The Central Texas GPS Open IV Event Cache

On November 10th, 2013,
come on out to the...

to test your skill and your luck at...

The Central Texas GPS Open

Be sure to read this whole page. There have been a few changes from the last GPS Open. Also, please "Watchlist" this event to stay up-to-date on the latest info! There will be announcement logs for all significant changes.

WHAT IS A "GPS OPEN"?

The GPS Open is a game we ripped off from the Shop99er events (Shop99er is SQ's brother and sis-in-law) in the Puget Sound area.  The game itself is the brainchild of that venerable cacher of The Great Northwet, W7WT.

The game pits you and your GPS-reading skills, along with a dose of good old-fashioned luck, against yourself, other cachers, and SQ's ground zero placement.  Don't be afraid if you're a newbie.  You'd be surprised at how some of the "experts" fare in this game!  So grab your GPS (or borrow one if you have to) and come on out to play, eat, socialize, and have a great time!

Take a look back at the previous Central Texas GPS Open events.

OK, SO HOW DOES IT WORK?

Just bring a GPS and a suitable entry fee prize (explained below) for each person that is going to play.

An entry fee prize is only required if you want to participate in the GPS Open game.  NONE is required to attend the event or to participate in the other games.

At registration we will get your name and your entry fee prize.  You will receive the target coordinates and a numbered flag and you will be directed to the game field.

The coordinates will lead you into the area where ground zero has been pre-located.  Using only your GPS and your keen geocaching instincts (Or blind dumb luck. Your choice.) stick the numbered flag we gave you into the ground where you think ground zero is.

When the game is over, our crack(ed) crew will measure and record the distance of everyone's flag to the actual ground zero.  When that's all done we'll do the other game awards and then we'll call the names of players, in order from closest to furthest from ground zero.  As their names are called, contestants will come and collect their prize from the pool of entry fee prizes everyone brought.  Everyone who plays, WINS!

GPS OPEN GAME RULES:

1. 1 entry fee prize (it's still below) is required for each person, 1 play per person.  If 3 people in your family or group want to play, that's 3 prizes.
2. Once you place your flag, you must leave the playing field immediately.  Just like chess, once you take your hands off your game piece, you're done and it's time to go enjoy the rest of the event.
3. Children 10-12 years old may play if accompanied on the playing field by an adult.
4. Children 13 years old and up may play on their own.
5. Contestants must be present to claim their prize.  Any left over prizes will be given away at the end of the event.
6. Taunting and trash-talking (in a family-friendly manner, of course) is not required but is strongly encouraged.
7. Non-competing folks are not allowed on the game field at any time and no one but game crew are allowed on the game field during measuring and scoring.
8. Semper Questio is the final authority on all game-related questions.

CHILDREN:

Kids are welcome to the event, but in the interest of protecting players' flags, no children under the age of 10 can compete or will be allowed on the playing field at any time.  Children 10-12 years old may play but must be accompanied on the playing field by an adult.  Please, parents, keep an eye on your kids AT ALL TIMES!

PETS:

Sorry.  No pets are allowed.  We got nuttin' against pets, this just isn't the venue for them.

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRY FEE PRIZES:

The ‘entry fee’ should be a caching related item valued between $5-$10 that you would be happy to take home.

The rule of thumb is that if you would use it in some caching-related way, it will probably be fine.

Examples of suitable ‘entry fees’ would include, but would not be limited to, unactivated geocoins or travel bug tags, a set of 5 or more pathtags, small first-aid kits, fanny packs, flash lights, headlamps, hiking sticks, drink bottles, ready-to-hide caches, 2 rolls of camo tape, etc.

All items must be in new condition.  Please don’t bring used items, McToys, or similar items. Just grabbing some stuff out of your vehicle when you get to the event like an auto litter bag, a couple of pens, and an old DQ coupon just ain't gonna cut it.  Also please do not bring some broken or junk something that you think may make a cool cache container.

The only exception to the "NO USED" rule would be something like surplus ammo cans or decon containers provided they are in good, clean, and usable condition.

NO COMMERICALIZATION! If you are selling or promoting something, this is event is not a business opportunity.  You can use your product(s) as a fee entry prize, but do NOT include any advertising and there is absolutely NO selling allowed at this event.

The registrars will have final say on whether your ‘entry fee’ item is satisfactory.

If you have questions about what is acceptable, please go to my profile and shoot me a message before the event.

No prize, no play.  We WILL NOT be able to provide prizes to those that show up empty handed this time.

*** NEW *** THE EVIL HIDE CHALLENGE

The Evil Hide Challenge is a timed game that will be played in 2 rounds; a qualifier and a final. The winner gets bragging rights and their choice of one of the evil caches.

Please Note...
These caches are designed to be hard and are not for the faint of heart. Since these caches are not going to be permanently listed, they may or may not conform to geocaching.com geocache listing guidelines.

Who can Play?

• The game is limited to 5 people selected by random drawing.
• Individuals only; no teams.
• Players must be age 18 or over.
• Please, only 1 player per family.
• Get your ticket for the drawing at the registration table by Noon.

