WalruZ
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Posts posted by WalruZ
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the answer probably depends on a related topic, which might be answered somewhere else, but I'm lazy. -- does Jeremy Geocache?
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My goal is to enjoy myself every time I go out, and so far I'm batting 1000!
... well, except for the book cache in mountain view. It's on a golf course and I keep getting thrown out. But I always combine it with something else that works.
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It's a crap shoot all right. I just dropped off a TB in chicago whose mission included a trip to a bulls game. A cacher came by the next day and grabbed it, bound for seattle. hello! A TB of mine whose mission is to go to michigan got picked up and right off taken - to arizona. (I'm more calm about that one, it'll get there eventuallly).
As far as multiple visits go, this is often done by cachers who particularly like the TB and want to add special experiences to it's log. Or something.
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Actually, a simple rating system would probably work out just fine in practice. Assume it were voluntary. People who were 'wowed' by a cache would rate it highly. Those who were not would not bother. Just like the informal "TNLN thanks" method, perfunctory caches would not have many positive ratings. People would rate them highly if they were well executed examples of cache categories that they liked. Ie, a good micro, or a good location, or a good puzzle. Thus, a puzzle cache with no positive ratings out of many finds is probably not well regarded by puzzle-loving cachers who attempted it, never mind those who don't like puzzles (who need not offer any opinion at all.)
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I will sometimes change the elevation of the waypoint to the elevation of the cache site if I'm having problems finding the cache. It probably doesn't make any difference, although I like to think it does. The GPSr triangulates to a model of the surface of the earth called a 'datum', which is approximate. If I'm having trouble finding the cache and can blame it on the GPS, I'm more than happy to do so....
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To really understand what it's all about, go after a few rural caches that make you walk at least a mile. These are usually hidden by locals who have taken the trouble to show you the best scenery the area has to offer. (you hope). They take more time, they are more fun. (imo)
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fwiw, I know someone right now who is lost in the Star Wars Galaxies game. Took her out caching once and she got blisters on both feet, so I guess it's just the way it's gotta be...
-- EverQuest is an online game that simulates (graphically and in other ways) a mythic world. Many people participate, and if you "get it", it can make GeoCaching look like a mere hobby.
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I would like an option to remove a cache from my 'nearest list' without having to find it. Something like an 'ignore' flag. Obviously a premium feature because of the extra data involved. If some film cannister cache winds up at the top of this list I can just 'ignore' it and keep on going. (As you can tell, my nearest list is important to me).
Any other ideas from folks?
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Actually one thing that can help is to make sure your TB has some sort of goal tag before you release it. At least then the rankest newbies will feel the smack of the clue stick.
But Bons, I just don't buy your posts on this topic. Yes, a few TB owners get unduly irate about their bugs being in bags, or traveling backwards, but the single most common complaint about them is "somebody took my bug and then zoned out." That is a very reasonable thing to complain about - those complaints are not "getting pissed off and taking it way too seriously."
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It doesn't compare, but I did my personal best today, manhandling a shopping cart out of a streambed and up the trail to a roadway.
Most disgusting? A local cache had to be archived for awhile because they found a body floating in a lagoon nearby. The pros were called in to deal with that one.
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I have a sort of related question. Ones profile page shows a last visit date, and awhile ago I was looking at a particular member who, as far as i could tell was inactive, but his last visit date was always up-to-date when i looked at it. I suspected that whenever GS sent him an email (he owns caches) it would update the visit date - nothing else made sense to me. If this date/time *is* accurate, I'll bet an interesting set of plots could be made from that data.
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I would also like some north chicago / evanston / skokie recommendations, as it appears the western/foster area i am visiting is cache-poor. regular caches preferred. tks and merry christmas!
