DeRock & The Psychic Cacher

I second that suggestion to go to an event and meet some local cachers who might be able to go out with you and get you started. You're fortunate to have an active social caching community in your area, most of whom are very friendly. Here are a couple of local events in the Allendale area: 3rd Annual Christmas Lighting Flash Mob SW MiGO December Potluck Here is a link to the downstate area monthly (December) event (again some very friendly and helpful folks): December Monthly SE MiGO Meet and Greet And here is a link to find all the near future Michigan events: Geocaching in Michigan Good luck, Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

And I thought I was the only person to use that word! Well, I can see that I am in good company. Deane

Just wondering cause I ran across two the other day that are listed on GC.com but have no container at the end. Log them first and then report them! Deane

A cache owner can not lock a cache. A cache can only be locked and unlocked by a lackey (Groundspeak employee) or by a reviewer. Locationless caches are locked permanently. Try having your friend ask the local reviewer in the area where the locked cache is located in to unlock it for a brief time to allow for her to log it. Not guaranteed to work, but it might if she asks real real nice. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

You may not be aware yet of a new feedback feature here on geocaching.com. You can find the link to it on the left side of any non-forum page on the site. Yesterday a new idea was submitted concerning the permission requirements for EarthCaches. You may want to visit and express your opinion: Feedback link Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan Mi

Give it a try. Worst case it will be a $20,000,000.00 DNF, but it is all about the adventure anyway. I would love to read that DNF log! Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

Didn't see this coming! Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

Edited to reflect a kinder gentler attitude! If you aren't finding satisfaction to this situation in the forums then perhaps you should seek further resolution with the highly professional staff that await your email at contact@geocaching.com. Deane

I'll throw my two cents in here. Unless their is a major problem with the cache (ie. permission issues, LEO involvement, etc) I usually give the cache owner up to one week to respond. Then, if there isn't any response from the CO, I may take action. On a separate but related note: It helps to have other cachers first document the problems with a cache via a "Needs Maintenance" log or logs before dropping the "Needs Archive" bomb. Lately it seems like a lot of cachers are skipping the usual process and rushing right to the "Needs Archive" after just a few DNFs. Don't get me wrong, if a cache needs it the go for it. But do your research first (is the cache owner active, how many DNFs/notes, how many "Needs Maintenance" logs, etc). Deane -DeRock-

Gee, that sounds exactly like what his reviewer told him. Deane

No, it turns out that I was posting to the right thread. Deane

Is it me or does geocaching seem to have an over average percentage of drama queens? Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI Edit to add: I think I may have posted this to the wrong thread.

I've been working since 10 in the morning on cache review work and forum moderating tasks. I'm still not caught up. I would rather be out geocaching, but now it looks like that will have to wait until tomorrow. Please write to your own cache reviewer - that is why there are well over 100 of us. Your local reviewer knows the local placement rules and customs. Better yet, write to the owner of the new cache. If it's a puzzle cache, the posted coordinates are irrelevant and the actual cache can be up to 2 miles away. Better yet, solve and find the cache. good idea, thanks Funny how that Keystone guy always seems to hit the mark with his advice! Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

Hmmn? Wasn't the reviewer involved in hiding the trail? Although I haven't spoken to the reviewer in question, apparently not. It would be nice to hear in the public forum from all involved directly with hiding/publishing this series. Speculation and innuendo, unless that is the goal, doesn't become this series. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

I don't know about PO'ed but I certainly would be looking at the next power trail from this crew with a jaded eye. It's one thing to lose a cache or two to issues beyond your control. But to lose 100's is inexcusable. No matter what the cause it reeks of poor planning. Or maybe they were just designed to last a few weeks. From what I have heard we still haven't heard the real reason behind the mass archival. Don't know what it is but apparently the reasons speculated on so far are not correct. On the Muther and Son series in central Illinios - had a great time over 3 days grabbing many of these and a few more a month or so ago. Set a personal one day record for myself and my caching partners did too. Nothing earth shattering compared to anybody else. But I can say we had lots of fun. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI Edit to add a link to the profile of the cache hider of the central Illinois power trail series: MutherAndSon. Just check their bookmark lists for each series.

I would list it as a letterbox. Looks like it was changed to a multi at one time. Who knows what it was before that. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

You know lately I seem to be seeing a lot of folks logging a needs archive after others have logged 3 or 4 DNFs. Not that I am against anyone logging a needs archive, it is just that I would like to see a needs maintenance log first. Just seems like the logical progression. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

About half way through I was convinced it was karma coming to fruition. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

Slapping your sticker on the outside of the cache container or on the cover of the log book for no reason other than speed - cheesy! Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

Congratulations! Or perhaps I should be expressing my sympathy! Great going and a real accomplishment. I can only dream of numbers like that. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

Mods are privvy to the "inside info" I envy that! On second thought, in regards to the rest of what they have to deal with.... maybe not! That's one special Moderator all right! Glad that got cleared up. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

Well, it could be from another cache listing website. Or it could be from GC.com. We need coords to help you out. At least close ones or other caches around it and the approximate distance to the new one. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

A lot of folks would like to see this feature but .. the answer is no, you can't block a cache from being added to a bookmark list. Why don't you shake things up and move the clues around once in a while? Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI

That's kind of a sore point for me. That important tidbit of knowledge isn't contained in the current guidelines. I mentored a cacher developing a gaging station only to have him find out in a similar manor that there are some categories of EarthCaches that are not being accepted any more. A real bummer after he put in all that work. And a mild embarrassment for me that as a reviewer (regular not EarthCache) that I didn't know about it. So that's all I know (that I can tell). But thanks for adding to the list. Not that I am in favor of restricting them, just happy we know which ones are. You might consider asking a moderator to move this to the EarthCache forum where it will receive a lot more attention from those in the know. If there is a question about whether an EarthCache category is closed you should address you concerns/questions to your local EarthCache reviewer. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI Edit to add a link to the EarthCache.org site with the official guidelines

Grand Rapids, MI had an event at 4 a.m. awhile back and I was surprised at the turnout. Crazy what people will do for an event smiley! You might be surprised at how many will attend an event if you host one. With a once in a lifetime opportunity to get a find on the special new icon I suspect that many are looking to bag more than one find on them. Deane AKA: DeRock & the Psychic Cacher - Grattan MI