Jump to content

maxx borchovski

+Premium Members
  • Posts

    179
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by maxx borchovski

  1. My view is that if you read in the logs that someone was hurt using your cache, lost an eye or such like. How is that going to make you feel? Using air pressure to reveal a container is ok, it's been done several times very well. Shooting the container out is asking for trouble, I'd not like to have to explain a cache like that to the police officer knocking on my door after some muggle kid blinded himself whilst he was tampering with it.

  2. There might be several reasons why the remote finder is unable to get outside to do 'real' geocaching, but as the cache was physically found and signed by the team, then I don't see any difference between this and a regular team of geocachers working together.

    If the remote cacher was claiming a find without the log being physically found and signed, then it's no different to googlemaps caching and wrong to log on the web site.

  3. How many truly bad caches get hidden by first timers? Is this an epidemic or just a pain with the occasionally bad placed cache? I'm not talking here about micro/nano lamp post or guard rails or powertrails or anything else that's a personal bugbear, but honestly bad caches?

    In our area there are very few poorly placed caches by beginners. My local reviewer was a great help when I wanted to place my first hides. He advised against my first idea and as a result placed a series of 3 which so far have got good feedback (which helped improve the hides and puzzle). I had a lot of help and feedback from local and experienced geocachers, maybe this is the solution, encourage newcomers to communicate with other cachers in the area, get help and guidance.

  4. If the bikers were a bunch of seniors who asked that the cache be removed as they didn't want their peace and quiet disturbed by cachers, would there be the same comments?

     

    Our game is for us to enjoy, but not at the expense of Joe Public. If our game impacts a non player then their objection is valid, regardless of if they are a biker, a senior, the property owner or an LEO.

  5. I chickened out of one a couple of days ago. It was a new puzzle cache, solved the puzzle quickly, but didn't want to risk slipping in the ice as I am recovering from a back injury. I have one FTF and enjoyed the rush from it, but I'm never going to be a FTF hound, just not that dedicated.

  6. The obvious solution would be to use a pulley and string / fishing line to hoist the chute back up into it's hiding location. The downside is when the trigger is activated, the pulley string needs to be free flowing to allow the chute to fall freely. If the cache is located in a tree, then the string will get caught up in leaves and branches. If the cache is urban you could run the pulley string up a drain pipe. You would need a spool to keep the excess pulley string on when the chute is set. Hiding all that could be tricky. Also ensuring when the finder resets the cache, they do it correctly could be tricky. I think this would need a lot of maintenance, which is not a bad thing, but are you happy to keep visiting the cache to maintain the mechanism?

  7. I'm struggling to see the problem here. I have started doing puzzle caches now. I have never accidentally stumbled on a puzzle solution whilst out surfing the web. So far I have managed to complete the puzzles using either the cache page of a google search based on the type of cypher. I am however prepared to google the solution if the cache puzzle beats me, it won't spoil the cache for me as googling the solution means I have admitted defeat. I could understand if the solution was posted in the cache log.

     

    If someone were to post the solution to my puzzle cache on the facebook site, then fine. I also tell cachers the correct answer if they email me saying 'Can I have the answer please?' or give them hints if that's what they want. I'm happy if people find my caches and have a good time in finding them. If someone is unable to solve my puzzle, who am I to spoil their caching fun by withholding the answer from them.

     

    I do stand to be corrected on this matter, but at the moment I cannot see the real harm done, other than breaking GS guidelines about doing it.

  8. I think this is one topic where the three different camps will have to agree to disagree. It's a fun game after all and we can make of it what we want. There is no right or wrong answer in the FTF 'game' apart from if you find a blank log then you are the first person to find it.

    It's the same as urban caches versus countryside caches, both types have their place. Ammo cans versus nanos, both are valid. 5 mile hike to a beautiful view and a single cache, or a 10 mile power trail. Its a game that we are free to enjoy however we want. If an aspect of it doesn't appeal, then set your PQs to ignore it.

  9. I'm guessing you would also need to find the same edition so that the lines and columns will match with the book the CO was using.

     

    The text to extract the code from is the hint item at the location, not a book.

  10. I think I found the cache and am intrigued by the hint. If it is the one I found, then it's a traditional cache that's set up a bit strangely. The cache is a short distance from the coordinates, Its strange the reviewer allowed the placement with a puzzle for a clue. Normally the clue is supposed to be a hint to the hide, written in plain language.

     

    Of course I could be looking at the wrong cache page. Also without the hint item to look at, then the cache page hint puzzle is useless as the info on the hint item needs decoding.

  11. I use an android app (not the GS one) and it has the option to auto visit, but this is set to off by default. With regards to TBs and auto visting, when I find a TB I read the critters story, if the cacher wants to specifically move in a direction or in a particular fashion then I set my app accordingly, if not then they auto visit with me and rack up some mileage for the TB.

  12. I now have one FTF, it was published on Christmas eve at close to midnight. I beat our local FTF hounds to GZ and claimed my prize. Now I have one, I understand the rush you get from 'beating' the competition to new caches, but I also like the warmth and dryness of my home. So in the grand scheme of things the FTF game matters to some people and good luck to them. I personally don't have the dedication needed to go out there in all weather and at silly o'clock at night for the FTF.

     

    I will still consider FTFs in the summer, I will still offer my blood to the blood bank, I'll still help my elderly neighbors and donate what I can, when I can. FTF doesnt make you a bad person, just keen to play a game.

  13. If you were looking for helpful locals, other than contacting the cache owner, you could look to see who found the caches in the area you are looking at visiting. You will soon build up a picture of the locals and who is still active. If their profile does not show their home turf, then it's a safe guess that most of their first caches will be close to home. I like the idea of an event, you are going to attract the friendly local and active cachers in the area, you get to meet new friends who will tell you all about the best caches in their area. An event in a restaurant in the area is a safe bet and inexpensive, as people wont expect to eat for free.

  14. The more caches I do the more i rely on confidence and occasionally the fake call or texting. Just remember with the fake call, mute your ringtone or you will deafen yourself when someone actually calls you.

     

    With urban caches, I find checking the area out on google street view helps, it means you have an idea about potential locations and all from the warmth of home and that usually means less time is needed at ground zero.

  15. When starting our with geocaching, look for traditional caches, they are the easiest to find. The blue question mark and yellow box icon ones are a little more difficult. Also the caches have a rating for difficulty and terrain. Pick one with lower numbers, that will be easier to find. Another thing I picked up on is to read the logs online before going out, a couple of 'did not find (DNF)' log entries tells you the cache is either more difficult to find than indicated, or the cache may be missing. Another good way to start is pick larger sized caches, the very small ones can be hard to spot. The more caches you find, the quicker you will start to spot potential hiding places. The tiny magnetic nano caches are hard to find for newbies as they are so small. With only 70 finds to my name, I'm by no means an expert, but I find I can spot caches quite quickly now and have started to go after more difficult caches with greater success.

     

    When you get your eye in for finding the caches or just want to dive in to puzzle caches, this series has a very good set of tutorials on how to solve puzzle caches.

    Puzzle solving 101 series

     

    Good luck and welcome to geocaching

×
×
  • Create New...