Qualifying Round Play

• At noon, the drawing will be held for the 5 participants.
• The qualifying round will begin immediately after the drawing.
• The time limit for the round is a total of 30 minutes.
• Each player will get coordinates to their own evil hide.
• All hides will be as close to the same difficulty as possible.
• Players must find their cache, retrieve the token from the cache, and return their token to the game referee.
• The first 2 players to return with their tokens will move on to the final round.
• If no 2 players find their caches within the time limit, the round will be considered a tie and there will be another drawing of the 5 contestants for the final round contestants.

Final Round Play.

• Each player will seek an evil 2-stage multicache.
• The players will seek the same cache, 1 at a time.
• The player with the fastest time in the qualifying round will go first unless they choose to defer.
• While the first player is looking for the cache,the other must stay in a location where he/she cannot watch the first.
• The time limit for this round is 30 minutes per player.
• The final times will be kept secret until the game winner announcements are made.
• If neither player finds the cache within their time limits, the game will be declared a draw.

After the contest, anyone is welcome to try their hand at the evil hides until they are gathered up. Please note that these caches are not staying as new permanent caches and no additional attended logs for finding these caches will be permitted.

THE SWAG GUESS GAME

The Swag Guess game is the same as last year.

What's in the cache?  Doesn't matter.  What matters is HOW MUCH is in the cache!

The object of this game is to guess how many total swag items are in the cache.  Whomever is closest to the correct guess, without going over, will win the cache WITH the swag.

OK, so what’s the rules?  That’s easy.

1. The cache will be at the registration table, but everyone can play.  Please, only 1 guess per person.
2. No one may pick up, move, shake, measure, or touch the cache in any way.  Simply look at the cache and make your guess.
3. Take a ticket, tear the two halves apart, turn them over, and write the number you are guessing on each half of the ticket.
4. Drop one half of the ticket in the indicated container and keep the other half with you.
5. Go enjoy the event.

That’s it.  At the end of the Open we will announce the ticket number for the winner.  The winner will be determined by the Open Crew.  The closest guess without going over wins. In the event of a tie, we have a tie-breaking procedure.

THE LAME MICRO TOSS GAME

This game is back and is in honor of all of those drive-by, toss-out, "lame" micros everyone knows and ...well...whatever.

For this one, there will be a bunch of 35mm film cans filled with rocks and dirt (for weight) over at the washer pits.  The objective is to compete with each other to see who can do best at tossing these lame micros into the holes.  This is a non-prize-winning, unmonitored event just put out there for you to have some fun with.

The only rules are...

1. If the can opens and spills its contents, maintain your cache.  Fix it yourself and keep playing.
2. Have fun.

THE LAME MICRO TOSS TOURNAMENT

This is the tournament version of the Lame Micro Toss Game.  It’s the same game, but with a limited number of players and real rules which are...

• Up to 32 players, max.  Players must register at the registration table by 12:45 pm.
• This is a 2 single players, single elimination tournament.
• Each player gets 3 lame micros.
• Players stand anywhere behind the front edge of 1 pit and take alternating turns tossing each can, 1 at a time, to the hole in the opposite pit.
• If a can goes in the hole or blocks the hole in any way, it is scored and removed immediately by the ref.
• All other cans remain in the pit and are scored by the ref after all cans are tossed.
• If a can opens and spills its contents, the cache must be maintained!  Go get it, fix it yourself, return to your line, and toss it back into play.
• In the event of a tie, each player will toss 1 more can.  The player whose can lands closest to (or in) the hole, wins.  If a winner can't be determined from that toss, they toss again.
• The winner will get a shiny championship medal!
• Scoring:
  • 5 points - The can is completely in the hole.
  • 3 points - The can is partially in the hole or is otherwise touching the metal pipe that forms the hole.
  • 1 point - The can is anywhere else in the pit, including the pit frame, in whole or in part.
  • 0 points - The can is anywhere outside the pit frame, including touching the pit frame.
  • -5 points - If the can spills open and it is not immedialtey fixed and replayed.

DO WE HAVE TO PLAY THE GAMES IF WE COME?

Of course not!

This event is open to everyone, whether you want to play the games or not.  Shoot, you don't even have to be a geocacher!  If you just want to come by to hang out, that's fine.  We'd love to see you!

LOG BOOK AND TRAVELERS

On the back deck, near registration, there will be a table set up with the event log book and a place for travelers (travel bugs, geocoins, etc.).

Please stop by, sign the log, and drop or swap your travelers.

If you take any travelers, please be sure to log them out of the event, move them along promptly, and drop them accordingly.  This is on the honor system and we are not listing or logging the travelers that move through the event.

If you want to list all the travelers that's fine, but please take only a few at a time and move elsewhere to write down their numbers so others can get to the swap box and event log.

If someone asks for your traveler number list, that's OK too, of course, but let it go at that.  Please do not send your list(s) to all attendees of the event.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

This event will take place on Sunday, November 10, 2013, starting at 11:30 a.m., rain or shine.  So check the weather and come appropriately and adequately prepared!

Game results and prize selection will take place as soon as the measuring is completed, distances are ranked, The Lame Micro Toss Tourney is down to the last match, the Swag Guess and Evil Hide Challenge winners are determined, and the crew can get their collective act together (yeah, like THAT will ever happen).

Many Thanks...

Semper Questio wants to take a moment to thank the Central Texas GPS Open crew.

Even if you don't play any games, please be sure to take a moment to stop and say "hi" to the Crew.  They've worked hard to help put on this event and they deserve all the kudos they can get!  It'll sure beat what I'm paying them!