I'm just tired of these automated machines malfunctioning. The perfect example is Bartlett Lake. Those machines are down half the time. One morning we spent 25 minutes with 9 other guys trying to get one of the 3 machines to take our money or credit cards. None would work. Our solution was to exchan...

I have heard a similar problems with BLM rangers. Had a coworkers husband detained because he turned off on a trail to turn his truck and trailer around on BLM land. He didn't have the permit so they were going to arrest him. Seemed a little excessive. I have had the same problem with MCSO up at Lak...

I thought that pregnant women are not supposed to lift anything in the last trimester?

Speaking of licensing. I really need to study up to get a HAM license. I heard the test is not hard just need to memorise a few things for the entry level license. I downloaded a few code practice programs to learn Morse Code but haven't practiced that. I look at all the types of transceivers and ge...

I respect all boundaries. Even when the rest of my traveling party does not. I always feel that anything that I abuse will be taken away.

The last one I carried was actually a nice one from Eddie Bauer. Kinda ticks my off that it doesn't work very well in the cold.

I have used steel wool. Gives good results.

big_load wrote:In response to azhiker96's reply:

It seems like removing a cache without also notifying its creators increases the risk of searchers disrupting the area even further.

That is a good point. The confusion this would cause could be a problem.

"For fire starter I carry a few small squares I cut from an old bike inner tube. I think I got that tip from someone on here. I've tested that trick and it works great. Once the square is lit it burns pretty hot for awhile, plenty to start a good fire." That's one I have never heard of. I ...

I thought about that. Are they reliable though?

I carry two Bic mini-lighters. One is in my stove and one is in my cooking pot. I only worry about them breaking. They are disposable after all. I have used other fire starters but I don't think they would work well for just starting my stove. Again there appears to be no magic bullet to solve all m...

azhiker96 wrote:Hey DoFear, I bet you never thought your question would set off such a row. Great discussion though and very thought provoking!

I know! I have a habit of doing this. I guess it's a gift.

I really think we should let the owners of these caches know that some of them are not in an appropriate area. If we can negative feedback then we may want to take further action. I say we give the owners the chance to relocate them. They may not be aware of the situation. Now for the ones we decide...

What about the Zippo lighters? How would you rate them for outdoor use? Are there issues with them?

I tend to carry a butane "blow torch" style lighter. I don't smoke but keep it on my pocket all the times. Just a habit I picked up. The problem I have with these lighters is the last two I had would not work if they were cold. I'm not talking freezing or anything just below 60 degrees. I ...

Oh no! I would think we should notify the organizers of Geocaching.com when we find a cache that's not within the rules. I'm sure they, or the cache owner, would be happy to remove them at request. The nature of geocaching has always been a very friendly one so I can't see a problem there.

Excellent. Thanks for responding. Sounds like you knew this situation would happen at some point and had already made the decision to survive now matter what it took. I always "know" this can happen to me, but until I face that situation I can't be 100% sure that I will make the right deci...

I remember when there was only a few geocaches in Phoenix. I lost interest in it a while back unfortunately. I checked the site out today and found over 1100!!

Do any of HAZ people geocache?

Thanks so much Abe. I have read many accounts of people getting stuck and always wondered how I would handle the situation. I did help a couple who got stuck in the Lake Pleasant area when we were offroad. We could not get there Ford Taurus out of the area we were in because they had spun their fron...