Ecylram
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Posts posted by Ecylram
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We have replaced few logs and have gotten thanked by the CO's.
It's a way for us to pay it forward since we haven't started placing caches yet. While it helps out the CO, it also helps out other cachers who don't have deal with wet or full logs.
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Make sure the pill bottles are under cover and do not place them where the bottle will be upside down (the lid catches the water).
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I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one.
About once a week I see my count go down by one. Last time it happened was two days ago. As best as I can tell, no log files are being deleted when the count drops. I do get a notice when a log is deleted, but that isn't happening when the count drops.
It's frustrating because I don't trust the current count and I'm really not sure when I'm hitting milestones.
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I've forgotten my pen more than once. I go back and get it. One time I drove to the store and bought one so I could sign the cache.
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2212 in a 10 mile radius.
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I'm just wondering what is the proper use of needs archived vs needs maintenance? This is the cache I would like someone to check on, but I don't want to do the wrong thing - cache
You've gotten some really good advice, here's my take:
We've been caching for only two months now, but have accumulated a fair amount of caches in that time. During that time We've tried to do the right thing and be a good geocaching 'citizen (replace baggies, post condition notes, replace caches carefully, etc.).
Based on the little experience we accumulated, I'm considering recommending to newbies (everybody?) that they not post "Needs Archive" messages. Cache owners do not take kindly to "Needs Archive" messages, they don't tend to trust NA's from newbies, and there's a good chance the newbie is wrong.
Here's a recent experience (leaving out details to protect the anonymity of the CO):
We failed to find a cache that was a 1.5 star difficulty cache with a 1.5 star terrain rating. This isn't the first time we haven't found a cache so we checked the logs for clues...
Over a period of multiple seasons this cache was found dozens of times with only one DNF. Then last fall it started accumulating many, many DNF's and even had a Needs Maintenance request posted (from a respected local cacher) without any posted response from the cache owner. The cache that used to be found several times a month, hadn't had a successful find in 11 months. So we posted a "Needs Archive" as the "Needs Maintenance" log had been posted by another cacher many months earlier. We quickly got an angry message from the cache owner who deleted our NA & DNF posts.
We plan on sticking with this hobby and participating in area events. We are not interested in making enemies and ticking off cache owners who took the time to place the caches we log. I'd rather meet these CO's at an event and be able shake their hands and thank them for their effort without them thinking I and/or my wife are jerks.
So my advice if you're going to stick with this hobby: post notes, DNF's and the occasional 'Needs Maintenance' when there is a problem...but avoid the 'Needs Archive'. It's not worth it.
Having said that, I probably won't take my own advice and do it again.
What can I say, I'm a slow learner. -
Basically, I don't like any location where my searching is going to make someone else uncomfortable.
Well said.
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Hello,
We would like to 'sponsor' a cache or two as a scout project. We have actually selected the sites and gotten permission....our problem is we do not have a 'fancy' enough GPS to figure out the location. We need them in these two locations as it ties into another project. Would be willing to pay someone or trade for it....
Please contact me at im4524@aol.com if you can help us out..or give another suggestion....
Thanks!!!
Can you provide a rough idea of the location for these caches so readers will know if they are in the area or not?
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There are 'bad' locations and there are locations that I don't like (perfectly legit, but just aren't my 'cup of tea').
Bad Locations That I've Seen
Super simple caches (LPC, etc.) with extremely high levels of muggle traffic. Give me a chance to grab the cache without risking your cache getting muggled or called in to the police. Alternatively, if I got to grab it at 3am, at least make it worth my while with a interesting cache.
In the bushes that are bordering a public children's pool.
On Elementary School property, not far from a classroom.
In front of the window (a couple of feet away) and drive-thru of a 24hr fast food joint.
Locations I Don't Like
Ceder/Juniper bushes or similar. (HATE these)
On the property of a private home.
On church property.
Needle in a Haystack (rock in a field of rocks, etc.).
Magnetics on a business's electrical equipment.
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I suppose you could do a Travel bug version of your idea.
But I wouldn't grab something that requires me to return to cache. From the perspective of a cache owner I suspect it would have a high disappearance rate.
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We also decided that we'd take every opportunity to drag friends along on our trips!
we're VERY new to this (just 3 finds so far and my wife is already mad at me 'cos I found the 3rd one without her!)
Looking forward to many adventures to come!
I'd suggest being somewhat selective when taking a muggle with you. Pardon to those who've heard this story before...
