GeoCache at Western Historic Trails Museum

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:16 pm

If anybody has ever done geocaching, sounds like this might be fun...

Geo Cache event begins

The Western Historic Trails Museum and the Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau are hosting the first-ever Geo Cache event today and Saturday in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County. . . .

"We are very excited to educate novice geo cachers Friday night with a class on 'GeoCaching 101'," stated K C Hummel of the Western Historic Trails Museum in Council Bluffs.

Registration for this event will be Friday between 3 and 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Western Historic Trails Museum, 3434 Richard Downing Ave., I-80 Exit 1 B South in Council Bluffs.

Registration is free, but cachers do need a GPS device. Path tags will be given away to the first 40 registrants, so come early to get yours! Registrants have most of the day to find caches and visit our area attractions Saturday. . .

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 1:41 pm

I went on my first Geocache hunt at Chalco this weekend with my daughter and iPhone 3G. It was a blast. The iPhone GPS is awesome for this type of recreation. I think it will be my new low cost hobby. There are over 1,800 caches within 100 miles of where I live, and tons in Omaha. I think I can keep myself busy ;)

I'm also thinking it would be fun to get coordinates of really good views and picture opportunities. Not all caches need to have a treasure box.

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:51 pm

bradley414 wrote:I'm also thinking it would be fun to get coordinates of really good views and picture opportunities. Not all caches need to have a treasure box.

Really? Wow, the powers that be must have had a change of heart, several years ago they banished any new geocaches that didn't have a cache of some size to be found, which kind of turned me off. I'll have to get back in if they lifted that ban.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:56 pm

Whats the website people go to to see the list of geocaches?

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 7:06 pm

Brad wrote:Whats the website people go to to see the list of geocaches?

The best site that I have found is http://www.geocaching.com
From this site I found out that 4-H has a cache in each Nebraska County.

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:26 am

icejammer wrote:
bradley414 wrote:I'm also thinking it would be fun to get coordinates of really good views and picture opportunities. Not all caches need to have a treasure box.
Really? Wow, the powers that be must have had a change of heart, several years ago they banished any new geocaches that didn't have a cache of some size to be found, which kind of turned me off. I'll have to get back in if they lifted that ban.

Geocaching.com has a special 'ghost' icon to label virtual cache's. They have ranks to tell you all the different sizes too. I guess someone had a change of heart. No reason we couldn't make a sticky on the forum and post coordinates though.

Remember to bring your camera! There was a boatload of photo ops I missed last night because I left my camera at home. Stupid me.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 12:36 pm

bradley414 wrote:I went on my first Geocache hunt at Chalco this weekend with my daughter and iPhone 3G. It was a blast. The iPhone GPS is awesome for this type of recreation.

Unfortunately from what I have been told - Verizon uses their own VZ Navigator while blocking BlackBerry's GPS system unless you pay them $2.99/day or $9.99/month. I still don't know what direction I will go from here.

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:38 am

Coyote wrote:
bradley414 wrote:I went on my first Geocache hunt at Chalco this weekend with my daughter and iPhone 3G. It was a blast. The iPhone GPS is awesome for this type of recreation.
Unfortunately from what I have been told - Verizon uses their own VZ Navigator while blocking BlackBerry's GPS system unless you pay them $2.99/day or $9.99/month. I still don't know what direction I will go from here.

If I understand you correctly, you have a Blackberry w/GPS but verizon still wants to charge you for VZ Navigator on top of your data plan? Have you looked into hacking your blackberry? I've seen lots of 'unlocking' hacks for other phones and service providers. What a crappy company. Before I had canceled my verizon contract in order to get my iPhone, I looked at a bunch of different options and service providers, and Verizon had the worst plans and phones. The only thing they seem to have going for them is their network. GPS should be standard with a data plan.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:35 am

I have yet to upgrade my phone from the time I moved back to Omaha. Everyone said Verizon had the best network around the state - so I chose them because of my traveling. I have been thinking about a BlackBerry - but have been watching Verizon's practices with regard to GPS. I was hoping that their services would be similar to other's in the area but they want to |expletive| you when it comes to GPS. I do not see them changing any time soon so I have to decide whether to change services or get a handheld GPS.

