County Challenge [Archive] - Arkansas Geocachers Association

rklmbl

01-16-2009, 03:55 PM

I've always wanted to know how many geocaches there are in each county in Arkansas. I made a list of the Johnson County caches a long time ago and have kept it up to date. All my begging and pleading to date has had no effect on anyone in any of the other counties because there was no easy way to do this.

Now, however, I'm issuing a challenge to all you cachers in other counties and you have no more excuses. The latest version of GSAK now has a county option. All you have to do is: (1) download the newest version (7.5.0.188), (2) Open View, Add/Delete Columns, Scroll down to the bottom and put a check in County, (3) Open Load and put y in the County box and save. That's it. Every time you open a pocket query, it will show the county. (4) You now need to do a pocket query (or more than one) big enough to include every portion of your county...even the outlying areas. Johnson County took two queries. (5) Load it into GSAK. Click on the heading of the county column to sort it by county and count the caches in your county.

Post the answer here....just for fun.

Johnson County has 412 active caches out of a total of 602 caches that have been placed in Johnson County since June 18, 2003, when Horsehead Spillway Overlook, was placed by nonnipoppy.

How many caches are in your county?

Thanks,
mbl

TnT

01-16-2009, 05:24 PM

First of all, there are 207 active caches in Benton County.

Secondly, for those of you really into crunching numbers, 11 PQs will get you all of the active caches in AR. Then, there is a macro that will list the number of caches by county.

FYI, there are at least 2 active caches in every AR county.

Woodwalker9

01-16-2009, 08:23 PM

This new feature of GSAK is great. Thanks for pointing it out to me.

Currently there are 288 active caches in White County. It's going to be interesting to see the numbers from all over the state.

idratherbehiking

01-16-2009, 09:20 PM

OK I have updated my version of GSAK, added the County column, done my pocket queries, but nothing is displayed in the county column. What am I missing?

TnT

01-16-2009, 09:59 PM

On the "Load GPX/LOC/ZIP" screen, you need to enter "y" in the "county update" field.

Also, rather than counting the number of caches, go to "Set filter" and on the "Other" tab, enter your county in the "County" field to filter for those counties and let GSAk do the counting for you.

oenavigator

01-16-2009, 10:19 PM

I actually got it to work! :D There are 37 active geocaches in Scott County.

BSA534

01-17-2009, 01:08 AM

I show 136 in Faulkner County and the county I grew up in, Little River has a grand total of 16.

Great new feature! Now if would just generate a state map with counties colored in...

TnT

01-17-2009, 06:09 AM

The macro to do that is called "MapCounties". However, it hasn't yet been updated to be compatible with GSAK 7.5 and uses the userdata2 field for the county data.

idratherbehiking

01-17-2009, 10:35 AM

All Right, I got it to work this time. There are currently 257 active caches in Pope County out of 383 hidden since Kings Bluff Cache GC3257 (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC3257&log=y) on January 12, 2002 by Clay and Linda.

idratherbehiking

01-17-2009, 10:58 AM

There are currently 24 active caches in Newton County and 29 in Madison County. That needs to change since some of the best scenery in the state is found in those counties.

AR-HICK

01-17-2009, 10:19 PM

I finally got the squirrels to get my batteries charged to run such a complicated program in GSAK. And I was surprised by the results.
Conway County has 284 Active caches and 2 disabled.
I hope that is correct, the squirrels were getting tried after many attempts.

Dentful1

01-18-2009, 06:53 AM

Time to trade in the squirrels for something more powerful and yet more efficient. You might want to try the Norway Rat. They eat anything you give them, not just nuts like a squirrel and the rat gets bigger. :lol:

cfd29

01-18-2009, 07:22 PM

We are going to be near 500 by April I hope here in Johnson county, I have 20 containers just about ready to go, and working on building 20 more... Here we go....

oenavigator

01-20-2009, 08:42 AM

I'm learning a lot more about GSAK while trying to find these numbers. :D There are 61 active geocaches in Polk County.

I can't believe they have almost twice the amount we do! That is just intolerable. We're going to have to do something about that.

MathSeeker

01-27-2009, 04:44 PM

As of this afternoon there are 339 active caches in Pulaski County.

Spice

01-27-2009, 08:14 PM

Thanks to some help from *TnT* I finally learned how to do several things with GSAK. IF I did it correct here is some stats from my latest PQs of Arkansas:

There are a total of 5023 Active Caches in Arkansas

4664 Traditional 92.9%
170 Multi 3.4%
142 Mystery/Puzzle 2.8%
22 Virtual .4%
14 Letterbox .3%
7 Earthcaches .1%
2 Event .0%
1 Web Cam .0%
1 Wherigo .0%

85 active caches in Logan County or 1.7 % of Arkansas Caches

AR-HICK

01-30-2009, 09:10 PM

In case you have missed it the next Arkansas now has a County Challenge. Here is the link:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c508eafa-2356-4dd2-8ea5-09a06efebfe1

