entogeek

No, going to the location is the core of geocaching. It ain't about the box. It's about the place. "Find the cache, sign the log." Visiting a guard rail or LPC is not about the location. Would be nice if it was always about the location, but it doesn't.

These new Challenges ARE NOT Challenge Caches! They are two separate entities. Agggghhhhh...

The new challenges are not challenge caches - the two are separate entities.

Now that the avatars are gone from the logs, the avatar in my profile is also missing. Anyone else missing theirs?

The Pinnacles Earthcache in Sarawak The geek at The Pinnacles

Thanks BQ - you expressed much more eloquently and coherently what I was trying to say in my earlier post.

Earthcache logging guidelines have been changed. You cannot be required to post a photo of yourself nor of your GPS to log a visit to an Earthcache.

As an owner of a number of different challenge caches I'm obviously biased in favour of them - some of them are good, some not so good (I'm referring to my own challenges - not anyone else's). I also enjoy meeting the requirements of other CO's challenge caches - in fact some of my most memorable caching experiences have been the direct result of teaming up with others to go and find one or more caches that are required for a challenge. Having said that, I am of two or more opinions as to whether or not one needs to have a physical container and a log book to sign after completing a challenge. Perhaps a challenge cache could have two options: 1) as a normal cache that anyone can find and log without meeting the challenge, and 2) as a challenge cache that you can find and log AND meet the challenge (yeah, yeah I know... just another ALR). I would of course suspect that folks who choose to go with option 2 would want some sort of recognition for their efforts - perhaps a different coloured smiley, a list of challenges met, etc. Folks could treat the challenge cache as per option 1) and at some point in time switch to option 2) if they later decide to and wind up completing the challenge. Just throwing my 2 cents worth in - as I couldn't find any penny candy to spend my allowance on today. P.S. No sooner did I hit the reply the reply button that I realized this could open up a whole can of worms re: the D/T rating of the cache as per option 1) vs. option 2).

Sad to hear you have this opinion. But I would ask that you consider why we have national parks in the first place. They have been developed to protect species and habitats that are at risk. At risk from what? People of course. They were not developed for us to hide caches. Parks Canada is thoughtfully recognizing that this is an opportunity to get folks who would otherwise not visit these areas into them but without damaging the environment nor the species that inhabit it. Caches must be placed close to established trails. Why is that? So we don't go trampling down at risk flowers or destroying the breeding areas of threatened reptiles, amphibians or other wildlife that could very well be fighting for their own species survival. I'm content to visit a national park for its natural wonders - if I can visit a geocache while there well that is a bonus for me but not the only reason I would go there. Of course, YMMV.

Starting about here and onwards: http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php?showtopic=269023&view=findpost&p=4783350 Thanks, that clears some things up and muddies a few others for me.

I've probably missed a thread somewhere, but can someone point me in the direction where this proposal for Challenges is tied in with the proposal to bring back Virtuals? When I first saw this, I thought it was limited to just Challenge caches.

Last January I created two challenge caches The 1.5 D & T Average Challenge and The 1.9 D & T Average Challenge. On the 1.9 challenge I have a 2.0 or Higher Honour Roll that currently lists 8 cachers. Clubmud1 has reproduced these challenges (he contacted me to ask if he could - it's not like I own the idea so of course I said yes) and even created a 2.0 D & T Average Challenge (which still has to be found). If I didn't live so far away from it I would go find it. From the logs on my two challenges - it would appear that they have resulted in some cachers changing their behaviour - maybe temporarily - and go after some of the more higher rated caches. Obviously the more caches you have found, the harder it is to increase your rating. But read BBoG's log on what he did to get his average up to 1.9. I'm currently at 2.09/2.11 with 2,100+ finds and my personal goal is to keep it above 2.0.

I have family in the area and have found a few while there and even hidden one myself - Black Bay Beauty. Some easy ones include: Between A Rock & A Hard Place on Murphy Road just south of Hwy.17 Up yer skirt #1 Up yer skirt # 2 Up yer skirt # 3 I can't BEAR it anymore This is OIL country Indian Point a cache with a short walk to it.

If you're going up the Dempster to Inuvik, then be sure to visit The End of the Road.

Hey Arnie, you up for another road trip?

30 years ago I was in my twenties.

Bring your EC to the attention of Lisdowney. He'll then be asking me when we're going on a road trip from Toronto. I kid you not!

Submitted a new listing at oh, let's say 8 pm this evening - 10 minutes later CacheShadow had published it. Now that is service par excellance! CacheDrone - you listening? Oh man, don't tell me I just said that out loud! Well, been nice knowing y'all...

Not to rain on your parade, but you realize that what you're asking for are caches that won't be listed on the GC site?

Let me know the GC code when you're done - I''ll put it on a watch.

Allo? Anyone out there?

It's all downhill from here.

Why is it a problem if you have to wait months for a reply - it's an Earthcache - not a matter of life or death. As others have stated, obtaining permission raises positive awareness of our activities - if permission is denied then hopefully it is not because of red tape but because of the sensitive nature of the area. How does one know if they are placing an Earthcache in an off limits area in a wilderness setting? A municipal park is one thing - but what about provincial, state or national parks that have a trail system? Just because there is a trail doesn't meant that it is fine to go wandering 100 m off of it - the trail is there for a reason - to ensure you don't wander off into an off-limit area. You may not see those wildflowers that are considered a species at risk until it is too late. Finally, just because an area may deemed to be used by the public, doesn't mean that we have unfettered access.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been getting blank logs and they all seem to be coming from relatively new cachers.

If you live in an area with access to a public library, check and see if they have a GPS to loan out - some of them do.