8 Feet

Erik, Thanks for the response. I noticed the team that planted this cache had been asking the same question, but no one was answering it. I've been in touch with the team that planted the cache that started this thread. They placed an item (which makes it physical) designed to blend in with the surroundings in an area that other solutions seemingly would not fit. I think that for the finders, it will be a surprise as, because of the surroundings, you just wouldn't expect that something could be hidden there. I'm sure it is tough being an admin (a discussion you and I had when you were not approving one of my caches ) but this just didn't seem worthy of all the discussion it was getting (unique hide, in an area without many caches, listed as a 'surprise/hidden', that only was lacking a physical logbook). Thanks for taking the time to provide some admin insight.

Well, now the initial hub-bub has died down, I went back and reread the cache guidelines. It says (and I quote) "A physical (traditional) cache is a container that, at a bare minumum, contains a logbook. In addition, objects for trade can be put in a cache." Now in the original post it said this was a "Hidden/Surprise" cache since it wasn't quite traditional and not quite virtual. Is there an unwritten rule that they must have a log as well? What do people expect to find when they seek a 'Hidden/Surprise' cache?

Hey, would that engine that "rocks" be a search engine thats development was funded by charter members dues (that are paid by teams who are trying to better the sport) like the team that started the thread? I doubt you'll see a charter member team "... trying to get away with anything they can." Perhaps you could use that search engine to find caches with logbooks and I could use it to find caches without logbooks and we could both geocache in harmony. [This message was edited by 8 Feet on March 28, 2003 at 01:41 PM. [This message was edited by 8 Feet on March 28, 2003 at 01:42 PM.]

So, whats to stop someone from throwing down an old sneaker with a log book in it and calling it a cache? The answer is the geocachers that place the caches. And, while we don't know the specifics of this cache container, I'm doubtful that the item you must find for this cache is an old piece of trash. So we have a cache, placed in an area that has very few caches, that follows a precident set by many other similar caches. I fail to see why this cache isn't online yet. And what is so special about the logbook? If that is really the crux of this situation, then what about logbooks that nothing more than a scrap of paper? Should those be approved? There is a cache I once did that was called the "25 cent cache". The container was a capsule from a gumball machine with a scrap of paper in it. As I reached for the cache container, I couldn't believe that the cache got approved. (It turns out that the description doesn't let on what the container is, so I know how it got approved.) I just looked up that cache, and it has 74 finds on it. I'm sure each of those 74 teams had fun finding that cache. Out here in the southwest, hides can be tricky. We don't have all the lush vegitation in our parks to hide stuff in and around. We do have plants in our parks, which are constantly landscaped to keep them looking good. (When you only have a few plants, you notice when they need trimming). I doubt that all the hiding possibilities that are available to you are available to everyone. I'm sure they aren't available to me in Arizona. [This message was edited by 8 Feet on March 27, 2003 at 09:01 PM.]

Our team has done plenty of these kinds of caches before. One was a scrap of paper tucked in a stick in the crotch of a tree. There is a whole series of them that are in small capsules the size of a tylenol capsule. I could go on and on, but the point I'm making is that we enjoyed each and every one of them. I'm not sure who got the idea that this should suddenly be controversial, or why. The only reason I could see for not approving this is that the area is already saturated with caches and they really don't want to approve one more, but if that is the case, they should say that. People in the area of the proposed cache would probably be grateful for another fun cache in what sounds like a nice location. Are the many caches near to the proposed cache site? Approve the cache, pick up your GPS and go outside. The cache you approve today may be the cache you have fun finding tomorrow! [This message was edited by 8 Feet on March 27, 2003 at 08:52 PM.]