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Thursday, September 16, 2010

TripCyclone and HeadHardHat Discuss Unique Geocaches on the Geocaching Podcast










The Geocaching Podcast hosted by Darrylw4 and XpunkX is a weekly geocaching treasure trove of information. Recorded live every week on Tuesdays 9:30pm EST this entertaining show not only continuously brings you fun and unusual topics but interesting guests as well. If you get a chance, join them in the real time chat room while the show is being taped. You can go here for more information: http://geocachingpodcast.com/.

This week fellow geocacher TripCyclone and myself were guests on the show to discuss unique geocaches. It was a lot of fun to participate in and it holds quite a bit of information which might get you in the mood to construct your own. You can hear it here: http://geocachingpodcast.com/episode-171-creative-cache-containers-ii/.

Be sure to check it out and let us know what you think.





















GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Too Pretty Out To Not Go Geocaching

Interesting find in a wooded area.
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Geocaching Instant Gratification With Smart Phones

It wasn't that long ago really that if you wanted to go geocaching you had to download a .gpx or .loc file from somewhere on the internet and then upload that file into your GPSr unit. By doing that you were sort of trapped to only that location and if you wanted to venture past that area you had to get another file. How times have changed.

Now many high end GPSr units have the ability to wireless transfer data from one GPSr to the next but you still have to have someone else to do this. The big question is what happens if you are in a totally unknown area where you do not normally geocache? The answer is smart phones.

For almost all of the smart phones these days there are applications (some are free, some you pay) that allow you to be just about anywhere and you can find geocaches. The kicker is you have to be able to connect to the internet through your phone but if you have that ability you are in like Flynn. This is absolutely fabulous if you suddenly find some time to kill or just want to go geocaching because you can. Then all you have to do is bring up the application, connect to the internet via your phone and start geocaching. Instant gratification.

Keep in mind though that when you go geocaching with your smart phone that they are not made for outdoor use. In other words dropping them on a rock or into a stream or pond is not a good thing. A genuine GPSr is made for such things and can take the punishment. So use your smart phone at your own risk.

Speaking of geocaching, I am about to head out and do some. I have never geocached in the area I want to go but no worries.. I have my smart phone ready to take on the challenge.

See you out on the trails...

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

HOLY COW - GeoSnippits Starts Season THREE!!!



















I can't believe it but GeoSnippits just started it's third season. Where has all the time gone?

Yep that's right we are now in season three. Looking back we have presented over 50 GeoSnippits geocaching tutorial videos on You Tube which have been seen all around the world.

If that wasn't enough we are starting up Season Two on Michigan Magazine TV where we have created now over 30 episodes for them as well.

If you want to see a recent episode when I did my first geocaching interview with MMTV host and creator Barry Stutesman. Check this out. http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9509143


You can see Michigan Magazine on the RFD TV Network twice each week. Seen in all 50 states.




We at GeoSnippits want to thank all of our viewers for watching. Your show suggestions make up over 90% of the videos we do and it just wouldn't be possible without you. It is all greatly appreciated.

If you have a moment, please be sure to let Barry know what you think about GeoSnippits on MMTV by sending him an email at info@michiganmagazine.com

See you out on the trails,

-HeadHardHat

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Sunday, September 12, 2010

GeoSnippits : Giggle Bloopers

All of us at GeoSnippits Videos put in an awful lot of effort to bring our viewers quality entertainment. It is our hope that they gain valuable information about geocaching and get a giggle in the process. Speaking of giggles we tend to have that happen a lot while filming.

Check out this quick video when we were having one of THOSE days.


If the viewer above is not working you can see our video here:

Enjoy.

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

GeoSnippits - Make Your Own Evil Nano Geocache



















One of the really cool features about geocaching is the ability for geocachers to invent geocaches. The possibilities are almost endless and limited only to our imagination. One thing for sure is if someone creates a geocache and the design is solid others will modify it to their liking. That is the way it should be and keeps the game, sport, obsession fresh and fun.

