comes up is fun stuff. Signed the clean sheetz.
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Bed Time FTF Snack With A Side Order of Cops

The owner of the Geocache that I went for tonight said to be careful because the police like to hang around the same area as the cache site. So when I hopped into my geocache-mobile at 10:30 at night I was not surprised to see two police squad cars sitting right where the geocache was supposedly hidden. Now I am not going to let the law slow me down from getting an FTF if I can help it.

I simply drove up next two the two cars with my dome light turned on and rolled down my window.
"Evening officers, sorry to disturb you but I am a geocacher and if it was okay with you I would like to look for a geocache that was just placed about 80 feet over there. Would that be okay?", blank stares return towards me as I start explaining what geocaching was.
"You are more than welcome to join me if you would like. Shouldn't take more than five minutes or so", I say as calmly as if asking for directions.

"Well I unfortunately have a run to go onto but he may be interested", stated the young officer.
"Sure I heard of geocaching but never tried it before", said the other.

So off we went after I showed him the printed off geocache page. I told him roughly what we were looking for which was a regular sized geocache and it was hanging in a tree. We walked down a slight slope and within a few minutes I spotted it and showed the geocache to the officer. He examined it and I showed the log book and other trinkets that were inside. After signing the log and putting everything back in place it was time to leave so I thanked him and went on my merry way. What fun this evening adventure was. Not only was it fun doing a night time FTF but having a police escort made it that much more exciting.

Hopefully I have added one more law enforcement to our ranks of geocachers. If anything it makes for a great story which is starting to become the norm for me.. Just loving it...

That's Not a Banana, That's My .....

I find all sorts of unusual trees and plants when walking in the woods of North Carolina. This interesting, specimen just seemed to want to say, err, hi.

California may have happy cows but NC has happy trees.

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Miss Geoness Makes 250 Find Milestone

Miss Geoness made her 250 Find Milestone today. She will receive her milestone pin and Geocoin. Headhardhat is very proud of her dedication to Geocaching and her work with the GeoSnippits videos.
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Ran Into Sir Patrick in the Woods.

I love running into fellow geocachers. Here is Sir Patrick we found out in the middle of the woods looking for the same geocache.














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Signing Log book at Lake Crabtree

Having a ball bushwhacking half a mile to the ammo box and then back again. Gorgeous out!
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Daughter Geoness and Headhardhat in Cary, NC

We are having a great day Geocaching. Stopped for a quick lunch of homemade chicken salad sandwiches, apples and cookies. Mmmmm we love our picnics on the road.
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Beautiful Day For Geocaching

Miss Geoness and I are out in the Cary area Geocaching. Spring is in the air with the sounds of robins and Cardinals. Beautiful blue sky and nanos for the grabbing. This one was eight feet up on the back of a light pole.
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Daughter Geoness Finally Has First To Find in Hand

Before making her 250 find milestone attempt this Sunday. Miss Geoness finally was successful in getting her 1st First To Find. The cache popped up on my mobile email then it was off to the races.
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FTF Morning Breakfast

No time for coffee yet if I want to beat the FTF hounds. Signed the clean sheetz and off to work.
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Altoid Geocaches - Love'm or Not So Much

Found this guy today. Not too many around here anymore and there is a reason.

If you have ever found an Altoids container that is a year old or so and you will immediately know why most people dislike finding them. Sure in theory they are this seemingly air tight container that easily can be converted into a nice small geocache. Heck it might even be considered recycling because you are re-using it. Sadly, what happens most of the time is you find a rusting, damp hunk of metal that is usually very difficult to open and immediately makes you feel like getting a tetanus shot after handling. They are not water tight no matter how much you paint the outside and they become a maintenance nightmare after a very short amount of time. So if you take advice from one who finds them - don't use them. There are alternatives that work a whole lot better and you don't have to worry about a child or adult for that matter getting cut on the rusty edges.

While we are at it lets discuss pill bottles. Great idea at the time - okay it's a bad idea. You heard it here first, bad, bad, bad and bad. They are screen doors in a submarine at best and unless you really like your log books extra soggy don't turn them loose on the geocaching world. We would really appreciate it.

Signed,

The geocaching community at large.

Hello World - Send Me Your Geocaching Videos

Calling All Geocachers!!! Tell us what your community gets out of bed to go geocaching for?

I created a section of the GeoSnippits Website and dedicated it to how geocaching is done all around the world and I need your help to do it. I know for a fact that geocaching communities have their differences from Country to Country, State to State and heck, city to city, town to town, etc.

Some areas go nuts over ammo boxes, others can't stand them and like the micros. I want to compile and make an ever growing list of who does what and how in Geocaching and that means the whole planet. For example, I have been told in Germany that micros in the woods is considered a crime and puzzle and multis are the big rage for wide open wooded areas... I know in my area ammo boxes are a big deal and micros get the nasty thumbs down.

What about you? What are the big hits and big frowns in your city, state, country? What do you do differently than the rest of us when geocaching?

