We’ve found morels, berries, grapes, wild strawberries and wild asparagus. These treasures inspired me to write my wild edible and medicinal plant book. I’m still plugging away on it and hope to have it done very soon.

The last time we were out, we also came across a different type of find, one that I despise. With our unusually warm winter, the season is ripe for ticks. The well-prepared geocacher should make sure and add some tick spray to his geo-bag. To avoid them, you need to use a product that has at least 20 percent DEET. You don’t have to go with the stuff in the small bottle. An aerosol with the right amount will keep you protected.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you don’t need to use tick spray if you are urban caching. The other night, I was sitting on the couch when I felt something on my leg, a nasty wood tick, no less. The thing of it is though is that I had only been out to get the mail that day. I got the bugger from walking across my lawn.

As a general guideline, you should start using tick spray once the snow cover has gone. They can come out as early as March. There is an old husband’s tale that says you needn’t worry after the 4th of July. Sorry, to break the news. The ticks are still out into the fall, but it tends to be more of the nasty deer tick variety. These ticks carry Lyme disease, so you can’t be too careful.

It’s just the part of geocaching that we all have to deal with. Ticks, poison ivy, bad weather and loose dogs are all part of the game. At least with ticks, you have a good weapon in your corner.

Other Finds on the Trail is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

I really hate it when people leave their dogs running loose. I’ve heard of too many horror stories of dogs killed from traffic or coyotes. Other than that, it’s just plain rude. I cringe when a dog chases my car. I hate it even worse when I’m geocaching and a strange dog approaches. There are a few things you can do to make sure you don’t get bit.

Use common commands

Even the worse farm dog probably has heard the words “No!” or “Sit!” These are the commands you should try first. If anything, instinct might take over, and the dog will pause long enough for you to get back into the car or down the trail a bit. Most dogs won’t follow too much past their perceived territories.

Don’t make eye contact

It’s best not to give a dog you don’t know the perception of a threat. That might happen if you look it straight on. If the dog is over friendly and wants to jump up, turn your backside toward him and push him off gently.

Don’t assume a dog is friendly

Unless that dog owner took the time to socialize his dog when young, he may be more aggressive than you realize. Tail-wagging is not always an indicator of a friendly dog. If the owner is not around, stay away from the dog.

Last Resort Solutions

I hate to suggest this, but safety is important. It’s not your fault if you have to resort to using something like Halt! Dog Repellent. It’s the fault of the irresponsible pet owner who is to blame. If it comes down to an attack or using a repellent, opt for the latter. People die from dog attacks.

Finally, don’t hesitate to report the owner. Chances are that if they are that irresponsible, then their dog probably isn’t up-to-date on its vaccinations, namely, rabies. I love dogs, which is why I would try to protect them despite their bad owners. Remember too, that the next encounter may be the child that gets bit. If the dog is not vaccinated, it can be put down. Your call to animal control can help prevent this unfortunate scenario.

Stay safe out there, and cache on!

How to Not Get Bit If You Encounter Loose Dogs is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

Finding wildflower and wild edibles is just another great thing about geocaching. When you geocache, you’re looking down a lot anyway. It’s fun when you can see something unexpected there as well, like these morels. It’s a good time to also spot those spring wildflowers. They last for such a short time that’s it easy to miss out.

After years of doing it, I’ve decide to write an e-book about the ins and outs of collecting wild edible plants. There’s a bit more to it than just finding the plants.

There are several rules of thumb that you need to follow so your next trip isn’t to the doctor or the police station. It comes from those years in the school of hard knocks. I’m hoping to have it available on Amazon within the next week or two. Meanwhile, keep your eyes open for other treasures on the trail.

Finding Other Treasures on the Hunt is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

I took a look at the Open Street Map site for my area. The site is maintained by users who update features as necessary. I figured for a rural area like where I live that the map would be out-of-date or filled with mistakes. I was pleasantly surprised to see several recent updates. In urban areas, the updates are probably more frequent.

The Open Street Map Advantage
Google Maps are maintained by a third-party vendor. If you find a mistake, you need to fill out a form with the detailed information. I noticed a mistake about four years ago while doing a website design for the business I worked at. I promptly filled out the form. Four years later, the mistake is still there. So much for leading edge technology. It’s this kind of thing that gives Open Street Map its advantage.

That error as many others would have been corrected on a more timely basis. Some areas are changing rapidly with new development. People on the ground can help ensure maps are as accurate as they should be. So while there is a little panic as apps must be updated, it’s a step in the right direction for Geocaching.com and others who make the move. Besides, should we really be giving Google any more power than it already has?

The Geocaching.com Switch to Open Street Map is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

This is a warning I don’t think we geocachers can hear too often. Now that spring is well underway, those nasties are rearing their ugly heads. One of the worst is poison ivy.

Poison ivy presents a real challenge for me when it comes to geocaching. I am extremely allergic to it. I still have scars from the last bout that I received from geocaching, ironically enough. What makes this plant so insidious is how prevalent it is. You’ll find it everywhere–usually near that hollowed out log where the cache is hidden.

You’d think then why don’t the parks remove it like they do garlic mustard or purple loosestrife? The fact is that even if it is a problem for most humans, a lot of wildlife depends upon the berries for a reliable winter food source. They, of course, don’t suffer from its effects. Fortunately for us, my husband is not allergic. He can make the grab while I navigate.

