Are more rural caches muggled in winter?

[+geowizerd]

I visited a cache this week after a couple inches of fresh snow had fallen. It is near a railroad overlook that gets a lot of visitors. There were many fresh footprints from the parking area to the overlook, but they all stopped there. The cache was a couple hundred feet up the path (actually an old road) beyond the overlook. Coming back down, I turned around and saw my lone tracks going up the path, then up the embankment to where the cache is, and you can tell I was stopped there and trampling around for a while. Seems this might greatly increse the likelyhood of it getting muggled, as anyone is going to look at those tracks and wonder what is up there.

[+BlueDeuce]

What kind of nut job walks a couple hundred feet off a path, in the snow, and then starts looking for something under logs and stuff?

 

I'll tell you who, those nut job cachers.

[+StarBrand]

My rural caches get far fewer visitor in the winter. After 6 years - I have never had even 1 cache muggled during the winter. Doesn't seem to be an issue around here.

[+BlueDeuce]

Yep, you're not going to get too many people off the beaten path. And if they did they'd wouldn't really know what to look for, footprints and all.

 

And those who do find it might end up joining the game. It's all good.

[+joranda]

It's a strange bred that wants to wander around in the dead of winter looking for hidden treasure. Guess that's why I'm hooked.

[+fjones15]

I resemble that remark.

[+briansnat]

Just bring a bottle of water with yellow food coloring and spill it where the tracks stop.

[+egami]

Seems this might greatly increse the likelyhood of it getting muggled, as anyone is going to look at those tracks and wonder what is up there.

 

It could, but then again remember that you'll get blowing, snow, freezing rain and other elements to re-cover those tracks. I doubt that most people just follow a single set of tracks to see where they go.

 

In fact, I just recently published my first waymark. When we arrived here there was a beaten down path 3 feet wide from all the traffic to this little point of interest. There had been a small write-up in the local paper regarding it, so we stuck around a while playing to see who wandered by to see it, being a warm 40-some degree day there was a LOT of traffic at the park...and out of the 8 or so people that came right up that path and walked RIGHT by it sitting there facing them in broad daylight...only 2 stopped to see it and when we asked them about it they too had heard about it in the paper.

 

So, I would be surprised if many caches were muggled this way...but, certainly possible it happens.

[+Sioneva]

Just bring a bottle of water with yellow food coloring and spill it where the tracks stop.

 

I like this idea!

[+geowizerd]

Just bring a bottle of water with yellow food coloring and spill it where the tracks stop.

 

Good idea! Another item for the Geo-Pak/Swag-Bag....

[+WRASTRO]

Just bring a bottle of water with yellow food coloring and spill it where the tracks stop.

 

Good idea! Another item for the Geo-Pak/Swag-Bag....

 

I think you would want to use a squirt bottle for maximum effect.

[Mag Magician]

Just bring a bottle of water with yellow food coloring and spill it where the tracks stop.

 

Good idea! Another item for the Geo-Pak/Swag-Bag....

 

I think you would want to use a squirt bottle for maximum effect.

 

Or, drink a six pack before going caching.

[+BlueDeuce]

mmmm, beer.

[knowschad]

I visited a cache this week after a couple inches of fresh snow had fallen. It is near a railroad overlook that gets a lot of visitors. There were many fresh footprints from the parking area to the overlook, but they all stopped there. The cache was a couple hundred feet up the path (actually an old road) beyond the overlook. Coming back down, I turned around and saw my lone tracks going up the path, then up the embankment to where the cache is, and you can tell I was stopped there and trampling around for a while. Seems this might greatly increse the likelyhood of it getting muggled, as anyone is going to look at those tracks and wonder what is up there.

 

Yellow snow posts not withstanding... just take the time to make a bunch of fake tracks around the area. Me... I'm a bad enough finder that I don't need to... I'd mislead a team of bloodhounds. But it you're better at finding them than I am, once you've found it, just walk around a few other trees (or whatever you have in your area) before leaving. Makes it more fun for the next cacher, too.

[+fairyhoney]

 

I think you would want to use a squirt bottle for maximum effect.

 

Or, drink a six pack before going caching.

 

Better still

[Tir19 & GreenTerra]

once you've found it, just walk around a few other trees (or whatever you have in your area) before leaving. Makes it more fun for the next cacher, too.

 

Been there, done that.

 

Drying out sneakers from walking around in fresh snowfall to find caches=$3

Ripping coat from stumbling into ditches because you suddenly went off the trail=$57

LYAO when you walk around in backward circles to leave false trails, so as not to make it too easy for the next cacher=PRICELESS!

[+KJcachers]

Just bring a bottle of water with yellow food coloring and spill it where the tracks stop.

 

Good idea! Another item for the Geo-Pak/Swag-Bag....

 

I think you would want to use a squirt bottle for maximum effect.

 

and spell your name in the snow...

[+MarshMonsters]

Just bring a bottle of water with yellow food coloring and spill it where the tracks stop.

 

Good idea! Another item for the Geo-Pak/Swag-Bag....

 

I think you would want to use a squirt bottle for maximum effect.

 

and spell your name in the snow...

 

Write "X" marks the spot! That will leave people wondering...