While researching some ideas for a
cache, I came across several caches based on the original
California Delorme Challenge by Haicoole. After doing a bit of
investigation I decided to host a version for West Virginia. I have
several partners on this that will be helping me with the logistics
of tracking and verification of
statistics.
By the time you are finished you
will have traveled all over the state, probably spent your family
inheritance on gas, and said more than a few bad words about me for
setting this up.
Here is how it
works:
This challenge is based on the
DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer which is published for all 50 states.
If you don’t already own one, you’ll want to get one for this
Challenge. It is a wonderful map book that I have been using for
years with Boy Scouts, hiking, camping, biking, and now with
geocaching. The state is broken into numbered sections. Each
section number corresponds to a page number that contains the map
to that area. West Virginia has 44 pages with three of the pages
having 2 map sections.
In order to claim this cache, you
must hide or find a cache on each map page as outlined below. Then
send me a file containing all of your hides and finds in the state.
(.GPX format is preferred or .LOC if you filter out your
locationless, event and CITO caches ahead of time for me. At a
minimum I need a list containing cache name, waypoint, and
coordinates.) My partners and I will review the list and generate
an image showing their locations in order to verify the list. Once
everything checks out, we will then send you the correct
coordinates for the final cache! The find cannot be logged until
the physical container is found and the logbook inside
signed.
Based on feedback from and
incidents seen with DeLorme Challenges in other states, some
guidelines need to be laid out:
- As mentioned above, the
posted coordinates are not the actual coordinates for the cache.
The actual cache may be quite some distance from these coordinates!
To get the final coordinates, just complete the
challenge!
- Generally accepted rules,
guidelines and conditions for logging a cache find apply. These
must be bona fide caches listed on Geocaching.com that you have
personally (physically) found and logged. You may include caches
found prior to the creation of the WV DeLorme Challenge so long as
they meet all other Challenge requirements.
- Placement of a cache on a
DeLorme Atlas page counts the same as finding a cache on that page,
but only if it was placed prior March 01, 2006. Hides after this
date do not count toward the Challenge.
- All cache types count as
finds or hides for the DeLorme Challenge with the exception of
events (CITO included) and locationless caches.
- If a WV DeLorme Atlas page
includes space not located in WV, only caches in the WV portion
count.
- While you may have others
with you when you find the final cache. Only those who have
fulfilled ALL criteria for this cache will be allowed to log it as
a find. Find logs by other cachers will be
deleted.
- Pages 31 and 56 contain maps
for two section of the state on the same page. For these pages
only, you must hide/find a cache on each section of those pages
(total of 4 not 2).
- As of the March 01, 2006
date listed above, there are no caches located on page 62. Consider
pages 62 and 63 to be one and the same. Finding a cache on page 63
will also count for page 62.
- While the various editions
and versions of the DeLorme Atlas do not seem to have changed much
in terms of page boundaries, the image attached is derived from the
information in the cache owner's copy will be considered
definitive.
- When in doubt ask—we can
discuss it or even seek guidance from others, but the final
decision rests with the cache owner.
Be safe and have
fun! Use that WV DeLorme Atlas to head out into Wild and
Wonderful West Virginia, find those caches, and discover why we say
it’s Almost Heaven!
UPDATE:
Some folks have sent in their files and below is a list of the
number of pages they have completed:
|
Name |
Pages found of 45
Required |
Team BattleCache |
45 -
CONGRATULATIONS!! Co-FTF |
CTeam |
45 -
CONGRATULATIONS!! Co-FTF |
WV Postcard |
39 |
FamilyFrog |
41 |
CacheDetectives |
45 |
Wandering Bears |
19 |