Whidbey Walk
-
Posts
280 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Posts posted by Whidbey Walk
-
-
After reading the entire act I believe the cavers are misinterpreting the law. As Allenlacy pointed out, when you read the oft cited prohibition of making the locations available to the public, the context is clearly aimed at a federal agency releasing the information under a FOIA request. This portion of the act basically just exempts the government agencies (Dept of Interior / Agriculture) from having to comply with the FOIA unless the agency decided it could release the information with out increasing the risk to the cave.
If the intent of the legislature had been to prohibit private individuals from disclosing locations personally known to them they would have addressed it in Section 7 PROHIBITED ACTS AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES. They didn’t.
Getting back to the original post, I wouldn’t worry about a group of cavers. If what the individuals were doing was actually a violation of the act the government would be the party pursuing the individuals. If I was being harassed in this way, I think the first thing I would do is send a letter to someone at the regional or district level of the agency, maybe even try and find a legal or enforcement official. I would not bother dealing with someone on the level of a ranger or such. I would explain what I was doing, what the cavers were doing, and ask them if your actions are a violation of the act. I wouldn’t try and argue any point with them, just request clarification. I would keep all correspondence in writing.
If the agency came back with a notice that I was violating the law, I would stop or decide that the issue is worth pursuing through the courts. If they respond that my actions were legal I would be sure to cc that over to the cavers. Issue settled.
-
quote:
Originally posted by ju66l3r:I just wanted to point out this page that has links back to geocaching.com:
http://www.piratecaching.com/returned1.htm
It looks like NudeCacher had some fun with this game as well as Chorse and Sophia. They don't seem to post in the forums so instead of "how cool is this new game??" we get "my condolences for the loss of your loved ones, brian".
Just felt that it might be better if people kept a bit more "even keel", as the pirates say, about the whole thing by reading about good experiences from piratecaching.com's better members.
PS - If there are any pirates in the Boston area who would like to have a cache made available to them to pirate (By The Rules, not simply stolen) at a future date, contact me personally and I will place my first geocache (to be pirated at a later date).
--
Since you want to have an even keel approach please also consider what piratecaching.com does not put on their web site. Namely, that the same pirate who so graciously returned the contents of three caches fails to mention the ones he hasn't.
Burrows Island plundered >8/19
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=50683&log=y&decrypt=
Geology Geocache #11 plundered >8/18
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=41744&log=y&decrypt=
Skagit Wings plundered >8/19
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=4338&log=y&decrypt=
Samish Bay View Point plundered >9/4
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=2991&log=y&decrypt=
Blanchard plundered >9/4
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=20450&log=y&decrypt=
Little Cache at Big Rock plundered >8/17
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=68695&log=y&decrypt=
Corny plundered >8/29
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=68695&log=y&decrypt=
Almost Lost Park #3 plundered >9/10
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=61446&log=y&decrypt=
A Big Rock with Big Views plundered >9/18
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=44709&log=y&decrypt=
None of these caches have been returned. There may be others out there that haven’t been discovered yet. Remember that the “pirate” doesn’t log on gc.com, or on his page, the caches he has plundered. He just lists what he wants. The aspects that make his actions appear more acceptable.
-
quote:
Originally posted by Trogdor!:Look at the log for this cache and tell me about disappointment and destruction:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=a4684a94-a4e0-4331-9afb-7f2645b18c95
This gal really enjoyed the unexpected “twist” to the game! Another plundered cache:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f0224ae4-5f36-4f73-b6a6-fcac4b4ad3c5
This one even has the nude cacher involved!!! (Now that’s a whole issue in of it’s self!) And finally:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5af9febe-4675-4ee6-b470-235a90c04a4a
The cache owner seems to be pretty happy with what happened.
I’m going to make this my last post on this topic as well. I again want to add perspective.