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:29 am

Coyote wrote:I have yet to upgrade my phone from the time I moved back to Omaha. Everyone said Verizon had the best network around the state - so I chose them because of my traveling. I have been thinking about a BlackBerry - but have been watching Verizon's practices with regard to GPS. I was hoping that their services would be similar to other's in the area but they want to |expletive| you when it comes to GPS. I do not see them changing any time soon so I have to decide whether to change services or get a handheld GPS.

Being able to geocache in an urban setting is great for an iPhone, but I'm not so sure I'd want to take it on any real rough treks. Something to consider while you make your decision that I failed to think about

Battery Life is much longer in a dedicated GPSr. If your battery dies in your phone, not only do you lose GPS, you lose your ability to call for help ;)

GPSr's are more rugged and can be dropped from a considerable distance without breaking. I would cry if I dropped my iphone.

GPSr's are waterproof. My iPhone isn't.

GPSr's can be loaded with maps. Blackberry's and iPhones download google maps over the data network. If you're out where you don't get a signal, you won't see a map. I get around that by taking Google Earth screen shots of the area with me in case I lose my data reception.

So, if these hobby turned into the real deal, I would want a dedicated GPSr. I'll probably add one to my Christmas list, as this hobby totally opened my daughters imagination about pirates and treasure hunting. She asks me everyday if we're going to go find pirate treasure. It's TONS of fun for a dad.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:42 am

bradley414 wrote:this hobby totally opened my daughters imagination about pirates and treasure hunting. She asks me everyday if we're going to go find pirate treasure. It's TONS of fun for a dad.

Terrific idea. I might have to try it myself.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:01 pm

Dang... Expensive little hobby!

Here are the two my buddy recommended.

Garmin Colorado:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11022

Garmin Oregon:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=14904

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:19 pm

I had the opportunity to gecache with a bunch of friends on Saturday. We found 14 caches at Hummel Park. We all had different GPSr's, with varying results. Here's how the iPhone stacked up:

1. Out of 14 geocaches, the iPhone was the uncontested winner for accuracy. Everyone else got within 20 feet or less, the iPhone perfectly placed me over each cache.

2. The iPhone lost cell coverage twice while in the car. The GPS will not work without any cell coverage at all.

3. The battery was dead after 5 hours of constant use.

4. While the iPhone was the most accurate, it was the slowest at finding the location. This was because the iPhone has to download the google map before it will place you or the waypoint. The other GPSr's were immediate.

5. I downloaded an app called "Geopher" that returns your Long. and Lat., and it worked instantly due to not using googlemaps.

I HOPE LIKE HECK that a new app will be created that allows use of the GPS but on maps I can install, rather than have to download off of Edge everytime I look up a new waypoint.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:01 pm

Man, you are really tempting me to get a GPS.
What units did your friends have that were within 20 feet?

TechnicalDisaster · Post by **TechnicalDisaster** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:44 pm

Coyote wrote:Man, you are really tempting me to get a GPS.
What units did your friends have that were within 20 feet?

Funny enough, the second best GPSr that was the most accurate was this one:
http://www.google.com/products/catalog? ... 2803206569

The other one that impressed me was a Magellan in Car GPS that could disconnect from the car and be carried. My buddy is able to download all the caches he wants and set driving alerts. As we got close to a cache while driving he got an audible alert. He could scroll through lists of caches that were closest to him and pick and choose what to find next.
It was pretty slick.

Post by **nebugeater** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 6:34 am

Not sure if this would fit the need of what you are doing but today (7/29/08 ) the Deal Of the Day on Amazon is the Garmin eTrex Legend GPS Bundle. It is $99.99 for today's price. I have gotten some really good deals on these Deal Of The Day items, sometimes I even need them! Take a look if interested. It will be gone when sold out or tomorrow for sure.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/goldbox/ref=cs_top_nav_gb27

icejammer · Post by **icejammer** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 2:43 pm

WHTC to hold geocache event

Modern-day treasure hunters are invited to the third annual “Geocache the Bluffs” this weekend at the Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing Ave. . .

Registration for the event is today from is 3 to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at WHTC. Door prizes will be drawn Saturday at 3 p.m. and the event concludes with a potluck at 4 p.m.

. . . or go online to http://www.geocaching.com for more information.