Dumping in the bush...

There is just one word to describe those that take their garbage and dump it in woods.  PIG!!!

Just how cheap and lazy are you?  What gives you the right to destroy the environment and the beauty of what belongs to all of us?  
Would you dump this in your back yard?  Well you are dumping in mine!!
I would like to see everyone out there report these pigs. Take a camera and catch them in the act. Post the pictures online. Send them to the newspaper.  Do you recognize what is being dumped?  Did it belong to someone you know? Take them to task for it....
Dumping affects all of us.  Those of us who are outdoor enthusiasts find gates locked because of dumping.  It limits our access to the great outdoors.  For those of you who are content to stay in your urban setting you need to think about where your water comes from.  This dumping affects your water source.
And this is not limited to household garbage or industrial waste.  Your lawn clippings and weeds are also dumping and contributes to introducing invasive species that choke out the natural flora. 
I have a Facebook group where I post pictures from the Campbell River and surrounding areas.Logging road Dumping I have talked to people and informed them that what they are doing is illegal and there are repercussions and fines.  Some are open to my speech and some are not.
It is up to us to be proactive and stop this practice.  
  
 
 

Premium Memberbership

Joining Geocaching.com is free.  You never have to pay anything to enjoy the hobby.  You can even log Premium Member caches without being a Premium Member.  You didn't know that?  As long as a premium member sends you the link to the log page for the premium member cache you can log it.  You just cannot see it on the cache listing.  
So why be a premium member?  I  like it because I don't have advertisements on my listing page or elsewhere and I absolutely love pocket queries. 
Premium membership does allow us to get instant notifications for new caches but a lot of the time I see them on the cache listing page first.  That's because cellular service is the pits where I live and I have them sent to my iPhone instead of email.
So, really it is not important to have Premium Membership to get a FTF!! 

So that brings us to the Premium Member caches.  Why limit who can find your cache?  Some would argue that it is to keep the newbies from finding your cache and then not placing it back properly or allowing a non-cacher to see it, etc.  Some like the fact that you can see who has been looking at your cache page and how many times.  This can be fun!! But really, who cares? I personally don't see the point in hiding a micro in the back of wherever and then making it a premium member cache. 

A weekend in Sooke

I needed a good few days of geocaching in order to reach a major milestone.  Since I have always wanted to do the Pacific Marine Circle Route and I have never been to Sooke, BC, the weekend of Sept 29th 2012, with all the awesome fall weather we have been having the decision was made.  
Wanting to keep it financially feasible but get the most out of the weekend with an eye on the weather I booked us into a "Rustic" cabin at Sooke River Campground. 

We set out Saturday morning and meandered our way down island.  Didn't really start caching until we made the turn at Duncan and headed for Lake Cowichan where we started to pick up the odd Island spirit cache on the Cowichan Trail.  Once we made the turn at Mesachie Lake onto the Pacific Marine Road we were enchanted by the meandering valleys and steep hill. This route has been discovered by motorbikes and I confess I itched to go home and get mine.  The route is narrow so you have to be aware of traffic.  Some caches were placed in awkward areas so it is best to have someone stay with the car and keep an eye out. 
 We found some interesting spots including a very large Spruce Tree.  We have found other large trees and this one actually had a fence around it to help preserve it.  Hopefully the pic will give you some idea of how large it actually is. Harris Creek Spruce

We continued on from here to Port Renfrew where we detoured to Juan de Fuca Provincial Park were we  met up with a cacher who we had been following all day. After a short walk to another cache we decided that we did not have time to do the Earthcache at this time.  It just means we have to come back to explore this area.  Like we need a reason to!! Too bad it was too foggy to get some pics here.
The road from Port Renfrew to Jordan River was under highway construction and after driving it we could see why.  We did manage to grab a few caches along the way though. 
We arrived in Sooke and at our campground sometime around 6 pm and elected to set up and have a bite to eat and call it quits for the day. 
The next morning we headed out and found a few local caches before hitting the Galloping Goose Trail.  Wow were there ever some awesome caches along this way. And yes, they were screwed to the trees.  Almost every one of them. One had a note in them asking what they were and who was he?   We suggested that the CO put them on posts but sadly he elected to archive them.  We hope he fixes them and puts them back as a lot of trouble went into these series.
Along with some other great spots like the bay and the boardwalk we really got a good idea of the area.

