LDove

Sheesh, who cares? If you don't like travel bug hotels, don't go to them. If you think your travel bug suks and won't get picked up because it is dumb, make it better. It won't get picked up in a regular cache either if it is that bad... edited: Why should reviewers stop approving these just because YOU don't like them.

I found some Hide a Key's at a Dollar Store and they were the best. They opened like a drawer where the inside compartment actually slid into the top section thereby making it waterproof. Some that only have the lid that slides off the top tend to leak. Welcome to geocaching!

The park management is very aware of sensitive areas and asked that all caches be placed in areas that are safe to hike on. The naturalist for the park talked to the group after the days events and was very impressed with everyone's respect for the park. If you are just a visitor to the park, you still would have to obey the sensitive areas signs anyways. With respect to logging those finds, the point of the topic (to my understanding) is to find a way to make these logs appear as their own entity and not be logged under an "attended" icon. There have been some really great suggestions on how to do this, I just hope that the big dogs are listening... Let's take the example of Treasure Hunting's Family. They cache with a disabled son. I am sure this young man is not after high numbers, but he probably gets a real kick out of logging his finds and getting a smiley for them rather than just a note. I know this may be the exception and yes there are people out there with multiple attended logs, but if you take the ability to log those finds away from one you take away from all. Personally, if this kid or other big kids at heart have fun watching that smiley count grow, it sure isn't hurting me and more power to 'em for getting out there with their families and having a good time. Until they find a better system, that is the only way to do it right now. Great that it is being discussed here.

EEEEEEK - GAWD this is the last time I look in this thread, I won't be back. Run for the can of Raid! Yech!

Mary & Dave: I completely agree with your last paragraph. However, I have seen some teams find 100 caches and have a blast! They literally RAN to try to get them all, in the pouring rain, and had a great time, it was a real achievement for their family. I know it may not be everybody's cup of tea, but ya know what, some people DO like to do that. Right now, looking for a cache in a mosquito infested swamp is not getting me out there... different strokes for different folks! Even if people go for numbers - so what? If they are broken down on the stat page specifically by listing them as temp. event caches, everybody would know and the squabbling over numbers could finally stop. Listing them online would be a total waste of time and bandwith since these caches need to be removed before the event is over so that is a nonissue. Rather, the event page could list - "Event will have 20 event caches to find" and no one could log them more than once a piece. The events I have been at, they have all been numbered and/or named so you log them that way and it can only be once.

I can see you're well qualified to call cachers you've never met demented and sad. Go to a few events <snip> (the rest of what I have to say isn't worth the effort to type.) I did pocket caches at a previous event. The ones we did, however, were hidden in the lodge and surrounding areas, not in someone's pocket. I agree, using name calling here about something you have not done is really unfair to some people, some of whom may have been attending their first event.

I think you've got it. Further improvements to the system could still include a "Found It" at events for temporary caches. A "Return Visit" log-type to indicate a return trip to a cache where we use notes today but updates a "Last Visited" date in place of the "Last Found." (A logical disconnect in today's scheme.) I completely agree with a series of new categories and have all along. I don't understand some of the posters here who don't get a few of the key parts of this discussion. 1. "If you want to submit a real cache with real smilies and web logs, there's nothing stopping you from creating one at the event location. I think the chances are good that you'll at least find someone at the event who lives closeby and is willing to maintain it. Personally, I've found lots of these at events. They were there the day after the event too. If you're already going to the trouble of creating a 'real' cache with a printout page and all, why not go one step further to have it approved?" Yes there is, many times these events are in state parks, you cannot leave temp caches in state parks. You have your event, many of the event attendees go back at the end of the day and clean them all up. I also agree that many of the local parks, etc... are already saturated with caches that many of the locals have already done. These event caches are something fun and new to try and find. 2. "... an event cache should not be set up for the sole purpose of drawing together cachers for an organized hunt of another cache or caches. Such group hunts are best organized using the forums or an email distribution list." True according to the guidelines now, but we are requesting a change. Why can't an event have these finds? We cache, we have fun doing that, this is part of it - why can't we meet for a social gathering AND hunt caches? What EXACTLY is wrong with that? 3. Fears voiced by some that these will not be quality caches and need to have approval first. At the events I have attended, all were well thought out and placed within the parks boundries and rules. In a way, it is kind of a challenge to the cache placer to impress his friends and make good hides - to do something nobody has seen before. We saw so many creative hides at the recent outing in Door County. I think the event planners and cache hiders are very concientious about this and proud of how the hides are done. 4. I hope all of the people who are debating this issue have been to at least one event and had an opportunity to experience this. If you are worried that you live in CA and can't come to find temp caches in WI, hey hold your own event! To further break down the stats would be a great improvement. For everyone looking at other people's stats - the debate would then be off. You can see how many of each I got (if you really want to spend time counting my finds) And all the numbers are kept separate, even though they have smilies, you can still get out your calculator and figure it out if that is what you really have time to do...

This really suks. I too had several trips planned this summer and dumped out all that money for the 76csx and now can't use it. I also have not received my rebate and I sent it in over a month ago - anybody else still waiting on theirs?

Thank you Jeremy for adding some light on this issue. I appreciate it, especially since it seems to be such a big bone of contention around here. Edited to add: Vegabond - yep, I do like my smilies too

Mustang, I couldn't agree with you more. Let the tallywackers have their fun and count my stats. I don't care. sheesh. Ferreter - I agree it is "silly", unfortunately there is no other way to do it. Can you suggest a way? I did, but nobody seems to want to do that - and I can't understand why. How do I get some of those coins listed on your page by the way? Edited to add: Vagabond - could you please refer me to the exact rule that states that? The guidelines read that the temporary caches may not be listed, not that they are not ALLOWED.

