Winter accessible vs. winter friendly

[+Hooligan14]

This is my first winter caching and I am trying to approach caches during the snow months based on terrain, size(traditional, micro) and difficulty level. So, some questions on the intention of the attribute icons.....

 

Do most cache owners consider the "winter accessible" attribute icon to describe the cache location (park, trail) as being accessible/open in winter months? Or is it winter friendly?... (i.e. hidden in tree, above ground or somehow protected from snow/ice cover.) Aside from comments in the cache description, am I flipping a coin as the whether I will be digging in a foot of snow or not? I don't think in all cases the one icon can equal both.

 

Any opinions or general knowledge you can share? Any thoughts or past posts on whether an additional icon in the attribute listing would help? The existing snowflake for "accessible" and maybe another (snowman, etc?) for winter "friendly"?

 

All help and comments appreciated!

[+Arndtwe]

the snow icon generally means that the cache can be found in the winter. meaning you will probably fint it. i.e. hidden in a tree above ground.

[+flask]

i consider there to be three categories mostly:

 

caches that are available during winter and whose difficulty is still reasonable under snow

 

caches that are available during winter but are difficult to find under snow

 

cache that are unavailable during winter.

 

there's a lot of grey area with the first two. you have discretion about how much information you'll give as a hider; often winter availability makes too much of a hint.

[+Team LaLonde]

I use the the icon in the "sure, it's possible" context. Most people will automatically know that the cache will be more difficult in the winter, but the icon shows that it's not impossible.

 

When I look at it from your viewpoint I see that I may be using the icon improperly.

[+StarBrand]

I have always used it to mean the area is open and accessible in the winter not a burden to get to - not buried most of the winter with 10 foot of snow. I never have meant it to indicate weather or not it would be same difficulty with 2 foot of snow. But I see your point.....

[+briansnat]

As you already see in this thread, there is a level of disagreement about what the attribute means. I personally think it means that a hunter will have a reasonable chance of finding the cache in snow. Of course that would include access to the area as well as the cache being in a place where it can be found under snow. In a previous thread on this subject it seemed most people agreed with that definition, but it wasn't unanimous.

[+Hooligan14]

Thanks to all for the feedback so far. It seems this isn't as straight forward as I thought it might be.

So for now.....as most of the other icons describe access to the area or other area features (pets allowed, 24/7) I will lean towards winter accessible to mean the property or cache area is open in winter.

 

Glad to read a few see my point on the initial question... winter accessible doesn't by default mean winter friendly. I can understand the owners don't want a statement of winter friendly to lead to a presumption of "in a tree" or "off the ground". But, although I tend to wander in the snow so any direct tracks are not a spoiler...digging out 12" of snow in a 4 ft circle sure takes care of that.

 

Maybe a more precise definition of the attribute icon would help. It seems like most things...it is a matter of translation, if not debate.

 

Half the fun is learning as you go! Thanks

[+briansnat]

Glad to read a few see my point on the initial question... winter accessible doesn't by default mean winter friendly.

 

I think most people agree that it does mean winter friendly. The vast majority of places are accessible in the winter somehow, if by foot, ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile, so an icon for that would be rather pointless.

[+Muddy Chris]

I just figure that if there is snow on the ground it will be harder. If it was too easy, everyone would be doing it.

 

Chris