Archive for the ‘Kim Recommends’ Category

In thinking about the start of 2011 and researching this article, I’ve come across a TON of posts by other geocachers talking about their geocaching goals for the year.

How cool is that!

In a world (economy?) where many people focus day-to-day and can barely contemplate the future, here are intrepid geocachers that have the guts to look at what they did in 2010 and set goals for 2011.

(In case you can’t tell, I’m really big on setting goals. I wish goal setting was a mandatory class in every school at every grade level. For some of MY goals for 2011, check out yesterday’s post on TheOutdoorPrincess.com)

Geocaching With Datruck’s Crew

One of our goals this year is to finish this series of caches and find the Crystal Dragon…

Eric’s Days of Battle

Writing a post to review my geocaching exploits in 2010 inevitably got me to thinking about what I would like to accomplish in 2011. Despite much of my last post being about numbers and badges and the tangible signs of all that activity, my more important goals going forward really wouldn’t be driven primarily by numbers or quantity. Mainly I just want to continue to have fun…

Raymond Popowich

I have logged 351 finds and several states of the last couple years.  In 2011 lets set the goal for making my 500th find and adding at least 3 more states to my logged finds map!

It’s Not About The Numbers

Forget Year of the Rabbit; for me, 2011 will be year of the geo-goal.

A ‘lil Hoohaa

The year 2010 was interesting for me in regard to geocaching. When looking at just numbers and things like that, I took a step backward with the game. I had set many goals, which I didn’t reach each one.

Readers Weigh In:

• What are your caching goals for the coming year? If you’ve written a post about it, be sure to include a link in your comment so we can all check it out.

(Um, I’ll take a look at the whole blog to make sure it’s family friendly, of course!)

Two weeks ago, I posted about my geocaching tool kit; these are tools that I take with me to actually FIND and RETRIEVE the cache. I got so many comments on that post about what people have in their kits, I though I’d better do a follow-up article!

To Retrieve The Cache

• Walking stick. This is a must for Arizona where all manner of creatures (usually that bite, sting, are poisonous or all three!) like to live around caches. So a walking stick is perfect for jamming into a likely crevasse or flipping over rocks.
• Gloves. My garden gloves do double duty in my caching kit. This is nice when I’ve got my fingernails painted a la filming for The Outdoor Princess Productions. Or when locating the cache requires me to move plants with thorns.
• Small mirror. I finally got tired of sticking my head under cattle guards looking for micros! Now, I just angle the mirror under so I can see BEFORE I stick my head into anything!
• Needle nose pliers. For when you can SEE the cache, but you can’t get your fingers in there! Pliers are tough and portable!
• Forceps. Yep, I carry BOTH. Sometimes the pliers are too big to extract the log sheet from a nano. And the forceps can be too delicate for leveraging a good-sized cache container out of the hiding spot.
• Flashlight. Sometimes shining a light into a likely spot will show the cache reflecting back at you. And sometimes it shows the eyes of whatever critter is living in the hole!
• Magnet on a string. Sometimes, you can fish a cache out with that! Just make sure the magnet is tied on tight! (Thanks to GC Addicted)

You might also want to consider:

• A metal coat hanger with a hook bent into the end.
• A fishing hook on a string. (Not sure I recommend this because of how easy it is to get caught on the barb, but it was suggested several time!)

Safety Gear

• Hat
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Sun Glasses
• Safety glasses were suggested by james.bednar. He pointed out that trees (branches, thorns, and leaves) can REALLY damage and eye when you run into it. I never would have thought of this since I’m ALWAYS wearing glasses.
• Extra batteries for the GPS
• Quality road atlas (make sure it is a GOOD one that shows back roads, not just the main highways!)
• First aid kit
• Poison oak/ivy spray (suggested by Garrett.) Neither is much of a problem in Arizona so I’d never even THOUGHT about it!
• Hand sanitizer
• Plenty of water and snacks
• Hiking boots or good shoes

Kim Scornavacco posted such a good comment that I think it needs to be repeated in its entirety:

I always carry a bandana with me. I can cover my head to ward off the heat, I dunk it in cold water and tie it around my neck to keep cool, I wrap it around my mouth and nose in cold weather, I have used it as a band-aid, used it to clean off mud and in an emergency, you can use it as a sling.

Here are some other items that I typically carry in my car:

• Emergency poncho
• Emergency space blanket
• Whistle
• Matches
• LOTS of paper towel
• Cell phone charger

Several people commented on also bringing extra log sheets and plastic baggies to caches. I LOVE the idea of people doing impromptu cache maintenance and just helping out the owner. I have several caches that are hours away from my house so it isn’t really feasible for me to trot over there after work to replace a log book!

Other items suggested were:

• GPS
• Swag
• Pen AND a pencil
• Duct tape (always handy)

One of the biggest issues I’ve always had with a list like this is that if I carried EVERYTHING my pack would be so heavy I could hardly walk! I recommend that you take notes (mental or otherwise) about what YOU decide YOU can’t live without.

On my “Can’t Go Caching Without It” list?

My camera and tripod!

Readers Weigh In:

• I’ve been thinking about making up a printable .pdf checklist of supplies. Do you think that would help ne w cachers get started on the right foot?

I’ve been hard at work adding new clothing designs to the shop. While I love my “Princess” series, I understand that not every geocacher is a princess.

So, here’s a new design for you: Been There. Found That. It’s available in 4 colors of text and on a variety of tees, sweatshirts, mugs, bags, and hats.

You can find this design at http://www.cafepress.com/eatstayplay/7026611

AND you can see all the other designs at: http://www.cafepress.com/eatstayplay

Since I wrote about Cache In Trash Out yesterday, I thought I’d share a new tee shirt design. I think this would be a PERFECT giveaway for any event and totally awesome for a CITO event. Introducing the new City/State Geocaching Tee!

Love geocaching in your home town? Here’s the design that features YOUR city & state! 100% custom — just email Kim the city and state & she’ll design the tee for you! Perfect for events or as a FTF mega prize! You can also leave a comment on this post and I’d be happy to put in the city and state that you want. Then, you can get the tee through CafePress.com.

The Casa Grande Arizona Geocacher design is available at:  http://www.CafePress.com/EatStayPlay/7027775 but I have a few other cities already made up. You can see the ENTIRE line at:

http://www.CafePress.com/EatStayPlay