dbrierley

Some of the people with those "reasons" for choosing not to read the descriptions have time to complain in their logs -- perhaps with complaints that are just as long as, if not longer, than the description. If there's time to complain, there's time to read.

Getting back to the original post, was the cache retrieved from the police? If so, how did it go?

Finders who choose to not read descriptions should not complain if the relevant information is already in the description. The descriptions often have useful information that will make finding the caches much easier and faster -- leaving more time to find more caches. See the June 19, 2010, log for GC1YAHE (Legend Woods - The Bears Den): "Found it!! Although we made this much harder that we should have!! We park at the church camp - bad idea!! First we had to do a lot of bushwhacking and came to a really steep cliff that we need to go down and then back up!! On our way our we realized that we had gone thru private property that abutted state land. Should have studied the links to figure our were the trails were located!! Anyhow, we found it, what a cool cache!! We even found the orange trail on our way back! We took two of our friends with us, and wore them out!!" Reading recent log entries also helps. Some caches are in bad shape, yet there are log entries that say, to the effect of: "The cache is a mess. If I had read the recent logs, I wouldn't have bothered searching for this cache." Creating a mystery/puzzle cache is an option, but it seems that these caches (like multicaches) do not get as many visits as traditional caches. I think many people just ignore them -- even people who do read descriptions.

It could be batteries that are running low; some receivers don't work very well with weak batteries and the battery life indicator might not be accurate for the type of battery being used. The only other thing I can think of is some sort of localized interference. Where were the receivers being used (car, forest, etc.)?

Going to the police to retrieve a cache is not unheard of. Landowners will sometimes turn in unauthorized caches to the police. In one case, a local police department apparently created a Geocaching.com account and posted a note: GCPE53. A satellite view of the coordinates suggests the cache was very close to or under the bridge. If that was true, it probably increased the concern of the police.

Please be careful not to use something that might appear or sound suspicious to non-geocachers. There was a cache with a trip wire that didn't go over well: GCH94F.

When looking for the agency from which permission is sought, this directory of state and local agencies may help: http://www.statelocalgov.net

Archived utility pole caches that ran into problems: GCNHV8 GC1AMMG (archived the same day it was published)

Here's an old Disney thread: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=67157

A plat map usually shows surveyed parcels of land. Many towns, cities and counties now offer these maps online; try looking for the assessor's office, clerk's office or zoning board on the appropriate government web site. Most sites can be found at: http://www.statelocalgov.net Plat maps usually don't list private land owners, but the assessor's office, etc. may have that information available online as well (or a link to that information on another site).

The District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation has a Google Map of the facilities it manages.

An earlier thread on the subject: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=244096&hl=

On a satellite view, the coordinates are at the green/downward arrow. Allowing for a few feet of error, the cache could be over traffic.

Some archived cemetery caches: GCKRGW GC41DB GCPE53 GCQBNG

A recent thread on the subject: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...9&hl=silica A silica gel packet probably will not last long if its just placed in the cache container; it may work in a well-sealed environment. To do this, place the cache items in one or two freezer bags and the log in its own freezer bag. (Freezer bags have thicker/more durable plastic than the plastic in sandwich or snack bags.) Place a silica gel packet in each bag and put the sealed bags in the cache container. For a 1-quart freezer bag, look for unused packets that contain 3 to 5 grams of silica gel; packets that have been used for shoes or other purposes are probably exhausted or don't have enough material. The more silica gel in the packet, the less frequently the packets need to be changed. I find that a 5-gram packet easily lasts a year in New England; I swap them out each fall -- after the summer's humidity has gone. Your results may vary, depending on local humidity and the frequency of the cache being opened. The packets can be found on eBay from people who sell coin collecting supplies; a common brand name to search for is "Sorb-It."

The cache owner's archival log entries of May 20 for GC1A6KN, GC14HVZ, GC14GJR, GC1449R and GC13KE9 say: "Due to a small pill bottle cache being mistaken for a pipe bomb I'm removing all my caches."

There was a situation in Texas earlier this year. A micro was placed in a lamp post in a store parking lot, leading to a bomb scare. A cacher who found it was arrested, but charges were later dropped. These threads discuss that incident: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=240879 http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=239581 The cache may have been GC22095.

It's good that the museum is open to the idea of allowing geocaches on its property. If it has not done so already, it may be helpful for the museum to post a policy for use of its outdoor areas, mentioning geocaching and letterboxing. The Nature Conservancy's state chapters set policies for the preserves; here are examples that explicitly mention geocaching: Maine New Hampshire Wisconsin The Maine and New Hampshire chapters allow caches on a case-by-case basis with prior permission; the Maine chapter requests removal of unauthorized caches. The Wisconsin chapter bans physical geocaches. It would be interesting to know if the museum has noticed any benefits since the existing caches were placed; the benefits, if any, should be weighed against the potential risk to the exhibits. While the museum has been fortunate because existing caches have not compromised the exhibits, the museum's luck may run out at some point. Geocaches are placed in all sorts of places; as an example, one appears to have been found in a bank's sculpture, causing a bomb scare: GCRGJV If the museum goes with a prior-approval policy, it can make sure caches don't threaten exhibits; a cache owner with written approval can send a copy to the reviewer when listing a cache. As a land manager, the museum is free to change its policy at any time; it is up to cache owners to be aware of the land manager's requirements. Museum management may or may not choose to "grandfather" existing caches.

It might be a cache that was submitted, but not approved and, therefore, unpublished. Some owners of rejected caches don't retrieve them. It could also be a cache that is in the approval process and will appear in the site soon. Another possibility is that it is not listed in Geocaching.com, but listed on another site.

This brings GCQBNG to mind. A log entry links to a news story that said: "The two mysterious visitors huddled around the sign to Dunedin Cemetery, poking and snooping around. Someone at former Dunedin Mayor John Doglione's funeral saw the couple and called authorities. Enter the bomb squad." Other cemetery caches that ran into problems are: GCKRGW GCPE53

A recent thread on caches near schools can be found at: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=244096

As has been pointed out earlier, the silica gel packets work in a well-sealed environment. To do this, place the cache items in one or two freezer bags and the log in its own freezer bag. Place a silica gel packet in each bag and put the bags in the cache container. For a 1-quart freezer bag, look for unused packets that contain 3 to 5 grams of silica gel; packets that have been used for other purposes are probably exhausted or don't have enough silica gel. The more silica gel in the packet, the less frequently the packets need to be changed. I find that a 5-gram packet easily lasts a year in New England; I swap them out each fall -- after the summer's humidity has gone. Your results may vary, depending on local humidity and the frequency of the cache being opened. People who sell coin collecting supplies sell the packets on eBay; a common brand name to search for is "Sorb-It."

Already being discussed in this thread: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=247395

Another current thread on this can be found at: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=238436

As mentioned by others, a quick check of other listing services might help and the cache owner has not responded to e-mail. You could notify the landowner of the cache's condition and ask permission to remove it. If the land is a state or local park, though, you might not get a response.