JL_HSTRE

"Dangerous Area" can mean something as simple as the cache is alongside a busy highway. Danger does not disqualify a cache (I love to refer to the hetavirus-infected abandoned nuclear plant cache in Maryland) but dangers should be explicitly spelled out in the description, Difficulty/Terrain ratings should be appropriate, permission really should be sought, and you should really make things clear with the Reviewer. That said, if you have a cache placement idea that is dangerous you should stop and ask yourself "Why am I placing this cache in this specific spot?" As insane as I think the aforementioned Maryland 10/10 nuclear cache is, it is a very unusual location with merits to visiting. Likewise, a rock climbing cache presents a difficult but reasonable challenge that may also include a great scenic view. On the other hand, placing a cache at the end of a gun or archery range would probably always be an unnecessary risk. If you felt the range was worth bringing to the attention of others it surely be placed elsewhere in a safer location that would still accomplish the goal of bringing people to the location with risking them being shot.

I think the OP handled it pretty diplomatically and I pretty much agree with their feelings on the matter.

You could always appeal to Groundspeak if you were really dead-set on getting your playground cache approved. But really if the Reviewers reject your cache, while sometimes it may be a misunderstanding on the details, I think most of the time you really should stop and ask yourself "should I really put a cache here?" Because often times the answer is NO even if it's technically allowed by the Guidelines. (And I'm not even talking about the "lame caches" debate - I'm talking muggle/security/safety issues.)

When describing geocaching to those unfamiliar I keep using the "GPS scavenger hunt" explanation, with a pretty high rate of success. Most everyone knows what a GPS is and most everyone knows what a scavenger hunt is so putting the two together is grokkable. (Describing it that way even encompasses Waymarking and benchmark hunting too.) Stash has too many drug connotations. Me either. one look at the swag of an average geocache could hardly call it treasure[unless you're into broken happy meal toys] Also might give people the mistaken impression that caches are buried and/or that the caches are taken by finders.

My best suggestion to any cacher, but especially those getting geo-burnout is to skip the caches you don't think you'll like. Bored by P&Gs, LPCs, GRIMs, easy ammo cans in the woods, whatever? Skip 'em.

That's becoming popular with some people in my area, though mostly for generic trackables (ex: the Geico Geckos, the WWFM VIII coins). I seem to be in a minority that I only want to discover what I've actually discovered.

Went to a flash mob geo-event yesterday. It was basically a micro-event: hang out for a bit meeting other cachers, raffle off a special geo-coin, give coordinates for a few other geocoins hidden the park for some cachers to hunt (I got one), toss around some sports balls, take a group photo, and move on. Not a "true" flash mob I suppose (we didn't hold up signs for 15 minutes or search for caches or dance) but it was amusing. I was glad one was fairly close to me; I stopped for some caches before and after. Silly geo-fun.

Difficulty of 1 = in plain sight. It doesn't get much easier than that. Perhaps the hides should've been rated higher and/or what classifies as an "easy cache" in Paris is harder than an "easy cache" in the US?

Hide it on the roof so climbing gear is required, but don't mention it on the cache page. Adds to the difficulty and will be totally inconspicuous if anyone figures it out and attempts retrieval.

Congrats on one year of caching. Best wishes for your second year, your goals, and your college time. I think sharp Geosense takes some time for most of us, especially depending on what kinds of hides are found. I think some hides simply no amount of Geosense will help; it's just a long careful search. Don't be discouraged by the DNFs. I, for one, appreciate you being diligent about logging them which many are not. If you're doing alot of caching by yourself and searching for higher difficulty caches (especially early in your caching 'career') then you will have more DNFs than those who often cache with others or search mostly easier caches like LPCs, GRIMs, and ammo cans. Thanks for not abandoning your caches. I see nothing wrong with leaving one behind if you can trust someone(s) to check on it when you've moved.

I don't see a problem with mentioning the not-the-cache sprinkler in the log, especially if you feel it might be a cacher-causing-damage issue. If you're in doubt about a possible spoiler comment in your log asking the CO is a safe bet. As for notifying the property owner you spotted a busted sprinker: I must admit I would not have thought to do that. I've seen so many malfunctioning sprinklers at a variety of locations unrelated to geocaching and long pre-dating me being a geocacher that I assume sprinklers are periodically checked by the appropriate maintenance people. Which is not to say this is the correct course of action, merely a habit. I've seen them broken so often I figure it should be expected by anyone with sprinklers. If you do report it (without mentioning geocaching, as you suggested) hopefully the owners appreciate it.

