J the Goat

Oh no! It happens, although coupled with your multi-stage issues, it seems that the cache deities are testing you If you're not set on the name of the cache, maybe change it to "the unluckiest first cache ever" or "No cache for you.... Again!" Good luck, and in the meantime you could scout out a new location in case this one gets squashed.

Bahahahahahaha, I love this one! I did something similar-ish once. I had a cache that was logged as NM as the area had some changes. I didn't figure it had moved, but I was in the area so I went to check on it. DNF'd my own cache. The next day it was found by somebody else, right where I had left it. I felt silly, but as I hadn't logged anything on the site yet, I just cleared the flag and let it go....

To the OP: there's a very good chance that your reviewer won't read these forums. Send them an email through their profile directly to get in contact with them.

Maybe look at it this way. The paid app is 10$. You don't need to buy a membership to geocache, you can geocache forever without being a paid member. If you buy the app, geocache for one day, then forget about it, you and your family had a fun time and a new adventure for only 10 bucks! Where else can you try something new and spend an entire day doing it for 10 bucks? It's worth the cash, and I'm willing to be that if you enjoyed your crappy free app experience, you'll be around for longer than a day. Welcome!

Training pants? You must have started YOUNG! Pooey from me to you! I guess another name for them is 'Warm-up' They are some end-of-season sale of equipment from an English Permier League Football club. I usually don't wear them out caching for this very reason. A bit of tuition for the school of hard knocks - Don't wear good clothing when geocaching. Even reaching for that desireable magnetic key holder under a park bench could result in mud/grass staining your slacks while you take a break from a conference. We could probably create a separate thread here - name the clothing you have damaged/destroyed in the pursuit of a find. And it seems you did just that. Bravo I intended this to be a fun thread. I always enjoy a little chuckle at myself and my failures/mistakes/whatever, just figured others might too.

Good job! Congrats! Good luck with your cache.

There was a new cache published during the middle of the week when I'm off of work. Although not a FTF hound, I'll go look for a new cache if I have the time. I broke the cache. It was primarily because of the design of the cache, which was attached to the underside of the handrail with an earth-magnet. The magnet was glued on the outside of the container (half of a contact lense case) and the magnetic bond was stronger than the bond of the glue to the container. Pulled it right off. Luckily, the CO is very responsive and responsible and met me at GZ later in the day with a replacement container made and ready. But I broke a cache as the FTF. Huzzah.

We've all had good times caching. A memorable day, a record setting PT run, or finding the perfect spot for a perfect cache by accident. What about the other side of the coin? Lets share our failure days/puzzles/hides.... whatever. I'm really hoping this thread doesn't turn into any sort of negative attack thread, please lets just keep it to our own (or our groups) failure days, and lets keep it fun. Over the last several days, I've been planning a trip for today. Trying to figure out where to go, find somebody to go with me, figure out which caches, etc... I decided on Bodega Bay, CA. 15-20 caches planned, two of which are some of the oldest in California. My son and I were going to spend a special day at the ocean, caching, and just relaxing. That was before I was up all night with stuff flying out of both ends of me like I was Linda Blair. Very, very uncool. Your turn....

Buried is being placed under ground, a sprinkler head has the head at the surface and many containers are placed this way. That said, I've taken the top off probably a dozen sprinkler heads so far, and I've damaged none of them. All are very easily reassembed, push it back down and screw it back on. So far I've only found one sprinkler head cache hide. I'm considering buying a new sprinkler head to replace one of my existing ones that has the nice water mineral build up on it and placing it out there. The one thing about these is that they tend to be fairly muggle proof. Yes, but you have to put part of it underground. Buried. My suggestion? Buy a ammo can and put out a quality cache in a good spot.

Absolutely. See the above post about laziness/forgetfullness

I agree. I'd probably make it out there eventually once I got bored, or got a misplaced wild hair though. Well, maybe...

Then someone with Geocaching Experience should have advised the CO that they needed to be specific in the description as to what was going on. The fault I feel lies with the CO. Not if the FTFers entered a restricted area or didn't pay the required fee. Then it lies on them. Rebuttle?

Or you can bring a pen, some paper, and print out the cache page for the information and write it down as you get it. A= whatever B= whatever and so on. Plug the coordinates in to your tuperware finding device once you get them, and go get it.

Ya, you just got unlucky in your placements. A quick peek at the map indicates plenty of space in the area to place some new caches, so don't give up. Go find the multi in question, it's not that complicated once you go find the first stage. Have fun!

