quote:Don't use the name of the park in the cache name. They will search for names. Use a waypoint outside of the park that you must find to get the coordinate of the actual cache or make stages to it. ...
... Let's hope they don't post a sign at the park entrance. "Check in your GPSR before entering"
If they're going to search for a name, then they'll probably look for a certain radius around the park using the park's coordinates. The tools that geocaching.com has to make it easier on us to find caches makes it easy for the rangers as well.
I'm not trying to pick on this poster, or anyone in particular, but I'm not sure that the message that I've quoted above (and others here and in the GEM forum as well) is the right message that we, as geocachers, want to send. This is not a case of "do you agree with me or don't you understand." The park services has rules that their workers believe they need to enforce. Making it harder for them to enforce the rules doesn't make it right for us to break the rules.
There are, however, ways around the rules. The "without permission" description of "abandoned" property gives us hope. With the permission of the park ranger/supervisor/DNR, we can legally place traditional geocaches. We just haven't got to the permission stage yet.
If you look closely at the announcement on the DNR page, the reference is to "geocaching" in general, but the part of the statement that quotes the rules only prohibits placing of traditional caches. So, if we're going to go to the extreme of placing multi-stage virtual/micro offset caches to culminate in a traditional cache within park boundaries, as has been suggested, why not make the final cache virtual as well? Or better yet, use the trail signs, historical markers, and other permanent, public facilities as a code-type of virtual cache. (If you're really into the toys and trinkets, the final coordinates could be to the gift shop - "took a polished rock and a bumper sticker, left an imprint of my Visa card" )
We need to continue the positive dialogue that many on this board have initiated. I think, IMHO, we need to limit the talk of how we're going to find ways around the rules in order to get our way. Otherwise, we may see signs in the future advising us to "leave your GPSR in your car."
My 2 cents...
-Craig from TeamCNJC
