Jump to content

SeekerOfTheWay

+Premium Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    1163

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by SeekerOfTheWay

    T5 rating that can be walked to

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I would not factor in ice walking into the terrain difficulty....I suppose I do not know your area, but I would be more afraid to walk across the ice to get a cache and almost any boat cache in your area would be under similar scenarios.

     

    We have a few boat caches in the Seattle area that are 4.5 or 5 terrain that can be walked to during really dry times or really really low tides. If the vast majority of the time the cache needs a boat, I would say leave it with the high rating.

     

    If one can find a low tide almost every other day or weeek and walk to it, lower it.

     

    Na, looks like can be walked to all year. I think it is a 4-5 mile hike. I'm going to email the ones who walked it.

    T5 rating that can be walked to

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by SeekerOfTheWay

     

    I was kidding about blocking the trail, or the beach. It would be hard to block an entire beach! Lol!

     

    "Palmetto" is the name of my local reviewer. I value her opinion so was shouting for her. Ha. I actually just emailed her and asked what she thought.

    Not filling a new cache with swag?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by SeekerOfTheWay

    Agreed about the appropriateness of container size. It is funny how threads go off on a tangent. Ha.

     

    This specific cache is on a beach, just off a nature trail. I think a regular sized container works well. Smaller than an ammo can, bigger than a PB jar.

     

    I'll report back with the feedback. I am assuming other will leave swag though. Then maybe it won't be an issue at all.

    Not filling a new cache with swag?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by SeekerOfTheWay

    The discussions are different topics. There is NO WAY I'm making this cache a micro. That wasn't my question, or even a thought I had. I hate micros, especially in a nice location that can support a regular sized cache.

     

    The question was, is it ok to leave a regular sized cache with no starter swag. That's all. T rating has not do do with that, as I would had left no swag on a T 1.5 too.

     

    Boat caches here in SW FL get visited as much, or more, than hiking caches. :)

     

    Just wanted to know if it was bad form.

    T5 rating that can be walked to

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    But with that said, let me shake things up a bit:

     

    You hide a cache that sits 6 inches below the surface of the water in the middle of a lake (Terrain=5, of course). During the winter, the lake freezes solid for about 4 months straight. a pick axe will get you to the cache in just a few minutes. What terrain rating do you give the cache? Given the risks of walking on a frozen lake, do you keep the terrain a 5?

    In that case the cache would not be available in the winter and would have to be disabled until which time it is accessible again.

     

    Yup. You still need special equipment to get the cache.

     

    Try it like this. You place a cache on an island. Come winter the lake freezes. One can now walk to the cache, no special equipment needed. How do you rate the cache?

    Thats a much better scenario to help mix things up a bit. In that case i would mark it as the higher terrain rating but make a note that the terrain may be much lower during the winter months.

     

    Maybe I'll do that for my cache.

    T5 rating that can be walked to

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

     

    But with that said, let me shake things up a bit:

     

    You hide a cache that sits 6 inches below the surface of the water in the middle of a lake (Terrain=5, of course). During the winter, the lake freezes solid for about 4 months straight. a pick axe will get you to the cache in just a few minutes. What terrain rating do you give the cache? Given the risks of walking on a frozen lake, do you keep the terrain a 5?

     

    Yup. You still need special equipment to get the cache.

     

    Try it like this. You place a cache on an island. Come winter the lake freezes. One can now walk to the cache, no special equipment needed. How do you rate the cache?

     

    That's an interesting one!

     

    Now I'm confused. I have other caches that I rated based on hiking to it. One person drove to it while the gates were open for hunting season.

     

    Should I lower that one to?

     

    My intention when placing is clear, I write on the cache page how I placed it, how long it took me, how many miles. I can't control how others decide to go for it...but my intention when placing is to show them something specific.

    T5 rating that can be walked to

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by SeekerOfTheWay

    Don't change it. If you do all previous finders will have their stats changed and lose a T5 that they may be depending on for a challenge.