The legs and the JR's got a good workout and so far we managed to nab 40 + caches on both days. The cabin was looking pretty good.

The next morning we finished off a couple of local caches before hitting the road.  We wanted to grab some  of the TEAM caches on our list so we took some side trips and  worked our way across the Esquimalt Lagoon and onto Royal Roads University.

Finally we called it quits late in the day and headed home working our way north.  
All in all it was a fun filled weekend that just never stopped.

Reporting caches in violation of Groudspeak guidelines and/or Terms of Use

This is a grey area. Why report a cache?  Reviewers that I have talked to and in informal meetings and/or Meet & Greet's have said that we are their eyes.  That as cacher's we know more about the cache than they do.  When they get a cache for review they cannot see it, cannot see how it is hidden, if it meets the guidelines. Hence, they have to take us cache owners at our word.  They have to trust us.

I have been in the position of reporting a cache and therefore I have been ostracized because of it. Why?  
1.Apparently because I didn't do it right.
2. Everyone liked the cache.
3. It is not my business
4. All of the above

Well let's deal with this one at a time.

1. Apparently because I didn't do it right
1. Email the owner
1. CO ignores you
2. CO tells you to get lost in unpleasant language
1. Make a comment on the cache page
1. CO ignores it
2. CO asks you to change it but refuses to fix the cache 
2.  Everyone liked the cache
1. I liked the cache too but it violates the guidelines and perpetuates copycat hides
3. It is not my business
1. Yes it is
1. If it affects the game and where hides can be placed 
2. If it is damaging to the environment
3. If it violates Groundspeak Guidelines
4. If it violates any Park, Municipal, Regional, Provincial, Federal, etc Geocaching Policy
1. Therefore affecting the game

Now that brings us to the issue of  Cache logs and the Groudspeak Terms of Use.  The TOU's are pretty explicit about what can be expressed on a cache page and what both the cache finder and the cache owner can put on the cache page.  One must remember that these caches and logs can be seen by the world.  Anything explicit not only is a violation but IMO makes the poster look bad.  

I honestly try to be fairly subtle about anything negative I may put on a cache page.  Generally it is about the cache itself and not a person.  Others feel that this is the place to air their personal differences.  By naming a person or organization or even alluding to them in any way that there is no doubt about who they are is a violation of the TOU's.  Hence reporting to Groundspeak to have the issue resolved if the poster or CO refuses to resolve it.

Bicycles, scooters, wheelchairs, etc..

There is a lot of confusion regarding the use of certain types of transportation.  I know that I am not aware of all the laws and I see increasing confusion among other motorists as well as the operators of these modes of transportation.  So here I am going to try to clarify them using the ICBC site, BC Motor Vehicle Act Etc,..

These are taken directly from the sites...

 BIKE SENSE

 BICYCLES

Cyclists and the Law

Cyclists have the same rights and duties as a driver of a vehicle. The laws that govern cyclists are contained in the BC Motor Vehicle Act [RSBC 1996]. Certain sections of the Act are exclusively for cyclists and excerpts are provided below. Some jurisdictions in BC also have bylaws specifically for cyclists. It is wise to check with your local police department or municipality for cycling-specific bylaws in your area.

Motor Vehicle Act [RSBC 1996] Chapter 318 Part 3
Reproduced with permission of the Province of British Columbia.

Rights and duties of operator of cycle
183 (1) In addition to the duties imposed by this section, a person operating a cycle on a highway has the same rights and duties as a driver of a vehicle.

