[Sorry, not sure what category I should use to ask]

It could also just be handmade swag, that happens to have numbers.  If the numbers pull up a trackable, it is a trackable .  If not, it is just someone's swag.  If it is a small round token, it might be notable on another site.

[This is obviously some strange use of the word "new" that I wasn't previously aware of]

I miss the days when the weekly email actually had personalized information, and actually listed new caches and upcoming events near your home coordinates.

 

[Messaging etiquette]

I don't mind, if I happen to catch it and can help.  The problem is the expectation that someone is just waiting for their phone to ping them and that they can drop everything and help.  You pressed a little message button in an app, and think there is actually someone on the other end?

 

Around here we do have a Phone-A-Friend list, with the active geocachers in the area who have opted to share their phone numbers and don't mind an occasional call.  I am on that list.   Truly, I don't get very many calls from it, and I don't make too many either.   But I have occasionally given or received help by calling the cache owner or a recent finder because of it.

[Does a geocache container need to be clear]

Some locations require a clear container as part of their (park or whatever) regulations.   Geocaching.com does not require a clear container, and many will not be -- the classic ammo can as an example.

 

 

[Confusing find count]

You can however have found a cache, and then subsequently adopt it.   So you can have a found on your own cache in that case.

 

[Light beacon cache (to be found at night): classify as traditional or mystery/puzzle?]

Maybe you go to the area, see the blinking light, which blinks a pattern that gives you the coordinates?

Maybe you use GPS to go to a spot, where you use an alignment device there (like look through a box found there) to see the blinking light that is where the cache is?

 

 

[Stolen cache questions]

I would definitely make your special containers premium members only.

 

I have also had a special container stolen and received weird messages about it ... I know how you feel, it is so heartbreaking.

 

 

 

[Your thoughts on mystery geocaches]

On 9/20/2023 at 1:55 AM, paleolith said:

 

I majored in math and had a career in computer programming. Desk puzzles are too much like work. And they keep me inside when I really need to be outside more.

 

 

HAHA, I majored in math/computer science, and have a career in computer programming.   I love puzzles, this is the way my brain works   I like my job.   But I do still want to get outside more when I can. 

 

 

[Galaxy S21 Geocaching App]

We also haven't addressed the issue of playing with your phone while driving.  I hope you are a passenger, not the driver.

 

[September Wheel of Challenges???]

These challenges do exactly what HQ says challenge caches are not allowed to do, which is to negatively influence my caching.  I end up getting 'just what I need', and saving all the rest because I feel I will need them for the next part of the challenges.

 

[CHS, Health, Reviewer Attention]

BTW, I dont think there is anything incorrect about that DNF -- it points out that it may not be accessible in winter, and the cacher didn't find it because of that.

If CHS is triggered, the cache owner just needs to chime in about it, or go make a check.

 

[Comments on "Where are the missing DNFs?"]

I consider DNF to be part of the cache's history, and part of my history. 

 

In general, I do log them.  But there are few circumstances where I might not:

 

1.)  A known high difficulty hide, that is expected to be hard and take multiple attempts.  I will log the first attempt.  I may make other intermediate attempts, but may not log all of them.   When I finally find it eventually, I will probably say I looked here X times over the last XXXX, so you can see I had more.  Again, multiple DNF's from me are not really adding anything to the story.  (And are somehow feeding a sadistic cache owner's ego)

2.)  When caching with a group, I might not, if other members of the group did already log a DNF.   Three or more DNF's from one search effort isn't really needed, and doesn't add information.  However, I would prefer that I am do log the DNF there, because I like to see my frownies when I look on the map and decide if I want to go look again.

 

As for the CHS, well that is an algorithm, and if it gets triggered, so be it.  It is part of cache ownership to maintain your caches.  If there are several DNFs/more than should be expected, then it probably really does need a check and the cache owner is responsible to do that.

 

-- Now as for Needs Maintenance and Needs Archived, those are entirely different discussions.  I'm am VERY reluctant to log a NA, and fairly reluctant to log a NM.  I do get frustrated by getting NA and NM logs when really a DNF is the appropriate log type.  Let me know you didn't find it, I can take it from there.

 

 

 

[Alaska Glaciers - are any of them earthcaches?]

Also, since you mentioned it,  here is Mendenhall Glacier.  There are several earthcaches in that area that you can get relatively easily if you walk about the area.