     

    I disagree. The ratings should be an honest reflection on the difficulty of the hide/terrain. Someones challenge is irrelevant. If it was a difference of a 4.5 or a five no big deal but this looks like a 2 mile round trip on established trails. Unless there is an obstacle that isn't obvious I'd rate it a T3 tops.

     

    If you wanted a paddle cache you should have placed it on one of the islands.

     

    The islands are really mangroves so can't place a regular cache there. I want to specifically place on this beach.

     

    There's no established trails but like I said I will have to walk the whole thing myself to see how difficult.

     

    However, I intend it to be kayaked only. So, I'm still conflicted. It was placed to be a paddle cache.

     

    I wouldnt place it say on the nearby mangroves as a hanging micro just to ensure it can be rated a T5.

     

    But it doesn't require special equipment now either so....

    T5 rating that can be walked to

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted · Edited by SeekerOfTheWay

    Another question about a cache I just placed:

    http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ea39c33c-07ce-443d-b7c1-824005ab8a76

     

    I placed a cache that is a kayak/canoe or boat cache. Rated it T5 for that reason. I have taken a kayak and canoe to this state park a few times.

     

    Three people so far found this cache and the last two mentioned walking to it! I didn't even know you could! I think the walk must be pretty far, but I never did only kayak.

     

    Since I intended this to be a kayak/canoe cache, should I leave it as T5, boat required? I have a launch suggestion in the cache page itself.

     

    Or do I need to change the rating down from T5 because it can be accessed without a boat?

     

    Other caches that I have in a state forest, I list the parking as a waypoint and mention where the trailhead is that I used to place. Some follow that, but others take a shorter hike, which is fine but misses what I wanted to show them.

     

    Same with this cache. It was meant to get on The open water, and then the beach.

     

    Thoughts?

     

    If you could take a look at the map that would help too. How long is that walk?

    Not filling a new cache with swag?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    Ha, yeah. Every cache that I filled with swag degraded. There were a few good items but mostly crap.

     

    Do you CO always leave a FTF prize? I thought about that too, and I like getting a FTF once in a while but I don't take the FTF unless it's money.

     

    I was concerned paper bill would get wet as I am not sure how much this beach floods, and a coin would get rusty.

     

    So I didn't leave a FTF either.

    Not filling a new cache with swag?

    in General geocaching topics

    Posted

    I recently placed a new cache. It took me almost a month to get permission and permit. It's a clear lock and lock on a state park beach. Beautiful location. T5 cache, boat needed, the way it's intended.

     

    Anyway, I have 10 other caches, regular sized mostly ammo cans and peanut butter jars in parks. I have filled those with swag that I got from the dollar store in addition to some trinkets I had that I thought adults would like.

     

    As usual, the swag degraded and I clean those cahes out. I haven't taken or traded or left swag in over a year. I really don't like the swag part of the game. It gets to be trash and sometimes dirty.

     

    Back to my newest cache: I didn't leave a FTF prize nor did I put any swag in it. Just a clean log.

     

    So far 3 people found this cache. One of them mentioned that it was a new cache, and that there was no swag in it. I'm assuming they were disappointed. I left a note on the cache page explaining that I don't play the swag game, and that the prize is in the journey and the destination. I stated that hunters were welcome to leave and trade their own swag, as I know some like that.

     

    Is it considered rude to not fill a new, regular sized cache with swag? I want a good caching reputation locally. I'm not sure how big a deal swag is as a CO. The log kind of made me sad.

     

    Opinions?

    are topo maps necessary

    in GPS technology and devices

    Posted · Edited by SeekerOfTheWay

    Yes, Topo maps are useful. I have topo map on my Garmin. I also use Google Maps on my Android so I can get an overview of trails and terrain.

     

    The Tracks feature is probably the most useful feature on my Garmin Colorado. It's really easy to use, and I recommend learning it. When you want to return, you simply hit GO TO, Tracks. Then pull up the map and follow the black line back. Tracks is one reason to get the topo map.

     

    A topo map is useful because it shows canals and waterways, and other land features. I use it a lot.

     

    Following the compass out would be more difficult.

×
×
  • Create New...