I took a muggle friend of mine out for a couple of hours of caching. First stop was a hide in a stump along a scenic canal. Close to the GZ, he steps over to a couple of elderly gentleman sitting on a bench to talk about their dog. During his coversation he YELLS over "Did you find it yet?!?"
A little later, we drive into a gas station where the lamp post hide was placed near a busy intersection and at the entrance to the gas station. There is a number of muggles stopped at the light and at gas station where we are in full view. It's bad time of day to grab this cache. I tell him (he's driving) that we'll pass on this one and move on. He jumps out of the car runs over to the lamp post skirt, lifts it up to see what is there, and then runs back to the car. I got to watch a driver 15 feet away, stopped at the light, watch this whole thing unfold. He was so engrossed that he didn't notice the light change.
Some people just don't understand the concept of being discreet.
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Nonsense. Everyone knows that one of the qualifications for being a reviewer is to lack a sense of humor.
I submit that the only thing that would drive a person to become a reviewer would be a sense of humor.
I suspect that sense of humor is quickly lost as they start digging through NA's and new caches requests from people who didn't read the guidelines.
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I an new to this and have about 5 caches readto to hide this friday.
I read that you cant BURY a cache underground, but is it ok to have it half burried as in under a rock?
Under a rock, isn't buried.
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Er...
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How big a rock are we talking?
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Here is the quote from the reviewer note on the cache:
IowaAdmin: "Since this is a the same location as your previous cache, you should request that the previous cache be reactivated, since there is no reason to start a new cache here other than to whip up a first-to-find frenzy"
and the other cache:
IowaAdmin: "Same story as your other cache -- no reason for this to be a new cache because it's not a new location."
I really don't care if any of you believe that there is more to this. That is it. My friend is not hiding anything. There is no more to it. I know the location, I know the hider he is a very close friend and I telling you there is no more to this...this is the only message that has been exchanged between the reviewer and the cacher.
@knowschad, this is not one of the people you are probably thinking of.
StaticTank
Ummm what the cache reviewer said there has little to do with a "cache frenzy"
Thanks for finally posting the rest of the story.
Agreed. Sounds like the reviewer was doing their job by trying to keep the original caches active.
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Caches are not allowed to be buried, which is defined in the guidelines as using "a shovel, trowel or other "pointy" object [...] to dig, whether in order to hide or to find the cache". However, caches can be covered with leaves, loose dirt, gravel, or other natural camouflage, and this is not considered being buried. And I have found a number of caches hidden "below grade" in various ways, using existing holes, hollow trees, structures, and other terrain features.
I can't say whether hiding a cache in an old well would be appropriate, or if permission would be granted for such a hide, but it does seem a bit much for a cache that's listed as 1.5 stars in difficulty.
I'd be hard pressed to believe a 1.5 difficulty would be down a well. I'm guessing it's something else close. For example, I recall seeing a reference to cache where the hide was above a wishing well.
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Over here I know of several "sock puppet accounts" used to set some long series of caches - but let's just call them "alternative accounts", to avoid further controversy and misunderstandings.
I'm told that one of the reasons for doing this is to simplify maintenance for a long series: All the logs for the series go to a separate, completely different email address where they can be checked from one folder. Issues are noted, Needs Maintenance are noted, without having to sift through loads of other logs coming in from caches elsewhere.
I don't know if our reviewers know who's behind all the alternative accounts but I suspect they know most of them.
MrsB
Yes, there are some around here as well. In a way, I think they are kind of fun to be honest. There's a group of cachers for example, who have created a sock account for their group and the local cachers have fun guessing who the cachers are in the group, and the hides are quality and fun, including some puzzles that are really interesting.
To me, that's a positive example of a sock account being used to hide caches. I have a feeling the reviewers must know about it since the group has so many hides.
I would bet they do.
It does sound like a fun twist to the game.
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Micro aluminum pill bottle caches, small caches, caches inside magnetic bolts, caches inside bolts mounted to sign posts, small tiny vials in holes, hidden tobacco cans with magnets, waterproof match containers, the blank outlet box cover trick, Im getting just downright evil with some of my placements.
Am I nuts?
I just feel like giving back to the sport in appreciation for my new obsession.
Yeah...but why don't you focus more on quality...like something that can fit trade items and travelers. I don't usually say so, but goin hog wild with micros is the ruination of the game. Thanks for the help. I just love it when I visit an area abd I can't find a regular Ccahe within 2 moles of where I am. My mom was visiting from TN and I couldn't even take her when we went to visit her mom, bacause all there were was Micros. Great Job.
