Ash's grand scheme...is he insane?

[Ashallond]

ok, I need some serious advice from those of you who have done pieces of what I plan to do over spring break, well, at least what I would like to do over spring break next March.

I want to try to finish all three of the state challenge caches during that week (AR county, Delorme, and State Parks)

My logic is this. I can pretty much knock out a lot of the NW/W portion of the state before then, which would leave me a nice loop around the state starting out south from fort smith, going east and then back north and around towards the MH area.

question I have, logistically, is my plan even really going to be nice and feasible, and more than likely a 6-7 day full run isn't really likely, or will I get done with them all, and realize that now I've got a crazy cross state dash back and forth to find the finals. (I haven't even tried to figure out the issues with lodging and such at this point...I'm just doing the initial info gathering.)

I'm not wanting clues on where the finals are. I'll deal with that legitimately...I'm just asking those who have completed this challenge for some sage advice.

[arkfiremedic]

I did all three basically at the same time and LOVED it. I didn't make it a week long journey, although that would have been fun. I divided it up (after I got all the ones locally and within an hour or two drive, and the rest of the state I quartered up. I did a three day NE Ark run and a three day NW Ark run and loved it. I don't think there is any other way to do them that all at once. I wish you well!

I'm waiting on the Louisiana State Park series to publish (it is supposed to be identical to Arkansas) and I plan on doing the same three for Louisiana.

[Jffok]

I heard there is an $800 dollar prize for the first to complete the LA challenge.

[arkfiremedic]

Yes, I have read prizes equal to something like that. Trouble is it keeps getting delayed in starting. I'm ready for it to get started!

[Ashallond]

ok then, I'll have to start scheming to finish off my parks and counties...and then figure out where I'm going to crash every night in hotels, or maybe get a couple of fellow cachers to allow me the use of a couch for a night.

or....maybe I can arrange for event days with people following along for a segment of the trip for those who want to make a dent in the challenges on a day or so that week.

[arkfiremedic]

ok then, I'll have to start scheming to finish off my parks and counties...and then figure out where I'm going to crash every night in hotels, or maybe get a couple of fellow cachers to allow me the use of a couch for a night.

or....maybe I can arrange for event days with people following along for a segment of the trip for those who want to make a dent in the challenges on a day or so that week.I just threw a tent in the back of the truck, some firewood, and some food. I don't know how much you like to camp, but I had a blast doing it that way. MUCH cheaper than buying a hotel each night.

[Ashallond]

true true...and march wouldn't be a bad time to do some camping. Well, first step in this mess is to figure out which Parkcaches I need to get in areas that i've already done the county and delorme grid, and do quick runs before March to clean up those (I know of 4 that I have to get already)

Lot of schemeing going on...gotta try to be optimal. that and figure out which PC's are going to be crazy long hikes.

[edieo]

I'd also check out the bookmarks for other folks that have finished to see what caches they grabbed where .That's the way I did it and since I didn't have alot of time on my few trips I keep to my plans and didn't get but a few caches that weren't on my list for what I needed .I still need to pick up the final to the Delorme.But I've been saving it for a milestone mark. :)

[DaTexanBoy]

How do you find state caches like the one described? You'll have to pardon my ignorance, I'm still very green in the world of geocaching.

DaTexanBoy

[Ashallond]

Go to the nearest state park, and look for the cache that will have 'ParkCache' in the name. If you open that cache page up, then the owner is "Arkansas State Parks" You can click on his name to get a list of all his caches, which are only the parkcaches.

That's one way to do it, especially if you haven't gotten used to doing the search page yet.

[DaTexanBoy]

Thank you much. I'll have to take a gander at it. It sounds fairly imteresting to try out. Plus would get to see a good section of the state. Thanks for the help.

[captaincooder]

I think you may be able to complete it in the alloted time, but my problem is there was always a DNF at one of the ill-maintained ASP's, and they seemed to be in the corners of the state!

My advice:
1) Make sure before you hit the ParkCaches that they are valid before wasting your time. Contact the AGA liason first if you notice a problem with the recent logs.
2) The DeLorme challenge is easiest except for Grid #53, which must come from Blytheville (at the time of this post).
3) Some of the counties are tough, as a few counties only have a few caches.
4) Beware of county line caches, as it is difficult to differentiate boundaries and/or the cache owner has it misidentified.
5) Have Plan B caches in case you DNF something.
6) Remember that one cache can count for all three challenges (e.g., ParkCache in a certain county on a certain DeLorme Grid).
7) Use your PAF option if you get stuck; you don't want to have to go back to Chicot County for one cache.
8] Don't be afraid to nightcache, even in state parks.
9) Camping eats up a lot of time unless you're just bare-bonesing it in the back of your truck eating canned Vienna sausages and beans. Eating out and sleeping in hotels eats up a lot of money but is convenient.
10) Keep accurate records so you don't accidentally miss anything.

Good luck and have fun!