This particular geocache is one of those adaptations. It originated from my How To Make An Evil Ant Hill Geocache video of which I made last year. Recently I received an email from Seth Jones who sent in some photos where he made a geocache based off the Ant Hill geocache and instead of using bondo he used a plastic resin. Check out the post I made about it here.

I was immediately intrigued and had to make some geocache versions for myself. This video shows how I made them and the end results. I completely expect our viewers to come up with their adaptations as well.


If the viewer above does not display, please use this link to view the video.

As usual your comments, show suggestions, etc. are welcome. Please be sure to send in photos of your geocache ideas. They may get posted in one of our upcoming GeoSnippits videos.


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Friday, August 27, 2010

Next Season of GeoSnippits on Michigan Magazine TV Starts This September

To say that I am excited about filming the next season of GeoSnippits for Michigan Magazine TV is a complete understatement. I am down right geeked about it.

It is so cool to be part of the Michigan Magazine TV family and having the ability to reach out to geocachers in all 50 states is a real working pleasure. Last season we made 26 episodes and expect to make at least that this year as well. I want to thank MMTV's host and co-creator Barry Stutesman for the opportunity to spread the word.

Enjoy this 20 second promo spot and see you on Michigan Magazine TV and the RFDTV network.


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Twitter me at
@headhardhat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Bulgaria Geocaching Commercial - That's some funny right there...

This You Tube video was sent to me by Ivelin Mollov and is a geocaching commercial for Bulgaria. You have to see it to believe...




Here is the link if the viewer is not above:

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Twitter me at
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Travel Bug Wolfgang Von PitterPat is now in Europe


On an April day in 2008. I believe the sun was shining and the air smelled of honeysuckle. My then 11 year old daughter looked at me with her crystal blue eyes and said, "Daddy, Wolfgang Von PitterPat is going to be okay, right?"

I smiled at my child and said, "Why sure darling, this little travel bug will see the world and go places you might want to visit some day. It will be just fine."

So we took little Wolfgang (a Chinstrap Penguin) to it's first drop off point which was one of my nearby geocaches and it disappeared into the wild.

Little did I know then of the life expectancies of a Travel Bug or Geocoin in the geocaching world. For many, the fates cause them to be lost, stolen, destroyed and just plain misplaced for years at a time. I know of several geocachers who have put out hundreds of travel bugs only to have just a few still in circulation. Then there are the others who chug along happily as they get picked up from one geocache and dropped back into another as they attempt to reach some goal. As far as Wolfgang goes he is on one crazy ride to Antarctica where he wants to meet up with some of his real time buddies.

Until recently Wolfgang has stayed in the United States traveling from one coast to the next. He made it big when his travels included being with the Subaru Leave No Trace gang for a month or two and was given a whole new set of bling.

They took him all over the place on the west coast and even wrote a couple of articles about him in their newsletters.

You can check them out here.


Now after 10510+ miles Wolfgang Von PitterPat finds himself in the United Kingdom. Who knows what adventures await him overseas? What I can tell you is every time I give my now 14 year old daughter updates about it. Her eyes sparkle just a little more blue than usual. Sure bad things can happen to these travelers but the fun of watching them go over the years is worth the risk.




GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Twitter me at
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

GeoSnippits: Making Your Own Emergency Geocaching Repair Kit - EGRK

It happens in geocaching, when you walk up to a geocache and find it in need of repair. If you are like me you hate to see swag, log books, travel bugs and geocoins getting damaged because the geocache they reside in is allowing the elements to get in. Wouldn't it be great to have a self made kit that contains items where you could fix the geocache until the owner could come out and replace it? The GeoSnippits video below shows you just how you can do that.



If you cannot see the viewer above, click this link and it will play on You Tube.


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Twitter me at
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Too Cute For Words - Micah Makes An HHH Fire Hydrant Geocache

This is just too cute. If you have ever listened to the Geocaching Podcast with host XpunkX and Darrylw4 you will hear much and many valuable insights about geocaching.