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I don't have time to read the thread, and I'm sure it's come up, but i would like to put in my vote for this: could the TB maps start zoomed out to show the whole path of the bug, like they used to. Use the new map base, that's fine, but I usually call this page up to get an idea of the bugs total travels, geographically. Eg, has it been to california (or it's goal area) yet? That is something that can't be answered by just looking at the list of caches it's been through, thus the desire to see an overview map. Thanks.
btw, yes, i know the old map is available as a link.
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there are actually a number complaints about traveling caches.
1. they aren't there when you go for them. this was the biggie - serious cachers who would go out looking for them would not be able to find them - they were already picked up by someone else but not listed as having been picked up.
2. they are maintained through email, not through the site. the finder can't change the cache page coordinates, and so has to email the hider to do so. if the hider stops 'maintaining' the cache (changing the current coordinates) then the web page goes stale even as the cache is moving. Take a look at Red Ryder which is currently floating around san jose. The web page listed it in fremont (further north) for almost 10 finds.
3. the hider cannot maintain the physical cache. I have found one - Stop & Go which sort of fixed that problem by limiting the range. Note that this is a true traveling cache, while red ryder is a cache/TB combo. I logged Stop & Go and enjoyed it. It's sorta too bad they aren't approved anymore.
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really, if there's good history there, do this.
write up what you want people to get from the site in a small pamphlet. The pamphlet has the corrdinates of the monument and other vantage points. As they go to these coordinates you can impart information and present coordinate questions - "if you see this, then A = 4" such as we are all familiar with. The coordinate questions eventually lead to a final physical cache with swag.
print out a few.
hide them in a smallish physical cache somewhat removed from the monument.
Hide the larger physical cache nearby, but not close enough nearby so that it will be found accidentally.
Result. cacher visits 1st cache, takes pamphlet, has an interesting cache experience, eventually finds physical cache, and at your request returns pamphlet to initial cache for others to use. (you hope) You actually get to deliver double cache-goodness this way, as 2 physical caches are involved and the visitor comes away with more than just "it's a statue. it was erected in 1867 for some reason".
My beef with most of these "historical" caches are that they don't really convey all that much. They lead you to the site but then let you down. Not everyone travels with the cache page. Do this and put the information in their hands while they're standing on the site.
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Where I differ is in the situation in which a cacher wishes to place a cache in an unpopulated, remote or otherwise cache-free location. Technically, such a cache is prohibited by the guidelines if it is farther than a couple hundred miles from your home. Yet I think those caches should be allowed, even if the person placing it may never be back.
-- "even if the person placing it may never be back".
That's the rub there.
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I can see Mr Magic's intervening point and am willing to argue it. The slavish maintainence requirement hinders the placement of "this WAS a beautiful spot" caches - you can only list "this IS a beautiful spot" caches. That really does limit the game in an unfortunate way - there will be less beautiful spots to cache to overall, many less, and personally it's the beautiful spots that do it for me, not the film cannisters.
It can be argued that hard to reach caches are much more rarely the sort that become "little more than litter". It can also be argued that caches, maintainance rule or not, seem to be somewhat temporary affairs. I've seen them come and go in the short time I've been persuing the game. I've also seen them go "unmaintained" regardless of their distance from their hider.
I guess what I'm saying here in a weak sort of way is that a remote vacation cache wouldn't be much different than most other caches over time, when all is said and done. Sure it wouldn't be maintained by the hider, but that happens alot anyway. It might be a worthwhile tradeoff, at least worthwhile enough to talk about - in a civil way.
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ah... you have to use white-out for those.
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ot:
Does BookCrossing frown on Books in Caches like Where's George?It is a misconception that Wheres George frowns on WG items in geocaches. As long as the dollar goes in and out of the geocache in normal fashion (the exchange is not pre-arranged), they are good with it. They don't allow geocached WG money to count in their 'most handled' list because of abuse by a small number of WG members who are also geocachers. (big whoop, imo). That's it.
Bookcrossing doesn't care. considering how difficult it is to realize any money from used books these days, it's a great way to spread the joy and free up some shelf space at the same time.