(2) A person operating a cycle
(a) must not ride on a sidewalk unless authorized by a bylaw made under section 124 or unless otherwise directed by a sign,
(b) must not, for the purpose of crossing a highway, ride on a crosswalk unless authorized to do so by a bylaw made under section 124 or unless otherwise directed by a sign,
(c) must, subject to paragraph (a), ride as near as practicable to the right side of the highway,
(d) must not ride abreast of another person operating a cycle on the roadway,
(e) must keep at least one hand on the handlebars,
(f) must not ride other than on or astride a regular seat of the cycle,
(g) must not use the cycle to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, and
(h) must not ride a cycle on a highway where signs prohibit their use.

ICBC - MOPEDS SCOOTERS 

Mopeds and scooters

Mopeds and street-legal scooters are limited-speed motorcycles (LSMs).

Rules for using limited-speed motorcycles

LSM's must be registered, licensed and insured for road use.

To drive one, you need a full-privilege (Class 5, 6, 7 or 8) or learner (Class 6 or 8) driver's licence and must wear a helmet.

You're also subject to the same rights and duties as the driver of a motor vehicle.

Where can I ride?

Road or highway use may be restricted, depending on the speed of your limited-speed motorcycle. For more information, please contact your local police.

Different rules for electric bikes

Limited-speed motorcycles look a lot like some electric bikes (also known as motor-assisted cycles). However, their operating rules aren't the same.

Electric bikes

An electric bike, or motor-assisted cycle, is a two- or three-wheeled cycle with a seat, pedals and an electric motor (up to 500 watts). A motor assisted cycle (MAC) cannot be gas-powered.

Cycles without attached pedals

Gas-powered cycles and electric cycles without attached pedals do not qualify as an electric motor-assisted cycle and will not pass a provincial motor vehicle inspection that would enable them to meet registration, licensing and insurance requirements for on-road use.

Rules of the road

To operate a motor-assisted cycle (MAC), you must be 16 or older and wear a bicycle helmet.

You don't need a drivers licence or need to register, licence and/or insure your MAC, but you are subject to the same rights and duties as the driver of a motor vehicle. You also must follow bicycle safety rules.

Different rules for electric bikes and mopeds/scooters

Some motor-assisted cycles look a lot like mopeds and scooters (also known as limited-speed motorcycles—LSMs). However, the rules for operating MACs and LSMs aren't the same.

Make sure you're riding legally. Check the table below to see which rules apply to you.

Description	Combine the pedal power of bicycles with the power assistance of an electric motor. See Section 151 of the Motor Vehicle Act: Motor Assisted Cycle Regulation	Are low-powered motorcycles (that is, mopeds and scooters). LSMs rely on motor power and are generally not equipped with bicycle-style pedals.
Power	Electric motor of 500 watts or less and bicycle-style pedals for manual propulsion.	Gas engine 50 cc or less or electric motor less than 1,500 watts.
Maximum speed	32 km/h on level ground without pedalling.	70 km/h on level ground.
Vehicle registration, licensing and insurance	None required. (Insurance may be available under a homeowner's policy.)	An LSM must be registered, licensed and insured as a motor vehicle.
Driver	No driver’s licence is needed. You must be at least 16 years old.	You must have a driver’s licence of any class. You can not operate on a learner’s licence other than a Class 6 or 8 motorcycle learner’s licence.
Helmet	Must wear a bike helmet.	Must wear a motorcycle helmet.
Rules of the road	Subject to the same rights and duties as the driver of a motor vehicle, such as obeying all traffic lights and control devices. As well, bicycle safety rules should be followed. See Section 183 of the Motor Vehicle Act: Rights and duties of operator of cycle.	Subject to the same rights and duties of a motor vehicle, such as obeying all traffic lights and control devices. In some areas, highway use is restricted. For details, please contact your local police.
Manufacturer's label	As a condition of initial sale, all commercially manufactured MACs must have a label stating that the vehicle is a “power-assisted bicycle."	As a condition of initial sale, all commercially manufactured LSMs must bear a permanently affixed compliance label. On this, or on another separate label, a statement must appear that the use of the vehicle may be restricted by provincial authorities to certain roads.

MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIRS 

Motorized wheelchairs

Rules for using motorized wheelchairs

• You don’t need a driver’s licence to drive a motorized wheelchair.
• Vehicle registration, licence plates and insurance are also not required.
• Motorized wheelchairs can be used on sidewalks or roads, following the same rules as pedestrians.

A motorized wheelchair may only be operated for the purposes for which it was designed.

Safety tips for driving motorized wheelchairs

• Ride only where it's safe, following the same rules and guidelines as pedestrians.
• Use courtesy and think safety.
• Drive at the same speed as other pedestrian traffic.
• Be extra cautious of possible traffic as you approach driveways and lanes.
• Try to avoid sudden turns.

Avoid using your motorized wheelchair if you're taking any medication, drugs or alcohol that may affect your skills or judgement.

Elk River Trail & Landslide Lake

OK I will be the first to admit that I am not in the greatest of shape, but I have been wanting to do the  hike into Landslide Lake for the past two years. So with the awesome weather and a long weekend the opportunity presented itself.  Now 30 degrees Celsius may be a tad warm for a hike it obviously did not deter the multitudes of other outdoor and mountain enthusiasts we encountered. And, if you seriously believe like I mistakenly did that it would be "cooler at a higher altitude" then you are sorely mistaken. With that said, let's begin.

Elk River Trail is accessed via Highway 28 to Gold River. From the bridge at Buttle Narrows drive about 23 km on Highway 28, and find a sign to Elk River Trail, just before Drum Lakes. Driving time from Campbell River is about 1 hour. There is a large parking area with access to Outhouses just up from the trailhead.  On a good weekend and in the summer prepare to see a full parking lot.

The information told us that it was a 3-hour hike for a hiker with full overnight gear to the Butterwort Creek gravel bar which is where the first campsite is, and that is how long it took us to get there.  At approximately 6 hours to the Elk River gravel flats Which is the second campsite and where we set up our tent. From here one can make day excursions to Landslide Lake and beyond.

The distance from the parking lot to Landslide Lake is about 11km through varied terrain and the total elevation gain is 585 m. Since we stayed overnight we paid the current Backwoods camping fee of $10 right at the parking lot. At each campsite there are Pit Toilets and Bear caches which are on a pulley system for raising your edibles, including any garbage up into the trees.  Campfires are prohibited in the backcountry so come prepared with a portable stove.  We did notice evidence of fires and someone in our campsite had one down by the river at night and in the morning. That was a No No.  We drank freely of the running water from the Elk River and other fast flowing streams but did notice a fair amount of hikers treating their water.  Apparently we have hardier stomachs or are just used to untreated water.

So we started out from the parking lot on Sunday morning at approximately 0800 and immediately were faced with an elevation gain of about 100 m via a series of switchbacks.  The last thing I wanted to see when I first started out but probably better with fresh legs. Stopping at the top for a quick breather we were immediately overtaken by a group that informed us that we would probably be meeting a large group that had just done the Golden Hinde and were on their way out this morning. As a matter of fact we did meet them but they came in dribbles and drabs.

Heading back down the other side we meandered through a mature forest, past a large beaverpond and through the Elk River valley for approximately 4 km. From that point we started to gain elevation  before heading back down to the first campsite at approximately 1100.  We stopped to replenish our water and grab something to eat.  The campsite was fairly full and looked like they had been there for a few days at least.

From the first campsite we started a long uphill grind over bridges and washed out streams and waterfalls.  We found our first and only snow until we saw it again at the end of Landslide Lake.  Although there has been extensive damage to the trail, it is well marked and there are already trails around the downed trees if they have not been cut away.  One bridge is definitely out but two on the trail are in excellent shape.  At the present time it is possible to walk across the stream where the bridge is out.

At the water falls the rock faces may be slippery so we took care crossing while we enjoyed the fine cool spray that the waterfalls were generating.
Arriving at the second campsite at approximately 1400 we set up out tent, had a bite to eat and soaked our feet in the nice cold river.  At 1500, after a short rest, we grabbed our water and some snacks and started out for Landslide Lake. 

