Goannas

What to do if you "find" the cache but can't sign the log? This happened to us a couple of weeks ago. We could see it but weren't physically able to climb the tree to get it. The only one in a trail of 24 that we didn't sign. Neither a DNF or a Find is technically correct. I logged a note. Is that the right thing to do or should it be a DNF? What would others do?

One of our finds today required a scramble down some rocks. Not hard to locate the cache once you got there but you had to get there with caution. 2 recent cachers logged "finds" but both had conveniently lost their pens so couldn't sign the log. Sigh.

All good, I found what I was using previously. Just needed to go one step further. That's a good tip about using "find a cache". I'll try that too.. Cheers.

Thanks for your reply. I'll consider doing that. I do realise the check on the site would only be approximate but is at least an indication of whether it's worth pursuing. Most of the potential hides I'm looking at are pretty safe as it is a rural area but one popular tourist spot is pretty much saturated so we'll be avoiding that area. I'll be sure to be clear about being prepared to do the distance for maintenance if necessary. We used to do double this as a day trip to go to the dentist so it's definitely not a problem.

We had our first hide published today. I hope we don't get this nonsense. I'll be right onto if we do. Here is the log of one we logged a DNF for recently. We seem to be the only ones who didn't, despite spending quite some time avoiding the broken glass and rusty cans there. The location where it should have been was pretty obvious. Funny, it seems to have had a lot of new logs and new containers. The most hilarious thing about this one is that the photo posted in the last log on my list (they go on and on after that) is a mint container but the cache description specifically says it's a Systema (clip lock) plastic container. I don't think the CO is an active member so there's little or no chance of it being remedied. I've encouraged our local Council to formulate a policy for caches. They're very open and proactive so maybe we can get ones like this removed. Member [Caches Found] 9 Found it 04/29/17 Found! Good hiding spot! Needs new container Premium Member [Caches Found] 6355 Found it 04/29/17 6333 Found by baby&Mrs xxxx at 1335. When you don't give up looking most times the cache is there. Replaced back in the boot. Tnx xxxxxx Our DNF 03/18/17 appeared here. Premium Member [Caches Found] 131 Found it 03/04/17 Tftc Premium Member [Caches Found] 331 Found it 02/26/17 Found it easily,tho it's no longer a plastic container. Added a new log and plastic baggie. Wonder why they started doing this here?? Tftc Premium Member [Caches Found] 195 Found it 02/26/17 Good spot we added a new log thanks for the cache Member [Caches Found] 5 Found it 11/30/16 Very uneven surface to the cache, so wear non-slip shoes. Agree with others here about log book needing maintenance, as it was falling apart and I couldn't sign my name. TFTC. Premium Member [Caches Found] 69 Needs Maintenance 11/13/16 New logbook required as sadly there is no room left in the current book. Same cacher as above Interesting part of xxxxx that I didn't know existed. Agree with the last finder. Cache needs a new logbook. I wasn't able to sign my name but have posted a photo of find on this log. TFTC.

I apologise in advance if this is discussed elsewhere. Please let me know and I'll move my question there. I haven't been able to find anything recent. We've spent the day scoping potential locations for new caches and I'm trying to check the coordinates for availability. Previously (as recently as a few days ago) when I've entered the coords of the potential hide the map has shown a pointer to that location as well as the circles indicating existing nearby caches. Now it seems to be showing the existing locations but not a pointer to the coords I've entered. I've tested this with coords I know are definitely too close to an existing cache and it doesn't tell me it's not suitable (it was last week) and ones that I know are definitely nowhere near existing caches (we're in a rural area and some locations have absolutely nothing ... yet). In neither case is there an indication of whether the entered coords are available or not. Is this a temporary glitch or has something changed in the last few days. I don't want to bother reviewers with a barrage of potential locations to check. If I know they're definitely not available I'll chose somewhere else and move on. I'd just like to be able to check. Some of these potential locations are up to 150km from home. Please don't tell me that's too far away for us to maintain it. There and back is a pleasant afternoon outing and not a drama at all but I don't want to needlessly drive there if the locations aren't available. Thanks, Jenny.

Who owns the pipe? One of two government departments who will both claim it's the other one's. So not a great plan for a cache, then. All good. If I can't sort that out I have a plan C in conjunction with the local Council.

Who owns the pipe? One of two government departments who will both claim it's the other one's.

Very useful discussion. Thanks. I came today to ask the same question and found this thread. I was planning a partially buried PVC tube but seems that's not an option. Back to my original plan of a locked box inside a disused pipe. Still below ground level but no digging required. Cheers. Jenny.

