On Behalf Of Jared
Ross
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 1:59 PM
To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
Subject: [Az-Geocaching] Wow continued... what you
enjoy about geocaching
Good story RTW. I actually came across your log
entry
for that Ballooning find and enjoyed reading the log
and seeing the pictures. I also appreciate your
"rule
of thumb" and we practice a seemingly identical
rule.
Since this has turned into a very fun topic to read
about how each individuals enjoy the game, I felt
like
throwing our story into the mix. Now, Heather and I
are fairly new to the game still (December 04) but
we
quickly became addicts. For us it doesn't really
matter where the cache is because one way or another
it's going to get us outside. I've only lived in the
valley for a little over a year and Geocaching has
been such an important tool in helping me learn my
way
around. Now as unpopular as it seems to be, we do
enjoy the "numbers" aspect of the game.
Note that I didn't say we ONLY enjoy the numbers
aspect, but it's one area of the hobby we like. It's
largely a personal thing and while we also enjoy
hiking to caches and searching for difficult caches,
easy urban micros have a place in our caching hearts
too. In fact, two of our most memorable moments
caching together are on opposite sides of the
spectrum.
We spent a sunday morning hiking around in the
Thunderbird Park area. Now granted there are quite a
number of caches in this area, but on this day the
cache finds were merely a bonus for the awesome
views
and hiking that we did. Now, I'm a competitive guy
and
a lot of that is self-competition. When I go hiking
I'm competing against myself to see if I can hike
higher/farther than I think I can. That same
self-competitiveness (if it isn't a word, it should
be, haha) plays a part in our geocaching.
Our second most memorable moment of caching was
actually just this past weekend. Heather and I have
been trying to push ourselves to the limit with our
"Cache-til-U-Crache" adventures. Our first outing
back
in July was a long 17 hours of caching in the
valley.
This past weekend we set out for 24 non-stop hours
of
caching. Now of course we are aware that there's a
numbers record for most finds in a day and that
obviously played a part in our motivation. But it
takes more than just a numbers record to make you
cache for that long. The day was very long and
required nearly 350miles of driving and in the end
we
decided that nearly 23 hours was long enough for
this
outing. Heather and I had a blast doing it though.
We
had both been so busy with work and other things
that
we really hadn't had much time together. Not only
did
we get to spend a much needed FULL day together, but
we improved our communication skills and teamwork
skills, something that will hopefully make us a
better
couple.
So while the numbers game isn't something for
everyone
and seems to be viewed rather negatively by a large
portion of the caching community here, it does have
its positives. Its pushed us to try harder in
beating
our own personal goals. Its helped us to realize the
power of setting/achieving goals and has helped us
with non-caching related goals. Its helped us become
a
closer and better couple. And not to mention its
helped me find and even better way to waste my gas
money! :)
Aside from all the urban caching we've done
recently,
I am looking forward to getting some nice hikes in
and
seeing some amazing sights soon. I'm currently not
suppose to be doing any hiking right now due to a
pinched sciatic nerve, but rest assured that once my
physical therapy is done, I'm looking forward to a
few
really fun hikes. Maybe we can even get a few groups
together for some weekend caching/hiking.
Keep on responding to this, it's really enjoyable
reading about how each individual/team makes
geocaching fun for them.
Peace, Love and Caching!