I plan to change my first geocache to a giant cache, a 5 gallon bucket! loaded with goodies.
Put a can of beans and a book in there
That would be a nice homage to the original. Has anybody made a container that looked like a can of beans?
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Today I was on the search site within 2 hours after the cache was published.
Quickly found, no log on the iPhone, I was on the way to register my first FTF.
The log showed, however, that one (actually two, together) GC found the cache a few minutes before I came.
I usually take a picture of the neighboring and quickly log the find thanks to the iPhone.
But I was wondering,
- should I log (saying explicitly I was not the 1st), the log being the 1st one in the list?
- or should I wait for the FTF to log first?
What is the rule regarding this, and, more precisely, how works the "FTF" counter assignment?
Who does that? Or is it automatic?
If it's convenient we'll try for a FTF, but it really doesn't matter to me if we don't get it or if the STF posts a message first.
- should I log (saying explicitly I was not the 1st), the log being the 1st one in the list?
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What does your gut tell you?
(that is a serious question. I think you already know what the rating should be. Obviously, you know that Clayjar's suggestion is wrong. Obviously, you know that you are taller than many that will be going after the cache. I want to know what you think the rating should be)
I rated it a 1/1.5. However, I thought there had been some talk that if a lader was needed, that could be considered 'special equipment'. It would seem rediculouse to make this a 5 terrain though, especialy when close to 1/2 of cachers could just reach up and grab it.
Height is only factored against terrain [for me] if I have to to climb, or hang on something to reach it. Then I factor it in. But If it's within reach for an 'average' person, I'd just slap a generic 1.5 on it.
How tall is the average geocacher. Presuming they are a random sample of people, most would have trouble reaching it. Anyway, unless someone presents a good argument otherwise, I am planning to leve it at 1.5.
Sounds about right. That's what I see around here.
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Wow. Great post. Brings up so many issues.
If the cacher knew it was private property, what the heck was he doing.
How did the reviewer let this one get buy? I think that the reviewers are supposed to check for property issues using government maps etc. Did the cache owner lie to the reviewer, claiming to have permissions?
etc. etc.
Anyway, thank you for being so understanding.
reviewers can't possibly identify all the private properties
its easy when they are marked on the maps, like parks and conservation areas, but there are trail systems here that are on private property but the owner of the land is allowing the trails to stay
most times in such cases as a CO you can't even begin to try finding the property owner to ask for permission
I'll second those comments. In some areas in the west BLM land can be checkerboarded with private property. A hiker could cross private property many times and not know it.
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You don't know when you are being hosed. We have hundreds of accounts and post at will and you don't know if you're being hosed or not. It's funny. Is that landowner for real or is he a sock? Don't know so we better be nice. Is that mall guard for real? Could be. Maybe not. HA HA HA
is he a sock because he doesnt use capital letters?
Is he real because he does use capital letters?
he cant spill so he looks like a stubid nube. hmmmm,,,,,, and he uses a lot of commas...... or periods. is this guy a sock? Or is he just an intelligent noob who is just asking honest questions?
It's funny because the mods will delete this post but they cannot stop us. HA HA HA
Yawn.
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We bought the Premier Membership so that we could get email notifications when new caches are listed. We have not received any emails even though we have seen NEW cache come up???? I've tried to look at our profile and see if set something up wrong, but I'm not seeing it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
You need to setup the notificiations. You can find the instructions at the bottom of this page.
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I leave the DNF and log the find separately.
There's no shame in having a DNF and the later find gives other cachers 'hope'.
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I am working on a very special geocache series that will go along with some guerrilla art that Ive done around my city. It has been very well recieved and even made the local news once but it is completely anonymous. Im hoping to keep that anonymity up especially with my caching friends but If they see it as a cahce by me then I will be linked to it. So is it EVER okay to have a sock puppet account (for example if your local reviewer knows its you) or wilI have to give up the idea or give up my identity?
I'm guessing that by "guerrilla art" you're referring to unauthorized graffiti. It's possible the local reviewer might have concerns about linking geocaching with an illegal activity. Maybe, maybe not. If authorized art, that could be an interesting series.
What can I say, I'm a slow learner.
what kind of puzzle is this?
in General geocaching topics
Posted · Edited by Ecylram
Braille