Trees

[+ilikepargo]

I hesitate to ask this, as I don't want to give too much of a clue to anyone who might go searching. But...

 

I've heard of a cache that involved a large hole drilled into a tree. The small cache was then placed into the hole, and a branch from another species of tree was used as a cap.

 

I've looked for one in/around a hollow tree that featured gobs of poison oak and a beehive.

 

So here's the question:

 

What's considered acceptable/not acceptable for placement in/around a tree? Is the "hole" thing ok or out of line? Could velcro be glued to a tree and a cache attached by the velcro? Where's the line between freedom/creativity and defacing the location?

[+lindsychris]

So here's the question:

 

What's considered acceptable/not acceptable for placement in/around a tree? Is the "hole" thing ok or out of line? Could velcro be glued to a tree and a cache attached by the velcro? Where's the line between freedom/creativity and defacing the location?

 

Personally, I think drilling into a tree is unacceptable. We're not allowed to dig holes to bury caches in the ground, and this seems like the same idea to me.

 

We also wouldn't permenantly attach anything to a tree either. Fishing line words wonders in the woods!

 

Why not find a dead branch or stump and use the same idea? Hollow out the bottom of the stump and hide a container in there. Or, cut a stump in half, hollow out a section, and then reattach the two portions with a nail or a screw in order to make it swivel.

 

We've found several caches that use the remains of a dead tree in order to hide a cache. In fact, there are detailed instructions on how to do this if you Google.

[Keystone]

Drilling into a live tree is unacceptable and is cause for immediate archival of the cache.

 

The guidelines prohibit defacement of any man-made or natural object in order to provide a clue or a logging method. (A hiding spot for a container is subsumed within "logging method.")

 

There are grey areas like hollowed out logs and stumps that are prepared in a crafty geocacher's basement and then hauled out to the cache site. Most geocachers think these are cool, and nothing's getting harmed in the process.

[+briansnat]

Drilling holes in live trees is absolutely, positively not allowed. If you do know of one, a discreet e-mail to your local reviewer might be in order. If these exist, they need to be weeded out.

[bogleman]

Well here is what I did. I found a natural void in the tree that a film can would fit into. Found a dead branch on the ground from the same tree. I then glued and screwed the branch to the cap of the film can. I then inserted the branch/cache into the natural hole in the tree and shazam a lame urban wood lot cache was born.

 

It has held up quite well and I have not had any problems with it to date - dry log included.

[+ilikepargo]

Hmmm... My actual plan wasn't mentionrd in any of your answers, nor do I know the name/location of the one that is supposedly drilled (3rd-hand story). But it does seems as though my thought would be considered borderline at best.

 

[+lindsychris]

Well here is what I did. I found a natural void in the tree that a film can would fit into. Found a dead branch on the ground from the same tree. I then glued and screwed the branch to the cap of the film can. I then inserted the branch/cache into the natural hole in the tree and shazam a lame urban wood lot cache was born.

 

It has held up quite well and I have not had any problems with it to date - dry log included.

 

And it was a very good hide!!!

[+lindsychris]

Hmmm... My actual plan wasn't mentionrd in any of your answers, nor do I know the name/location of the one that is supposedly drilled (3rd-hand story). But it does seems as though my thought would be considered borderline at best.

 

 

Perhaps you should be a little more detailed then. Your original post asked about the hole idea, and if it was ok or not. You got the definate answer--NO. Velcro would also be seen as defacing the tree, I believe.

[dsandbro]

I suggest avoiding gobs of poison oak or beehives, too.

 

Altough there is a certain amount of assumed risk when walking in the woods you should not intentionally add to the risk with the placement of your cache. A similar example would be placing the cache atop an unstable pile of rocks where a cache seeker could trigger a rockslide.

 

You don't have to make it easy, just don't put it where unnecessary danger is obvious.

[+gps_junky]

I would say "JUST ASK THE QUESTION" Tell us what you are planning on doing. Chances are slim that anyone from your area would happen to look at this forum, and if they do, well, its a good hint. But I don't think I have ever realy seen any body put somthing on a forum that gives IT away. Perhaps it would give anyone else that reads this partucular forum a New Idea. Plus you will get a positive feed back answere to your question.....

[Centerfield]

Drilling holes, sawing logs....sounds like Tim Taylor got himself a GPS! Just how much home-improvement equipment are you guys hauling into the woods?

[+usafknine]

I am fairly new to caching. I have about 150 finds. I have found some that involve "Micro's" in the tiny dog ID tubes/canisters. Most of these were helt to the tree with the loop around a screw or nail attached to the tree. I was thinking of doing this myself because I had seen seasoned users do this. Is this also a no-no?

[+Kacky]

I am fairly new to caching. I have about 150 finds. I have found some that involve "Micro's" in the tiny dog ID tubes/canisters. Most of these were helt to the tree with the loop around a screw or nail attached to the tree. I was thinking of doing this myself because I had seen seasoned users do this. Is this also a no-no?

It depends - would you be willing to let strangers put screws into different trees in your yard?

[+briansnat]

I am fairly new to caching. I have about 150 finds. I have found some that involve "Micro's" in the tiny dog ID tubes/canisters. Most of these were helt to the tree with the loop around a screw or nail attached to the tree. I was thinking of doing this myself because I had seen seasoned users do this. Is this also a no-no?

 

You may have seen it done, but it is a no-no. If they are reported to a reviewer they will be immediately archived. There are ways of doing it that don't involve nails or screws in trees.

[+sbell111]

Hmmm... My actual plan wasn't mentionrd in any of your answers, nor do I know the name/location of the one that is supposedly drilled (3rd-hand story). But it does seems as though my thought would be considered borderline at best.

I don't know if the velcro thing would be approved or not. I suspect it would. However, I believe that velcro would not stick to a tree for very long and you would drive yourself crazy with the maintenance visits.

[+usafknine]

Thank you for your replies on this subject. I will not be putting screws into any trees... unless provoked (some trees are mean). I will look into other ways of attaching the caches. I just wanted a little clarification before placing my caches. Thanks.

Edited July 6, 2006 by usafknine

[+ZSandmann]

Thank you for your replies on this subject. I will not be putting screws into any trees... unless provoked (some trees are mean). I will look into other ways of attaching the caches. I just wanted a little clarification before placing my caches. Thanks.

 

Good of you to ask usafknine. My stance is to always conserve nature when caching. Dead wood is fine and rocks don't feel pain ( ). Just think if the property owner found your cache would they be upset at your method of securing the cache. OH...

 

ROLL TIDE!

 

Sorry couldn't resist.

[+Harry Dolphin]

Thank you for your replies on this subject. I will not be putting screws into any trees... unless provoked (some trees are mean). I will look into other ways of attaching the caches. I just wanted a little clarification before placing my caches. Thanks.

 

LOL. Thanks, I needed a laugh! There are some really mean trees out there. Now, don't get me started on greenbriar!