6NoisyHikers

I'm very glad that we will have the ability to switch between Google and OSM. One thing I really like about Open Street and Open Cycle are the trail markings. They are very good in my area so I would hate to lose them. But I still use Google for more detail when I need it. Thanks for addressing this!

+1 It is not to judge the situation, and it is certainly not possible to rectify what has happened. Scouting out the potential issues only helps us to learn better next time.

So, to clarify: A special geocaching event was organized for April 6th, 2012 to celebrate a new section of parkland - open only to groups - that required registration and a fee to access. Parks staff placed several new caches and invited the geocaching public to attend. The caches were published then retracted on April 2nd, 2012. They were re-published on April 6th. There is no information on the cache pages that state that these caches are tied to an event or have any rules about when they can be accessed. There is also no information about the area being available only to groups, or that a fee is required. A group (pair, unit, gaggle?) of cachers attained the co-ordinates of the aforementioned caches and went on an FTF spree. They are said to know the area, and are acquainted with the rules of restricted access. There was event signage in the area. There was no "restricted access" signage in the area. Have I covered the facts so far? Please correct me if I've missed or misrepresented anything. The questions to be answered, then, are: Were the listings accidentally published early? Was there adequate information provided on the cache pages informing seekers of the event? Was there adequate signage in the area to inform people that the site had restricted access? Was this truly a case of "Willful Ignorance" on the part of eager FTFers?

We have two caches - one with the log in a baggie, one without. So far they are both holding up well after being out for almost a year, but they are both hidden in places that don't collect water. So what is the "right" answer for this peeve? Does a bagging the logbook make it better or worse?

Is it the Hollister Hills series? It looks like those caches were accidentally published early. OOPS! I'm just trying to play the Devil's advocate here. If a cache gets published, then retracted, the coordinates are still out there, right? Could the FTFers have picked up those caches on April 2nd? Maybe they didn't know these caches were attached to an event and it was a reviewer error that led to the caches being published early. Please, no black eyes!

We did this "power trail" yesterday and really enjoyed it: SpringBoard Trail Series It is a series of ten caches along a well-groomed gravel trail through a beautiful forest. The containers were mostly small lock n locks (175mL / 6oz) with a few vitamin bottles thrown in. The cache pages had the history of the area and a clear description of where the cache was hidden so there was no need to tear up the landscape. It was a lovely walk and it was kind of nice to have a run of non-stress (wracking one's brain to search for) finds along the way.

I disagree with the the idea of putting "business" swag into caches. I suppose I don't mind so much if I find an "ABC Hotel" flashlight or a "Mike Smith for President" pen, but when I find business cards, I CITO them (especially because they are always filthy or wet). The first step to better swag is to make sure the swag we do place stays in good shape - either by protecting it with baggies, or by choosing items that withstand water-logging.

For anyone else embarassed to log a DNF, here is ours from last night:

Actually, just a few weeks ago I put a bobby pin in a cache... ...but it was a bison tube and the bobby pin helped make it easier to get the log sheet out

And I will say what I take with me because anything that keeps Groundspeak in business keeps me caching and I'm all for that!

This is why we always carry a small child as part of our 10 Geocaching Essentials kit!

We are suburban/regional park cachers. We are rarely farther than 15 mins from city amenities so we don't pack too much along with us. Here is our standard list: GPS (duh! how many times have we forgot that!) Two or three Sharpie pens Spare Batteries Ziplock bags in various sizes Paper towel/wet wipes Swag in various sizes First-aid kit Notebook Camera Flashlight

If the intent is to have people come to your campsite so you can meet other campers, perhaps an Event Cache would be a better option? If you only want something for your friends and family to find, you can make printouts as Wastro said and let the seekers input the coordinates manually.

I thought that feature was part of an update a few months ago... am I incorrect? (I don't want to try and delete someone's pic off my cache just to test it!)

Another thing I do before I post potentially problematic pictures on a log is to see what other pictures have been posted. I figure if the CO hasn't worried about it before, they probably won't worry about it now.