The first 500 m or so was a pleasant enough trail.  Then we crossed the Elk River at a newer bridge and looked up at the waterfalls.  Oh boy.  Over the open rock marked with cairns we clambered up to the waterfalls before heading into the bush for a short while.  Loose gravel was an issue in some places.  I was glad for my hiking poles in this kind of situation.

We finally made it to Landslide Lake and the rocks where there were a few others.  Informed that the water was cold I decided to take the plunge anyway.  Well all I can say was it was refreshing and I didn't stay in very long.  Stayed at the lake for a bit enjoying the sun and watching the hikers appear at the lip of Berg Lake before heading down.

The walk back was a little harder at places due to the loose gravel and having to be careful where you placed your feet.  Once at the bottom of the falls we made quick time back to camp arriving at 1900 hours.  As we prepared and consumed our meal we watched several groups of hikers come through.

Heading to bed early we managed to catch some sleep on the hard ground but dreamed of a nice soft bed.  Kudos to those that do this all the time.

We awoke early and decided to pack up and head back.  The hike out took approximately 5 hours altogether with numerous rest stops on the way and chatting to lots of hikers on their way in. This old body managed to plod along at a reasonable rate and thoroughly enjoyed every grueling moment.  Would I do it again?  You betcha!!

Plastic bags and geocaches

When we find or hide a cache we all have a personal opinion and/or preference regarding the use of plastic bags.  I don't like them!!

I have several reasons for this opinion.  Firstly, they hold water.  Yuck!!  After a few rainy days or seasons the bag is usually wet inside and therefore the cache container is wet as well.  And who really likes peeling a nasty wet, moldy bag off of a geocache?  Not me!!  The bag gets torn and dirty.. and just generally gross.

Another thing is camouflage.  I have lost count of how many camouflaged geocaches I have found that are covered with a plastic bag.  What is the use of hiding a camouflaged container and then covering it with a plastic bag?  Kind of defeats the purpose.My favorite was a 50cal ammo can painter the same color as the rock it was hidden under.  Now Ammo cans are waterproof!  That is why the military uses them for ammunition!  To paint it to match it's surrounding and then hide it inside a black plastic bag totally confounds me. 

If you are using a waterproof container (well as waterproof as you can get here on the wet coast) then why use a bag?  The only waterproof bags are generally too expensive to use for this purpose.  We see shopping bags, garbage bags, ziploc bags, and my personal favorite...doggie do bags.

Doggie do Bags are manufactured to break down.  They are totally useless to protect the geocache.  They are definitely something I DON'T want to pick up.  People pick up their doggie do and then leave the bag on the trail, in the trees, behind a stump.  Oh Yeah!! That's just what I want to open all right. 

So please think about what YOU want to find. What YOU want to handle.  And leave the plastic bags at home please. Unless of course you are using them to CITO!!

Labeling your geocache

GC guidelines clearly state that the GC number of your cache must be on the outside of the container.  Hmmmm
How many of us pop a couple of caches into our caching bag and drop one in an area on the spur of the moment?  I know I do.  How to solve this problem?  
One way is to generate a list of GC codes in advance and keep a list of them with you.  Then when you get to your computer and go to build your cache page you can pull one of those numbers and use it.  Change the info like hide date etc.
What if someone wants the spot you have set the cache page coordinates at?  Well when the reviewer goes to publish a cache they check for nearby caches.  They can see that an unpublished cache and/or a "not in the queue" cache is within proximity even though the cache has not been marked for publication.  
I happen to live in an area that has a lot of water around it so I am fortunate that I can set my coordinates in the middle of a lake or ocean and they will not be a problem.  Take a look on Google Earth for spots you can use and the coordinates for those spots.  They don't have to be permanent and they do not have to be exact.  
My next project will be to print a list of all my caches and bring them up to date with the current guidelines.  
Usually when guidelines are changed/updated then any cache hidden before the change date will be "grandfathered" which means that the change does not have to occur.  Only any new cache.  I however have no problem bringing any of my caches to within the guidelines if I can or even archiving them instead.

