Zop

But is this appropriate in mild climate areas where closure and weather are not an issue?

I'm willing to bet that some cachers have "Sock Puppet" accounts they use to hide caches that they eventually 'find' under their caching account.

I think what this thread shows is that in some areas, this is perfectly acceptable - providing the climate or environment is one that would prevent access for one reason or another. In Santa Rosa, CA however, our worst weather lasts maybe a week and snow is a once in a decade event that lasts at best a few hours. In this specific case, the cacher Dadfish is questioning has three "Closed for Winter" caches that are in areas fully accessible 24/7/365 rain or shine. I suspect he just doesn't want to deal with maintenaning a poorly crafted hide and being a finder of these hides, I will say he never bothered to read the cache placement guidelines - especially the part about permanence. In MYHO, he's just parking on the spot until he wants to play again.

I actually enjoy the "Urban" micro's! I do have to question the safety factor though. Some urban areas can get more dangerous than a rock pile in snake country during certain parts of the day/night. How urban do you mean? Down town NY? SF? Chicago? I'm out here in the west and did a numbers run thru the SF Financial district a while back and came across a few hides I would NEVER attempt after sun-down or alone due to the native (human) wildlife. True though, if you trip and snap a femur, you are more likely to be noticed and even have cell signal than if 20 miles into BLM land. I do like the creativity I come across in the urban setings too. Yup.. #5 can be a royal pain or even very costly in the truely urban areas. #8 is mostly true but there is a much higher risk of other dangers. Broken glass, razor blades, human waste and Hypo's.

I have come across a few multi's where a compas has come in quite handy! Let's say stage one has the instructions for you to travel 55 degrees magnetic for 100 paces. to find the second stage. Sure you can do this with a GPS but unless your GPS has a built-in compas and accurately calibrated, you may find yourself a ways off. Since my first experience with one of these (DNF) multi's I always carry a compas. Oh.. and yes, a return with a good compas turned up a find.

How about a semi-retired former Park Ranger turned geek - Currently a part-time Systems Engineer/Network Specialist/Network Admin and small business owner (IT consultant). It's a living and lets me cache a couple days a week in addition to weekends.

Oh my! GeoCaching is a middle-ager sport!

You're lucky! It could have been a syringe!

Lost? Not even close.. But I do live in a fairly populated area. But!! One day a buddy and I were hunting the ever so elusive 'Urban' cache in it's own environment.. In San Francisco. We ended up walking over 22 miles thru the city and not once got lost.. But... Yup. We lost the car! Only for an additional mile though. We eventually found it but we could have sworn that the spot we returned to was where I parked. So.. Moral of the story here? Mark a waypoint when you park!

I LOVE Night caches! And there always seems to be enough in the description to let you know that it should only be attempted at night. Maybe the placer of the one you are referencing should be made aware that the description needs a little more?

Reminds me on one I came across in the SF Bay Area... The Proposal

I think I've FINALLY found a cemetary to place a night cache!!! That will be FUN!

I'm amazed that this is even at question! Of course not! I feel everyone should have some sort of writing implement with them - heck, you're going to carry a GPS right? Just add a lanyard and attach a pen to one end!

Yup!! Moozer did a great job with this one! This was the first event I had ever been too having only been caching for two months at the time. What a great day! The meet & greet at the diner later was fun too!

I think this really depends on several factors; Style of hide Location of hide Design of container Attitude of the local cachers And the local environment for just a few. Please note that I've been caching for less than a year and I have only 20 caches that I maintain so I'm far from being an expert - but I have had to spend very little time on maintenance. Mostly because I'm not using fragile or temporary devices though. Every once in a while I'll go for a walk and take a look at a cache that has had a few DNF's but the time ratio is very minimal. If you are the type to just grab a pinecone or a stick, drill a hole into it and fill the hole with paper with no weather proofing, you'll be spending a LOT more time maintaining the cache. Plan the cache well and take measures to protect it from the elements and you may not have to visit again until it's time for a new log. We will probably all have to face the fact that not all cachers are alike though. Some just have no concept of stealth or are in too much of a hurry to move on that they may neglect to return the cache to its proper place. J..

40 caches may be a lot to maintain but if they aren't being muggled, why not let them ride? I only have about 18 out there in my area and am going to try and keep MOST of them maintained as long as conditions permit. Every now and then though, I think about archiving a couple just to replace them with a new style or method of hide though. I have three I'm looking at archiving right now just so I can place a puzzle series of 4 or more logable stages with a grand finale. J..

Most of the time but it really depends on whether or not I'm out for a planned run. I usually carry my swag bag with me in the car and will frequent the toy aisles at the store for some items the kids may like. Sometimes however, the hike will be of a type where any unnecessary weight is discarded at home. TB's and coins excluded of course!

I sure do! I really learned my lesson early on when my daughter and I spent nearly an hour looking for a cache (yes, we were newbe's) only to find that it was a puzzle cache and the actual cache was almost a mile away. Another was the same week where I was looking and looking and only to find out that it was the parking coords for a local event! You BET I read'em!

Hmmm... Well we don't exactly have bears in my neck of the woods but we sure do have ants, racoons and other critters that would be able to smell honey a mile away. Maybe some sort of coupon for a sample?

Funny you mention this.. I was cleaning out the garage the other day - ok.. well, I've made a little dent - but I found a bunch of these fast food toys still in the wrapper from when my kids were little. Why I kept them I'll never know but they are all going into an ammo box for a new cache. Now if I can just come up with a good name and spot to place it!

Wow! I would really have to count to come up with actual number but it's in the dozens... I've managed to attend a couple of events in my area that have been great places to meet other addicts - er... I mean cacheaholics.. er.. I mean Geocachers! Yea! that's us! There are about a dozen with whom I will cache along with at one time or another but about half of them are friends I knew thry another hobby. Actual numbers met in the field that I can greet over 20 by first name. Unfortunately, most of my geocachers will remember me by Zop because it's a heck of a lot different than Jim or Jimmy Mac. Just kinda rolls off the tongue too! Nice and easy on a nano as well.

I'd be willing to bet that their "Operations" is store specific. Regardless, they don't want one at that exact location so be creative! I'm sure you can place one nearby that will fit the theme.

I guess I see this in a slightly different light. I often drop by a local toy store or craft store for swag and trade in stuff to make the game funner for the kids. Recently I pulled out an expired discount card and dropped in a score of glow in the dark dino's. I'm not trying to call you selfish, I just think this game should be kid friendly.

What is it about these travelling caches do you dislike? Just curious.. I'm a newbe and have only found one that passed by a few months ago.

I really don't think there is any thing wrong with "Evil" hides or even "Nasty" ones but as a cacher and a placer, I try to keep one thing in mind. To me anyway, I want my hides to be found. Some easily, others not so easily but none the less, they are meant to be found. When someone places a cache in such a way that it becomes more of a "I can hide it better than you" hide, then I feel the whole spirit of the game is lost on ego.