Offset, Multi, Or Puzzle?

[+ranger-rob]

Here's the deal:

 

I've been granted permission to place an ammo can sized cache on private property, right in front of a

really pretty antebellum house (1847). The owners regularly have the home and grounds on the local tour

of homes (put on by the Chamber of Commerce) so they're not at all surprized to see people stop in front of

their driveway, take pictures, and stuff like that. BUT... this is their full time home and some degree of control

is required/desired so that their lives aren't unnecessarily interrupted. AND... They don't want people roaming

all around the grounds, just the area where the cache is.

 

A "Traditional" isn't an option because of Pocket Queries [1]. In this case, the actual cache page will be

very important since it will have the "rules" as to the "when" and "how" to access the cache and what

to look for etc.

 

Which of the other three would be the most appropriate for these conditions?

 

My first instinct is have the posted coordinates be a nearby intersection, on the way to the cache, and

the clues/directions/bearing to the containers actual location written out on the cache page so that the

potential finder will have to read the page to know where to look.

 

Another option would be have the finder sent to a nearby location (stage) to obtain the final coordinates.

 

And my final idea, have the finder solve a puzzle on the page to obtain the coordinates.

 

Having never placed one, I'm not sure how the starting coordinate thing works with a

puzzle, or offset.

 

 

[1] For the folks that don't like this aspect because "PQ's are the coolest thing next to

feather-weight, collapsable walking sticks", I have this to say: "Thpbbtttt , too bad! Go look

for another cache."

[+Miragee]

I appreciate what you are saying and understand why it is important for people to read the cache page before arriving at the coordinates. If it was my cache, I would list it as a Multi.

 

People will know they have to read the cache page to figure out how to proceed from the first waypoint. I think more people will look for a Multi than will look for a Puzzle cache. I filter the Puzzles out of my PQs because I can't ever figure them out . . . but I always include the Multis.

[+Team GPSaxophone]

if it's a multi, the cache page and all clue sheets could have the hours written on them. You can't control 100% of the people, but most of them would probably respect the hours posted.

If it's a puzzle, cachers are going to read the description in order to solve the puzzle, so you'd know they had to read the hours too. Again, once you give them the information it's up to them what they do with it.

[+WalruZ]

Quite simple once you've done it once or twice.

 

find someplace nearby that is discreet and will hold your cache. Hide it and take coordinates.

 

Now go to the house, somewhere that can be searched easily without causing damage or distress (fence?) and leave a sticker there with the coordinates. If you can manage magnetic, I suggest going to a craft store and buying blank flexible magnet sheets, they are optimized for a business card but you can fasten pretty much whatever you want. very reasonable. another possibility is using numeric metal stamps (hardware store) and sheet tin to make a small metal tag with the coords on it. This can go in a variety of places and is very weatherproof. Whatever you do, don't make it *too* hard to find. The goal is to bring people to the house, not provide them with a frustrating search.

[+briansnat]

Quite simple once you've done it once or twice.

 

find someplace nearby that is discreet and will hold your cache. Hide it and take coordinates.

 

Now go to the house, somewhere that can be searched easily without causing damage or distress (fence?) and leave a sticker there with the coordinates. If you can manage magnetic, I suggest going to a craft store and buying blank flexible magnet sheets, they are optimized for a business card but you can fasten pretty much whatever you want. very reasonable. another possibility is using numeric metal stamps (hardware store) and sheet tin to make a small metal tag with the coords on it. This can go in a variety of places and is very weatherproof. Whatever you do, don't make it *too* hard to find. The goal is to bring people to the house, not provide them with a frustrating search.

 

This is a good idea. Have the actual cache in a nearby park and the first stage at the house. If you don't want to have an actual container or tag at the house (as WalruZ suggested), consider something at the site that will point to the actual coordinates. You could have searchers count fence posts, use the house number, count bricks on stairs, windows on the house, whatever and use that number to obtain the coordinates for the actual cache.

 

Something like this is popular:

A= the number bricks in the first step

B= the house number

C= number of windows on the front of the house, minus two

 

D=The number of fence posts

E= The number of trees on the lawn, plus 3

F= The number of chimneys

 

 

The actual cache is at:

 

N33.5B.AAC

W 111.DE.EF1

 

 

[+ranger-rob]

Quite simple once you've done it once or twice.

 

find someplace nearby that is discreet and will hold your cache. Hide it and take coordinates.

<snip>

Whatever you do, don't make it *too* hard to find. The goal is to bring people to the house, not provide them with a frustrating search.

 

That's just so... so... simple. So simple it's pure genius! (Which is probably why I didn't think of it)

 

Originally I'd planned for the container to be easily seen once the finder made it to the "search area". This had the added advantage of making it easily avoided by the owners when they mowed/trimmed/pruned. I like this idea better though. The problems I envisioned are all but eliminated now.

 

Thanks for the input

 

Genius! Sheer Genius!

[+ranger-rob]

 

This is a good idea. Have the actual cache in a nearby park and the first stage at the house. If you don't want to have an actual container or tag at the house (as WalruZ suggested), consider something at the site that will point to the actual coordinates. You could have searchers count fence posts, use the house number, count bricks on stairs, windows on the house, whatever and use that number to obtain the coordinates for the actual cache.

 

 

Thanks for the ideas briansat. There's a good possibility I can incorporate them but I need to get the coordinates first in order to see if there's enough different features to work with. I have little doubt that

owner will allow me to place the container on another part of his property. I'm under the impression though, that they want to be able to watch when people are hunting/finding the cache. But that shouldn't be a problem, from what I've seen of their "spread".

 

Am I correct in my assumtion that the stages of a mult can be placed at any distance from one another?

[+wiseye]

Yes, you are correct.

[CoyoteRed]

I understand your situation perfectly and I know first hand how folks will not read the cache page if it's a traditional thus jeopardizing the good will of the owners.

 

Is there a sign that details the hours and restrictions? If so, you can list the coords to that and have a simple fill in the blank puzzle to get the final coords. This would be listed as a multi because the first stage is listed and known.

 

An even better scheme is if there is some way to prevent folks from even being able to get the final coords outside the proper hours. I know some cachers will know what the hours are, know that them hunting it outside hour could get it archived, and still do it anyway. How you do this I haven't a clue unless you put the coords inside a nearby establishment of some kind with similar hours, but then you're running the risk of it being deemed a commercial cache. Think along those lines though. Maybe a nearby library? Just don't make it too involved or most will pass it by. It's a fine line, protection of the hide and access.