TEAM CHUMP REPORTING ..... 1) How did you get introduced to Geo Caching? A: Team GPERS 2) How long have you been a Geo Cacher? A: Since Sept 2001 3) What is your present GPS'r? A: etrex summit a) What was your first GPS'r? A: same b) How many units have you owned? A: 1, purchasing the Garmin RINO in the next few weeks though, once it is available. c) What unit(s) would you recommend to new cachers? A: Garmin with mapping capabilities. 4) How long did it take to locate your first cache? A: 5 minutes (Rancho, long gone now... :( ) 5) What has been your most memorable cache? A: RIP. 4 caches that day, coke ovens, and a bad ass road trip - including driving across the Gila River. But we made it, unscathed! Lots of other real good ones too though. a) Why? A: Team Effort, 4 wheeling, puzzle caches. Combined all my favorite aspects of the game. Oh yes, and we got a pie coupon. 6) What has been your least favorite cache? A: Locationless ones. a) Why? A: They've really gotten some bad ones now. Some are ok, but for example there are locationless that are "find a US flag on a pole" or "Take a picture of a water tower". If you don't need a GPS, I question if it is a cache at all. 7) What factors dictate which cache you go looking for? A: I go for all of them eventually. 8) How many other Geo Cachers have you met while on a caching hunt? A: Surprisingly, many. I would say maybe 15 teams. 9) Has that meeting changed the way you cache? A: No. (?) 10) When unable to locate a cache how long do you search? A: many factors. How remote? Basically as long as I have time until I have searched the area to my satisfaction. a) How many attempts before logging a no-find? A: When I feel I can't find it without more info. b) Do you contact the cache owner for help? A: No. c) Do you ask other cachers for help? A: If at all, only as a last resort. Matter of pride. 11) When driving around are you tempted to go and look again at caches you have found before? A: No. 12) What has been the best trinket in a cache? A: Pottery shards. Just kidding. Probably the the HP Print server in AZ Techno Gecko. 13) What has been the worst trinket in a cache? A: matchbooks. 14) Do you leave a signature item? A: Started leaving Orange Cable Clamps. a) Are you considering your own? A: see above. b) Who has the most notable? A: Only notable to me are Roping the wind or sand dollar. I can pretty much tell a Libby cache too by now. 15) When in a populated area waiting to retrieve a cache what things do you do to pass the time? A: Like Eric, sit and complain about all the people present. a) While waiting what was the worst thing to have happen? A: They don't leave. b) What has been the best thing? A: Meet other teams. At Jesse and Jedi we have 5 teams there at once a few months back! Tim (AZFastFeet) I think I've run into you what, four times now? 16) Do you practice Cache in Trash out? A: When possible. 17s What's the one piece of advice you'd want to give to every Neocacher, so they wouldn't have to learn it the hard way? A: Start easy, and do at least a dozen before putting one out. Kiss your family goodby unless they start caching with you because you may not be home much! What if you get caught by someone? A: Talk to the plants and myself. Ask them what the frequency is over and over. They usually leave. If you don't want to act schizophrenic, the GPS as a cell phone usually works. I don't remember ever being caught though. If you don't act suspicous, its not usually a problem. How the heck do so many of you find soooooo many caches? I know you work for money, so where do you find the time? A: I have topo software on my computer. I can plot the caches on the maps and group them together for hunts and do several at once. They add up. Besides, with Loran leaving, somebody has to make a feeble attempt at chasing Larry. Rob Team CHUMP