> What do some of you think about these [geocache/letterbox] issues?

Hi Rick,

My opinions are probably in the minority, but here goes ...

Firstly, I don't see it as a "low tech" vs "high tech" thing. While
a good deal of technology goes into _building_ a GPS receiver, I find it
takes about the same technical skill on the part of the _user_ to use
as a toaster or television, so I think the "high tech" vibe when
referring to GPS receivers is a bit of a perception myth.

Secondly, I don't see it as a "low tech" vs "high tech" thing :-) I
see it as an intellectual challenge thing. There are letterboxes that
require "high" technology to find. There are geocaches that require
nothing more than a topo map and compass to find. And verse visa.
Many in both pastimes require simply following the directions.
So again, I see the "technology" thing only as a false dilemma. The
tools to find these things, whether they be GPS receivers, maps,
online database, or knowledge of 18th century Turkic literature,
are all about the same on the "technology" scale -- it just comes down
to a matter of what tools and skills people enjoy using, or what
tools and skills people want to learn to use.

Finally, any style of clue, simple, puzzling, GPS, etc., is welcome
in letterboxing.

Cheers
Randy

Randy wrote in part....

> The
>tools to find these things, whether they be GPS receivers, maps,
>online database, or knowledge of 18th century Turkic literature,

Yikes.. Randy,

I sure am glad you don't plant them down here in Florida ;-)

I have a hard enough time keeping up on contemporary American literature :-)
--
Regards,

Eric Mings

--- In letterbox-usa@y..., Randy Hall wrote:
>
> > What do some of you think about these [geocache/letterbox]
issues?
>
> Hi Rick,
>
> My opinions are probably in the minority, but here goes ... I
> see it as an intellectual challenge thing. There are letterboxes
that
> require "high" technology to find. There are geocaches that require
> nothing more than a topo map and compass to find. And verse visa.
> Many in both pastimes require simply following the directions.
> So again, I see the "technology" thing only as a false dilemma. The
> tools to find these things, whether they be GPS receivers, maps,
> online database, or knowledge of 18th century Turkic literature,
> are all about the same on the "technology" scale -- it just comes
down
> to a matter of what tools and skills people enjoy using, or what
> tools and skills people want to learn to use.
>
> Finally, any style of clue, simple, puzzling, GPS, etc., is welcome
> in letterboxing.
>
> Cheers
> Randy

Thanks for the reply! I was trying to make some sense out of your
Ohio challenge and had searched for all your posts. (Many) I got to
the most recent and found it was a reply to me. (Surprise!)

I have moved into slightly challenging "museum and a hike" geocaches
for my last two. Others seem to like them. I also like the idea of
letterboxing. Getting some regular letterboxes out seems like a good
idea. Making the geocaches I have put out dual use also sounds like
a reasonable idea, as long as I am not upsetting the apple cart. I
have not decided about having a second set of GPS less clues for each
of the boxes especially since it would be easier for the letterboxer
to just use the GPS clues at www.geocaching.com. Main goal for now
is to get some Ohio letterboxes listed so that letterbox hunters can
have a target when they visit.

Rick