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btw, cachemonkey. the holder has 2 hides (look at his profile page / stats) try logging notes in his caches and see if he responds to them. it is possible that GC emails are eaten by spam filters and that he would see the logs if he's still active.
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The more people start talking about enforcing travel bug rules against all who dare touch them
The TB in question has been held since July 27th. This isn't about rules, the poor fellow just wants his TB released if at all possible. Can you really blame him?
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It just occured to me that GC could make money by selling "Indulgences", like the catholic church did before the reformation. For a fee, you can get a letter (or a code) that allows you a one-time exception from the rules.
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If TPTB wish to continue to insist that the reason is about maintenance, then all I can say is that the magnitude of their hypocrisy is truly stunning.
I think that's a little extreme. Really, we all know that these sorts of rules exist in order to keep the rawest newbies from doing stupid things - like finding one cache, then hiding some they'll never deal with. 'GeoLitter'. The state of Hawaii would be covered in it.
What is needed is more room for judgement calls by the approver, and more inclination to make them. If someone with 10 finds and 1 hide wants to hide a cache 1000 miles from home, that's a pretty obvious 'no'. If someone with 1000 finds and 100 hides suggests the same thing and has a reasonable argument, then more allowance should be for the experience and dedication (to the game) of the second hider.
I'm hearing, in short, is that GC needs to stop blindly applying newbie rules to experienced geocachers.
I can agree with that, sorta, but what do they do when they run across an experienced twit? We are fortunate not to have any of them in NorCal, but I'm told that they exist in other places.
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Let me see if I understand what you're saying...
There are no more images of yours on the cache page.
When you go to upload an image to the cache page, you press 'Browse' and see a list of images available for upload. You want to rid yourself of those images as well.
-- If so, those images are on your computer. You have to search for .jpg files and delete the ones you want to be rid of.
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A good hike through a beautiful area is the best sort of cache. it doesn't need to be a wow area or a wow destination, just nice - although hilltop views are pretty popular out where I live. Go for it, and place more. Cacher's who complain about such things don't "get it". Cachers who are discovering the outdoors will love you for your trail-blazing.
A word of advice. Since the cache is more about the hike and less about the hide, feel free to give people advice that aids them in making the hike. where to park, what sort of permission to get, if any, what trail to start out on. If the hike really is overnight, even more information will be appreciated, such as locations and permits. These sorts of caches are more like tours, so don't withhold information. You can even provide background about the land being hiked through and it's flora/fauna/geology - it's all good.
Simple example, a cache I'm going for this month is in a regional wilderness area. It's a few miles round trip, the first parts uphill. The hider writes, "park at the .72 mile marker on xxx road. You need to get a $4 permit from the park office to do this. Then take yyy trail" - he didn't make it too easy, but smoothed the initial access. Also, state distance and elevation changes if any. You'll get fewer complains from tenderfoots that way.
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Technically an overnight hike would not be a vacation cache since you could do it over a weekend and not have to take any vacation time. Of course, technically, if you were unemployed [WalruZ raises his hand] you could place a cache anywhere, since you would not be doing it on 'vacation'.
It would be possible to win the lottery (happens to me every night after I fall asleep) and just travel the country placing caches. If you can afford to fly cross
country to maintain a cache, why should you be prevented from doing so?
I've seen plenty of caches go unmaintained for reasons other than distance. It's a pretty blunt guideline, even though I understand it.
Top Cache Finds In 24 Hours
in General geocaching topics
Posted
I have read posts by cachers who detail how to find double-digit numbers of caches per day. It boils down to; plan your route, run don't walk, TNLNSL. The online logs for these marathons are always "Found this cache, 8 of 25. Thanks!" because they can't remember one from the other, and don't really care anyway.
I look at this and wonder - these people really think that is fun? Just to be able to say 25 in one day? Am I the only person here who thinks this is warped in a particularly 20th century american sort of way?