Trinity's Crew

So far, the only cache that I specifically targeted was in Pennsylvania about 100 miles away from my home coordinates. I drove a friend to Sinking Spring to buy a pellet stove that was on sale at 40% off from Lowes.It was the closest store that still had it in stock. Since I had to drive all the way up there, I looked at caches in the area and saw one that held a Jeep Travel Bug. I hadn't found one yet and was hopeful that this one was still in the cache. I was really happy to find it! I have not yet let it go. I will be placing my first cache in the next 2-3 weeks. I am saving it for that. I may wait until the FTF crowd blows through before putting it out there. I know it is likely to disappear soon afterwards. Edit:spelling (twice so far)

Well, I guess that billboard space I planned to "rent" with my spray can is out of the question. I agree with those who abhor the idea of defacing the landscape to spur cachers on to the next part of a cache. While there may be places that are already vandalized, it is wrong (and likely illegal) to perpetuate the problem. As for using existing graffiti as a hint/clue to solve the cache puzzle, what do you do if the grafitti is removed? Do you put it back so that your cache can be found?

(In my best Yoda voice) A disturbance in the force, I sense.

Why would you want to? Why would anyone want to call anyones cache lame or "bad" ?(hey that has a double meaning doesn't it? ) How about this? Just say "I didn't enjoy this cache because:" The area was dirty. Lamp post micros are not my favorite. The pedestrian traffic was too heavy. The surrounding area made me uncomfortable. Etc, etc... This would allow you to voice your opinion without attacking owner. It seems to me that people are trying to find sneaky ways to say "Your cache is lame" when no one has the right to make that judgement.

Logging that it took fifteen minutes to retrieve and 30 minutes to replace is perfectly acceptable. It is fairly reporting your experience for the cache. Relating that the placement makes it VERY difficult to retrieve without being caught is also completely reasonable. Reporting these things helps others decide whether it is worth pursuing. I have also seen examples of warning about potential dangers in an area when retrieving caches, such as "automobile traffic near cache may make it dangerous for small children" or "the cache is in a high crime area". Reporting these things is completely reasonable. However, when you express that it was foolish and not well thought out you have crossed a line in my opinion. You thought it was foolish, I may enjoy the challenge of trying to retrieve this without being caught. That may have been the cache owners intention as well. Perhaps it was completely thought out. People are talking about tact. You only need tact when you allow your subjectivity to color the tone of your cache logs.

Let me clarify by saying that I firmly believe in honestly assessing the cache. I'll be looking for feedback when I place my cache and if the coordinates are off or it leaks, gets plundered, is too visible, or the contents degrade to junk I certainly want to know. All of these things are frustrating for the cacher and easily remedied. However, I think we cross a line when we express an opinion as to how good or bad the cache or cache "experience" was. The key word here is OPINION. As has been said over and over in these forums, what you may hate, I may like, and vice versa. If you find the experience "lacking", it may be for a multitude of reasons that actually have nothing to do with the cache. Maybe you were just in a bad mood that day, or maybe you have found so many caches that it takes a real "show stopper" to make you enjoy the experience now. Reporting problems in the logs is appropriate and helpful. Writing insults in the logs is hurtful and mean-spirited. The only thing that is likely to do is cause people to stop geocaching. If that's the goal then have at it. After reading some of these threads I get the feeling that some people would like nothing better than to run a few people who "dont measure up" out of the game. I AM NOT attacking anyone specifically. I have read so much in the forums lately that it all runs together. Also, that's just an OPINION. If you think I am speaking about you and it upsets you then think about how someone may feel if you verbally trash their cache.

I have not yet hidden a cache, but I got an ammo box for my birthday, (I'm sure SOMEBODY is now groaning, "Oh, no not ANOTHER LAME AMMO BOX?!") so I hope to get one out there soon. I have to tell you that if I find a lot of rude comments in the logs (online or logbook) I would think twice before wasting my time placing another one for unappreciative, obnoxious cachers. Placing caches is what allows this sport/game/hobby to continue. Being rude to cache placers who are allowing you to continue playing is unfathomable to me. DPM? The dead clams? Who came up with that? How could anyone think logging this is acceptable behavior? If the practice of ridiculing others for "lame" caches catches on, it won't be too long before people stop playing this game.

