How Do I Properly Log This?

February 25, 2006

Hellos. I'm fairly new to here, and this is my first posting. I went out today because I found a cache on the site that was placed just today, and got to where I figured the cache would be, and didn't see it. It was a micro and, I haven't had any experience with them, so I don't know where I could find it. I know it was there though, because I passed someone who had found it right before (didn't say anything, but he did say something to me in the log). Anywho, I didn't mark it as DNF because, well, I know it's there, and didn't want to make it sound like it might be missing. So I put 'note' instead. Still didn't count as a 'Found', so I figured that it would be ok. Is it? Thanks for any advice you all can give.

Chris in Ypsilanti/YpsiChris

February 25, 2006

Anywho, I didn't mark it as DNF because, well, I know it's there, and didn't want to make it sound like it might be missing.

Chris in Ypsilanti/YpsiChris

I would log it as a DNF. You searched and did not find it. I would only post a note if for some reason I could not search or my search was interrupted. The owner won't think it is actually missing until s/he get several DNFs. They will probably just sit back and grin at there great hiding skills.

You are new at this and it will take some experience to get your cache finding skills in tune. I DNFs a couple of easy micros my first few times out. A DNF is not a bad thing....it is now a challenge for my next caching trip. Welcome to the sport.

7.2k · February 25, 2006

Posting a DNF does not mean it may be missing. It only means you looked for it and didn't find it. Nothing more.

Loggin a DNF is appropriate. Definately logging a "Found It" would be inappropriate. Notes are really for something other than a successful or unsuccessful attemp. A lot of people will accept a note for a DNF, though.

24.7k · February 25, 2006

Posting a DNF does not mean it may be missing. It only means you looked for it and didn't find it. Nothing more.

Loggin a DNF is appropriate. Definately logging a "Found It" would be inappropriate. Notes are really for something other than a successful or unsuccessful attemp. A lot of people will accept a note for a DNF, though.

That about sums it up. I use a DNF if the cache got the best of me. I use a note of something stopped me from looking further. Usually I run out of daylight.

February 25, 2006

U post DNF if I physically do not find the cache and do not sign the log book. I did that to one cache and theowner of the cache went out and found it was missing. He posted a note on teh cache that I could log it as a FOUND since the cache was missing(muggled). He replaced the cache for others and I changed my log to FOUND.

22k · February 25, 2006

DNF. You made the effort you deserve the recognition. Looking and not finding is all part of the game.

Edit: Yeah I've looked for a cache that turn out to be missing. I waited until it was replaced and went back to sign the log. Kind of a pride thing with me, that way I know I found the cache and my name is in the logbook.

Edited February 25, 2006 by BlueDeuce

February 25, 2006

DNF. You made the effort you deserve the recognition. Looking and not finding is all part of the game.

Edit: Yeah I've looked for a cache that turn out to be missing. I waited until it was replaced and went back to sign the log. Kind of a pride thing with me, that way I know I found the cache and my name is in the logbook.

I would have went back for my find except that I was already over 2000 miles away. I am sure that I will be back there though and I will visit the site again. There were 3 of us in a row that DNF the cache since it was muggled.

February 25, 2006

It's a DNF, but you raise a good point that I used to wonder about too - whether or not a DNF indicates to people that it might be missing. If you're worried about that, include the info in your DNF log (eg. "I only had 10 minutes to look so it's probably there, but I didn't find it")

24.7k · February 25, 2006

When it comes to my caches a DNF is a clue. Nothing more. On an easy cache painted bright orange in the middle of an open field after a 2 mile hike a DNF tells me it's probably gone. If it's a challenging hide that stumps people who I know how to find a cache and others with a thousand hides under their belt and a newbiew can't find it...I don't sweat it so much.

4.2k · February 25, 2006

When it comes to my caches a DNF is a clue. Nothing more. On an easy cache painted bright orange in the middle of an open field after a 2 mile hike a DNF tells me it's probably gone. If it's a challenging hide that stumps people who I know how to find a cache and others with a thousand hides under their belt and a newbiew can't find it...I don't sweat it so much.

What RK said.

18.9k · February 25, 2006

DNF=Didn't find it

You looked but didn't find. Pretty simple.

As a cache owner, DNF's give me a certain amount of feedback but I never automatically assume that it is gone. Maybe after 3 or 4 DNFs I check into it if it is an easy one.

22k · February 25, 2006

Sorry, too much of an editorial on my part.

Edited February 25, 2006 by BlueDeuce

38.2k · February 25, 2006

I would have logged it as a DNF because I didn't find it. I would have explained the circumstances in the log.

A DNF does not mean the cache is missing, it simply means that you didn't find it.

February 25, 2006

Ahh, 'k. Thanks for the replies.

5.8k · February 26, 2006

Many times I don't count a cache as DNF until I've decided to give up on the search. If I plan to return, I may post a note, or no log at all.

1.2k · February 26, 2006

I have one near home that took three tries to actually log it. First try was a true DNF - I did not find it and I logged it that way but included the fact that terrain held me back. Second try got me semi-success. I found it but couldn't physically get to it. I could see it out on the ledge over a deep ravine, but being alone and not having any safety rope kept me from actually touching it or logging it. I don't count a find unless I actually sign the log in the cache. This attempt would qualify as a Note if I were to log it. Third try was with backup! Complete success! We got the cache, signed the log and then logged it as a "FIND".

10.1k · February 27, 2006

I logged three DNFs today. One, I'm pretty sure is missing. GPS pointed at the tree. Tree had a wire attached to it. There was nothing on the other end of the wire. One appears to be under a bridge. The water was too high and too cold for me to search there. Third one we just did not find. Oh, well.

On the other had, I got a DNF notice on one of mine this week. It had not bee logged since October, which was surprising. Off we went to check on it. It was definitely missing. We replaced it. If the people who did not find it since October had reportd the DNF, we would have replaced it much sooner!

2k · February 27, 2006

DNF means I went, I looked, I did not find.

Nothing more, nothing less.

If I see a DNF on one of my caches I don't worry too much, if I see three I will check on it.

These are rules of thumb, what a cacher puts in a DNF log may make a difference.

I use notes for logs that don't fit a find or did not find.

Like the time I checked on another cachers cache for him, or responding publicly to other cachers logs.

Just my thoughts.

How Do I Properly Log This?

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