Yes, each was find was logged once, by those who logged them as attended (only way right now to log these finds). (I did not log them due to my recent discussions here and hoping to find a more "correct" way to keep track of them). This particular event had about 100 temp finds, in a state park, where they allowed the event ONLY because they knew that all caches would be removed at the end of the weekend. Not only did I not see ONE gumwrapper lying around, but the cachers that we saw were especially respectful of the park and sensitive areas. The naturalist that runs the park even talked to the group about it along with some interesting history. All participants, old, young, handicapped and avid and more adventurous cachers had a great time. I just want to keep a log someplace to journal what I have done during this experience. Keep the numbers separate, I don't care. If I want, I can add the two columns together - big deal.

Again, what is the SPECIFIC problem you would have with a cache hidden at an event and then logged in a SEPARATE category aside from your regular stats? Edited to ask: How do I get one of your geocoins that you have listed?

AWESOME!

Just wondering... ...if this is explicitly the case, they why would it be okay to hold an event and provide a slew of temporary caches for people to find and log against the event listing? Not taking sides, just wondering how the guideline on events and the practice of logging temporary event caches jibe. Please don't focus on the guideline wording "...another cache or caches." It's the spirit of the guideline I'm wondering about, not mincing the words. That phrase could be argued back and forth endlessly as to whether the temporary caches are indeed "another cache or caches." Hoping for some insight. I'll try from my perspective. It would not be "against the event listing", but rather a way to keep track of caches that you found that day. One event cache smiley, x-number of Event Cache Hides icons. I think event planners put the temporary caches there cause, well, that's what we do and what we are interested in! It is great to socialize and grill a few brats, but even more fun to go off and do what we do best - hunt for well hidden plastic tupperware boxes in the woods. I would rather find temp caches than say - play poker at a geocacher event, know what I mean? If I went to an event for Harleys I would not pull up on my kids 3 wheeler trike. These temp caches also are not just thrown out there without any thought. Many are really creative and give other cachers ideas on how to apply them where they live, they are not just put out with no thought put into them. I guess the bottom line to me is, if this was made separate category, you could log them apart from your other stats, they are removed from the park when the event is over (this would be after GC.com says that they would provide the means to do this), what's the problem????

I'm not confused by it. I just accept it as flawed reasoning. It isn't any more valid than saying that a house with an unlocked front door means it is ok to move in there. At least with this "functionality" they don't have to jump through hoops and backdoor their way in, like, say, logging members only caches when you're not one - a practice that the website "allows" and you have publicly commented on. As far as multiple logs go, there isn't even a hint that the practice is "frowned upon". In fact, newbies or even people who have been caching a while that never read the forums might have no idea that it IS frowned upon. Maybe they think it's perfectly normal to revisit a cache every week and post a "Found It" log every week. There's really no guidance on the issue one way or the other. This was very much my scenerio. Having never been to an event or these forums, had no idea it was such a problem. I simply got there, got out my GPS, loaded the coordinates, found the caches, went home and because there was no EVENT CACHE but only attended and not attended listed, logged under attended - there was no other way to do it. We spent 10 hours in the rain and cold by the way finding these and they were creative and well thought out, better than some I have been to. I think they should be considered as legitimate in some way in the future if gc.com can come up with a way, it would please most everybody on both sides - at least I think it would.... i hope...

Such a simple fix, yet TPTB or anyone else won't fix it. Jeremy can you please address for me? Thanx. Change the way that these are logged on the page to: EVENT CACHE FOUND. Would not add to your "regular stats" and would allow you to keep a journal of ALL of your finds. If ya are really into stats, then just add them together if you want. I know, temp caches aren't allowed right? Wrong, they are not specifically forbidden by the site (if they are I STILL want to read the specific rule), it just says they won't be PUBLISHED. All temps are removed after the event anyways, WI does not permit permanent caches in state parks (unless previously archived). Everybody wants to see and enjoy these parks and they are where many events are held. This gives cachers the opportunity to: enjoy the parks while caching help CITO from an event meet other cachers learn new hiding techniques allow disabled participants some caches that are more handicap friendly allows the caches to removed after the event and not trash up the park I hope they consider an EVENT CACHE icon - hey if that happens, we will all have to find something else to fight about!

Yes, I am not getting it either.

I think your onto something here, although I believe you should not have to be a premium member to use this feature either way. I personally am glad you are looking to ways for the game to evolve and trying to find ways to make it all work.

Where is the "map it" feature located? Thanx.

Thanks Corp, however, being the technodunderhead that I am - I am not finding where you can log that does not link back to GC.com?

Is there a site where I could log finds, no matter what kind - permanent, temporary, pocket, blah blah rather than using gc.com? Yes for caches found with a GPS, even though temporary (some are in state parks and cannot be left there). No for pocket caches (people here have changed my opinion on this - thank you) even though I logged some at the last event since I did not know any better. l plan change them to notes as soon as I can figure out which ones were which. Don't know enough about it, have not followed the events much.

Mike, Could you explain further your reasoning for this opinion? I'm just curious as to how you arrived at it. thanks, Hank Me too My other family members who cache with us have less than 100 finds and they are better at finding stuff than me, don't understand your reasoning.

Just when you think you've seen it all... oh my

Finally an answer! Two cachers in skirts, is this a new trend?

Does Wisconsin even have elevations above 6000 feet? That's where I do almost all of my hiking Heck no! I just "climbed" a ski hill the other day and got to the mightly elevation of 1,800, huffing and puffing at that high altitude. Hey, ya never did answer the question? (what DO the Irishmen wear under that kilt????) inquiring minds need to know. (My husband is Irish and he won't tell me either!)