Los Banos Geocaching Event Event Cache

Welcome to the 1st Los Banos Geocaching Event!

This will be a scavenger hunt style geo-rally.  Each participant will be given a scavenger hunt tally sheet, locations of clue containers, and overview maps showing the clue container locations.  The rally will kick off at Pacheco Park (903 Pacheco Blvd).  The rally end point and raffle will be held at the Los Banos Fairgrounds (403 F Street).  Note that there will be a $5 entry fee for the facility housing the raffle. There will be a post rally raffle for the participants, with the prizes being geocaching related goodies, geocoins, and donations from local merchants. 

All participants will be released at the same time to fan out across the Los Banos area to find the clue containers.  You will need to come up with a search strategy that will garner you the most points.  Will you go for a lot of nearby clues?  Make the drive for the bigger point items?  Go for the mega that may eat up a lot of time on the clock?  Decisions, decisions!

To add to your enjoyment, numerous new geocaches are being added to the wealth of existing caches in the area just before the event. There are probably a hundred plus caches in the rally area. Opportunities will abound for those interested in stopping for geocaches while out searching for clues. 

UPDATES:

2012-08-14
1) I am working with GXProxy.com to have medallions made up for the rally. These will be GC.com trackable. Some will be available for sale at the event (cost TBD). One per participant will be in the goodie bags.

2) Please note that the Los Banos Tomato Festival will be occuring over the same weekend as the rally. Consider checking it out while in town!

2012-08-25
3) I checked with my friend that lives in Los Banos. She recommends either the Best Western or the Vagabond motels if you plan on staying overnight in the area.

General rules of the rally:

1. Rule number one is that the event coordinator makes the rules and has final judgment on their interpretation. 
2. The rules can and will be updated up to the event ending at the discretion of the event coordinator!  Put a watch on this event to obtain notification of changes.
3. The tally sheets issued for the event contain questions that must be answered to get points for the rally.  There is also a stamp required for each question.
4. There will be one question for each clue location. (Note the mega exception below.)  The questions all relate to the Los Banos community, the history of the area, and tomato trivia (Los Banos being the Tomato Capitol Of California).
5. At each location, do the following:
   • Retrieve the answer to a question and record it on your tally sheet.
     You may use the Internet to seek out answers, but the answer in the clue container is the one that will be used for the rally.
   • Each container will also contain a self-inking stamp.  You will stamp your tally sheet next to the appropriate question/answer. 
   • Sign the logbook in the container.
   • Make sure you leave the stamp and the answer in the container for the next person!
6. Different containers will have different point values depending on the distance from the rally start. 
   • 1 for caches <5 miles from the start
   • 5 for caches >= 5 miles from the start
   • The points possible for each clue/answer will be listed on the tally sheet.
7. A special mega site will be available that will be worth 25 points.  However, it will involve answering multiple questions and performing activities at a special location designated for the event. 
8. It is highly unlikely that you will be able to find all the clues listed for the rally!  Do monitor your clock and be sure to be back in time for the cutoffs listed below.
9. All tally sheets must be returned to the event coordinate by 5:00pm to avoid penalties. 
   • The exact time is determined by the clock held by the event coordinator.  In theory, it will match the time on your GPS, but see rule #1 above.
   • 10 point penalty for sheets turned in between 5:01pm and 5:15pm.
   • 20 point penalty for sheets turned in between 5:16 and 5:30pm.
   • No sheets accepted after 5:30pm. 
10. At the end of the rally, raffle tickets will be handed out to each participant based on the number of points gathered during the rally.  One raffle ticket per point.
11. Extra raffle tickets can be earned by donating goodies for the raffle.
    • Maximum 10 points extra per team for donations.
    • Donations must be turned in at the time of registration.   Points will be added to your tally sheet then.
    • Geocoin = 5 points
    • Large/regular size cache container with some swag = 5 points
    • Small/micro containers = 1 point
    • Geocache swag or tomato themed swag = 1 to 10 points per coordinator judgment.

The day’s agenda and logistics:

• Registration begins at 8:00am and closes at 9:00am.
  • Each participant will be required to hand over their GPS to the event organizer at registration. 
  • The GPS units will stay with the event organizer until everyone’s units are ready for release.
  • Tape will be provided to label the GPS with your name or you can provide a name tag yourself.  Attaching some kind of easily seen bangle is recommended.
  • You will be handed your team goodie bag and tally sheet in exchange for your GPS.
  • Anyone arriving after the 9:00am cutoff will have to wait until after the 9:30 release to have their GPS loaded with cache information. No exceptions.
• The clue location list for the day will be loaded onto your GPS by the event organizer.  We will be able to load locations onto the units listed below.
  • Delorme PN40 and PN60
  • Garmin eTrex
  • Garmin 60 series
  • Garmin 62 series
  • GPX files for Android phones. Bring your own PC interface cord!
  • Sorry, I do not cover iOS devices! (Mac, iPhone, etc.)
• If your GPS is not on the list, contact the event organizer BEFORE the day of the event!  We will sort out how to get your unit loaded at the rally, but will need some time to figure that out.  We will be using GSAK, but cannot guarantee proper loading on units we are not familiar with. Last minute arrangements will not be accommodated.
• Participants will gather at 9:30am for course instructions and the release of the coordinates.
  • A brief summary of the rules and road etiquette will be given.
  • The GPS units will be lined up on tables or across the ground at the park.
  • The participants will be lined up at a short distance from the GPS units.
  • At the sound of a whistle, the participants will come forward, grab their GPS, and be on their way!
  • Blocking, tackling, elbowing, and general mayhem is discouraged during the retrieval process!  Please be polite to your fellow participants.
• All tally sheets need to be returned to the event coordinate by 5:00pm. 
  • See the penalty points in the rules above for sheets turned in after 5:00pm.
  • No sheets accepted after 5:30pm. 
• The raffle will begin at approximately 6:30pm.
• Food and drinks are the responsibility of the participants.  Please be sure to take care of yourself in this regards during the rally!  There are numerous places around Los Banos to eat and to get supplies.  Given the town is supporting the event, we encourage you to use the local businesses.
• Some businesses will be providing discounts to geocachers either in the form of coupons in the goodie bags or by using your tally sheet as a “geocacher ID card” presented at time of purchase.  

Traffic And Parking Etiquette:

• Be considerate of the community and remember we are all ambassadors for geocaching during this rally.
• Please be extremely careful when exiting and entering the parking areas!
  Yes, this is a rally, but we are not talking big money stakes or anything like that here.  Racing through the parking lots is discouraged. 
• Obey all traffic laws, especially the speed limit.
  Local police and CHP will be out in force because of the Tomato Festival that will be occurring the weekend of this event and the above normal weekend traffic in the area. 
• Make sure you park safely and well off the road at the clue locations.
  You must have your vehicle fully to the right of the roadway when you park.  If other vehicles are already filling the safe parking locations at a cache MOVE ON TO THE NEXT LOCATION! 
• Do not park on private property and/or areas marked No Parking.
• Do not block the roadways or driveways.
• Watch for children, pets, and other pedestrians.
  Many of the clues will be placed in residential areas or near parks.  Use extreme caution when in these areas.