You don't need another cacher. Take it with you to the microcache, "drop it off" and then pick it back up from the micro yourself. That way the bug gets the miles logged and you don't need to make arrangements to meet anyone. (unless you want to)

I sort of agree with the cache container, but a logbook? If The book is full, waterloogged, (maybe not a problem depending on what you're using) or missing, I would feel obligated to leave a new one, in case others found the cache before I was able to alert the owner. Almost everyone wants to sign the logbook. I said "sort of agree" about the container because I was out caching with another member of the "Crew" in the snow last week and he accidentally stepped on the container and cracked it! I felt terrible. If I had a container I would have replaced it, figuring that the contents would fare better until the owner could get out to the site. As it was, we put all of the contents into baggies, mentioned the cracked container in the online log. We emailed the owner with an apology, explaining that we had broken the container. We offered to replace it, but he graciously declined.

Thanks again to everyone for the input. All of this got me thinking... If TC states that most cachers trade and "trade-up" when taking a TB does that mean these same cachers take a nice, tradeable item from another cache and leave only a TB, feeling satisfied that they traded equitably? That seems absurd. Am I thinking too much?

Thanks for the info. I try to leave something in every cache I visit, whether I take anything or not. (Not counting micros! ) But the other day, I took two TBs from a cache in PA. I left other items behind, but they weren't a "trade-up". I still have to drop these two off, and I will NOT lose them for TEN months as I unfortunately did with the "Fitz & Giggles" TB. God, I feel bad about that! But on the bright side, finding it (in my basement) and putting it back in play jump-started my geocaching desire again.

What part is "not right"? It seems to say the proper thing to do is trade up for bugs. Am I missing something?

I just read in TC that you should "trade up" when removing a TB from a cache. This didn't even occur to me. I am not trading for the TB I am just moving it. Why would anyone think it necessary to trade up? Would you trade up based on the cost of the TB, or the thing attached to it, or both? Did I misunderstand the article? Were they talking about TBs that aren't activated yet? I would understand that. If I am honestly expected to trade equitably for an item that I have no intention of keeping, I guess I'll just stop moving TBs. EDIT: Okay, it was an old article...but I still disagree with it.

What he said!

Eloquently stated on both points!

This sounds good. The only drawback I see is that it would make it easy for plunderers to target caches with higher dollar values. As it is now, finding really valuable swag in a cache is usually hit or miss.

If everyone traded "up" it would eventually become too expensive to trade anything. (Took title and keys for Jaguar. Left deed to house.) I do try to trade up, but I am able to do this because some people don't. So... looked at from this perspective, I thank God some people leave cheap (but from my sons perspective, cool) trinkets in the caches. edited for spelling and emoticon

Well, we cached this week, after an 8" snowfall in the Baltimore area, and I have to say it adds a level of difficulty to the hunt. It also made me feel guilty because we left a traceable path to the cache area. A check on one log confirmed my fears because the next cacher said he felt like he was cheating because he followed our trail. Since many/most caches are off the beaten path by at least a couple of hundred feet, how do you manage to search without leaving evidence of your presence in the area?

At one of my first caches, while reading the logbook, I noticed someone had written, "Left one-hundred dollar bill." The subsequent entry a couple days later, said "Took one-hundred dollar bill, (Thanks!) left matchbox car." Now realistically, I don't believe there WAS a hundred-dollar bill, but if I ever find a big bill left in a cache, (Twenty dollars or higher) I certainly don't have the stuff to trade for it equitably, and I'm pretty sure that I would have a LOT of trouble leaving it in there for the next guy. Anyway... Here's to hoping that I face this dilemma soon!

To Mastifflover, I say Amen!

That's because you're not sofa king we todd did! I love that one too! I wrote that on a napkin to show it to a friend at a restaurant. My (then) 10 year old daughter read it over my shoulder. My friend didn't get it. Unfortunately, SHE got it. (So did I after my wife found out!)

LMAO!

So far, winter and early spring seem like the only time we DO cache. I love hiking on brisk, winter days. I don't love the ticks, mosquitoes, flys, heat, etc... that you have to deal with in the summer. I also love boating, and most of my summer free time is spent doing that. Also, living in Maryland (Baltimore) cuts down substantially on snow problems.

I'm not sure who's sig this is, but I busted a gut the first time I read it. "Give a man a match and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life." I could bounce around the forums until I find it, but that's too much like work

When I was carrying my Etrex in my shorts my wife did NOT say, "Is that a network of satellites in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?" It's GPS for me from now on!