Jim (Yzerman) and I have been discussing going on a geocaching trip. Geocaching is locating hidden stashes (by other geocachers) using a GPS. When found, you take something from it, leave something for it, and note you've been there in it's log book.

I'm thinking about picking 10-12 locations and mapping out a route to search for them. They're all over the state, here's a map of some in the Prescott area just to show a few-

[img]http://www.xterraz.com/geomap.bmp[/img]

Jim and I both have GPS's (Brian too, I think) so you don't need one. There would be some hiway driving, four wheeling, hiking, maybe climbing, and an assortment of other unknown surprises. Almost the same as one of our X'cursions with an added twist, locating a cache. We could make a day of it with lunch somewhere along the route.

Sound intriguing to anyone? Neither of us has ever done it so I have no idea of what the result would be. Could be fun, could be stupid but I'm thinking it would definitely be interesting in seeing if we could find some.

I'll be working on a route and date to get this going. Anyone want to join in? The more the merrier.

I would be in.

Greg and I used to do this once in a while in KS and it was pretty fun. Once you get in the general area you just have to search. I got pretty good at finding them.

If it wasn't obvious, I'd be in...

Cool, someone with some experience at it.

There looks to be some good ones along 89A, the back road to Prescott. Or...if another area peaks someone's interest, speak up. They're everywhere, so we just need to pick an area to go and map it out. Keep in mind the upcoming weather, hot, hot, hot...north would be good.



[img]http://www.xterraz.com/geomap2.bmp[/img]

Obvious is your middle name.

Thanks for noticing

Jim we could check and see if there are any around the Supai falls. If not, we could make one! That's fun too

You know what, I was thinking the same things. I guess it is true that great minds think alike.

Here is what I found

Looks like there is one on the trail, by Mooney Falls and another on the way to Beaver Falls. But they are all Virtual Caches seeing you are not allowed to leave anything.

You beat me to it Jim. I was checking the site and found the same stuff...

You guys are safe though, I wasn't thinking about Supai falls

I wasn't thinking at all, but I'll do it anyways..

I'd be up for some. Let's figure something out.

Great idea! I could use a couple lessons on how to use my GPS. And have fun all at the same time. Count me in. Yzerman, is this something you want to grab by the horns? I have no clue how to set this up. I'd be more than glad to get everyones attention on it though. Let me know what I can do.

I'd be happy to help out where I could. Maybe XterrAZ and I can team up on this one. Seeing I've never planned a run, it might be good to have some experience behind it . Plus this was really XterrAZ's idea he brought up to me on Monday. I just agreed with him that I thought it would be a great idea.

But I'd be happy to help out where I could and even assist XterrAZ in the planning of such an run.

What do you say Mike? Sounds like there is enough interest. How about the June or July run?

What, you don't want to hike 11 miles in both directions? Come on, I still have an extra pass.

Um.....no.

I will however set this up, hopefully with Jim's (and anyone else's) help. We just need to make a list from www.geocaching.com of ones that look likely and that have a route that takes us to some wheeling and sites.

I've found that my new GPS won't hold waypoints, I'll have to get it exchanged tomorrow. I've followed the destructions but they just disappear after a while. Pisses me off too, they're kind of a pain in the ass to manually program in. I had all the spots in Glamis dunes programed so I could find my way from one place to another and back to camp again, looks like I'll be doing it all over again with another one. Oh well.

If you guys are geocaching newbies, I can offer a few suggestions: For the first few, I'd make sure to bring along the hints most people give as to where the cache is. Generally your GPS only gets you so close, and then you have to do some searching.

Also make sure you have more than just one in mind to find, as it sucks if the one you are looking for has been taken and not returned. Nothing worse than searching for 1/2 an hour to never find anything, and then not having anything else to do.

Bring interesting things to leave behind in the cache.

In my experience, whereever you are, you're never more than 100 yards from another cache, so there are lots to find There isn't a place you'll go that someone hasn't left one...

Enjoy all.
Mark

What kind did you get? I have the Etrex and it holds them forever. When I went back to Moab recently, I was out exploring alone and then all of a sudden I started running into waypoints I had set for the previous year. Pretty cool.

Just pick what are you want and then print out the cache's. It's pretty easy after that.

Sportrack Color is what Kerry got me for my birthday. I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with it. Once in awhile it will reboot and go to the screens that come up when you first turn it on and the waypoints are gone. Back to Fry's it goes for an exchange.

I do it sometimes, but so far I've only done it around town. It's fun, and I'd thought about mentioning this but I always forget during meetings/outings. I'm in!

