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Hybrids?
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Dec 31, 2006 7:42am
Thread (disabled) Board
SO I bought my self a GPS and now have found around ten caches. I was wondering if any one had ever tried doing a hybrid that was just listed on AQ and not Geocaching.com I think the ones listed on Geocaching.com are mainly found By Geocachers and they are there to try to expose Geocachers to letterboxing. Well what about Listing a Letterbox here that you have to use the Gps to find to try and expose boxers to caching? Any thoughts? has this been done by anyone?
chadams
Re: Hybrids?
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #59798 by chadams
Dec 31, 2006 11:40am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote I was wondering if any one had ever tried doing a hybrid that was just listed on AQ and not Geocaching.com


I don't think there is such a thing. Being a "hybrid" means that it is a geocache, and being a geocache means it's findable using GPS coordinates -- which are most readily downloaded from GC.com. I supposed you could create a hybrid that's listed only on terracaching.com and AQ.

In fact, I suppose you could list it only on AQ and provide the coords for hand entering into a GPSr. I don't think many people will do that, though, if also given the directions how to find it without a GPSr. It wouldn't be a very effective introduction into how geocaching works.

I *have* used coordinates in a letterbox clue, but only to get a MapQuest map working right:

http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/showboxinfo.html?gBoxId=23688

Quote I think the ones listed on Geocaching.com are mainly found By Geocachers and they are there to try to expose Geocachers to letterboxing.


Speaking as one who has placed hybrids, that was never my intention. It wouldn't work anyway, since the geocachers just find the box the same way they find any other box and never get any real exposure to what letterboxing is about. The reason I placed hybrids was to serve as many people as possible with a single hide.

To expose geocachers to letterboxing, I have planted two boxes that are two stage. The first stage is you have to find a letterbox -- and the only info you're given is the name of the letterbox. Hence, you have to find either AQ or LbNA, find the listing, print out the clues, and actually track down the box the same way the rest of us letterboxers do. Once found, you then use the GPSr to mark the location of the letterbox and do some math -- add/subtract particular amounts from the latitude and longitude -- to obtain the coords for the geocache.

Unfortunately, both of those boxes are in the process of being pulled due to geocache permitting requirements in those areas.

Quote Well what about Listing a Letterbox here that you have to use the Gps to find to try and expose boxers to caching?


If they have a GPSr, they don't need the introduction. The trick is, how do you expose boxers to geocaching when they don't own a GPSr and aren't sure whether or not they want to buy one?

-- Kirbert
Re: Hybrids?
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #59851 by Kirbert
Dec 31, 2006 7:46pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote The trick is, how do you expose boxers to geocaching when they don't own a GPSr and aren't sure whether or not they want to buy one?


Perhaps this is the wrong board for this, but i thought about having a hybrid Geocaching Event / Letterboxing Gathering where people from both sides could educate each other about the two hobbies. I mentioned this on the NC board and someone noted that such an event had been held somewhere in TN, with great success.

The beauty of an event is that you'll have people there with a GPS who will be more than happy to run a potential new geocacher through a cache hunt. And vice versa for the letterboxers, although there it would probably be more about a stamp-carving tutorial than anything to do with clue-following.
Re: Hybrids?
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #59971 by 1101010
Dec 31, 2006 8:19pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote i thought about having a hybrid Geocaching Event / Letterboxing Gathering where people from both sides could educate each other about the two hobbies


I think it's a great idea. :)
Lone R
Re: Hybrids?
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #59971 by 1101010
Jan 1, 2007 12:50am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote i thought about having a hybrid Geocaching Event / Letterboxing Gathering where people from both sides could educate each other about the two hobbies.


I brought a bunch of stamps to a geocaching event once and nearly turned it into a hybrid gathering.

Quote And vice versa for the letterboxers, although there it would probably be more about a stamp-carving tutorial than anything to do with clue-following.


I agree. The geocachers aren't that unfamiliar with finding hidden things by following clues, because some percentage of geocaches actually do that -- the GPS just gets you to a starting point. But carving a rubber stamp is completely alien to a geocacher. Whether or not he "gets it" from a quick display at a gathering is iffy, but it's the best you can do. Let's face it, while we all enjoy carving, it's not everybody's cup of tea, some people will never see the point.

-- Kirbert
Re: Hybrids?
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #59975 by Lone R
Jan 1, 2007 7:26pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I would love to attend an event like that!

Red Soup
Re: Hybrids?
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #59971 by 1101010
Jan 6, 2007 8:00pm
Thread (disabled) Board
It is a great idea! We are in SE TN and there have been a few 'hybrid' events which have been very well received. We always take our signature stamp and one or two others to an event and they are very popular. (We took a couple of stamps to the 4th Annual GEOSET event today!)

The advantage is that folks who are currently only doing one of the hobbies can meet people doing both, or doing the other hobby, and exchange information, ask questions, admire logbooks, etc.

By all means, please proceed with such an event, and we will be glad to help!

Team Bear-Cat


>> Perhaps this is the wrong board for this, but i thought about having a hybrid Geocaching Event / Letterboxing Gathering where people from both sides could educate each other about the two hobbies. I mentioned this on the NC board and someone noted that such an event had been held somewhere in TN, with great success.

The beauty of an event is that you'll have people there with a GPS who will be more than happy to run a potential new geocacher through a cache hunt. And vice versa for the letterboxers, although there it would probably be more about a stamp-carving tutorial than anything to do with clue-following.
Re: Hybrids?
Board: Geocaching and Other Stashing Games
Reply to: #61229 by Team BearCat
Jan 6, 2007 9:07pm
Thread (disabled) Board
If I might be so bold as to interupt, there is an event scheduled in March, in Nashville that is a letterbox gathering, and the Parks Director has a bunch of geocache friends that she has invited to join us. I am looking forward to meeting a lot of new folks and learning about geocaching. The event is call "The One In Tenn Letterdox Gathering." You guys check it out on the events calendar, in the toolbox. Just a simple little thing, pot luck, boxes, PTs, no bells or whistles.