[OldRiverRunner]

I think you may be able to complete it in the alloted time, but my problem is there was always a DNF at one of the ill-maintained ASP's, and they seemed to be in the corners of the state!
I hope that this is no longer true since ArkGeo volunteers have taken over maintenance of almost all of the ParkCaches. But we still have 7 state parks where volunteers are needed, so if you live in the vicinity of one of these parks, I encourage you to volunteer to help out. The parks where we still need volunteers are:

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS AREA
Crowley's Ridge State Park
Hampson Archeological Museum State Park
Herman Davis State Park
Jacksonport State Park
Lake Frierson State Park

NORTH CENTRAL ARKANSAS AREA
Bull Shoals White River State Park

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS AREA
Conway Cemetery State Park

Check out this Forums Topic for more information:http://www.arkgeocaching.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=2479&sid=979dc7205780205059cb0ecc1d8e8839

[captaincooder]

I made the arduous journey back to Mammoth to sign the correct sheet of paper, but the clue was missing. I contacted PJ, who will address it.

Stinks that no one's available for those corner caches of Conway Cem and Herman Davis.

There's a new cacher in the Bull Shoals/White River SP area named Semipaw. He seems pretty enthusiastic. I have corresponded with him previously. Perhaps I can recruit him. That cache was another that gave me trouble.

[Ashallond]

My advice:
1) Make sure before you hit the ParkCaches that they are valid before wasting your time. Contact the AGA liason first if you notice a problem with the recent logs.

Yup. If I get to the point where I'm definately going to do it, then I'm making a few phone calls.

2) The DeLorme challenge is easiest except for Grid #53, which must come from Blytheville (at the time of this post).

I think I spent a whole night looking into grid 53, and came up with the same conclusion.


3) Some of the counties are tough, as a few counties only have a few caches.
4) Beware of county line caches, as it is difficult to differentiate boundaries and/or the cache owner has it misidentified.

Good call.
5) Have Plan B caches in case you DNF something.

I'm a teacher. i alsways have a backup plan...but again, good call.

6) Remember that one cache can count for all three challenges (e.g., ParkCache in a certain county on a certain DeLorme Grid).

that's the central part of my plan....I map the park caches, and then see what counties/grids I am missing, and then plan the trip accordingly.

7) Use your PAF option if you get stuck; you don't want to have to go back to Chicot County for one cache.

I need to get everyone's phone number. Serious question...why don't we ahve a ArkGeo phone directory (voluntary participation of course)

8] Don't be afraid to nightcache, even in state parks.

I have no night vision. I'd have to be escorted. :)


9) Camping eats up a lot of time unless you're just bare-bonesing it in the back of your truck eating canned Vienna sausages and beans. Eating out and sleeping in hotels eats up a lot of money but is convenient.

That's the one thing I'm still debating

10) Keep accurate records so you don't accidentally miss anything.

iphone + laptop. whee. :)

Definitely good advice.

[captaincooder]

Ash--good call on the AGA phone directory. Something else I thought would be useful would be Twitter. (Finally! Something useful for Twitter!) Everyone linked would get a message and only those free would bother responding. The problem with Twitter is that your phone is limited to one account (as far as I know), so you can't split your Superman and Clark Kent identities. Correct me if I'm wrong...because I want to be wrong on this one. Another recent innovation by Facebook is the creation of subgroups that you can divide your friends into. For example, I send out a FB message of "Can't find GC1234 "Evil Micro in the Woods" Help! to all my friends, they're going to be wondering "???" But you would know exactly what I'm talking about.

A good idea would be to look at recent logs for those ParkCaches and see who has signed the logs, then PM them for their phone number. At least most of us in ArkGeo would be happy to help.

Another bit of advice would be to keep your head down and focused. It's easy to get sidetracked on snagging other caches en route, especially Earthcaches, and it really cuts into your time.

[arkfiremedic]

These are all great ideas. As captaincooder said you MUST stay focused and not deviate from your plans. Recently I was on an 'insane' tour of Louisiana completing the state-wide challenges there in a five day, 3000 mile whirlwind trip trying for an FTF on the new Louisiana State Park challenge and literally drove right down the now World Famous "Hang 'em High" series just outside of New Orleans. I would have LOVED to grab them as I literally drove right over them (The new elevated highway is over the old highway for much of the journey). I only had five days to complete the challenge as I told my wife when I would be home. Sticking to my plan and caching some twenty hours a day had me completing my goal and back in Arkansas within two hours of when I planned to be. Yep, I like these kinda trips!

[kcackler]

Good luck if you attempt this. I've been trying to figure out a good week for us to go do the same if we can find someone to keep the baby for a week.


Serious question...why don't we ahve a ArkGeo phone directory

I've been trying to get in touch with someone on the board to help with things just like that. I do website development for a living, and there are a ton of things we could implement here to help encourage collaboration and communication between cachers...A phone directory would be GREAT for people like me who always are somehow missing that one contact that they need to get in touch with....

[Ashallond]

Cap'n: a lot of the twitter apps that i use on my iPhone can access more than 1 account. I use the official twitter app and Echofon.

Both of them I have two accounts set in....1 of them is my school twitter, and one is my personal account.

[edieo]

Sorry guys I don't twitter but I am willing to give out my number for the PAF thingy

[captaincooder]

Multiple accounts? I didn't know that was possible. That's what's been holding me back. I'm going to have to look into this. And Echofon? I'll google that, too.