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Terrain advice


MaplessInSeattle

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I'm about to place a few caches.

One of which falls into a unique category of terrain.

The slope of land, where it is to be placed and that many would take to get to it is very steep.

I don't want to say it's vertical, but if you try to stand up straight, you would fall down it.

I had to hug the hill, and lost my footing a few times getting there.

Mostly mud, weeds and nature debris along the way, until you are at the cache location.

Then the ground levels out, and you're presented with an unexpected viewpoint of the city.

I'm not a superb climber/hiker, although I used to be in my twenties.

I don't want to set the terrain too high, and scare away people that could get this cache.

But on the other hand, I'd hate to set it too low, and have someone get hurt.

What is most misleading is it is located in the middle of a city.

The elevation is a 75ft gain, in a distance of 116ft.

 

Any ideas?

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Did you need to use your hands to keep you on the slope? If so, a 4* rating might be right.

Yes, definitely need to use hands.

Well, I mean, If you had a walking stick, and a keen sense of balance, you might not have too.

I stupidly ventured out, without a stick, just intending to scout the area, not realizing the goldmine I was going to find. I was nearing the top, when I started to slide, and couldn't regain balance for the life of me. Without much to grab onto, I had to resort to punching into the ground, with my fingers extended, to quickly make hand and footholds. Once I had some stability, I jumped to the edges(where it has more vegetation) and was able to navigate safely to the future GZ.

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I agree with Jester, a 4 star on the terrain sounds about right. A 3.5 may get it if your lucky(Ya don't want anyone hurt after all), but I would still go with a 4. As I understand it, a 5 star requires the use of special equipment to access the area of a cache, so base your decision on that. If you say that a walking stick is a must, debate whether or not that is "special equipment" and go from there. I personally would think of a walking stick as an "accessory", not "special equipment", Depending on the cache, but that is me and I haven't seen the terrain for myself, therefore, this is all blind guesses and see (if you can :D ) my disclaimer of liability at the lowest portion of this post.

Edited by -Hawk-
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When in doubt about rating terrain, I think it's best to err on the high side. As a finder, I'd much rather discover that a cache is easier than I anticipated, than harder. Also, people are more likely to come unprepared if something turns out to be more challenging than it is rated. Even if you do scare a cacher or two away, there will be plenty that are up to the challenge.

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On the report a new cache page, there is a link to Geocache Rating System. You will find it in the area where you rate your cache's difficulty and terrain. It's not perfect, but it will give you a reasonable rating.

yes, but clayjar gives me the 2/4.25

Sounds like it's pretty close to what folks are suggesting (altho there aren't quarter ratings :rolleyes:).

 

Agree with the others, I would vote for 4.0, possibly 4.5, based on what's been presented.

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On the report a new cache page, there is a link to Geocache Rating System. You will find it in the area where you rate your cache's difficulty and terrain. It's not perfect, but it will give you a reasonable rating.

yes, but clayjar gives me the 2/4.25

Sounds like it's pretty close to what folks are suggesting (altho there aren't quarter ratings :bad:).

 

Agree with the others, I would vote for 4.0, possibly 4.5, based on what's been presented.

Whenever Clayjar gives me a .25, I round it up to .5

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Remember that you are always free to adjust your cache rating if say the 1st few finders all say that it's over rated/under rated or something.

 

In other words, picking your initial terrain rating isn't set in stone.

 

If you are unsure, just pick what you think is a reasonable terrain rating and usually cachers will give you feedback.

Edited by GrnXnham
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Perhaps I'll be fortunate enough to talk someone out of the FTF by having them go with me.

In return I could easily give up one of the nearby spaces, there is enough sq footage for more than three caches, although I'd only put one or two in the area, it is incredibly untouched, when you get there, it's like cacher heaven.

Hollowed out tree stumps galore, and everywhere looks like a potential hide location.

Anyone want a good hiding spot, with a crazy terrain?

 

I'll beta-test yours, and you can beta-test mine.

Oh, but I get the slope. LOL

 

the areas in question could easily hide ammo cans, 5 gallon buckets, and I even found one location that could hold a washer machine without being detected.

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the areas in question could easily hide ammo cans, 5 gallon buckets, and I even found one location that could hold a washer machine without being detected.

The washing machine is a joke, correct !?!

Well, although it would make a poor choice for a cache container, you COULD place one in a hiding spot i found up there. It's big enough to hold one, without being seen.

But yah, even if I were crazy enough to decide to do that, I would never lug a washing machine up that terrain. LOL

Plus i'm sure that would violate my CITO clause somehow

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