Yesterday XpunkX sent me this 20 second video of his son Micah just after making one of my Fire Hydrant geocaches. I smiled ear to ear when I saw this. Just click the link below to see it.


Be sure to stop on by the Geocaching Podcast for some great geocaching insights - http://geocachingpodcast.com/

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

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

Monday, August 2, 2010

Adding Some New Geocoins To My Collection


I do not get the chance all that often to add to my ever growing geocoin collection. Yet when I do I am a kid in a candy store. To date I have over one hundred geocoins and growing. Today in the mail I have now added four more and put one extra into my unregistered pile for trading or possible swag. These particular geocoins were purchased from the Geocoin Store and the Geocoin Club (GCC) of which I am a member.

Wanna see? Well of course you do. Geocoins are one of the points of interest that make geocaching fun and interesting for many of us. Here is what I purchased.


I really like this one. It has a nickel finish with 3D shull and ship in a deep blue resin. The back of a coin is a compass set in the same blue. Why did I buy it? I love the whole look to it with the pirate theme. The coin itself has a good heft to it and feels right when you hold it.

I also purchased another with a red background and copper metal instead of the nickel. It is a good looking coin but for some reason I really am liking this one better.


I love Sherpa geocoins. In case you don't know a Sherpa geocoin has a whole on one side with a strong magnet in the middle. There you can place a pathtag that gets carried along with the coin as it travels. This green themed geocoin is geared to showcase pathtags but I have other types of Sherpa geocoins as well. Again great weight and feel when you hold it.

Take a chance, you never know what you might get. With GCC you can purchase what they refer to as their grab bag. In it you have a chance to pick up three random geocoins for the price of two. You don't know what you are going to get but that is part of the chance of a grab bag. In my case I lucked out. The first coin goes back to May of 2007 with the Hide and Seek geocoin. It didn't make me go all goo-goo or nothing but it was cool to be able to pick up a geocoin that you can't get anymore except in something like this.

Now this geocoin made me smile. Not because the coin itself is overly amazing but because when I first started joining the GCC was back in May of 2008 which was the Brings May Flowers dual geocoin. In other words the shape of the April geocoin fits into the May geocoin which was my first. Now my geocoin set is complete which I was rather pleased to receive this unexpected geocoin.

My third and final geocoin was the June 2008 Copernicus geocoin of which I already have so that will be in my trade-able geocoins collection or possibly given away as swag to some geocaching find that I am impressed with.

So there you have it. A small but very recent sample of my geocoin collection. Everybody collects one thing or another. For me these geocoins are something that brings out the pirate in me and also can fill a rather large treasure chest display. How cool is that?

What is your favorite geocoin? Send in a photo and it may make it on my blog or an upcoming GeoSnippits video. Email it to: headhardhat@gmail.com


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Twitter me at
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Monday, July 26, 2010

Geocaching Wales: Read About Our Fellow UK Geocachers on the Other Side of the Pond


I get a lot of requests to add or swap links with fellow geocachers all around the world. Some are quite good and some not so much. Because of that I am a bit picky as to what I add to my blog list. The blog I am going to show you now is very much in the good read category and it comes from some of our fellow geocachers in the UK.

It's called Geocaching Wales and even though the geocacher who created it (Dayle Rees) is relatively new to the game he already has two writing contributors Nitroglysarine and Red Kite. Together they have captured some beautiful photos of the Welsh countryside and also some very interesting new geocache designs. What I think I like the most about this particular blog is that the format is crisp and easy on the eyes.

I highly recommend giving it a try ---> http://blog.geocaching-wales.co.uk/.

-HHH

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Twitter me at
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Walking Up to a Trashed Geocache

It is sad when walking up to a geocache that has been trashed or worse. It's easy to blame muggles but other factors can cause it. For example the weather, including wind and flooding. Snow and ice have been known to move or crush a geocache. Then there are the animals who just love getting into or carting off a container.

