CachinStrattons

So, at least I'm not TOTALLY off-base here. Adjusting the difficulty after field-testing seems to be common. I don't feel so bad now!

So I AM under-rating! Do more agree??? Well, this wasn't exactly the lesson I was going for here, but it's a lesson none-the-less. I've been trying to be difficult with my hides... More like in the terrain department, but this one was more of an active area cache, so I went for difficulty. Looks like I'll have to re-evaluate my D ratings. Thanks for the feedback!!!

You know what, I hadn't noted that before. I think I may actually be the one "under-rating," rather than the opposite. Strange thing is, the only qualifier on my cache for the D4 is the multiple trips... I REALLY didn't think it would take multiple trips to find, but that repeatedly seems to be the case. There are several more who have tried, but not found... They just told me personally and apparently don't log DNF's, but we're not getting into that. I'll have to watch the cache for a while and see what happens. If this continues, I guess I'll have to up the difficulty again. I really didn't expect this one to be that hard - It's crazy.

I have noticed that the few D3's that I have ran into, don't really seem at all to me to be a true 3, going by the knowledge base guidelines (ie, possible multiple trips, blends well with environment, could take an experienced cacher an afternoon, etc). I am trying an experiment. It started as a D2.5 experiment, but that has changed to D3... I have a fist-sized container, hidden in a local scenic stop with a plaque, shrubs, etc. Approximately 500 sq. feet of the hillside is covered in local sandstone, varying in size from baseball-ish to "open-arm hug" size. The container is placed in a crevice among the stone, with another small fist-sized stone sitting on top of it. You have to reach about elbow-deep into the hole to get the cache, but even then, you cannot see it. The container itself was sanded roughly, then painted and textured using Outdoor Texturing Paint... In short, you can't see the cache, and it feels like everything else around you. The coords were verified multiple times by myself, and another local cacher. Of the people who have found the cache, only one logger has done so without a hint from myself. A couple of very experienced, local cachers returned 3-5 times before finding it after a hint. I guess what I want to know is... How many D3's have you found, and can you estimate how many of them met even ONE of the knowledge base guidelines for a 3 difficulty? I love a challenge, and my biggest gripe is probably improper difficulty/terrain ratings. I don't get to go for time-consuming caches all THAT often, but darn it, when I plan one and find it in 10 minutes... It's like, "Crap... what do I do now?" 3's... Do they exist, or is it like Chupacabra?

No where did I EVER mention that I was promised anything. But for those that CAN comment without angst, turns out my membership had quietly expired and never even noticed until I tried to pull a new PQ this morning. I don't remember seeing an emailing telling me about expiration.. NOT that I am promised one that is. Nevermind. You are not the only one that has apparently not received notice of an expiring membership. I have heard the same report from a number of members in the past year or so. Longer than that, I lost my charter membership due to no notification. Premium members and ESPECIALLY Charter members should be given the option to autobill the credit card under some recurring plan. Wait... I don't remember... WAS I given that option?? If not, I should have been.

Holy crap, are you serious??!!! I can think of SO many funny stories that could have come from this bungle!! I have strange visions of Pavel Chekov wandering around asking where to find the "Nuclear Wessels" like in Star Trek.

Comments like this will NOT help your cause.

Interesting. Thanks for the info so far. I HAVE noticed that the published caches (I have the instant notice e-mails set up, obviously) seem to come in waves by certain reviewers. I see one name for many published caches, then that one will disappear and another reviewer will publish a bunch over the course of the next days/week.

Don't know how many people are in a position to answer this, but here goes... First off, when placing my first couple of caches, I have been VERY careful to be completely on the up and up with regard to my listing and placement, in accordance with Groundspeak and local guidelines. As I understand it, reviewers live around the general area of the caches that they are reviewing, and I have noticed that almost all new caches in my area are published by the same 3-4 reviewers (which would lend credence to my previous statement). So will the local reviewers get to know the people who are submitting caches from their area (not personally, but from a caching perspective), and be more apt to "hand pick" a cache or two in their queue for review before another if that submitter has a reputation for accuracy and attention to detail? This will obviously not affect my diligence to the guidelines or my accuracy, I'm just wondering if the reputation would get my caches listed faster. On a side note, all of my reviewers have been very friendly and responded in a timely manner, taking into account that I'm sure there have been lots of caches submitted recently, so my most recent two have taken a bit longer. I haven't had to make a change to my listings yet. Related question which may answer the first one, also... Do the reviewers go through the caches in the order in which they are received, or do/can they bounce around? Lastly, when I submit a cache for review, does it go to a single reviewer's queue, or do all of my local reviewers share a queue and cooperatively work in some of their free time to knock out whichever ones they can? Perhaps they work in "shifts" - Reviewer 1 for a week, then Reviewer 2 for a week, and so on. Thanks in advance. The answers to these questions are inconsequential to me, in that they will not affect any routine or anything... they are simply designed to satisfy curiosity. I appreciate the time that is volunteered, I'd just like to know more about how they handle such a daunting task. --Edit for omission.

--Don't know what happened there... Got two! SORRY!