Jared of AZBliss02
--- Roping The Wind <arizcowboy@hotmail.com> wrote:
From: "PATRICK FINLEY" <Fastball50@msn.com>
Reply-To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
To: <listserv@azgeocaching.com>
Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] Wow
Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 21:35:52 -0700
I think Ken has hit the nail on the head. This is
a
game/hobby folks! I
think some of you take this >WAY to seriously. We
too were obsessed with
geocaching and the numbers for quite awhile, but
after stepping back a
little, realized that in the whole realm of
things,
this doesn't mean
squat. We >now enjoy going after caches that we
really "want" to pursue,
instead of just going after caches >to add to our
numbers. We exceeded our
personal goals and realized just how
compulsive/obsessive this game can
be. Of course, where we are located right now, we
probably >couldn't get
20-25 caches in a day, anyway. Geocaching is
supposed to be "fun", and I
think some >of you have seemed to lost sight of
that. There's plenty of
other things to do out there, and >maybe some of
you who spend hours on the
computer everyday, should keep that in mind. The
best days I ever had in
Geocaching have been the days where myself,
AJ.JR,
Sprocket, Highway
Havoc, Malcolm of Taylor's Tomb Raiders, RTW,
and
various other cachers
have taken tough hikes >to beautiful places and
gotten only one cache in a
day. Sharing the day with your friends in the
outdoors is what it's all
about. It seems anymore that the the majority of
posts on the listserv have
nothing to do with caching or discussing
geocaching, but are more of a
social nature If thats the >direction the
listserv
is heading ,than so be
it. I've never shyed away from expressing my
opinion, >and Jeff has stated
how HE feels about co-FTF's, which is only HIS
opinion. I'm sure Jeff has
other >things going on in his life right now, but
it's really nobody elses
business. Also,Trisha has other >things going on
in
her life right now that
are a lot more important than geocaching and I
would >guess she's put
things into perspective. Just let it go and move
on
to something else, like
the next >pizza event or whatever.............<<
I agree. I used to be big into the numbers. In
fact,
the day I started
geocaching was the day I decided I was going to go
after #1 in the AZ
rankings! :)) I think it was two years later when
I
finally hit that #1
spot. I took a second stab at it and held it again
for a short time later
down the road. Today, I just geocache strictly for
fun. I dont even look at
the azgeocaching rankings much anymore. I
acccomplished my goal and now I
can kick back and just enjoy each cache I find. I
truly enjoy the same types
of caches that Flatiron enjoys. That being the
wilderness type and hiking
caches. Just being outdoors in the country. I am
currently up in Sedona
where I spend my summers now. All the caches up
here
are of this nature and
I have truly enjoyed each and every one I do up
here. I like to enjoy the
hike and take my time at each cache. I am not in a
rush to move on to
another one anymore. I do the caches I enjoy doing
and just dont bother with
the ones that I do not enjoy. One of the most
unique
caches I ever done was
when I took my balloon and ascended up to the top
of
a rock (Shiver Me
Timbers cache) to claim a first find. Oh, and
there
was NO co-FTF jeff! I
claimed the first find officially! LOL Although we
all worked together to
make each of our finds possible that morning...
not
even I could have found
that cache without the help of the other
geocachers
and my crew. If there is
a true Co-FTF.. this would have been the cache
(but
since it was my
balloon.... we all agreed to let me sign the
logbook
first and claim the
first find! LOL). I was in the company of
Rugerdog,
AJ.JR and Flatiron and
we had an awsome time. That was probably the most
fun I had ever had
geocaching. It was a very social and fun morning.
For me, combining two
things that I enjoy doing most... made for a grand
adventure. Anytime I can
get out and go for a hike for a cache with another
team is always fun and
makes the hunt more enjoyable and social. I havent
found a cache in over a
month now. In fact, I found my first cache since
July 23rd just a couple of
days ago. Up here, I now have to drive 30 miles
just
to find one cache. With
the cost of gas these days... I just dont bother
to
go caching much.
Anyways, back to the topic.. I must say that when
I
was caching for the
numbers and seeking that #1 status... I also found
my attitude toward the
game a bit different than it is now. It irritated
me
when I saw what "I
considered to be" a not so legitimate 'find' log
or
whatever (and I will
not get into what I consider not legitimate for
fear
of someone drilling me
a new a**hole on the listserv! LOL). I always kept
it to myself though and
perhaps in some private discussions with other
cachers. But to each their
own... everyone is welcome to play the game as
they
see fit. My personal
rule of thumb... a rule I have had since the first
day I geocached and still
a rule today... if I cant put my name in the cache
logbook, I dont claim a
find log on it. To me, just putting my eyes on the
cache isn't a find. If
there is a rattlesnake sitting on the cache... I
will either move it or wait
for it to move, because I have to get that logbook
in my hands to sign it.
But that is just how I prefer to play the game. I
dont care how others play.
These days, I dont have to rush off to find
another
cache for a 'big
numbers' day and I dont mind waiting for the snake
to leave on it's own! :))
Scott
Team Ropingthewind