Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Too many bad coordinates!

Although I've been geocaching for several years now, I've been taking it easy for the past year or two. In my recent return to geocaching, I've noticed something that I never really noticed a few years ago - coordinates WAY off from where the cache is described to be. For some, the coordinates seem to be just too inaccurate and well beyond any normal range. For others, the coordinates appear to be taken in one format (DegDec) but posted online in another (MinDec) without proper conversion.

These two examples come to mind:

1) Kinder Island by cwnation (GC1E5JD) - This cache includes the following statement, "should not be to hard once you make it to the island." However, the coordinates place this cache in the lake almost 100 feet from any island. This is an example of grossly inaccurate coordinates.

2) Jacobs Latter by Rohan Clan (GC1G7M5) - This cache includes the following statement, "Located on a populer path in camron park." However, the last time I checked, the Cameron Park with a landmark called Jacobs Ladder near a popular path is in Waco, not in Peoria. That's over 26 miles away! This is an example of coordinates recorded in DegDec format, but posted online in MinDec format without being converted. [Yes, that matters; no, you can't just move the decimal over a couple of places.]


Is this coordinate confusion becoming the new trend? How is it possible for a cache owner to view their cache page, see the map of their cache so far away, and do nothing to fix it? My little yellow eTrex can at least put the cache in the correct county! Isn't THIS the reason we have reviewers?

10 comments:

PastorDIC said...

I guess I'm one of those that looks at the map when I set up the cache page. I've never had the coordinaes off very much, and then it is usually because of tree cover.

Anonymous said...

I've only come across a handful of caches that were this far off. I don't think it's realistic for reviewers to actually go to each cache to verify the coordinates are correct... they are volunteers and I know I wouldn't want to check each and every one out of the kindness of my heart.

Meg said...

The main reviewer for my area doesn't take into consideration the cache location proximity to a school rule. I've kind of noticed that the reviewer seems to enforce certain rules... but not others. It sort of peeves me because I give lots of thought to follow the guidelines, when others don't.

Also... it really isn't that hard to use the averaging tool when marking waypoints on the GPSr. I think a lot of newer cachers just don't realize the significant difference it makes when they average the coords.

Unknown said...

Long time since any posts or updates. Are you still actively caching or have you moved to a new blog at all?

Unknown said...

Still here and still caching, just not as often.

Amanda Mackay said...

I have not yet seen coordinates off that far haha, but I have seen coordinates off by meters, enough that we were searching in the middle of a bunch of briers, (actually have a picture of that it's hilarious) but yea, I plan a lot of caching days and I wouldnt be happy in your case.

P.J. said...

I've often found that some people just take a quick read and run. We have one or two like that in our area. I might have to blog about some of my mis-adventures with finding coordinates, too. Good post!

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Richard Tulloch said...

Ah, so that could be my problem! I'm new to the game, so looking for advice. http://richardtulloch.wordpress.com/2010/11/11/geocaching-what-am-i-doing-wrong/

Tim said...

We have been having a similar problem in our area, it seems like half the coordinates are way off. We have been slowly trying to get them back into the proper spots but it needs to be the local goecaching community as a whole working together to get things back on track

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