I have only placed 2 caches thus far, but I have used the spiral notebook type pads for logs. I have gotten the ones that are made of a plastic-type material, rather than the cardboard ones. I print out a piece of paper stating the following, centered, and sized to fit: "Cache Title" Official Geocache By: Cachin' Strattons Placed: XX/XX/XXXX N: XX.XXXXX W: XXX.XXXXX I cut it out and "laminate" it to the plastic cover using packing tape (actually, from experimenting and common sense, use something like a hairdryer when you apply the tape and press it down... seems to stand up to outdoors better) I also usually create a "page" for the FTF with a title, then spaces for date, time, and comments/log. One of my two had an FTF prize, one did not. As StarBrand said, all of the FTF stuff is totally unnecessary, just something that some people do.

HEY! Nobody said anything about them being good! Ok. One more reply. It was necessary!

Ok, I really wasn't going to reply to anything until morning, but I'm going to. I REALLY thought I covered this in my original post, but since you require an explanation, I will offer it. Bear in mind that I mean no disrespect here - you obviously have far more of a rep around here than me. I decided to offer an extra prize for the FTF because I have seen others do it. As a cache owner (plus a beginner cache owner), I am anxious for any kind of interaction. I have put CONSIDERABLE thought, time, and preparation into the placement of this cache, and the coupons that I had came at little cost to me (plus, I had lots of them). The habit around here seems to be P&G's - few minute walk, at best. You gotta LOOK for something else. Since I deliberately placed a 2/3 cache (and a LARGE, at that), I decided to motivate the local cachers with a bit of extra incentive. It is not required, nor expected... Just something that I have chosen to do. When you expend time and energy to place a cache, you essentially place prizes in the cache, at least, I would assume so... SWAG is a prize. I'm simply offering something that need not be traded... just something cool to take. Really don't see the harm. Again, I mean no disrespect. Everyone keeps mentioning "how they play the game" around them - but I don't see the relevance. If it's offered, and you don't play the game that way... Ignore it, right? Isn't that what your "integrity" has been preaching? Thanks to everyone for your replies thus far. I will reply a bit more tomorrow. For reference, here is the actual cache ID... it was just published tonight: GC2R65A Knowschad, again, I'm sorry if I seem curt... This just wasn't supposed to be another one of "those" threads, know what I mean? -- Edit to note container size, again.

LOL! That actually took me about 25 seconds too long to get.

I know that not everybody subscribes to the "FTF" game... I don't, necessarily. I enjoy trying to be the FTF, but I'm not comparing any numbers and am not upset if I don't get there in time - it just adds an element to the game, so please don't rail me, non FTFers. I've seen and heard of lots of special "don't have to be replaced" prizes for the FTF... Other cache containers, money to cover gasoline, various geocaching swag (coins, TBs, etc.). I have been planning, and will be placing today, a Large Cache that will take a bit of time. It will be a difficulty of only 1.5 or so, but terrain will be more like 3 - 3.5. Should take about 1/2 hour walk each way from parking (includes a few challenges like crossing creeks on fallen trees), but the hunt once at GZ shouldn't be THAT much of a challenge. It's titled "Summertime!" and will be an ode to our approaching exit from cold weather. LOTS of swag in it - RC Car, Kids Horseshoe Set, Frisbees, Baseballs, Squirt Guns, etc... As an added Summertime bonus to the FTF, I am including 2 coupons exchangeable for 2 $27 tickets on the 3rd base line at any Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game. I thought that would be a great prize for Summertime. Thoughts??? What cool prizes have you seen or heard of?

EAP probably did a double flip in his grave after that. Very cool! I certainly don't claim to be a poet, but it's fun, ain't it!

Remember that a 3 is considered, by most, to be the most difficult of the "average caches." 4 & 5 would require special pre-knowledge, preparation, skills, or equipment. For the most part, a 3 will be your "hardest" at a beginning level. Even that, according to guidelines, COULD take an experienced cacher the majority of an afternoon (and maybe even multiple trips) to find. In reality, this is not usually the case - But a properly rated 3 could be a real challenge! Aren't you glad you started caching???

That was clever, and pretty funny. Good work. Poetry is cute. Just don't change your username to "Cap'n Cachin Strattons", and start talking like a pirate in your logs. That one's a bit overdone. There's two of them within 100 miles of me, and I've seen others. If I see one more log by one of those pirate geo names that use the words "avast" or "Me maties" I think I'm going to get sick. This is, apparently, a real problem... not a joke?

I saw that... I have yet to mess with GSAK... I just know I spent 15 minutes looking through the generated stats. Great piece of software, from what I understand.

Here ya go Holy crap, that's funny... and very fun to play with!

Hover around the cemeteries, and I'm sure you will find that this is a VERY common practice. My most recent find was placed by an acquaintance of mine, and was done in memory of her best friend growing up: GC2QPAW Go for it. Nobody is going to stop you, and if the idea of placing a cache in memory of him makes you feel better, or like you are doing something for him... place it! I'd go find it!

Yes... could be VERY small.

They are micros. "officially" Understood, and agreed... 100%. Merely pointing out something else that a new cacher may encounter, but not have heard of.

Many times, when I was going after my first caches... I would follow the GPSr to Ground Zero... then just stand there for a few minutes. Maybe just pace around over a 10 ft. area or so. As you become familiar with your surroundings, you will notice opportunistic hiding places or something that seems to be out of place. After a few finds, you'll approach GZ and say to yourself "I'll bet $20 it's in that little crack in that stump right over there" - and many times you will be right. But then again, some hiders are very clever... said stump could be a trick!