Just wanted to let everyone know about the upgrade done last night to the Letterbox Rating System (LbRS). The
following things have been added/changed in response to the feedback I've gotten.
Due to the overwhelming requests, Pet friendly has been returned to Dog friendly as this more accurately covers what
we are looking for here. I mean, no one's ever complained about a pet cat running down the trail and jumping up on
someone slobbering all over them. Nor has anyone complained about someone's pet lizard barreling down the trail,
though, I'll tell you what, if I saw someone's pet Iguana barreling down the trail at me, I'd be hard pressed to not
stand there in shock, completely amazed. Besides, the signs we see at a park show a Dog on a leash, not a cat or a
lizard.
Also, due to overwhelming requests for these additions, I've added the following additional ratings. P for Parking
Fees, E for Special Equipment and TED for Total Estimated Distance. The new P and E ratings are now placed at the end
of the current string and the TED is combined into the current T or Trail rating to give a combined score. The TED
ratings are:
0 = Unknown, 1 = 0 to 1/4 mile, 2 = 1/4 to 1/2 mile, 3 = 1/2 to 1 mile, 4 = 1 to 2 miles, 5 = Over 2 miles
And the new ratings would look like this: 'T2-2' which would mean an Easy trail with a Total Estimated Distance of
between 1/4 to 1/2 mile.
Parking fees is a simple Yes/No question. If the spot you start someone out from requires them to pay parking should
the park there, then a yes is a good idea.
Special equipment is as well also. If any special equipment is required, other than the normal day hike items, then
select Yes.
Feel free to keep your current ratings if you want to, the old style will not break the decoder, it decodes both new
and old formats as well. If you want to update your current ratings on your letterboxes, feel free to do so.
As far the request to include the rating for "NDQ" (Nearest Dairy Queen) and "NBH" (Nearest Brew House), I'm sorry,
but I believe that extra curricular activities are something for each person to experience on their own, in their own
way! ;-)
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Steve of Team Rayvenhaus
The National Letterbox Consortium Website
http://www.myndworx.com
"We leave nothing but an image to mark our passing."
Carpe Arcanum Arco
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