For those of you wanting a FTF on this one, don't worry Woodwalker is the cache owner and will not be grabbing FTF on it.
I am 5 counties away from it and you guessed it they are spread all over the state. Gas is cheap right now! Wheels turning :?:

arkfiremedic

01-30-2009, 09:33 PM

Thank you for the link. I'm now exited again. Didn't know this existed, but my bookmark is already prepared for such a day. Looks like I need to get the cachemobile gased up to finish!!!

oenavigator

01-30-2009, 10:40 PM

Thanks for bringing that challenge to our attention. We've got a long way to go, but I think I'll start bookmarking some caches now. :D

idratherbehiking

01-30-2009, 11:52 PM

I just set up my list of County Caches and I only have 23, so I have a long way to go. I am planning on doing the State Parks, Delorme, and The County Challenge all at the same time, hopefully in the next couple of months. So, if anyone can think of another challenge that involves driving all over the state, please post it soon.

cfd29

01-31-2009, 11:53 AM

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Great idea Woodwalker and Thanks!! We too will be working on the trio . Was going to NE Ark this weekend but the ice storm put a halt to that, guess I better start a bookmark list for the counties...

Nukeworker

01-31-2009, 08:46 PM

What a great idea, Woodwalker. Thanks for organizing something of this magnitude. We can't wait to get started! I have had no luck finding the Delorme Atlas. Where can we locate one? Then we can also work on all three challenges at the same time. Happy Caching, Nukeworker and Racquetball Girl

arkfiremedic

01-31-2009, 09:02 PM

Nukeworker I have seen them at Amazon.com, on eBay, Walmart, and Walden Books. Hope that helps. Mine is priceless. I got the one I have at Walden Books.

Geezer_Veazey

01-31-2009, 09:04 PM

I have had no luck finding the Delorme Atlas. Where can we locate one?
I got mine at Walmart.

Nukeworker

01-31-2009, 09:49 PM

Thanks for everyone's helpful suggestions. We'll get busy shopping! NW & RBG

Woodwalker9

02-03-2009, 10:15 PM

Congratulations to http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/al.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/rl.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/kl.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/fl.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/il.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/rl.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/el.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/ml.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/el.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/dl.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/il.gifhttp://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd75/woodwalker9/cl.gif who is the first to finish the Arkansas County Challenge. Great job guy. Sounds like you had quite the adventure.

AR-HICK

02-04-2009, 12:17 AM

I would like to congratulate ARKFIREMEDIC on completing the county Challenge and after reading his log I am affraid that it doesn't matter what GPS he is using he will not find what he has lost.

His Mind:lol:
Good job and a FTF too.

jclaudii

02-04-2009, 08:40 AM

Congrats arkfiremedic! You really set the bar for some mileage on a FTF! Not to mention the creek crossing in FEBRUARY in bare Feet! The pictures are great, I love a log with good pictures. Really shows the damage those counties up north got. Glad you had a small adventure, hope we get to meet up with you someday and meet you.

MathSeeker

02-04-2009, 09:37 AM

Congratulations ARKFireMedic! Awesome job on the county challenge. I look forward to meeting you at the Spudnuts Event and hearing of your adventures. You are truly addicted. Again CONGRATULATIONS on the FTF. Way to go.

HikerRon

02-04-2009, 11:02 AM

Congrats to ArkFireMedic! (you are sick:))
I still have 10 counties to go.

likestocanoe

02-12-2009, 11:32 AM

WOW! A Job Well Done! ! We are far from achieving this goal. We are looking forward to hearing the tale of this fantastic achievement.

likestocane gang

arkfiremedic

02-28-2009, 07:22 PM

Anyone getting close to joining me yet?? I'm getting lonely being the only one...

grzz51

03-01-2009, 06:21 PM

It's always lonely at the top :cry:

grzz51

03-01-2009, 06:26 PM

Helllllllppp............. I've updated and added the county to the list, but I can't get the county box on the load screen to activate. any suggestions?

MathSeeker

03-01-2009, 06:33 PM

All you have to do is: (1) download the newest version (7.5.0.188), (2) Open View, Add/Delete Columns, Scroll down to the bottom and put a check in County, (3) Open Load and put y in the County box and save.

These are RKLMBL's instructions. Sounds like you need to do step 3.

grzz51

03-01-2009, 06:41 PM

I did that but the county box doesn't activate.

MathSeeker

03-01-2009, 06:46 PM

Uncheck use defaults

grzz51

03-01-2009, 06:53 PM

OK...... now what do I put in the "enter a name for the load setting" screen that came up?

grzz51

03-01-2009, 07:02 PM

I checked the save database and just like magic......... all the countys appeared............ THANKS to Mathseeker!!

arkfiremedic

04-09-2009, 02:25 PM

A little slow on the stats for L.A. (Lower Arkansas). Union County has 231 active caches as of today.

arkfiremedic

07-23-2009, 10:04 PM

Congratulations Judy on the Arkansas County Challenge completion. Way to go!! :D :D :D :D

chadbishop

07-30-2009, 07:51 PM