 

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1A34J_mendenhall-glacier

 

[Alaska Glaciers - are any of them earthcaches?]

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1510R_glacier-experience

 

This one is at Hubbard Glacier, if your ship goes there, you can get it from the ship.

Each of the ports you are at will also have caches available.   Also, there are some adventure labs you can get at the ports as well.

 

 

[proper multi cache procedure check]

You could probably do it very subtly, like name your cache "Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my" or something.   But the page cannot go on to extol the virtues of the Lions club.

 

You could have the virtual stage be to gather some information from the Lions box that is at those coordinates.  It should be information that already exists there, not something you are adding.

 

The final stage (where you are adding a container) needs to be more than 528' from any other physical stages of another cache.

 

So by the geocacher being there and getting the numbers, then they will kinda get some information indirectly, but the cache itself does not have an agenda.

 

 

[Combo Cache Types]

Usually when it gets complicated, it results in a puzzle(mystery) icon.   I did a couple around here they called 'muzzligo' -- they were a combination of a puzzle, a multi, and a Wherigo.

 

[Magnetic keyholders]

No question, it is a MICRO

[Another souvenir - June solstice....]

On 6/13/2023 at 12:27 PM, fuzziebear3 said:

So as I try to dole out my caches one at a time so I can get 20 days for the wheel, now I need to find 21 in just that week for a different souvenir.  Ugg.  These two goals are at odds with each other for me.  And like some of the others, 21 at a time is difficult.   I'm really starting to think there are just too many promotions and souvenirs going on.

 

 

I have managed to overcome my dilemma a bit --  I did an adventure lab yesterday, and 2 today.  One more lab tomorrow and I should be set for my 21 this week and still on track for my 20 days in June.  Labs feel like a 5 for the price of 1 deal to me.

 

[Another souvenir - June solstice....]

So as I try to dole out my caches one at a time so I can get 20 days for the wheel, now I need to find 21 in just that week for a different souvenir.  Ugg.  These two goals are at odds with each other for me.  And like some of the others, 21 at a time is difficult.   I'm really starting to think there are just too many promotions and souvenirs going on.

 

[Rule Changes]

I've also done one, called worlds shortest multi, where the hint said upper right side of post.  That one told you same coordinates, bottom back of post.

 

[Rule Changes]

I found one where the beginning and the final were at the same coordinates.  The beginning was 'obvious', and most cachers would find it first.  Then you found several intermediate, and it led back to the beginning location.   Hmmm!!!   Then looking a little more carefully, the final was also there, just a bit more difficult to find.

 

[Its time for a cache rating system]

On 5/16/2023 at 1:17 PM, niraD said:

I find your emphasis on parking interesting, mainly because I've seen complaints about the lack of parking for caches along a roadside multi-use trail. Those complaining were upset that there was no safe parking at the cache site, that they weren't P&G caches. Which was true, because there was no stopping or parking allowed on the 2-lane road. But the multi-use trail next to the road provided a nice walk (or jog, or bike ride, or whatever) from multiple safe parking locations.

 

If it is on a bike path or such, and there is a trailhead, that is good parking.   If it is on a roadside bridge guardrail on a country road, that is not good parking.  I don't want to worry while I am searching that my parking is in the way or illegal.

 

[Emojis in cache names]

I think GSAK would be able to do this for you, there might be a macro for it

[Its time for a cache rating system]

To me, they are 'favorite points', not 'recommendation points'.   I give favorite points to caches that I liked and found to be a favorite, which may or may not recommend them to someone else.  I give them very sparingly, and if something annoys me along the way, it is likely that you will lose any chance at a favorite.  For example, a decent cache, but no safe parking.

 

In general, my favorites require:  Good parking; good coordinates; a nice path to get there, probably a small hike; a clean container big enough to hold a travel bug.  Also, a nice cache page is great, a helpful hint if needed, a view is always an added bonus.   Pretty much roadside micro p&g's are out of luck.

 

Yep, that's my preference, and the way I play.  Those are my favorites.

 

[PQs download errors....]

When you mark a cache as found in your garmin, it stays there.  So those that you have found might just be still in the device.

 

There are filters on your garmin, so maybe you have them set as well?

 

You could open the file on your computer (GPX is really just a comma separated text file) and see if it actually includes what you want?  That would eliminate the device from the troubleshooting.