OT: Geocaching

[nike54_la]

Now that it's a bit cooler outside, I've started my geocaching hobby again. And on that note, I'd like to say that Lake Fort Smith could use some more caches. If anyone wants to place a cache, just stop by the visitor's center between 8 to 5 and pick up a geocache permit. (Just a piece of paper we ask people to fill out so we know what's going on in the park - there's no charge). As of right now, we only have two caches in the park but would love some more! We might cap it at some point but right now we are lacking.

Thanks.

Oh, and we now have two more trails open now. Both are fairly short (one is 1.4 miles, the other is 3/4mile.) but pretty nice. You can pick up information in the VIC.

[Richard]

The Conway Police Bomb Squad recently destroyed one placed by a scout troop :shock:

[nike54_la]

This might show just how guliable I am...but really???

Edit: WOW! You aren't kidding. Ok, apparently more people need to learn about geocaching and why we cachers wander around places trying to look all "covert"...... :)

I'll be sure to watch my back for incoming bomb squads from now on.....

http://www.thecabin.net/stories/111608/ ... 0012.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[paddledog]

The Conway Police Bomb Squad recently destroyed one placed by a scout troop :shock:

Now that's funny......I don't care who you are,
That's funny!!

[nike54_la]

And that is one very good reason for geocache permits.........

:)

[Trismegistus]

Why not ask the folks in charge there at the lake to place the caches? They should be the most familiar with the area and thus can use the geocaches to direct traffic to a particular place of interest or part of the park that is underutilized -- perhaps somewhere on the new trails. They can also better place the geocache to minimize environmental impact and will likely be more readily available to maintain the geocache once it has been placed. And it will certainly negate any misunderstanding as to the contents and exact location of the geocache.

[nike54_la]

You have a valid point but I'm the only one who caches - or knows much about the hobby - here. The two that are here were placed by me and I just thought it'd be nice to have a variety of different caches from different people. What I believe is a good cache may not be in others' eyes.

As for the environment impact, ect., that's why we monitor caches with permits.

[Richard]

McMahan said that the incident was the third time the Conway Bomb Squad had responded to reports of a suspicious device to find a geocache.
McMahan urged geocachers to clearly label their caches with information to let citizens and police/fire personnel know what it is and who put it there.

The lesson to be learned: If you want to leave a bomb make sure you mark it as a geocache.

For me the best thing about geocaching is the places I discover. For example, I did not know this existed
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_de ... 15db4deac0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To see just how popular this hobby has become. Click on this http://www.geocaching.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Then enter your zip code.

[Clif]

....... What I believe is a good cache may not be in others' eyes.

A "good" cache is one you find!

A real "good" cache is one that takes you somewhere you prolly would not have found otherwise.

[Ryan Center]

I'm guessing my kids and I found a geocache at Alum Cove back in November. We decided to write in the pad and left it in the same place we found it, only put a rock on top of it. Or are they supposed to be pretty visible? Leah has been very interested it the idea since then.

[Ryan Center]

Wow, this could be fun with the kids. There is tons of these things real close to the house.

[nike54_la]

Ryan - You should try it! It's like modern day treasure hunting. Lots of fun and you can find them almost anywhere you happen to be...just as long as you have a GPS with you.

Hope you get into the sport. It's bunches of fun!!

Oh- and as for them being visible, usually not. It's all part of the hunt.

[jclaudii]

Hey Linda, you might get an overwhelming response from http://www.arkgeocaching.org who are Arkansas most active and organized geocaching club.

It's kinda like this site except instead of getting all excited about rain, trip reports, and new paddling gear, we get all gitty about new caches, cache containers, and gps devices.

If we lived closer Lisa and I would place a few there, but I think the new "rules" want us to be within 50 miles of our caches for maintenance reasons. That's kind of sad, you only got about 22 caches within a 4 or 5 mile area. If your interested, I'm sure the arkgeocachers would LOVE to have a some type of relationship with your park, just sign up and see what they can do for you. They already have a meet-n-greet and other events at Ouachita State Park.

Also, they person who organized all of states 52 Official state park geocaches could use some help in the maintenance area if your interested in that sort of thing.

Good Luck!

[Cowper]

I'll give you a Geocache:

N35.75470 W93.11760

It's one of those "virtual" geocaches... no box, nothing to sign, just one that when you see it, you'll say "wow, this is it!" (and maybe even, "they run that?")

It's not even registered yet

[Richard]

wow, this is it!
FTF

Yikes! Here I am, clinging to a rock in Boss Hollow, river left, elevation 1380'
Looking down at the creek. How did I allow Cowper to get me in this predicament?
This is it?
This is for Bushwhacking and Team Stupid!
They run that!
I must say, this is an impressive place.
Just hope I don't slip. :shock:

Give me the Buffalo any day.