Just something to think about. I think it would better to do it in early June. I think the GOX Xcursion is in July and I'm Xpecting in late June. I know you guys couldn't tell because I was sucking it in. Not that I play any key role in this one but I would like to go, it sounds interesting.

I got the unit exchanged this morning, no problem with the new one yet. Hopefully I'm ready to go now.

Early June is good for me, I'm going to search around for some local caches and get some experience with the GPS and the geocaching game. Some quick close trips should do the trick. We'll have to come up with some good ideas for what to leave in the ones we find, maybe something representing the club.

I tried to find one last night in Anthem after getting home. I found the spot easily with the GPS but it was dark and my eyesight isn't as good as it used to be. I think it's under some rocks but I didn't want to disturb any stinging creatures in hiding so I'll try again in the daylight. Kind of fun seeing if you can find them.

I'm thinking of doing some New River ones on Saturday morning, anyone is welcome to join me that's interested.

With the map software that I have, I can search by cord's and create waypoints to downlowad to my GPS pretty easy (based on my search) . I may even be able to print out the maps so that we can hand them out to anyone not having a GPS.

Oh, the first weekend (5th/6th) would be out for me. I'm going to be in Cancun. I have something on the 12th also, but it still way up in the air right now (I could get out of it pretty easy). So maybe that weekend would work out.

I should have been there, I'm used to finding my way in the dark

I may be up for something on Saturday morning Mike.

Name the meetup spot, I haven't done any in a while!

What about Xterra keyrings? Xterra Cinch? I have one that I'd donate. We can pick up more at a local Dealership.

If a cinch is a carabiner, than I've got one to give as well.

Nope, not giving up my Xterra carabiner. I do however have a few American flag pins, a Nissan steering wheel key chain, a $50 off Bolt Electric (w/$500 purchase) card, and a Twizzler's Nomar Garciaparra baseball card I'm willing to part with. I have some cool refridgerator (no jokes please) magnet clips with the Childress logo on them I may bring along too. Nothing's too good for the stashes I'm leaving

Nothing of any real value unless you're willing to spend $500 at Bolt Electric Home Systems. Of course that's exactly what you're going to get out of them too, worthless trinkets. One man's garbage is another man's treasure

I wasn't going to give up my cinch or carabiner (or whatever it is called ), I use it to much when I'm hiking. But I would give up my Xterra keychain (unless someone wanted to trade me another cinch for it? )

There's a possibility I might have to work Saturday, I'm awaiting a call from one of my guys to see if I'm going to need to fill in for him. If that happens, Saturday will be out and I'll move it to Sunday morning instead.

I've got 9 (maybe 10) caches programed in the GPS to go hunt. They're all between I-17 and Pleasant Lake and north of Carefree Highway. All within a few mile range. By their description's they seem to be fairly easy ones, figured that would be good for my first time out.

Here's a map of the ones I'm thinking about for this weekend if anyone wants to program their GPS before hand too-

[img]http://www.xterraz.com/geomap3.bmp[/img]

The ones I'd like to locate are-

#1 GCHPNK
#2 GCH6BB
#3 GCDAD0 (that's a zero not the letter O)
#4 GCHCE7
#5 GC2174 (only a possible on my list)
#6 GCGJY2
#8 GCH8DA
#9 GCHRZA This is the one I looked for the other night without finding it
#10 GC510A (another zero)
#15 GCE9CE

You can go to www.geocaching.com and search by waypoint for the coordinates. I haven't done any downloading of them yet, haven't got that far in the manual. I just put them in manually but I'm going to learn because that punching numbers is a pain in the ass.

Just got the call, I'm working Saturday. Anyone up for Sunday?

I could do Sunday morning~

Sure. Should we start a Team on geocaching.com? Or just use our current usernames?

I'm using my current "XterrAZ" name on Geocaching.com but had thought about a team X name. Maybe if enough people enjoy it and get involved we could go with team AZXC or the likes.

We can meet up at the bagel shop in Anthem on Sunday for coffee and muffins. They make the best Rasberry Whitechocolate Cheesecake muffin, oh my. Very good assorment of muffins and bagels. Different flavored coffees for different tastes. Maybe even catch a view of some local Pantera club with some very well restored/maintained cars. I see them every weekend there but don't remember on which day.

Anyway, the first cache is in the wash behind the bagel shop so it would be a good place to meet/start.

What's a good time to meet for everyone?