Yes we will. All the locations except one are also part of a local history walking trail project and the intention is mainly to get people to the spots and give them a bit of information about the history of the area. But I don't want to do a whole lot of magnetic Eclipse containers under the plaques we'll be erecting. That's easy no fun. 3 of the locations will be very accessible. 2 of these will be fairly easy finds and the 3rd will be a puzzle cache - easy to find but a little challenge to solve and open. The other 3 will be tougher terrain and trickier hiding spots. Thanks again everyone. I've found all your comments really useful and am confident that our caches will be fair. But I won't be afraid to change them if I think the feedback warrants it. Cheers. Jenny.

There's also a third log from FFF2, who caches together with FFF. It's just annoying; it seems the cache is gone, I'm hoping the CO actually reads the logs on his caches and knows there might be a problem with this one... We "found" something similar on the weekend. Location was obvious. Last 2 logs didn't find anything but logged it as a find. The place was a dump (quite literally) and although we found plenty of potential hiding places we couldn't find anything that resembled anything other than rubbish. Logged a DNF and a comment about the revolting location, though I don't think the CO is actively watching this one. Won't be going back there even if it's verified that the cache is there or that it's been replaced. Can I ask what the protocol is if someone logs a find but doesn't sign the log? Is it polite to ask them to remove it or does the CO just do it for them?

Thank you. Really appreciate the information. We don't have much in the way of hills but there might be some bush bashing. Nothing too strenuous. I have a feel for it now. I'm quite dubious about the ratings for some of the ones we've done.

Good to know. I'm always open to feedback so after we place and publish if anyone thinks the ratings should be changed I'll be happy to do that. I just don't want to give a false expectation of it being either too hard or too easy. Appreciate any input.

Have just had a look. Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for and is just what I need. Not sure why I didn't find it when I was looking but I have it now.

Thanks. I had looked but hadn't found this. Will definitely have a look. And yes, our 1/1 will be wheelchair accessible.

Hi all. Looking for some advice on setting terrain/difficulty ratings. Can anyone point me to guidelines for this? We’re about to set 6 caches and while some are obviously 1/1 there are others that I’m not sure about. Based on ones we’ve found they could be 3.5-4 or even higher in both T & D. But I feel sure there are much more difficult ones both in terms of both terrain and difficulty. I’m a notoriously hard marker because I always want to leave myself somewhere to go but I don’t want to make things sound easier than they are. Suggestions, advice or directions to similar threads would be most appreciated. Cheers. Jenny.

Hi all. We've been members for a long time but have only really been active since late last year. Now we're about to place our first caches and are just a bit excited about that. Hopefully they'll be published within the next month or two. Our favourite thing about caching is that it takes us to places we wouldn't normally have gone and we learn a bit of local history along the way. We hope to do the same for others too.

Is it even possible to find 80 caches in a day? I did an, admittedly rough, back of envelope calculation and reckon at an absolute minimum this would take 10 hours. And that doesn't include stopping for anything. Even if it is technically possible, what's the point? Isn't it better to find fewer but enjoy and appreciate the locations? I do see that for some people it's all about the numbers but are they kidding anyone other than themselves?

The example citing the puzzle cache that was never solved made me wonder if this was something to aspire to. From my point of view this would defeat the purpose of setting the cache. Make it difficult - really, really difficult - by all means, but not unsolvable. I did note the comment that said it was solvable but as it was never found then how can this be so? Knowing the answer makes everything seem possible. I set cryptic crosswords and the point of the clues is to make them devious but logical and thence solvable. I would consider caches should be the same. The more difficult, the more satisfying to solve. But too difficult to the point of impossible is just frustrating.

Wow, what a fascinating thread. It never occurred to me to log a find if I didn't actually find it. I mentioned it to geo-hubby who screwed up his face and said, "Oh really?" He was as surprised as me. Why bother? But I'll keep this in mind. We're about to set a few caches in conjunction with a local history project. Most will be easy - the idea is to give people local info - but am planning 1 slightly more difficult puzzle cache so we'll definitely keep an eye on the logs.

We joined several years ago but didn’t do much until a recent holiday. Geocaching added an extra dimension to the holiday and took us to places we wouldn’t have gone and taught us a lot of local history that wasn’t in the guide books. I notice a few people have said to avoid micros but we’ve found a few relatively easily. As long as there’s a reason for them to take me to that spot, I don’t mind if they’re “log only”. We’ve discovered a lot of little roadside memorials that we’ve been driving past for years. I agree with the advice to read the description, read the logs (look for subtle hints – they’ve helped us find a couple) and look at the photos. Know what size you’re looking for. We did 3 trips to one local cache before realising we were looking for something small when it was actually a regular cache. We do have a GPS but mostly use a smartphone app and rarely have any problems with it. Always carry a pen, just in case of a broken pencil or pen out of ink in the cache, or for the micros that a writing stick won’t fit in. We’ve put together a little kit which contains a pen, small ziplock bags, replacement pencils, emergency logs (just some folded strips of paper), a torch, tweezers and dinosaur stickers which we’re using as our “trademark”. Most of all: have fun!