[Maintaining other's caches]

20 minutes ago, hal-an-tow said:

Replace the logbook  ? No, please don't do it . Add , and sign, a new strip in a press seal bag so it doesn't immediately become as soggy as the original. I'll only take the old log away if I know the CO and have previously established that they are happy with that. The wet log sheet can probably be dried out, and it is part of the cache as set by the C.O. so taking it away seems to me to be removing someone else's property,  not something I am happy to do.   I habitually photograph log sheets in my owned caches in the field before replacing them when I do a maintenance walk, and post the photo with my owner maintenance log. It confirms and records the recent visitors, and deters backdated armchair loggers ( strange creatures, but I've seen and deleted a few  of their logs... )

 

My approach to caches I find which are in need of some care depends on several factors : The problem is there is a fine line between helpful community maintenance,  and enabling rubbishy unmaintained trash.  If I know the CO either personally or from finding several of their hides, and they are active in the game, I will have formed an opinion on what they hold appropriate, and will act accordingly and send a personal message to them with details of the problem and what I did, as well as mentioning it in my log.   However, if they are not known to me, I'll tread carefully, administer minimal first aid to keep the cache ticking over until the CO can visit (new log in bag, wipe the container out if damp, rehide where it should be if it's not as per the hint, remove any guideline breaking or obviously leaky swaps). I'll mention any minor maintenance like that in my log.
 

If I find a plastic box with a cracked lid, or an ammo can where some fool has mangled the closure or hinge, or a hanging cache which has somehow had it's suspension damaged, or a film pot which has been nibbled by rodents and is like a pepper pot, or a cache which has been obviously muggled and opened and pillaged, again  I'll do my best to make it secure in the short term ( I carry a very small amount of duct tape, cord and thin wire in my caching kit ) , mention it in my log, and  this time post a needs maintenance too, because this sort of problem can't be sorted by a visitor.

 

Caches I'm not going to spend time and effort with are the ones where a  'never was fit for purpose' container was placed by an owner who has never bothered to do any maintenance or is long gone from the game, and that container is now in a truly awful state.  There all I'll do is add a log if the existing one is utterly unsignable, just to record my visit, and put a needs maintenance on it, and a N.A. a month or two later if (or more likely, when) there's no CO response.

 

Where you draw the line between what you feel is helpful community maintenance versus foolish perpetuating  of zombie caches is entirely up to the individual to decide, opinions here are going to vary, give it a bit of thought and make your own mind up.

 

 

 

Thanks a lot for the response and I totaly agree.

If I understand well in the community there is a need to clean up some caches that are inactive and poorly maintained, since you aren't the only that says that maintaining a cache with a bad CO isn't a good thing.

[Maintaining other's caches]

7 hours ago, *GeoPunx* said:

This is just me...but...if it's an active cacher's hide; I'll do what I can to help them out(they'd do the same for me). If it's someone who hasn't logged into the game in years, and their caches are just sitting there rotting; I'll just leave them as I found them, and log a NM; hoping they'll eventually get archived to open space up for someone who is actually active.

That's a good point. There are some caches around me and I checked and the owner last connection was in 2014, so I don't expect them to come and maintain them.

It all depend on the situation I suppose. If it's just the little plastic bag that is sometimes around the logbook that is broken, I could simply replace it but if the logbook is wet I prefer to ask the owner of the cache. Sometimes they just have to dry the logbook and now replacing the whole thing.

[Avoiding plastic in the container]

5 hours ago, lee737 said:

 

I agree. But realise that the 'waterproofness' of the paper is just your last line of defence against water, the container must seal.....

Water proof paper is indeed a must have, but the problem is that once it's wet, you have to dry it to write on it and I don't think that a logger wants to wait until the paper is completely dry for it to write on. But I suppose that a good sealed container and a waterproof logbook is the best combination.

[Avoiding plastic in the container]

Thanks a lot for all your replies. I think the best is to have a realy good sealed container, it seems the most efficient and most easy way to do it.

[The purpose of geocoins]

1 minute ago, kunarion said:

If you find a Geocoin (or other trackable item) in a Geocache, it is rare that the intent is for you to keep it.  The item may have "Track at Geocaching.com" inscribed.  It will have a 6-digit "tracking number" of numbers and letters, but you may have to search the whole thing to find that code, and may need a magnifying glass, to see it.  Type a tracking number here:  https://www.geocaching.com/track/

 

A Geocache GC number is not a trackable item, but may also be on a trackable item (along with a tracking number).  I've seen a GC number cause such confusion among Geocachers, that I rarely place an item with a GC number on it anymore.  I used to hand-make a "kunarion" name pin button for any Geocaching Event, include the Event's GC number and place the pin into a cache.  That generated massive chaos for finders trying to "track" the GC number.  

There is only a GC number on it, no tracking number. The cache was from an event so I suppose they gave those coins for the participants of that event and the owner of the coin just left it in a cache as a souvenir.

 

PS: I never found a trackable so I hope I'l find one one day so I can log it and place it somewhere else. It's like a dream to open a cache and fine a TB code ?

[Avoiding plastic in the container]

1 minute ago, kunarion said:

Buy a 100% water proof container. 

 

My current plan for my caches is to replace logs (or dry them) when they get wet.  My containers all seal well, and I design the hide so that water doesn't pool along the seal so much.  Because "waterproof paper" hasn't proven to be worth the trouble, I use ordinary paper log sheets and log books.  I'm removing a lot of the ziplock bags in my caches.  They actually create more issues.

I'll maybe try to make waterproof caches then. I'll maybe keep using the plastic bags for when I see that an already existing cache is wet.

Maybe with a rubber band it will keep the water outside, and of course choosing a place where it's pretty dry in the first place.

 

Thanks for the information.

[The purpose of geocoins]

HI everyone,

i've recently found a geocoin I think.

Am I supposed to keep it or let it travel like travel bugs? There is a code on it but it isn't for tracking, it refers to an archived cache.

For the gecoins you can buy, do you just buy them as decoration for your own? Like the once for 5000 caches logged, 10 000 caches logged,... Or do you buy them to put in a cache?

 

Thanks in advance for the response to my questions.

[Avoiding plastic in the container]

Hi everyone,

 

When placing a container or replacing a logbook, does anyone have an idea on how to avoid plastic bags to prevent water from damaging the logbook?

They are very useful but can sometimes have holes in it after a while and then some plastic got lost in the nature.

Is there any way of prevent using any plastic at all except of the container? Of course I can buy a 100% water proof container but even the best containers can get wet for some reasons.

[Maintaining other's caches]

9 minutes ago, RuideAlmeida said:

 

Yes, and everybody will appreciate.

However, greater maintenance should only be performed upon owner's notice.

Thanks a lot. Now just waiting until my order of logbooks arrives  

[Maintaining other's caches]

Hello community.

 

This is my first post here, so hi everyone.

I've been geocaching for a while but I recently started with active geocaching, logging some caches each time I find some spare time.

Now I've seen some caches that are wet, with a logbook that's unreadable/un-writable or some where the container is completely broke. Am I allowed to replace the logbook with a fresh one and add a little protection around it so it is protected, or is it completely up to the cache owner to maintain it?

 

Thanks in advance for the response.