Winter Attenuation

[+rooboy]

I am curious to know how many people, from places blessed with 6+ inches of snow fall, intend to keep geocaching throughout the upcoming winter? I am looking forward to my first geocaching winter here in Eastern Iowa.

 

I would guess that a 50-75% decline in geocaching activity (here in Eastern Iowa) would be expected.

 

Ciao

RooBoy

[+Brian - Team A.I.]

The last 'snow' I recall falling in Phoenix that I actually saw was about 13 years ago. It wasn't enough for an accumulation on the ground, but they at least fell on my jacket.

 

There's been snow as far south as the Cave Creek area (north valley) where there was some accumulation, but not much and it was gone in a day or so.

[+JMBella]

Here on Long Island we just got a major dumping. About 12-16 inches. I'm sure I'll be back out tomorrow. Not planning on slowing down much.

[+sept1c_tank]

I love snow. It only enhances my outdoor activities.

[+CYBret]

I don't think there were too many weeks last year that I wasn't able to go out and grab at least one cache in the snow. So, I plan on getting out again.

 

Besides, the frostbite really takes the sting off all the mosquito bits and poison ivy rashes I have left over from the summer.

 

Bret

[+9Key]

Several cachers ~ cache-u-nuts, dhobby1, UtahJean, and ScoutMaster ~ took me up into the mountains for some snowshoe caching while I was visiting Utah last month. Craig of cache-u-nuts carries a metal detector for locating metal cache containers under snow.

 

Needless to say, the snow doesn't stop the caching in the Beehive State.

 

Winter in north Texas?! Pleeeaase! If we get an inch of snow in Dallas the city comes to a standstill.

[escarg0t]

ALBINO BRAIN CHIGGERS!

[davwil]

In Canada the question might be "Does SUMMER affect your geocaching activity?".

 

Winter is GREAT! Good footing, less tree cover, great views, etc.

 

Go out and "challenge the season"!

 

Where are my snowshoes!!!

 

Dave

 

ps: This weekend we got 20cm of snow and I am actually looking forward to getting out there. (Minus that digging-out-the-car stuff).

Edited December 8, 2003 by davwil

[+briansnat]

Snow is a mixed blessing. Depending on the placement of the cache, it can make some nearly impossible to find, while others are barely effected. Snow can even make some caches easier to find. All you have to do is follow the footprints of others (though a conscientious geocacher will make tracks around the area to throw off other hunters and muggles).

 

There are other benefits to winter geocaching. Those 4 star terrain swamp caches are knocked down a couple of stars when the ground freezes. Hydro caches on islands become available to people without boats and best of all, no 'skeeters and ticks.

 

In past winters I've seen geocaching activity in my area remain pretty level throughout the winter.

Edited December 8, 2003 by briansnat

[+Patuxent Pirates]

Its been a slow 2 to 3 weeks here in Maryland, and we didn't even have snow. Its just been so darn windy down here you don't want to go out in it, feels like 10 below.

 

I know, I am whiney!!

 

That's ok, March is just a few months away!

 

[+The Frantic Cachers]

Anything under a 3 mile hike I take my 5 yr old son with me. The only problem I have now isn't as much as the snow as is the cold wind chill. It is supposed to warm up this week to the 40's so we will see........

[+geospotter]

For us winter caching is as much fun as summer caching, though we do fewer.

 

A cacher in our area tied a tiny blue ribbon on a twig above the cache and mentioned it on the cache page. You have to be right on top of it to see it, but it sure beats digging in the wrong areas. I thought it was a great idea.

[+javamutt]

If anything my activity picks up - especially on the really snowy days I enjoy the parks more int he winter because so few peopel are around them. I usually can let my dogs run free because I don't run into anyone in the more remote areas of the park, and in the snow they don't run too far as it makes them work harder.

 

I've found that I have about the same success rate in the winter as the summer, but enjoy the nature aspect more when the weather turns cold.

[+hikemeister]

I went geocaching over the weekend -- it was very cold -- had to wear a sweat shirt! Life is tough here in south Florida Hey, come on down and geocache here -- we have many good ones to select from and you can go to the beach too -- actually, many good caches are AT the beach !

[+Desert_Warrior]

Snow? Oh-yeah, that whit stuff. Saw it when I was stationed in Germany, left about 1984. Haven't seen any since. But yes, my hiking and caching DOES pick up this time of year. The days rarely exceed 70 deg F, so hiking is a pleasure. Especially for my black Texas Chihuahua.

 

El Paso, where we have two seasons... Summer and Christmas.

[+briansnat]

Snow? Oh-yeah, that whit stuff. Saw it when I was stationed in Germany, left about 1984. Haven't seen any since

 

t was very cold -- had to wear a sweat shirt! Life is tough here in south Florida

 

Look at all the fun you're missing:

Edited December 8, 2003 by briansnat

[+kbraband]

On some cache hunts you can use x-c skis.

[+xenophon10k]

I've already noticed a big drop-off in activity around here, though I don't know if it's the weather or just the holidays. A lot of the caches around here haven't been found in weeks.

[gm100guy]

Sometimes it makes it easier and you don't even need a gps.

 

Just follow the foot prints right to the cache.

 

[davwil]

To gm100guy and all other Canadians (and everyone else);

 

Now that things are frozen over why don't we try this one:

 

As North as it gets

 

Honestly, this would be one of my most cherished finds.... and I wouldn't even be TFTF!

 

Dave

 

[edit: added (and everyone else)]

Edited December 10, 2003 by davwil

[+TEAM 360]

Yep, caching actually INCREASES down here in southern Arizona during our 70ish° winter weather. Now is the perfect time to go get those mountaintop caches that take a 3 hour one-way hike.

[+carleenp]

I had 10 inches of snow yesterday, but I plan to go place a cache this weekend or early next week.

[+clearpath]

The days rarely exceed 70 deg F, so hiking is a pleasure.  Especially for my black Texas Chihuahua.

Thats great for you... my 'crap factory' (dog) decided it was too cold to do his bidnez outside this morning. So, instead of turning around and coming back inside the house, the little schitzu (it's really a Yorkie) jumped into a snow drift and just kept right on going. It look my an hour to find that dam dog in blizzard like conditions this morning. EEEERRRRR

[+Baptist Deacon]

Word of advice....."Don't eat the Yellow Snow"

[+MissJenn]

I've already noticed a big drop-off in activity around here, though I don't know if it's the weather or just the holidays. A lot of the caches around here haven't been found in weeks.

Where are you?

It'd be really helpful if we could see (or manually add) our locations.

 

I am quite enjoying your signature line, by the way.

[+ironman114]

Where are you?

It'd be really helpful if we could see (or manually add) our locations.

 

check out his profile he tells you where he is from. Use your geocaching skills and calculate where he's from. For instance I know about what part of Pennslyvania you are from. And I have no reason to check anything more than that.

[+WaldenRun]

Around here, the winter weather tends to discourage teenage drinking in the woods, so plundering drops off. My point is illustrated by one of the photos for this cache log.

 

-WR

[+MissJenn]

Hi ironman,

I know full well how to look it up. Thanks, though.

By my last post, I was gently suggesting that he place it somewhere (say, in his post? or on his signature line?) .... the software for these Boards do not currently show it, but if they could automatically show it for those who opt-in, that would be even swell-er.

 

Now, back on topic ...