What I do to try and ensure an accurate measurement of where I placed a
cache, and hasn't failed on me yet:

Stand at the cache for a couple of minutes allowing the GPS unit to "settle
down". Mark a waypoint.
Walk away from the cache anywhere from 20ft - 60ft (as far as the vegetation
will allow) and walk back to the cache. Wait a moment. Mark a waypoint. I
repeat this step three or four times walking away and coming back from
different directions.
I then look at all the waypoints I marked and pick a middle one or the
consensus (basically a quick mental averaging).

A cache that has been messed with could be anyone - kids, someone with a
gps, dog, etc. IMO if you leave a box with stuff in it lying around, expect
it to be messed with at some point. Just rehide it in a better location.

Andy

-----Original Message-----
From: az-geocaching-admin@listserv.azgeocaching.com
[mailto:az-geocaching-admin@listserv.azgeocaching.com]On Behalf Of
SquishyGecko
Sent: Friday, April 23, 2004 8:36 AM
To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
Subject: [Az-Geocaching] Help! Inaccurate Coordinates & Missing Cache


Recently Brian from Team A.I. posted a log entry to Gecko's Urban Adventure
in which he wrote that the coordinates were approximately thirty feet off
from what I had posted on the listing.  Along with this, yesterday evening I
went venturing around checking some of my other caches, and noticed that the
coordinates, while close on some, where not so close on others.  Using a
Magellan Meridian Gold now, is there any reason at all why this would be
happening, and how do I make it stop happening?

Also, I located one of my caches with the top hanging open and everything
removed yesterday.  I recall some discussion about a pirate stealing from
caches, however I thought that individual had been stopped.  Anyone have any
thoughts on this?  For the moment I've removed the cache, temporarily
disabled it, and may put it back later.

Thanks!

____________________________________________________________
Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com
To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe visit:
http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching

Arizona's Geocaching Resource
http://www.azgeocaching.com