Many times a flimsy or poor quality container can become easy pickings. As in this case a cheaper Glad container was used and what looks like a squirrel knocked it out of it's home then made short work of it. Even if the big toothed rodent hadn't munched it, the heat and sun already was warping the container pretty bad.

I rescued two Boy Scout travel bugs and cleaned up the rest. One of the travel bug plastic bags had the top sealer chewed off. Just goes to show you that these containers area vulnerable to all sorts of situations. Always consider this when placing your geocaches.

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Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Geocoin Proxies: Some Things Need To Be The Real Thing

What I really enjoy about geocaching in general is the creativity of our fellow geocachers. The way many of us strive to make the game, sport and obsession better through subtle adaptations. I heartily agree with most of them but not necessarily about this. I am talking about Proxy Geocoins. What are those you may ask? Geocoin proxies are cheap representations of an original geocoin that is sent out into the wild to represent the geocoin itself. A carbon copy if you will, except many times not even that good.

You have to understand this is my opinion and I place a high reverence in regards to geocoins. I am massing a fair collection of which I have purchased over the years and I have sent a handful out into the wild. Geocoins was one of the reasons geocaching appealed to be so very much. The look, heft and feel of a geocoin always brings the pirate out of me. Yes, yes, it's the shiny things that get me going.

Then it happened. If you look at the photo above you notice what looks like three travel bugs, yet in fact the bottom one is a proxy geocoin. Someone took a wooden circle and laminated a wheel on both sides and put the id code onto the side of the wheel itself. I actually went to the geocoin page to investigate further since I had not heard of proxies before. There it showed what I really wanted to see which was some very nice shots of the actual geocoin and then some lame excuse that they did not want to send the real geocoin out for fear of losing it. Wha-wha-wha... Somehow I felt cheated from the experience. I really wanted to see the real thing and some geocoin wanna-be is not going to swing it.

Yeah it's only a geocoin yet more recently I have seen other proxies and they weren't even as good as the one shown above. More like a hand written blurb laminated with the id number. Cheap, cheap, cheap... I have lost some of my geocoins that I placed in the wild and that unfortunately is part of the game. Yet I will put more because I love the connections they make with other geocachers and with the feeling when I find them. Finding a piece of laminate or some other fakery is just not going to cut it. we want the real deal.

That's my opinion, what do you think?

-HHH

GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Friday, July 16, 2010

So Cool To Do A Multi Geocache Made For HeadHardHat



I was honored when I found out that a multi geocache existed with HeadHardHat in mind. The real kicker is it was in Roseville, Michigan just a few miles from where I was visiting. So I absolutely have to find it.

For those who do not know, a multi geocache is done in stages or waypoints where one location can lead to another and another until the final geocache is found. There can be clues, riddles or coordinates to get you to each stage. This particular multi has three stages.

I want to thank Gsix5666 for making this fun geocache. If you want to check it out. Look up - GC26ZDQ - A Bad Day On The Job with Head Hard Hat.

It has a very creative final geocache that I enjoyed very much.


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Twitter me at
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Doing Some CITO While Geocaching

It's always a good practice to do some Cache In Trash Out when geocaching.
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A Geocaching Michigan Trend?

I am not sure if this is a Michigan trend or not but I do not remember seeing this in other states as much. I am talking about the use of plastic containers to keep the log books dryer. I have seen it here all the time and feel it is a great idea. What do you think?
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Doing Some Geocaching in St. Clair Shores, Michigan

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Monday, July 12, 2010

Wow A Geocache I Haven't Found

Thought I had found all the geocaches at all the Ohio Turn Pike Service areas. Yet here this one was.
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Driving Thru The West Virginia Clouds.

It is so cool to me when you drive in an area of mountains that has no wind to speak of and low flying rain clouds. Very beautiful here with the lush green foliage below it.
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Dropping Bubba's Teeth In Virginia

At Virginia's welcome center dropped of travel bug as promised.
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Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Working With Geocaching Camouflage Ideas



While I am waiting to get on the road to start filming Treasure Cache TV (there has been an unexpected delay) I have been passing the time working on different ways to camouflage a geocache.

