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Post by oleruns on Oct 18, 2006 18:37:48 GMT -9
Okay, I will try to start this one off: What is your strategy when a new cache posts for finding the best route to the cache? For the city caches, I use googlemaps in the hybrid mode to locate the best streets. If they are out of town I use Topomap and I also look at where it relates to other caches that I have found. The hard question is at a place like Kincaid and how the cache relates to the trail system out there. Maybe someone would like to upload all the tracks from their GPS for each trail. Hey, it’s worth a shot.
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Post by Forum Admin on Oct 18, 2006 19:12:00 GMT -9
Okay, I will try to start this one off: What is your strategy when a new cache posts for finding the best route to the cache? For the city caches, I use googlemaps in the hybrid mode to locate the best streets. If they are out of town I use Topomap and I also look at where it relates to other caches that I have found. The hard question is at a place like Kincaid and how the cache relates to the trail system out there. Maybe someone would like to upload all the tracks from their GPS for each trail. Hey, it’s worth a shot. My strategy is to do at least 55 MPH and hope to beat your jeep to the cache
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Post by knappling on Oct 19, 2006 5:57:40 GMT -9
My strategy is to bike as hard as possible!
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Post by ladybugkids on Oct 19, 2006 7:43:56 GMT -9
I get up at 4:00 a.m. and catch the 6:00 a.m. flight to Anchorage . On topic, a wonderful way to get to know the Anchorage Parks trail systems is to participate in the Arctic Orienteering Club's events. Participants get a highly detailed map of the park for that night showing all trails, paths, and terrain features (down to boulders and small knolls). A summer of doing those meets introduces people to most large Anchorage parks from the Hillside to Russian Jack to Kincaid Park plus a few others. I use these maps in conjunction with the GoogleEarth hybrid maps to pick a quick route that (hopefully) will let me keep my work shoes dry.
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Post by New Yorker on Oct 19, 2006 12:13:03 GMT -9
Okay, I will try to start this one off: What is your strategy when a new cache posts for finding the best route to the cache? For the city caches, I use googlemaps in the hybrid mode to locate the best streets. If they are out of town I use Topomap and I also look at where it relates to other caches that I have found. The hard question is at a place like Kincaid and how the cache relates to the trail system out there. Maybe someone would like to upload all the tracks from their GPS for each trail. Hey, it’s worth a shot. I have no strategy as my few FTFs were all unintentional. ;D
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powmia
Silver Cacher
Caches Found/Hidden xxxx/x
Posts: 208
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Post by powmia on Oct 19, 2006 17:38:46 GMT -9
I had a strategic plan until I went to Fairbanks and did the Ladybug/Pedalpushin caches. Then my plan was changed to: Drive/park/walk...Drive/park/walk...Drive/park/walk........Eat...........Drive/park/walk...Drive/park/walk. Really: My main plan is to let caches accumulate in an area and then bag them in a Saturday morning run from farthest from home to nearest. The most I've done in one day is 22 this way...in Valdez (2005). Fairbanks was cool this summer with about 48 in two and 1/2 days. The spouse was there to aid the blind cacher.
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Post by knappling on Oct 22, 2006 7:43:19 GMT -9
Orienteering maps would be great for caching. I should try using them sometime!
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wigi
Copper Cacher
Posts: 6
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Post by wigi on Oct 22, 2006 8:24:00 GMT -9
I have no strategy, other than follow the trail until the cache is at right angles to my direction of travel, then bushwhack.
Last spring I went caching with a friend up in Fairbanks... the snow was already gone in Anchorage, so my bushwhacking mentality was already in 'spring' mode, but there was still plenty of snow in the woods in Fairbanks. "Oh, look, it's only .3 miles that way..." is not a good strategy in that case.
I found the cache, but it was an adventure... and as an aside, a recent article in the News-Miner about the ski trails north of campus raises some interesting issues about some of the caches in that area... the only way I would have gotten to that cache would be to walk on ski trails... the snow was rotten enough that nobody was grooming them or skiing (in fact, the problem that was most daunting was that some the trails had large puddles that had a skim of ice on them, but it was too thin to walk on). There were other paths to that cache that would have avoided the trails altogether, but they weren't obvious, because they would have meant crossing private property. Anyway, not being a skier, the trail issue would have not been obvious to me, and I might have ruffled some feathers had ski season still been in.
Anyway... I have no strategy... but I do have wet sneakers.
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Post by oleruns on Oct 22, 2006 9:38:07 GMT -9
We have to stay away from walking on the ski trails. I wonder if we can work out a deal to get some old pair at the ski swaps just so we don't ruin their trails. I think that skiers could put an end to our sport in a second if we get on their bad side. Thanks for the post - Ole I don't see a problem with when you were walking on the trails I just know as we grow we are going to have a problem.
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Post by ladybugkids on Oct 22, 2006 10:54:17 GMT -9
Wigi brings up a good point that all cachers should be aware of due to how differently many Alaskan trails are used season to season. It sounds like Wigi was plenty late in the season to avoid all but the most avid skier, but most of them were probably in the White Mountains enjoying late season snow.
Wigi mentioned that there were "some interesting issues about some of the caches in that area," the the issues there aren't any different than the issues with a lot of caches in other areas, too. The UAF ski and Birch Hill ski trails in Fairbanks are pretty clearly signed about when foot traffic is not desired. The local skiers (like Anchorate skiers), including the Ladybug Kids contribute lots of money to have groomed ski trails and it's a real bummer to find post holes in the trails from people walking on them. The Anchorage ski trails are pretty clearly signed, too, as well as the multi-use trails (like the Tour of Anchorage, Chester Creek, Coastal Trail, Ruth Arcand, etc.) where walking, mountain biking, and horseback riding are also okay.
All of our cache pages for caches along skiing and mushing trails clearly state that people should honor the rules in effect for the season. We also provide links to online trail maps that are useful for identifying the routes to caches. UAF in particular has winter walking trails for people and dogs, so folks don't have to walk on the ski trails to access some of the caches. Just as a cacher wouldn't run a 4-wheeler down a walking only trail, it is good etiquette for cachers not to walk on ski trails during the posted off limits months. If in doubt, visit your local nordic ski club's website.
Oleruns is right...imagine the scenario of a skier coming upon geocachers walking on the ski trails in Kincaid or on the Hillside. The skier asks the geocachers what they are doing. The geocachers tell them they are geocaching. The skier reports the geocachers to the Municipality of Anchorage (MOA). MOA, which to date has been VERY supportive of geocaching on MOA parklands now sees a conflict so they shut down geocaching. Geocachers could protest to MOA, but the nordic skiers in Anchorage (and Fairbanks) are VERY organized, greatly outnumber geocachers and are used to vigorously defending the ski trails. I'd almost bet my next paycheck that geocaching would lose.
The lower the impact we have on ANY land where we cache, the more likely we will be allowed to continue to play the game there.
Hmmm...now that I wrote all of the above, maybe I should move it over to the Etiquette thread...except the issue was raised here.
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Post by knappling on Oct 25, 2006 17:19:23 GMT -9
Some caches are close enough to the trail that I ski down the trail, then park my skies at the edge while I go through the woods to the final part. A nice thing about geocaching is that it can be used as motivation to go skiing or just a bonus to enjoying the trails.
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