Also if you send me your Geocaching YouTube videos you may get featured on the GeoSnippits Website and placed on The Great Geocaching Wall of Fame! Doesn't matter where you are or what language you speak. If we like it you're in so make them worthy of the Great Geocaching Wall. Who can make the best video to represent their community, State or Country? Spread the word.

Send all your You Tube entry links to headhardhat@gmail.com and be sure to put Great Geocaching Wall of Fame in the subject line. Spread the word to all the geocachers and your geocaching groups and friends you know. Show off your geocaching know how, talents and geocaching videos.

Here is a great example to show you. It's a video entitled Geocaching Germany from our GeoSnippits viewer Sokratekk from Germany.

Check it out! Oh I almost forgot. Thanks again to Sokratekk for starting us out right with your fantastic video. Here's Geocaching Germany....



You can also see it on you tube here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiM1XgT20KM

Hid My 100th and 101st Geocaching Hide Today

I was so geeked today because in celebration of all the summer like weather we were having I wanted to get my geocache hides finally up to 100. It was a combination of adopting about 30 of them from Hippopottamamma and my long commute from south Garner all the way up to Oxford, North Carolina (about 65 miles as the crow flies).

I had a ball experimenting and trying to come up with new and creative ideas plus kicking the dirt off of some old favorites. I hope the effort has been noticed. So here is my 100 hides geocoin that I can take out and show at my next event. There is a matching pin that came along with it so that is now added to my growing collection on my backpack. What fun and I only hope my future endeavours will be even more of a challenge to the geocaching community.

So not only did I put out # 100 which is a cute cuddly sandwich container and a 1.5 / 1.5.

The #101 is a green 35mm evil hide hidden in the middle of hundreds of pine trees which are so thick that I made it a 3 / 3.

Muhahahahaha! So much for mushy sentiment.. Lets Go Geocaching!


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CO-FTF on an Early Morning Night Time Cache Hunt

When you know that there are several very competitive FTF hounds in your area the urge to be first can be very compelling. For me, depending on where I am during the day and where the newly published geocache actually is will tell me who I am up against and how drastic of measures I need to take to achieve "clean sheetz".

For example, the posting to a particular geocache went live at 9:30 last night. It was about ten miles away and so I actually debated whether I just go out and get it or wait until morning after I drop my daughter off for school. After contemplating the effort that would need to be taken to tell my wife I was going out geocaching - again - or getting a good nights sleep in an actual bed. I decided morning would be best.

After booting my child out of the car and speeding into the night..., err, after waiting for the school bus to arrive and pick up my child from the bus stop I carefully and safely merged into traffic on my way to the geocache site.

Upon arrival I realized that it was still pitch black out and this would be a night hunt. Fortunately the area did not have anyone around so I was free to search undisturbed, or at least that was what I thought at the time. After taking my flashlight and blackberry with me I stumbled in the dark hoping for a quick grab and go. Unfortunately this was not the case and the geocache was well hidden in an area of multiple hiding spots. About ten minutes of searching and I see a car pull up and park behind mine. I was pretty sure it was not the police and I suspected a high probability that it would be my FTF nemesis Ikraynak.

"Ian, is that you", I called into the darkness. The return snickering told me that my suspicions were correct.

We combined forces and began searching the rather large, target rich geocache site. Another five or so minutes go by and I spot the geocache.

"Found it", says I.

Ian retrieved the small geocache and we looked to see if our efforts were in vain or not. We were not disappointed this time and the FTF was ours.

After a short chit-chat it was time for both of us to head off for work. Funny how we both get so much enjoyment trying to beat each other out in being first. That I personally had even more fun looking together with a common goal. Well okay I technically DID find it first anyways but that is not the point... TeeHEE... Until the next time.

Are You Practicing Safe Geocaching?

I am sure that this particular photo is going to be used down the road for something more humorous but for today lets discuss what is appropriate for what to put into a geocache.

Now we all know that geocaching is very much a family oriented activity and just down below and right out of the geocacahing.com rules page here is what should not be placed in a geocache:

What should not be placed in a cache?

People of all ages hide and seek caches, so think carefully before placing an item into a cache. Explosives, ammunition, knives, drugs and alcohol should not be placed in a cache. Respect the local laws.

Food items are always a bad idea. Animals have better noses than humans, and in some cases caches have been chewed through and destroyed because of food items in a cache.

Please do not put food in a cache.

Great common sense advice.. Speaking of common sense lets just for fun remember that children frequently find geocaches and the idea of "Daddy, what's this for?", just isn't the adventure I personally would be hoping for while geocaching. As it was my daughter age 12 started giggling when she showed me this prize which instantly started the "How da heck do you know what this is?" form of questioning.

"Mom, who else", she snickers.

I of course still picture my daughter at the permanent age of six where daddy can fix everything and is just shy of a god. Needless to say I would suggest leaving the "protection" to other gaming places and leave the swag to more family type items - hokay?

Am I being over protective? I think not but what are your thoughts?