I think the problem with a rating system like that is NM flags aren't indicative at all of the hide or the CO. Owner forgets to remove flag after maintainence is done. Owner is sick, ill, out of town for an extended period of time and isn't able to perform simple cache maintainence. Owner doesn't know how to remove flag from page. These are just a few examples of instances where their rating would go down, but should any of these be reasons to lower their ratings? I think it's a good idea, or at least a good attempt to make caches better, but there are just too many variables to make it work. I think the NA log needs to be used more often. That will help accomplish what you're looking to do. Log a NM, wait a bit. If no maintainence is done, there are a few options. Another NM log, an email to the CO directly, or a NA log (if appropriate. If it's for a full log, you shouldn't even think about an NA log ) No reason here for people to get snappy. We've got somebody trying to come up with ideas to make caches better. The idea won't work, but we can be a bit more constructive in our responses. Just editing to note that the above statement might be more a reflection of my general mood this morning than the overall tone of this thread.

I disagree. Anyone can spend money. It doesn't mean they'll follow the rules or be better geocachers than anyone else. I agree with both statements. The pricetag will deter many folks who would join for a month, toss out a film can or two, get bored, and forget about it. Not all of them, but certainly a lot. Doesn't mean that only "good" geocachers will download it, but if somebody is paying 10 bucks for an app, I feel that they're more likely to stick around for a while. That's what I got out of it at least...

Yes, each stage of an existing multi will block you from placing your cache within 528 feet of that stage. If there are 4 stages, you have to avoid all 4, not just the final. If the park is that big and has a very small number of caches though, there is probably plenty of space, you just have to explore a bit more and find a good spot On a side note, why the trouble with the multi? If you find it, you'll know where all the stages are and will have an easier time avoiding them with your placement.

J the Goat, I subscribe to the school of thought that if a cacher didn't sign the cache log then the "successful" find didn't occur, but there are occasions where I will make an exception. It's not uncommon for geocachers in New England to cache in cold weather and experience ink freezes that preclude a written log. There are some that find it the absolute last thought to even bring a writing implement. Successful finds without a written signature may be inherently suspect, but logs that indicate a problem with a writing implement are less of a concern when they left a trade item or a trackable that offers some means of visit verification to corroborate the find. That's more clear, thanks. I read your first post as verifying swag was traded or something along those lines. I agree with the above statement completely

I'm technologically retarded, so in that instance I would just look at the maps and tentatively plan my route thst way.

Usually "Sometimes" or "If you're lucky" a geocaching.com cache would have its GCxxxxx code somewhere in it—on the log book; on the cache note; on the container; or all of them. It may be a cache from another site. Did it have a rubber stamp in it? Then it's a letterboxing cache. I'm terrible about putting identifying labels on my caches. In my experience, so are most other people. I really need to get better at it. Part of the problem though, is that a few of my caches were placed on the fly, so I didn't have the cache information on hand to put on the container. Other times I'm just lazy/forgetfull.

Yup. Getting to a cache and marking a set of coordinates seem to be different monsters with my iphone. I have an older model, but it will usually get me close on the rare occasion that I use it to cache. I've marked spots with it twice, and both times were really, really bad.

I'll use a PAF on occasion, but I'll only call the CO or whoever is the keeper of the cache (we have a pretty prolific hider near here who passed a few years ago, and while GS won't adopt his caches out, they are well maintained by one or two people) but I can't remember ever calling somebody other than that for a hint on a cache.

From what I understand, cache owners DO have the ability to delete photographs without deleting the finder's log. I'm not sure when this came into effect, it is pretty recent. B. It been a while now. I am sure there are some people that dont know its available now. Time for another newsletter idea? Maybe, but what are the odds that the sentence will start out as "Feel free to delete pictures from logs without deleting the entire log." :ph34r:

Cache contents have no bearing on a find or a DNF. If you deleted my log solely because of cache contents, I'd leave the log off the page but put all your caches on my ignore list and encourage my friends to do the same. Also, CO's now have the ability to delete a picture but not the entire log. It's not very widely known though, so that would be my guess.

I don't really like it, but there's nothing you can do to stop it. You can specifically ask on the cache page that no hints be given and leave the rest up to the honesty level of your local cachers, but depending on what that is, it may or may not make a difference. Often when hints are passed on, it's not intended to offend. The cachers may be friends and just visiting when it comes up, I've had that happen. Just put something in the description and hope for the best.