If you should come down with a rash, good old Calamine lotion works well. I found that I had better relief though from using an over-the-counter low-potency corticosteroid creams, such as hydrocortisone. 

Don’t do what I did

My rash got infected because it itched so bloody bad. I let it go and did not see a doctor. Big mistake. I’m still paying for that bit of wisdom. Poison ivy is not catchy or contagious. You get to keep it all to yourself if you get it, which is a good thing if you can say that about poison ivy.

When you’re out, it’s probably wisest to wear long pants for those small plants you may not see right away. You can also try a barrier cream. I can’t speak from experience, but I do plan on trying one this spring when we go out geocaching in the woods. Prevention, after all, is the best cure. Just make sure that you and everyone in your group can identify poison ivy. 

Poison Ivy Woes is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

Geocachers never fail to surprise me, especially when it comes to placing caches. The caches that immediately come to mind are the now infamous but deliciously clever Halloween caches here in Minnesota. Sadly, most are archived.

Some of the most clever caches, however, are not the ones you need trek for miles to get to. Some can be a lot closer than you think. To avoid giving this one away, I won’t identify the specific cache. You know who you are.

For this cache, we hiked in one of the local parks. The trail wound through a prairie. There are not a lot of hiding places in grasslands. The one tree that we saw was the beacon, of course. The cache was a small plastic skull on a chain that was hung on the backside of the tree, facing away from the trail. It was not visible from there.

That is what made it so clever. Unless you were a geocacher, there was absolutely no reason anyone would give this tree a second glance. That’s what made it cool. The fact that hundreds of people walked by it each week and only a few select people knew it was there made it so fun. Props to the cacher for a clever hide!

Hidden in Plain Sight is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

With Trip Journal, you just start a new trip and tracking. Along the way, you can add pictures, videos, notes and waypoints. You can note cool caches or sights. You can record notes for logging your caches. It’s always nice when geocachers post must-see or know advice about caches. Now you’ll remember what other cachers should know. Pics are also great, even if they were not at ground zero. The journey, after all, is sometimes more fun than reaching the destination.

One of the more appealing things for me about Trip Journal is its interface. You get the impression that you are writing in a worn leather journal. I’m a sucker for old maps, so the whole layout is something I really like about it. You can archive your trips and also share them on Facebook if you’d like. The developers respond promptly to posts, which adds to the fun of using the app.

There are a lot of fitness apps that will do the tracking and mapping. Trip Journal adds a bit of fun so you can share your adventures with your family and friends.

Save Those Geocaching Memories is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

My Environmental Manifesto is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

If you’re planning on spring geocaching, you had better prepare. You should take sunscreen, sunglasses and naturally, bug spray. Get ready, folks! Tick season has begun!

The mild winter made for some great winter geocaching without the hassle of buried treasures. Instead, all caches became winter-friendly in Minnesota. That also means that the ground didn’t get quite as cold as it normally would. In other words, there was not the usual die-off. They’ll be back–and with a vengeance. 

These parasites are nasty at its worse for you and your dog. There’s Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and anaplasmosis, all horrible and potentially dangerous. There’s one thing for it–a bug spray with DEET. My botany professor swore by wearing white, which I suppose could help you spot the blighters.

I usually wear the same hiking boots every time we go out. They have a nice residual coating that I hope helps keep the ticks at bay. This way, I avoid trashing my other shoes and benefit from the lingering spray. What happens if you find a tick?

Well, if there’s one, there may be more. A thorough check is imperative. You just can’t take the chance. My nephew got Lyme disease from fishing at a river shoreline. Even city parks can harbor ticks. Don’t risk it. The spray costs little. Your bug spray should have at least 20 percent DEET to be effective, recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you experience any of these symptoms after being out, consult your doctor. This is one cache you don’t want to find.

• Fever and chills
• Unusual rash or bull’s eye rash
• Aches and pains like the flu

Beware the Six-Legged Monster is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors

As a geocacher, you are probably well aware of hunting season. That means you and all non-hunters are out  of luck on some public lands. Firearms prevail, which I totally agree with. There is also a concern in spring.

Spring is time for prescribed burning as part of maintenance for habitat management. Prairies evolved with fire. They need fire to thrive. Fire removes the duff at the soil level so new plants can germinate and grow. The litter can prevent soil temperatures from getting high enough for this occur. For habitat restoration, it may be a yearly occurrence, depending how well established the site is. This fact poses a potential problem for geocachers.

The ideal conditions for fires are often not known until burn time. The wind speed, humidity and temperature must all be right. You don’t know this often until it is time.

As geocachers, we must be aware of this fact. We believe in preservation of the resources. That means following the rules that public lands have in place. So, during the spring, you should make it a point to call ahead. A prairie fire is a spectacular event to witness-if permitted. However, it can also travel very quickly. Forest fires burn especially hot. Logs can smolder for hours afterward.

To save yourself some hassle, call ahead if you are planning on geocaching on spring mornings. This is often the time that resource managers do prescribed burning. If you observe it, you’re in for quite a spectacle.

Prescribed Burns and Spring Geocaching is a post from: Exploring the Great Outdoors