duhgee

Some interesting (and some very tangential) comments. In retrospect, the intent is to leverage the 'wisdom of crowds' to provide feedback to cache owners, and advise them of what the general population of geocachers sees as quality (or rather, non-quality). As one responder mentioned, some people think their caches are perfect - so some feedback (provided in a non-insulting manner) would perhaps counteract their delusions of grandeur. Yes, it's subjective, but with a large enough input, even subjective results can be meaningful. Perhaps it is too close to a rating system (which this topic was intending, unsuccessfully, to avoid). Okay, so nominations aren't the best idea, but maybe some direct messaging to crappy cache owners providing private input as to how to improve caches would be valuable. Some people will be too sensitive to accept criticism, and some people can't provide criticism in a constructive manner, but most of us can give and most can take it appropriately (I hope). I think geocaching is as likely to lose cachers over crappy caches (I for one am much less enthusiastic after a few boring trips of predominantly crappy caches) as by insulting a crappy cache owner. Perhaps both groups deserve to quietly abandon the sport - another type of culling the sport of geocaching. It's important to remember that geocaching isn't a solo sport - we don't create caches for our own satisfaction, rather we do it to contribute to the community. To say our responsibility to the community extends only as far as we are satisfied in maintaining the cache is to neglect the effect we can have on contributing to the fun (or un-fun) of others. Perhaps the greatest outcome is this discussion, and the individual awareness of opportunity (and/or responsibility) to uphold quality over quantity, without formalization of a process or means to force, rather to encourage, change.

It's not about the numbers - it's about the value. If the caches are truly creative, unique, in interesting places, perceived positively, fun to find, or offer some form of adventure to find/access, then they are legitimate caches. If you would describe any of your caches as mediocre, boring, same as many other caches, or generic, then you've got too many. I may be in the minority, but I think that every so often you should critique your caches and eliminate the lower quality ones, and before placing a cache consider whether you're adding to the quality of geocaching with it. Extremely creative people may be able to place 50+ caches, and less creative people may not be able to place more than a couple. Ask for feedback, and listen to what people say about them, and that will tell you whether you've got enough/too many.

After reviewing my own caches, I realized that two out of three were not up to snuff, so I voluntarily archived them. There have been discussions about archiving caches older than a certain age, but the age of my caches was not a factor, even though they have saturated the local geocaching community, and sometimes the oldest caches are the best caches. The primary driver for my archiving was the plethora of mediocre caches and the difficulty in finding the good ones. The discussion of rating caches has been long ago exhausted, but what I'm proposing is a nomination of caches that are below average as candidates for archiving, with a net result of increased average calibre of caches. We could even name an annual award after them, similar to the EDDIES for crappy movies, with a limited nomination period (ie. the month of May), and nominations occurring as a Note log on the cache. Two questions: a... What would you suggest for the name of this annual competition/nomination? b... Would this concept work, and is it better/more viable than a rating of all caches?

We used to live in Kingston and returned a year or two ago and did a couple of caches. At the time there weren't that many, and we were glad to have moved to southwestern Ontario, but as I did another google maps search just now of the Kingston caches - wow, you're right - it has sure exploded! I'm going to have to plan another trip back there soon. Sorry, no comment about the Topo maps, nor Garmin vs. Magellan - just good to read of Kingston again.

It would also be cool if the google maps cache search had an option to exclude ignored caches, just as it does found and owned caches. This would make an already fantastic feature even better. (I can't imagine I'm the first to think of/suggest this, but I did do a search of the forums and my potentially inadequate search criteria returned nothing). What do you think, Signal?

GCGR5N is my favourite cache of all time, and it's located on PEI - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...e7-231aeaec6304

I have a teacher friend who got some GPSr's at a very discounted rate for her classroom - just ask the GPS vendors, and tell 'em you'll put a good word in for them on the cache page. Good luck!

My wife was so excited when she saw these. I imagine I'll get a few for Christmas.

That's what kids are like? Sounds just like my wife! Having the `distance to destination' on the GPSr has been a lifesaver, not to mention the snacks/treats/candy that I use to bribe her to keep going. Even still, with all the work of placing a cache properly, I've found it's best done alone - without wife, nor apparently with child either. Ah, she's great fun though. I wouldn't trade her for most of the geoswag I get my hands on! [Good thing she doesn't read the forums!]

I had something similar happen - I was trying to navigate to the cache with my GPS, but when I thought I was moving the cursor/arrow, I had actually selected a "move" option for the waypoint and had inadvertently moved it 500 m away. I didn't catch my mistake until a 1 hour hike out of the way (there was a river, and lots of snow, and not a typical hike) but when I checked the coordinates on my PocketPC, it figured it out. Maybe this happened? If it was just a single cache, I'd vote for that as the cause. If it recurs, then maybe a glitch with your GPS.

Not giving attention to someone seeking it is probably the most effective approach, as long as someone (preferably in a position of authority like a moderator or gc.com admin, or a respected & experienced cacher) lets him know that it's not good form nor appreciated. A bratty child who thinks they're being funny will often continue, even if they are being ignored - until they're told off. [listen to me talk as if I know children - ha! I guess I was one, though]. If this has been done, then yes, ignore.