When I cache for several days in a row, I start to have dreams about hiking along never-ending forest trails - I guess because it takes so much concentration not to trip on a root and fall on my face!

I don't know about finding a serial number but did you enter any of your personal information into the device? My Explorist allows me to enter my name and contact info so that it is the first thing you see when you turn on the unit. Would that be proof enough that it was yours?

It wasn't the cache owner who wrote the note. It was just another cacher. A rather snarky cacher, from the sounds of it. Typical of those who feel that they have more experience than others and can therefore pass judgment. I read that it was another cacher (discussion about cache police anyone???) I still think that clear instructions on the cache page can stop most arguements before they begin - no matter who starts them

There are several ways this "problem" could be avoided. The first would be that if a cache owner is concerned about spoilers, it is easy enough to add a line in the cache description that says "Please do not post pictures of the cache or its hiding spot. Any spoiler photos will be deleted. Thanks for your understanding. " (With the big smiley grin to show that we are being polite in our request!) After that, if a finder posts a picture anyway (as some invariably do because they don't read cache pages thoroughly), then the CO can delete the picture and send a polite message stating why.

We log DNFs every time. We look at it as a personal challenge (when there isn't an issue with the cache) to try again and find it. I've been back to look for this LPC five times. There is no shame in a DNF. It is part of the adventure. It shows your history - especially when you come back and find it. Triumph! We love tricky hides that make you obsessed. We love high-terrain hides that make you work for the prize. And we love the poor little parking lot hides that remind us that there is a treasure hunt going on every day, everywhere, that we feel priveledged to be in on. Okay - now I need an explore.. The world awaits!

I wonder if it was sort of an accident. In spite of the container choice, it looks like this child put some effort into it - such a cute log sheet! (I think it was a child - probably around 8 years old, my son has similar hand-wright-ing.) Maybe it was a couple of friends playing at the park (I bet they even live on that street). One friend took it, the other friend felt guilty about it and tried to replace it but Mom wouldn't give up any tupperware. I'm glad you are able to see the lighter side of this. Now what you need to do is hide out and see if the little muggle comes back to check on the box!

We went to our first event on Leap Day and traded a few TBs. We just worked it out with the giver/receiver that the TB would be "dropped" in the event when we got home so they could officially "retrieve" it from there. If for some reason we forgot to drop it, they would have the TB and its tracking number so they could just grab it from us.

I like "getting" the souvenirs - but it's not like they are real items. All you are getting is a digital image on your profile page. So is it really that big of a deal if someone cheats? They are cheating themselves into nothing but an intangible bit of code. Besides. I'm not looking at anyone else's souvenirs, only my own. So, my vote is for more souvenirs I think it is good business for Groundspeak to award their members a token of celebration when they reach a milestone (which they are already keeping track of anyway) or see a new place. It's a small thing, an extra bit of fun that doesn't cost anything extra because they already have the program in place.

I'd be a part of the society I'm not well versed in webspace/blogging/the interwebs, but let me know if anything does get organized. The mandate might be: To strive to increase the quality of cache swag by trading and/or placing clean, usable, worthwhile items suited to a variety of cachers.

This is totally off-topic but I agree that pics should be easier. I don't know why we can't upload a picture once - say, to the original cache found - and then access that picture from our gallery to include on a TB page (or several TB pages, as it were). Back on-topic: If I've read everything correctly, what Kunarion is saying is that it is possible for someone to physically lose a TB, or forget about it, and then carry on caching and unknowingly logging visits with the lost trackable. That would be a problem, and it sounds like the only answer to that is to send a nice PM to the current carrier (who probably has no idea they are auto-logging) to ask them if they know they are auto-logging, and if they could add a log or a picture or two of your trackable enjoying its travels with them. If you don't get a reply, well... And I know there is no rule about getting fabulous logs on a TB - any more than there is a rule about writing anything more than TFTC on a cache log - but it's nice to get. TB owners put their hearts into trackables too!