I'm going to start preparing to hide my first cache, and my foremost concern is "will it be muggled" more than anything else. I'd like to build a cache container so safe that it could be used as a TB hotel or a geocoin trading center. I also want to make interesting caches that people will enjoy more than just 'oh, great, another bison tube in a tree' thing. Since these will be placed in wooded areas, I wanted to put full effort into making these at least 'regular' sized.
Pulleys
The best idea I've heard is a cache up in a tree that is lowered down with a pulley system. I'd love to do this, but I'm curious...
1.) How do you make a decent pulley system?
2.) How do you get it up in the tree without killing yourself?
3.) How can it be attached without damage to the tree?
4.) How would it hold up in a wind/ice storm?
The pulley system would probably need no more than 2 pulleys...if not just one. I would probably attach it to the tree using a black painted metal zip tie, along with 2 or 3 rings to guide the rope out of the way. At the end of the rope would be 2 rings...one that would hold the geocache off of the ground at full height (possibly released only after obtaining a combination to a bike lock), and an other one permanently attached to the ground somehow that is long enough to be reached when the cache is fully on the ground.
Really, I have this thought out pretty well, but I can't think of how to get it up into the tree without climbing equipment (which I don't have nor can do) or packing a huge ladder into the woods. Also, when the cache is up in the tree, what would be a good way to hide the excess rope? Is there a device that will automatically wind the rope up for you like a name badge holder?
Fake Rock
I wanted to build a fake rock around an ammo can. I saw a really awesome tutorial at the website found here: http://www.aspenweaver.com/geocache/geocache_build/index.htm
I like the rock idea because it'd be less likely to be used as firewood. I've heard of many-a-log-caches turning up missing and I can only guess they were probably picked up to be used in a bonfire. Especially in a particular area where I wish to place one near my house, the neighbor teenagers like to go out into the woods and hold campfires. It's too a nice area to pass up, but anything made of wood would be fair game.
I'm kind of afraid to work with fiberglass, as well as the fact it's probably out of my price range. At the bottom of the page it's mentioned that instead of fiberglass the final 2 pictures had muslin and plaster used instead. I would use a spray foam base as shown, the muslin/plaster mix then coat the top with a layer of cement. Would the muslin/plaster hold up for a decent amount of time? I'd want this to be pretty permanent. To camouflage this better, I'd blend some whole milk with some local moss and pour it over the top so actual moss would grow on it. Maybe add a small indent to the concrete that'd allow a small area to plant a fern so it'd look more convincing. So it wouldn't be crazy difficult to figure out, I might sculpt a tiny logo inconspicuously on the top that only someone looking for it would find. Thoughts?
I'd like more ideas for interesting caches. I want to actually put effort into these so they are fun. There seems to be kind of a lack of innovative containers in the Kent area.