When people criticize the attitude of responses in many threads, they must not read ones like this. Pretty much every response was constructive, helpful and positive. The OP doesn't seem to like these responses, rather was maybe looking to have people agree with him (heck, we all do that sometimes). Respecting and working with the rules makes the game work better, and will help the OP's children see that hard work isn't all that matters - one has to work smart as well as hard, and when they see the results of this hard work, they'll realize that life returns what you honestly invest, not simply what you feel you are entitled to. Learn the rules, respect the rule makers/enforcers, adapt the attitude, enjoy the process, correct your mistakes, and reap the rewards - those are the lessons for children (and all of the rest of us) to learn. Thanks all for great responses.

qcorvino and TBPirate have identical trackables found: Travel Bug Dog Tags = 12 2006 Michigan Geocoins = 1 Leprechaun Geocoins = 1 1701eh Memorial Geocoins = 1 Unite for Diabetes Travel Bugs = 2 Total Trackables Moved/Discovered = 17 The sad thing is that he's probably getting his kicks from reading this discussion.

Keep it. There are probably lots of options to place other caches in the same area, if someone is so inclined. Not saying anything new here. Seems you have consensus.

There are 3 up in Nunavut, Canada that get my vote - GC5803 - As North as it Gets, GCXAF5 and GCX4P7 (not yet found). There are others in the desert that might qualify. Google Earth is fantastic for browsing these... just fly around in the act of virtually geocaching.

I agree with the red-haired witch (let that not reflect my opinion of your personality but simply my reference to your nickname) - multiple traditionals if driving is involved; a true multi cache, preferably only if it can be done within walking distance. And I'd also qualify that a multi should have sufficient reason for each stage - I much prefer multi's that bring you to various points of interest (ie. a cool tree, a great lookout, an interesting rock formation, around the loop of a trail, etc.) rather than multi's that exist simply for the purpose of being a multi (and the associated challenge), like Renegade Knight mentioned. As for number of stages - well, there are multi's with 13, 25, 50 stages in them - but the more stages the more appropriate it is to have each as an individually loggable cache. As long as there is a value to each stage, I don't care how many stages there are (though I must admit, I prefer traditionals in most cases).

The air is fresher and usually calmer at night, and the moon seems brighter especially when reflecting off the snow. But therein lies the problem - snow makes caching harder during the day, and night makes caching harder in the summer, but looking for caches in the snow at night is really really tricky. I usually expect on a success rate of maybe 1/2 of what I'd normally hope for. But it's all worth it.

There are often multiple ways to get to a cache - it may be 1 km from the north, but 2 km from the south (where there are another 3 caches). Sometimes there is only one route, but to indicate a distance suggests you know the direction of travel. And one cache with a distance of 500 m (with a bunch of bushwacking) may be more difficult than a 2 km hike on a paved trail. I would think this would get too complex - the terrain rating is meant to be inclusive of distance and difficulty. There's no replacement to writing good cache descriptions, and reading them before you head off towards the cache. I'm all in favour of enhancing the cache descriptions (for example, with subjective ratings (such as creativity, view, adventure, and difficulty) to be (optionally) scored on each log entry by every finder), so thanks for initiating/continuing this discussion.

Sometimes I pretend to use the GPSr as a camera (if I don't have my camera in hand anyways), or look inquisitively at something in the trees - there's nothing as boring as watching a bird watcher, so people move on.

The follow-up question, if you're looking for valuable swag, would logically be - what's the most valuable thing you've placed in a cache (that is, if we'd care to hear people bragging about their great contributions)? My most valuable item was a geocoin (Alert 6 Canadian Geocoin - TB17KQ5) that came from the most northerly geocache in the world. In fact, many Travel Bugs rank as my most valued finds. But if you're looking to get something, make sure you contribute at least as much worth.

I like the idea of triangulating a location with only bearings and landmarks. That sounds like a creative alternative - probably done before, but not near me. Good luck. I've seen several that guide you with instructions (ie. walk 50 feet till you come upon a stump in the middle of the trail...) but triangulating would be more of a challenge. And for those that enjoy the finds a little more than the hunt, you could include the actual waypoint as an additional location.

Yikes...you caught me. Had the plates for a few years now. It's actually GEOCACHE (8 letter max). And it's a silver minivan...the plates used to be on a red minivan but it perished after too many "Wait...I can get closer" caches. You should have hung around longer...we've met a pile of other cachers as a result of those plates. Makes it kinda hard to be inconspicuous at times though. Not a surprise you saw it in Guelph... it's where the silver minivan calls home. -TT- GEOCACHE was my first guess, and it goes to show how bad my memory is. My wife would've remembered for sure. I'm sure we'll run into you again around town - maybe even out 'n about at caches. Seeing the plate inspired my wife to get the geocaching.com license plate cover, at least. Thanks!

Speaking of customized geocaching license plates (I know, it's going off on a tangent) - a couple of months back here in Guelph, my wife and I saw a white minivan with the Ontario license plate GEOCACHING on it (it was a while back, so I'm going off memory here that it was white, that it was a minivan, and that the license plate said "GEOCACHING") - I should've taken a picture. It was a legal license plate (not one of those decorative ones). We hung around for a bit to see if they'd come back to their vehicle, but alas, no. A couple of days later, some friends saw the same vehicle and the same plates. Now we're really curious who's it was! Seemed to be a pretty cool plate. Anyone know?

KW Army Surplus in Kitchener, on Victoria Rd (Hwy 7, just past 85) has ammo cans for $9.99 for the really big ones, and something like $7 for the medium sized (sorry - don't know the capacity).

We were out walking on the Elora Cataract Trailway (near geocache GCGTWW) - it's pretty close to Mississauga and the snow was perfect. I may head up this week with my skis if I can free up some time. Enjoy. I haven't thought about mounting options... I like the idea of strapping it to one's arm. I'll have to think about that one.