If I'm reading this all correctly the date of the AZXC Geocaching Run will be sunday the 25th. If indeed it is, I regretfully inform you I'll not be able to attend and participate as I'll either be in Sedoner or on the backroad to Crown King .

I do to clarify however, plan on attending the soiree (Supai trek planning) at the Hausers saturday the 24th.

Let's see.. Anthem.. how about 9?

I'm in on Sunday. We were going to hit a few spots around the house on Sunday (there are 2 that are pretty close), but I'd rather hang around with you guys . I figure I can always hit the ones around my house anytime.

Any chance for coffee at this place? Maybe Corn Julio can have another showing?

How close are these things to the roads? Any chance of doing any hiking?

Just a little trial run close by to get acquainted with the GPS and the game. We'll do a major one in the next month or so.

I was hoping closer to 8, how 'bout we split the difference? Can you do 8:30? If you show at 9, we'll still be doing the coffee, bagel, muffin thing and the first cache is at the end of the parking lot so we should be there awhile. It's up to you, I'm planning on being up there at 8:30 and having some goodies.

Yes Corn Julio, pay attention...it's a bagel, muffin, coffee shop

Most are close to the roads, walking distance at best. The one that says "only a possible" on my list is 1.5 miles roundtrip if I remember correctly depending on how far you can get with the vehicle. I've read so many of them that I might be confusing it with another one, hell I don't know. I put the numbers up so you guys could read them, check it out and see if there are any to hike to in that area that aren't on the list. I do have them printed out with directions and help to make it a little easier.

What are the cords for the coffee shop?

Ah, you laugh Grasshopper but this should get you into the parking lot-

33*51.915N
112*08.048W

At least very close if not dead on.



For those of you not carrying a GPS...I-17 to Anthem Way...go east, go past the stop sign, turn left at the light (Gavalin Peak Parkway), and turn right into the Mobil/On the Run station. The bagel shop is in the strip mall beyond the station.

I knew I could always depend on you

My internet goes down one day.. and when i come back 3 days later.. there is 3 pgs for me to read about Geocaching!

Its an awsome idea for the AZXC! I've heard of it and know some people that have done it, but have never done it my self ( but always wanted to).

So count me in! I also have a GPS. I'm not sure if i can make this this sunday though. What is the time frame looking like on sunday? 9-what?

We're just making a short run and staying close to town. If you have something going on just leave when you need to. I'm thinking just a few hours probably, maybe until noon or so. Just depends on what we find and how fast I guess as to how long we'll be out. I've got some afternoon plans so I need to be back fairly early myself. I've never done it before so I don't know how time consuming it is. The more organized we are, the better chance of getting to the spots quicker.

Everyone needs to bring their best maps, FRS radios, water, and maybe lunch? BTW, the bagel shop makes some pretty good lunch box sandwhiches too, a little pricey but good. Hopefully Jim's topo map in his GPS shows the roads and trails we'll need to find to get to the hides. If not, we'll be relying on the maps we bring. I've got "direct route" I can download but it is more city streets than dirt roads, didn't show any trails in the area.

well turns out that i won't be able to make it tomarrow. But i'll more than likely go on the next one. Oh well.. thats what happens on short notice :p

I'm out, too much to do tomorrow.

8:30 at the bagel shop....Big Apple Bagels

I'll be there.

Went out for a few hours today with Jim, Merridi, Brian, and Brenda to find some caches. Found 5 total. Two were more time consuming than we had planned but found them just the same. A map of backroads would be extremely helpful in navigating to the sites. It's easy to turn on a road that you think will take you there and then it ends up taking a different direction altogether. We took some junk and we left some junk but had a great time in searching them down. I'll be adding geocaching to my list of activities when not working, it's fun and frustrating at the same time, especially when a road dead ends in the direction you need to go. We ended up driving around attemping to get to an area of a cache when the road ended within a half mile of it. We decided to head to another one and ended up driving right to the original cache on the road to the other one. Like I said, a map with backroads would be helpful

We learned a few things today and got some geocaching experience so we'll be better prepared next time.

Anyway, had a good time and everyone seemed to enjoy it. It will be a lot of fun with a group X'cursion with some travel time in between. Jerome area was suggested by Xrock for a group outing, I'll be working on getting that together for sometime in May or June.

I downloaded the route (to my computer) and it looks like where we pulled off on New River Road we should have went right instead of left (to find the road that was on the map). But I agree that the topo software that I have sucks and didn't show one tenth of the trails out there.

What, 4 pages of post and no pics???

Well, if you insist. The only one I took, Team X'treme with find #3-