Burrows Island plundered >8/19
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=50683&log=y&decrypt=
Geology Geocache #11 plundered >8/18
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=41744&log=y&decrypt=
Skagit Wings plundered >8/19
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=4338&log=y&decrypt=
Samish Bay View Point plundered >9/4
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=2991&log=y&decrypt=
Blanchard plundered >9/4
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=20450&log=y&decrypt=
Little Cache at Big Rock plundered >8/17
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=68695&log=y&decrypt=
Corny plundered >8/29
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=68695&log=y&decrypt=
Almost Lost Park #3 plundered >9/10
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=61446&log=y&decrypt=
A Big Rock with Big Views plundered >9/18
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=44709&log=y&decrypt=
None of these caches have been returned. There may be others out there that haven’t been discovered yet. Remember that the “pirate” doesn’t log on gc.com, or on his page, the caches he has plundered. He just lists what he wants. The aspects that make his actions appear more acceptable.
-
quote:
Originally posted by BrianSnat:They can play their game, but they aren't using my ball.
I agree. The many supporters of the current pirate epidemic are failing to realize the full extent of the plundering. They keep saying "It's not so bad." "They are improving the cache." "They only move the cache a short distance." However, they are neglecting the truth. There maybe one pirate who is leaving a new container and a slight few other caches have had their contents returned (by the way, they were no where near the original cache location), but this is ignoring the truth in the majority of cases. The pirate in my region has managed to return the contents of three caches. Oh isn’t he such a good pirate. Never mind the fact he has plundered at least three times that many caches.
To everyone who thinks this is just a new twist on the game: You’re being duped!
-
quote:
Originally posted by Woodsters Outdoors:Waiting to hear someone say that it's disgusting and the pictures need to be removed...
Brian
As the cache owner I won’t be deleting the pictures. Although I have to say I don’t know which I fear the most. Having another of my caches plundered or running into Nude Cacher out in the woods.
Thank you Nude Cacher for replacing the cache items; however, I want to note that I still do not approve of the pirates antics. -
Originally posted by mckee:
Yes, he started out poorly, but he is also responding to the concerns voiced on this board. From all appearances, it looks like his game is grabbing travel bugs and replacing them in other caches.
How is this different than what everybody here does? The only difference I can see is that he probably watched "The Pirates of Penzance" one too many times.
QUOTE]
Actually he takes everything in the cache except the log book. He doesn’t log his activities on the cache page so it isn’t until another cacher finds an “empty” cache that anyone knows of his disregard for the established conduct of the geocaching community. Then the cache owner has to restock the cache (or abandon it, or rely on the kindness of others). Then the “pirate” (at his discretion) is posting clues to the cache contents location on his personal website. His latest “returned” cache is mine. He wants me to drive over 80 miles to get a clue that I will have to email to him in order to get the location of the contents, or perhaps he will just give another clue. No thanks. He’s not innovating a new twist on the game. He’s playing his own game. As far as I’m concerned he can keep playing all by himself.
-
I don’t really collect them myself, but I do have a VideoCD of pictures taken while caching here in the PNW that I use as a signature item. I would be more than happy to send one off to you. Email me your address through the site, and I will get it off in the mail.
WW
-
Yup! I usually check heavens-above.com once a month or so (or when I think of it). I have had fun impressing my kids with my “precise” countdowns to the flares.
-
USMC 1991 – 1999
I served as an Air Traffic Controller in the Corps at:
MCAS Yuma, Arizona
MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
With deployments to:
MCB 29 Palms CA
NAS Pohang, Korea
RAAFB Amberly, Australia
Now I am a civilian employee of the Navy at NAS Whidbey Island. Like someone else said previously, there is no inter service rivalry. Nope, none of that goes on at work.
-
That’s good news. I had been hoping the State Parks start a program similar to the one run by the Forest Service to earn a NW Forest Pass.
-
I will admit that I am torn on the issue. I love the parks. I have 7 within 30 minutes driving time from my home and consider them a major resource. However, I have been opposed to their park fee plan since the beginning. To date I have not paid any of the fees. Being a local I have enough knowledge to find the access points that don’t require parking in the actual park. It means I walk a little farther, but that can just add to the enjoyment sometimes.
To illustrate how ridiculous the blanket parking fee is just look at Joseph Whidbey State Park. The “park” facilities consist of a parking lot, toilet, a handful of picnic tables, and a few trashcans. Perhaps 50 yards beyond the “park” parking lot is a scenic pullout almost as large as the “park” parking lot. Even before the parking fee the vast majority of users actually used the scenic pullout instead of the parking lot. It actually provides better access to the main attraction of this park, the beach.