I got involved in a brief exchange of emails not long ago after I left a log critical of a cacher who FTF'd a tribute cache for someone else. (FWIW, positions were explained, logs were edited, and I think everyone left on peaceful terms in the end.) There aren't rules of FTF so you can't break them, but I would think the etiquette of Tribute Caches would seem pretty clear (much like everyone knows the birthday boy/girl gets first choice of slice in the birthday cake). But as there are clearly some cachers who don't realize this etiquette or willfully ignore it IMO a Tribute Cache is the one instance where it is fair to give coordinates early to someone to ensure they are FTF.

I thought there was something in the guidelines regarding playgrounds, but it seems like only schools are mentioned. Other than not being on/in the playground itself, is there any required/recommended distance away from non-school playgrounds for cache placements?

There are people who find geocaches without the use of a GPS using a combination of Google Sat Maps, geosense, and the description/hints. I've even found a few caches that way. (It certainly works better for urban hides.) I consider Google Sat Maps a very useful too to narrow down my search and assist in navigating to GZ via trails and clearings rather than bushwacking.

Tried uninstalling then reinstalling?

The power trail itself doesn't interest me from a finding caches standpoint, but I am curious to know what was worked out with the NDOT/etc to resolve issues/difficulties that got the original ET Highway shut down.

Only animal to attack me besides mosquitoes is one tick bite and three wasp stings (on two different occasions). Seen some snakes in my geocaching (and pre-geocaching hiking & kayaking) but the only poisonous one was a water moccasin that swam across the river close to my kayak. Somehow I have yet to see a rattlesnake in the wild; I'm sure it will happen one day and I hope it's a safe meeting. I've see plenty of gators kayaking, but nearly all of them didn't have the slightest interest in moving. None ever seemed aggressive toward me, though one did leap into the water (as much as a gator can leap with those short legs) after a friend's paddle smacked the water a few times (fortunately, from 50+ feet way). Spotted feral pigs on a few occasions but they always ran away. There's a Florida geocacher named Kleetus who got charged by a gator on Juniper Run in Ocala National Forest; there's now a cache near the site now. He keeps an inventory on his profile: http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=21681843-ac47-46f5-8de1-94cb3a7d97a0

Require some kind tool to open the container and put the container where a watercraft would be required to reach it.

Seconded. Thinking of all sorts of usefulness with this feature in conjunction with Bookmarks + PQs.

1) Pretty sure Jeremy has promised to always allow free access to basic features i.e. Finding caches. 2) PM don't necessarily hide "better" caches, even depending on how you define "better". For example, I'm pretty sure there's a very big overlap between Premium Members and cachers who like Power Trails. 3) I know at least one very good cacher who contributes in many ways to geocaching and has done so for years. He has chosen to no longer be a PM. 4) I don't think we're anywhere near a point where we need new user crowd control. 5) I started as a regular member for 5 months. I have several friends who cache pretty casually (100/year or less) that aren't PMs. 6) Some non-PMs still financially support Groundspeak via purchasing the official iPhone/Droid apps or buying from the Groundspeak store. 7) I have seen 'fly-by-night newbies' who sign up, find a few caches, hide some bad caches they don't maintain, and disappear after dropping money on a premium membership. Might be good for Groundspeak's bottom line, but sure didn't prevent geo-junk.

With the seemingly wide variation in this, I would recommend breaking it up into several smaller caches (some of which may be Multis) then having a Bonus Cache that can be found only by finding all the other caches.

Write the kind of logs you'd like to read and set an example for others. You could try sending a polite message to TFTCers, but your results will vary (enlightenment, indifference, hate).

From the Guidelines on Inappropriate Caches: "Cache is problematic due to its proximity to a public structure including and not limited to highway bridges, dams, government buildings, military bases, schools, hospitals, airports and other such locations." I've seen caches published near or on bridges and heard of caches underneath overpasses. Is there any clearer definition of when a cache on/near an active road bridge is considered unpublishable solely because of the location?

If the cache is not Small, Regular, or Large then assume it's log-only.

Thanks for another Hotfix. I like the new way of distinguishing PMO caches with circles instead of squares much better than the gold icons. Also much thanks for making Personalization on by default.