All cache finds used for the challenge must be on actual caches
listed on Geocaching.com that you have visited in person- no
temporary caches or locationless will count. In the case of multi
or puzzle caches the listing coordinates provided on the cache page
will be used to determine in which county the cache resides.
There are several ways that you can prove that you've met the
challenge in order to recieve the final coordinates. The
preferred method is to use the "It's Not About the Numbers"
(www.itsnotaboutthenumbers.com) website. Download your "all finds"
pocket query file and upload to that site. You can sort through
lots of different statistics and maps, but for the sake of this
cache it will automatically fill in the counties on your state's
map corresponding to the number of caches you've found there. You
can choose to make your stats and maps viewable by other site users
or to keep them private. The itsnotaboutthenumbers.com site is free
providing you have a premium membership to geocaching.com. The
uploading of pocket query data is permitted under a license
agreement with Groundspeak. Pocket Queries cannot be shared with
third parties. Send an e-mail to wvangler using the link to my name
above and let me know that it's time to study your
itsnotaboutthenumbers.com maps and cache lists (Again, the site
sorts your finds by county with links to each of your logs.
According to guidelines, a cache owner cannot require a
geocacher to create an account or provide personal information to
another website to log a find. So I have to provide some
alternatives. If you're not able or willing to use the
itsnotaboutthenumbers site then a second option is to send
me an e-mail at wvangler1@yahoo.com to alert me that you've
completed all the counties and provide a link to your bookmark list
containing all your claimed finds and specifying which county each
cache is in.
A third option is to attach a file (such as an Excel
spreadsheet) listing the following information for each of the 55
required county cache finds: County Name, Cache Name, "GC Number"
of the cache, and the date of your "found it" log. I cannot accept
GPX files using the proprietary Groundspeak extensions or otherwise
relying on pocket query data obtained from Geocaching.com as this
is against guidelines.
A fourth option is to use the stats generator macro with
GSAK (Geocaching Swiss Army Knife). You can generate extensive
caching stats and country/state/county maps with this macro as
well. I personally use this generator on my profile page, feel free
to visit my profile to see how it looks. In addition, there is a
'County Mapping' macro that you can get for GSAK that will map your
county finds (as well as a DeLorme Challenge macro that will map
your DeLorme finds). For more detailed information on how to do
this please visit the GSAK forums or one of the West Virginia
geocaching forums to discuss how you can make this handy software
work for you.
After verifying your finds, I will then send you the
coordinates and instructions to the final. Cache finds before and
after the date of the creation of the challenge may be used. You do
not have to 'start from scratch' on this challenge, past finds
prior to the date of publish for this cache do count.
The listed difficulty is for the work needed to find and log 55
separate and unique caches across all counties in West Virginia. I
would rate this final cache in isolation as about a 3.5 difficulty.
The final location will require about an 1 to 2 hour hike round
trip and I can attest that it will require more bushwacking than
the WV DeLorme Challenge (which I'm proud to have completed). There
are also some relatively dangerous cliffs nearby the final
location. I have placed the final at a spot near and dear to my
heart that I think sums up the beauty of our great state.
ATTENTION: All those who complete this challenge should
also perform two optional requests.
1.) There is a map of West Virginia inside the cache. Assuming
that you are from West Virginia, please mark on this map where you
call home (some people refer to where they currently reside as
"home" while others refer to where they spent their childhood as
"home". If you want to indicate both - where you live AND where you
grew up, that is fine too). Please leave the map inside the
container.
2.) There are small business cards containing some instructions
inside the baggy with the log book. Please take one and follow the
instructions for a special prize. Each successful team [individual
screen name] is eligible for one of these prizes. (Special thanks
to PilotJ & Crew for their support on the prizes and the final
cache container).
While it is painful that I (WVAngler) have completed the
requirements for this challenge but won't get to log it since it is
my own cache, it brings me pleasure to give geocachers added
motivation to get out and see more of Wild and Wonderful West
Virginia. Feel free to post notes as to your progress, but do not
make the cache listing a cluttered messageboard. Instead, take part
in any one of the great WV online messageboard forums (i.e.,
KYOWVA, MAGPI, WVMountainsport, OVGeo, etc.) and talk about your
progress there.
