[Motivation for "stealing" caches?]

Somewhat new to this but recently there have been a few area's that have been hit hard by someone going through and removing caches. I have been wondering what ones most likely motivation is to do this?

I think of three basic options.

1. Could it be an "extreme environmentalist" who thinks we are destroying the enviroment?

2. Some idiot who is actually stealing them for whatever their value might be (hardly seems worth it)

3. Some idiot who is just doing it to be an idiot.

any suggestions from those who have been geocaching for a while?

thanks

 

In a perfect world, the caches are clearly marked and well hidden. Contents are sealed and dry in a waterproof container. Cachers are directed to places of interest and maybe get to help out by the CITO decree.

 

In the real world that just isn't so, we've all seen it. Cache maintenance is a must and I wonder why many more losses don't occur because of the trash some people put out as caches. Yea, we've all seen it.

 

I suspect some non-cacher witnesses cachers and then go to inspect what the "Draw" to this particuliar spot is. Finds the "trash" in their words and hauls it off. A "wet soggy log in a film cannister" as a micro pretty much describes that situation. Of course there are other examples of poorly sealed containers holding rusty and melted goods that have never had a Official GeoCache label applied with the contact information that would help dispell the non-cachers mind with a simple phone call.

 

I do see a lot of the mentioned trash in my area and wonder why many of the Cachers don't do a better job of following the guidelines on bothsides of the game. I do report some for archiving especially if they go missing for over a month and or, a lot of damage is being done in the area.

 

I do enjoy the sport and love the outdoors. We had many good caches in a local forrest here removed because of the governor signing a ban on such activity. One or two bad examples doomed them all I'm afraid.

 

Whatever the reason, following the guidelines on both sides of the game might help improve the losses some, I think.

[How did you serve?]

21 years in the Navy, BoatsunMate Senior Chief & First Class Salvage Diver

Wife 20 years in the Air Force.

[Physically Removing Archived Caches]

It's all the hypothetical scenarios that prevent a set of guidelines that will work in all situations. Each cache is different and will require evaluation to determine the correct steps required for removal, if it needs or should be removed at all. For this reason, I have identified my MINIMUM for dealing with archived caches.

 

One of the poster's was correct in that I live in near several military installations where over 3,000 families are transient members. There are also lots more that are in the Reserves which have also been called to duty. I would hate to remove a cache placed by one of the people that is still active. However, this is one of the reasons that I will place a note in the archived cache listing that the cache was physically removed and the log book is available.

 

At least in my searches, since these will be a series of caches by a single owner that I will be currently working when they become archived, I should have a decent understanding of why the cache was archived.

 

In this particular case, I know the cache owner is still active on GC, so a non-response will clearly indicate a lack of interest in these caches. I will further be able to evaluate that the owner has been active and on line since my attempts at contact further indicating a lack of interest.

 

Based on all the post, I feel confident that my minimum guidelines are adequate, provide reasonable time to hunters with old data, and provide sufficient accountability to the cache owner and GC.

 

Thanks to all the posters for you have shown the errors of my quick un-thought out actions and aided the formation a well thought out set of guidelines for possible removal of archived caches.

 

Kohldad's Cache Removal Guidelines

1. Wait a minimum of 12 weeks after cache is archived. This provides time for the owner to remove the cache plus any cacher with old coordinates still has a valid hunt.

2. Check to see if the cache container has been removed, leave note in log book (if present and useable).

3. Attempt to contact the cache owner at least twice with at least two weeks between attempts.

4. Attempt to determine if cache has been cross-listed on other sites.

5. Wait at least 2 weeks after last attempt before revisiting the cache.

6. Remove the cache if in same or worse condtion then when found in step 2.

7. Any trade items will be non-traded into next few caches visited

8. Add note in archived cache log indicating my actions of physically removing the cache

9. If log is salvagable, will store for at least 12 months.

 

Well now, the Charleston, SC Chief of GeoCache Police has been self-appointed.

 

When does the posse sign up begin?

 

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Sorry Not being on the BOD of Geo.com I just don't know any better. I would think it up to the powers that be to bring this decision about, as to who, what and when a cache gets "Officially" removed from it's hidding place. Afterall the Owner made an agreement/contract with them to maintain it, not us.

 

Also not being a dues paying member I might not be informed well enough to discuss this endeavor but IMHO I would think the person that wants to act on behalf of another (orgainization or person) would first gain their written permission at least for a chain of custody/events issues.

Without written permission, your just forcing your opinion of the subject matter, on others, in the name of the owner or orgainization in charge.

 

That's my half gallon o' gas money anyway...

[Jeep Featuring Geocaching at Boomsday!]

I was a Trail Guide there at Camp Jeep this year and they had lots of the same thing.

 

I'm sure the town and you will enjoy it. Garmin is also a big sponsor of Camp Jeep 07. Wish I could have done some caching myself ther.

[Explorist 500 Compass & GEO Caching]

I have never heard of that one. You'll often find that the suggested bearing jumps around a lot when you're very close (say 30 to 50 feet), but on my 500 the icon stays there until I cancel or replace the GOTO (at least I think it does...it's in my wife's car right now so I can't double-check). Does the compass pointer maintain the bearing despite the icon disappearing?

 

The only suggestion I can think of is to reload the firmware. Maybe somebody else will have some ideas.

 

I don't think it retains the compass heading either so as ReadyorNot is suggesting maybe he IS loading a route to the cache. Using the Magellan Sportrak Pro I don't have that problem.

 

Now that the wife has given me a Meridian Color unit and reading here I think it might be the Routing situation.

 

BTW, thanks for the replies, I do understand navigation well as I had lots of it in the Navy but this was before the explodsion of GPS. Makes life very easy as long as we have electrons!

 

I plan to work with him on this on a more personal level and try to understand his GPSr unit requirements and functions as compared to mine.

[Calling all Jeeps!]

Here's mine

 

4.5" RE Lift with 33" x 10.5 tires and Mickey Thompson rims.

Schrock guards and Warn bumpers front and rear.

Warn 8000i winch.

Best Top Sail Cloth top.

[Explorist 500 Compass & GEO Caching]

My friend has a 500 and he downloads the waypoints from here.

 

When he brings them up to use he normally uses the compass screen when he gets close to the hide. Here is where the problem occurs. When he gets about a hundred feet from the corrodinates the cache emblem outside the compass rose disappears.

 

Is he missing a setup step or something?

 

Thanks in advance, we're kinda new to this unit.

[New Jeep Tb's]

Got mine in the mail toady. See from the agreement we have two weeks from Aug. 1st to place them.

 

I wasn't aware that we could grab them first on the web, is that OK to do?