I came in a bit late to this discussion, but here are my .02, for what it's
worth...

Your method would probably eliminate me finding your boxes...the main reason
being that we keep a binder in the car with clues printed out for the states
that we usually travel in (basically all of New England and upstate NY).
That way, if we find ourselves with some free time or the desire to
letterbox in an area, we don't have to have a computer handy to determine
where the nearby boxes are.

However, I also believe that your clues should be what you want them to be,
and if they don't appeal to me, I just won't search out your boxes, no big
deal. I'm sure some people find our clues too easy (for the one box we
planted, but there are more in the works)...we all have different reasons
and goals for letterboxing, so whatever works...

Ann in MA

> --- In letterbox-usa@y..., "geoflyfisher" wrote:
> > Last summer a number of comments were made about GPS coordinates.
> I
> > am a converted Geocacher and an electronics nerd, so using a GPS is
> > second nature. I realize that not everyone is.
> >
> > In several of my box clue sheets I tire of giving road by road
> > directions to a parking spot where I would like for the fun to
> > start. I have occasionally just given the coordinates and said
> that
> > this could be found with a GPS or by using the free topographic map
> > service www.topo.com. It seems the easiest way to let someone
> > actually know where they should park to eliminate parking from the
> > puzzle.
> >
> > In none of these parking coordinate clues has a GPS been needed.
> The
> > coordinates are just a shorthand to get you to a map of the area.
> An
> > example is the "Rediscovery" box set I just posted.
> >
> > Feedback? Who among you wants road by road directions to a parking
> > spot vs the coordinate clue?
> >
> > Rick aka Flyfisher
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In letterbox-usa@y..., Randy Hall wrote:
> > >
> > > > Very, very well put, especially for all the "new" letterboxers
> > out there and
> > > > even us "old" ones. We can learn from your comments.
> > >
> > > True, especially for certain styles of letterbox clues. There is
> > > much wisdom in that post.
> > >
> > > OTOH, for other styles, specific, obvious landmark detail and
> > > redundancy would compromise the challenge that the hunters of
> these
> > > sorts of boxes are attracted to. Not everyone is attracted to
> these
> > > sorts of boxes. Armchair treasure hunters are used to having to
> > deal
> > > with the fingerprints of towns, trails, roads, and other
> features,
> > and
> > > extracting subtlety from vague clues, and realise that things
> > change
> > > over time. I will be revisiting the disclaimer on my web page
> that
> > > says my boxes are hard and not for the easily disappointed. All
> of
> > my
> > > clues are listed with date planted so that those who are aware of
> > the
> > > way things change can factor that in. It is important to be
> aware
> > that
> > > things can change. The only constants are contour detail, large
> > rocks,
> > > and some streams and other water features.
> > >
> > > I'd call them "treasureboxes" if the term "letterbox" conjures up
> > > some image of the way things ought to be, to avoid confusion or
> > > having people be frustrated. If most of you feel my letterboxes
> > > don't fit the mold, as it were, its fine with me if the
> webmasters
> > > don't link to them.
> > >
> > > Just as the popularity of geocaching _has_ proven (at least to
> me),
> > > that GPS coordinates make acceptable clues for these sorts of
> > things,
> > > we may want to be open to _all_ sorts of clues, and ignore the
> ones
> > we
> > > don't like. I don't like geocaches in general so I ignore them.
> > > But they are still fair game for those who do enjoy them. This
> is
> > just
> > > one example. There is no (IMHO) "right" way to write a letterbox
> > > clue -- the hider does not owe the hunter a fun hunt, as there
> are
> > > too many hunters and you cannot write something that will please
> > > everyone. For my part, I will never intentionally write a clue
> > that
> > > knowingly involves trespass, hazards, has errors, or is
> > intentionally
> > > frustrating or unsolvable, but "hard" and "subtle" seem in the
> > spirit
> > > of treasure hunting to me. I will say, that based on off-list
> > > comments, that I believe you missed a key part of one of the
> boxes
> > you
> > > have alluded to that lead to a longer than expected hike.
> Moderate
> > > to difficult clues can often be easily misinterpreted. I've done
> > > it myself too many times to count. I was at the park last week,
> and
> > > the terrain has not changed from when I wrote that clue.
> > >
> > > > It's funny but the box's that have been placed in problem areas,
> > > > with vague clues and landmarks seem to be the ones that have no
> > > > stamps in them.
> > >
> > > I would actually expect this to be the case.
> > >
> > > Again, good, solid advice, but I don't think one-size-fits-all
> > > advice.
> > >
> > > Happy hunting and good luck :-)
> > >
> > > Cheers
>
>
>
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