I could continue on my rant against the parking fee, but that isn’t the intention of this post. Although I disagree with the fee (and feel that legally subverting the fee is the best form of protesting the fee), I do care about the park system.
-
From www.parks.wa.gov :
Community Partnership Month
Celebrate Earth Day during the whole month of April by volunteering at a state park. Outdoor groups, service organizations, schools, businesses and any other interested organizations can revitalize state parks by pitching in to help clean up and repair parks.
Anyone interested can learn more by visiting http://www.parks.wa.gov/volworkplans/
Although they don’t mention if you volunteer if you still have to pay the parking fee.
-
quote:
Originally posted by BrianSnat:Require every cache owner to "renew" their cache periodically (perhaps every 18 months).
Sounds like an excellent idea to me.
-
quote:
Originally posted by Mad_Hatter:I believe that the Northwest Forest Pass is similar.
Yes, it is.
-
-
I’ve seen the threads about movies that seem to have aspects of caching, but today as I was watching a movie I spotted the location of an actual cache. That got me to thinking about what other caches may have been out of site but in a scene of a movie. I don’t mean instances where a movie was filmed in the same general location as a movie. I’m talking about where you can pause the movie, walk up to the T.V. and point to the cache location.
The cache location for Decptive can be spotted in the movie The Ring. Between 53:40 and 53:55 the camera flies right past the cash site. There are a couple other caches nearby, but their locations stay just off screen.
Anybody else have any examples? I think it would be real cool to have characters walk right past an urban cache.
-
quote:
Originally posted by L.O.S.T.hoomdorm:_Is it me or can you people not even read?_ I never said anything about duct tape or war. Someone else did. Frankly I don't care about either as they aren't part of this discussion. Keep on posting tho, you are showing your own intelligence.
Wit - The ability to perceive and express in an ingeniously humorous manner the relationship between seemingly incongruous or disparate things.
I admit that it wasn’t quite ingeniously humorous, but it was an honest attempt. Perhaps you are a little too quick to question others intelligence.
-
quote:
Do you think the silver or the black would be more effective? Just to be safe I'm loading up on silver.
I’m going with cammo. That way when I pull it off the windows I can reuse it on new cache containers.
-
-
-
quote:
Originally posted by IV_Warrior:One simple reason, the place CHARGES AN ENTRANCE FEE.
Here in Washington all State Parks, National Forrest Service Trailheads and locations managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife all require fees. A no fee requirement for a cache sure would rule out an awful lot of locations. On the other hand, I can see disallowing caches where a fee is paid to a private individual or corporation due to the commercial nature of such a location. However the DVRAC is on public land and managed by a public organization making it closer to a State Park than Disneyland.
On the subject of restoring the cache I made my point clear in the other thread but did add my yes vote to the tally.
-
quote:
Originally posted by Rothstafari:... in the interest of fairness and making this game better for all, I am soliciting your feedback on her approach and ours so that we can hopefully fare better in the future.
Getting back on topic, perhaps if we used the explanation that a virtual cache is nothing more than "directions" to a location we want to "share" with others because of it's unique characteristics, we would gain better acceptance. We could also compare a virtual cache to an online review of a location much like a travel guide or newspaper article.
-
quote:
Originally posted by Windrose:Yes but if they charge admission, they obviously want people to visit.
Qouted from http://www.asu.edu/clas/anthropology/dvrac/aboutus.html
"The Deer Valley Rock Art Center opened to the public in December of 1994."
"Almost 15,000 people visited the Deer Valley Rock Art Center this past year."
I am a firm believer that absolutly no permission is required for a virtual cache on any publicly accessable site. Sounds like a severe case of cachephobia.
-
Legal Question
in General geocaching topics
Posted
I view it differently. I can’t see why some people insist on taking actions that could have a negative effect on these caves. As far as the law goes, if the view is that the law does not prohibit the disclosure of the information by a private individual, then they aren’t challenging the law.