Alone Mtn, Comox Lake

Started out with The_Pollywog this morning not really sure if we would be able to make it up. Gate was open and we headed up Comox Lake.  Hairy road but beautiful in the backside of Comox Lake. The hike involved a 600 m vertical ascent over approx 900 m. We had more or less decided that there would be snow at the top so just took a drive in there in case.  Because of this we had the dogs with us against our better judgement.  We found the terrain a little loose in places and had to scramble a fair amount over some of it. Taking it slow and having really good footwear is a definite requirement.  I forgot my hiking poles and improvised with a sturdy stick that I left for the trip down at one of the chutes we had to climb through.  By the time we arrived at the base of the last vertical I gave it an honest try but returned to the bottom after only about 20 m as my legs had major muscle fatigue.  Paul decided that he would continue on and try for both caches.  It was kinda frustrating sitting 74 m from GZ and having a steep vertical hold you back but I knew when to quit.  There were a few sections I would not want to be on in the rain but for the most part the worst was the steepness.  I was calling the JR's Mr & Mrs Mtn Goat but felt it prudent to hold them back with me.  The descent was fairly fast although the scree and leaves made it treacherous in places. Trail was well marked all the way to the top.  Walked through one pocket of snow before Paul ran into it again up on the top on the way to Top of the Valley.  I can see myself doing this again but not sure when  :) Took lots of pics and one spot was a favorite photo op for us. This was approximately a 5 hour round trip for us mostly due to me and the dogs. Lots of good trail markings and interesting things to see.

Lazy Cache Logs?

We read logs of previous cachers to see what the cache is like and how some cachers enjoyed it.  We read previous logs to sometimes get a clue if we cannot find the cache.  As cache owners we want to see what you thought of the cache and what your experience was.  

So, what is with the TFTH and the :)? Is it laziness? Is it not knowing what to say? 

Even I have been guilty of short logs. But then again I have some really long and good logs. The shortest was on a cache where the cache log had been deleted by the owner.

Total Words: 137324, Average: 35, (Total Characters: 744336)
Longest: GCNTC3 382, Shortest: GC38AHF 1 

I confess I do cut and paste when I have a lot of logs to write but I do try to add some individual words to the cache log especially if there is something noteworthy.  Sometimes it is just about the find or the conditions etc.

We do expect to get the occasional :) or TFTH but it seems to be becoming a trend.  I notice it more and more and have even emailed the finder and asked if he could include a few more words in his online log.  It seems like not even replying to that is also a symptom of something nowadays. 

How do you feel about this? How do we encourage this?  Should we bring it up at courses and events?




   

Munzee?

Well after a friend captured a couple of these I decided to give it a try.  There are not very many around but they are catching on and a neat alternative to geocaching. They are only available where there is cell coverage and usually in urban areas which is handy for both hiding and capturing.  Also no conflict with geocaching so you can put a munzee right on top of a geocache. I am hesitant to place a Munzee on or in a geocache as a Munzee collector who is not a geocacher would have access to geocaches. 

What is a Munzee?  Well their website describes it as this..

Munzee is a real world scavenger hunt game where items are found in the real world and captured using your smartphone. You then level up and gain rank based on your score. Points are obtained by capturing other people's munzees or when your deployed munzees are captured by someone else. Munzee is based off of the fundamentals of geocaching and adds another layer of fun to the hunt. Badges can be earned by unlocking specific achievements.

What do munzees look like?

Munzees come in any size or shape but all must contain a QR-code style barcode. The barcode combined with your GPS coordinates are the essential gameplay elements of munzee.

Munzees can be hidden in containers, camouflaged or even in plain view. They can also be found at your favorite local business. 

 

I have hidden a few around Campbell River now so they are up for grabs.  However you use your phone to hide so the coordinates may not be exact. I try to put a good clue in the description