Sure there are tons of geocaches out there where the geocache is hidden inside an object like a tree stump, pvc pipe or other clever technique. My challenge was to hide a geocache in plain site or at least close to plain site and still hide it enough for muggles to miss it. If I was able to create a hide that was more difficult for a geocacher to find as well then all the better.


One of the techniques I have been working on is the use of camouflage netting for larger geocaches. The issue that comes to mind for a larger geocache is how good can a camouflaged geocache really be to fool the average geocacher? We are giving the coords to where this larger hide is and unless the cover is flawless it will get found. I guess the best we can hope for is that the geocache stays out of site of the muggles and is a bit of a thrill for the geocacher. So how can we hide it good enough to present a challenge?


Above you see a basic example of camouflage netting utilizing pine needles and leaves for cover. Below this mask of brown is a medium bright green ammo box laying on a 4'x8' netting which has been folded over top and covered with the nearby terrain. The nice thing about the netting is that the leaves and needles easily trap in the netting itself and stays there even with heavy wind. From a distance of 10 feet this is almost impossible spot so the geocacher would have to basically kick the geocache to find it.

If you read my blog post: HeadHardHat's Resin Clup O' Dirt Nano Geocache you will see how the use of resin can create creative camouflage covers for small geocaches like nanos. This can no doubt create even more challenging hides to infuriate the masses. To prove it if you look at the first photo of this post and see if you can find the nano geocache hide. Draw a circle around where you think it is and send it in to me via email ( headhardhat@gmail.com). The first five people to correctly do so will win a GeoSnippits path tag... It's right there... Really.
Good Luck!

-HHH


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
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Twitter me at
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Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at
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Tuesday, July 6, 2010

HeadHardHat's Resin Clump O' Dirt Nano Geocache

I want to thank Seth Jones who sent in a photograph a few weeks ago of a modified version of my bondo Evil Ant Hill geocache. You can see it here: ClickMe where you will note that instead of bondo, a resin was used to create the geocache.

Over the weekend I wanted to see if I could make a geocache that was thinner than my ant hill geocache and use something really small like a nano. Below are the steps I took to make it.
As usual I fully expect my readers to come up with a zillion versions of this and add their own twists. I say go for it but before you do check out my version. FYI - You can get resin at many craft stores near you.

I started out by taking some Styrofoam and scraping out an area that would have a very rocky or dirt clod look to it. About two and a half to three inches in diameter.

When it comes to using resin there are many different ways of making a mold including plastics, Styrofoam and plaster of paris. Try different ways and see what works best for you.





Next, make a small portion of the resin and fill just enough of the very bottom to create a base for the nano to sit upon and yet not fill up the entire mold.

Let the resin harden over night or until it is not tacky to the touch.





Set the nano on the hardened resin base and then fill to just under the lid of the nano with more resin.

Let harden again over night.






Carefully remove the hardened resin from the Styrofoam and pick as much of the mold away from the resin as you would like.
Personally I wasn't sure if I liked how it was looking at this point but the longer I played with it the more it really started looking like a rock, bark, a stone, etc.





Use your favorite combination of base spray paints and stone textured paints to colorize this geocache. I used a green and brown base with grey stone to give it a mold or bark look to it.

Note the bottom of this geocache and the nano cap is sticking out for easy access.



After playing with several different camouflage combinations of paint colors and the nice texture of the Styrofoam for the top section I was amazed how quickly I could closely duplicate a look of tree bark, moss, mold, even old asphalt.

This is a great addition to my Evil Ant Hill collection of geocaches and I hope it inspires you to make all sorts of variations for your geocaching enjoyment.

Have fun!

-HHH


GeoCache: I'm NOT Obsessed... Right?
http://headhardhat-geocache.blogspot.com/
-------------------------------------------------------
Twitter me at
@headhardhat

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