Hi all,
I would like to add a "Tips & Techniques" section to the monthly newsletter. Just a short column each month with some of your best tips or helpful hints. I realize most would be redundant to the more experienced cachers in the bunch but we do have many newer cachers now who could use some helpful hints or tricks of the trade.

Example.. here is one of my best tips... use a quilling tool (available at arts & crafts stores) to roll those pesky nano logs in seconds. Works like a charm.

If you'd like to contribute a cool tip, favorite technique, helpful hint, or anything else... comment here or email me at TeamAtlas@yahoo.com.

Thanks!!

I had to see what was available as my thick fingers don't roll nano logs well.

I found the "Slotted" quilling tool pretty cool.





You can also scrape the tip of a safety pin which will form a 'L' or 'J' allowing you to snag the nano out of the container. Just clip it to anything in case you need it.

I finally found quilling tools but did not know which type to choose, slotted or not. Thanks for the pictures! Know I know what to do with it.

This is a great forum segment. Thanks for thinking of us. Sometimes "old dogs" forget to teach us new tricks.

nanos ...

quote:

Tips & Techniques for Beginners

Quit! Quit now ... before it's too late. Pretty soon you'll be collecting solved puzzles in binders labeled for countries that you'll never visit and every trip to the store will be planned based on what geocaches are nearby.

Save your sanity and your relationship with everyone you hold dear. Quit now!

Jim

I feel that this is a great idea - Soliciting tips and techniques from members... I think I will contribute instead of ... not.

It was more advice than a tip, but hearing all the stories about people losing their GPS's (hogs eating, leaving behind, dropping out of pockets, running over with the car, etc...) scared the crud out of me. Being a little accident prone myself, I was worried it was only a matter of time before I became separated from my GPS... So I searched for ideas that would work best. Then one day I was caching with LZ33 searching for the Vapor Cache and noticed he had the perfect solution for ME.



I don't wear a belt, but I do have belt loops so this worked great. My hands are free to catch myself when I fall - which happens frequently. And I don't lay it down to be forgotten somewhere - It's always at my side.

now is this the only way.... Nah it's what I do. Others do it differently.

The advice or Tip I would give is... find someway to secure your gps so the hazards I mentioned don't happen to you.

Tip> Pay the $5 when visiting the state parks, or pay more for the fine than if you were to buy a seasonal pass.

1. Waypoint your truck, or turn your tracklog on, before you leave it.
2. Waterproof your cell phone before a tricky creek crossing. Trust me.
3. Read the cache logs before going. If it's not been found in the past 57 attempts, better choose something else.
4. Carry cache repair equipment (zip-lok bags, extra pens & notepads, extra SWAG, etc.). Do not replace a container without prior approval from the CO.

quote:

3. Read the cache logs before going. If it's not been found in the past 57 attempts, better choose something else.

This Cache is close to 57, maybe they/we will stop looking.

If you have to cross a creek that requires removal of your pants to keep them dry, make sure your caching partner has not already crossed and has you posed for a "kodak moment" when you reach mid-stream. This kinda of stuff happens! Yes, it does.

quote:

Tip> Pay the $5 when visiting the state parks, or pay more for the fine than if you were to buy a seasonal pass.

If you do buy a pass, remember to take it with you. Paying twice is not funny!

quote:

Originally posted by LZ33:

This Cache is close to 57, maybe they/we will stop looking.

I stopped looking for this VAPOR cache a long time ago.

quote:

Originally posted by LZ33:
...maybe they/we will stop looking.

Some people never learn.

quote:

Originally posted by Bibliotec:
I finally found quilling tools but did not know which type to choose, slotted or not. Thanks for the pictures! Know I know what to do with it.

Sorry Aileen I didn't know there was a difference. I've been using these in paper quilling for many years and only knew one type... it's open at the top so you can slip the paper out... so would that be "slotted"?? Anyway, glad you got one.. they really are a VERY handy little gadget to have in your cache tool bag.



Keep the tips coming!!!

State Park passes are available from public libraries for FREE. All you need is a library card. I believe checkout is for 2 weeks. It is easily renewable. We are one of the smaller libraries and we have 5 on hand. If you use a PINES library, check it out at one and turn it in at any other PINES library. It will be returned to the original library.

quote:

Originally posted by LZ33:

quote:

3. Read the cache logs before going. If it's not been found in the past 57 attempts, better choose something else.

This Cache is close to 57, maybe they/we will stop looking.

lol it does have 1 find

Bumping..... come on y'all.... I know you have some good tips to share, so let's hear 'em!!!!

Here are LOTS to choose from:


Geocaching Safely

Geocaching Hints, Tips and Tricks

Geocaching Tips for Beginners

Geocaching Tips and Tricks

Geocaching Journal

Great Geocaching Tips - podcacher.com

Here's the technique I use to have my nuvi calculate the most efficient driving route to hit a list of caches I want to hunt. You will need the following:

nuvi
MapSource
GSAK

The steps below should work with a nuvi 750, MapSource v6.15, and GSAK 7.7. Not sure about other nuvi models or other MapSource/GSAK versions.

In GSAK:

Get a list of caches you want to hunt into GSAK.

Export those caches to a Mapsource file (File->Export->MapSource File...)

In MapSource:

Bring up that file you just exported. MapSource might launch automatically with your file loaded when you do the export.

In the Waypoints tab, select all your waypoints, right click, Create Route

When the route properties box pops up, I found things work best if you manually move the first cache you want to hit to the top of the list and the last one to the bottom of the list. Leave all the rest alone and click OK.

Send the route to your nuvi (Transfer->Send To Device->Routes)

On your nuvi:

Go to Tools->My Data->Import Route from File. Select your route and press Import.

Go to Tools->My Routes. Select your route, press Edit, then press Optimally Reorder Points. The nuvi will calculate the most efficient driving route to hit all your caches starting with the first one and ending with the last one.

When your ready to go, press Where To->Routes, select your route, and press Go.