Just wondering

[Jumper63]

I have two spots I would like to put a geocach at. These spots are not exactly easy to get to. Very steep and off trail of US Forest Service land. One could take a whole day to get to. 12 mile hike in. I was wondering if someone got hurt while searching for a geocach what the consequences would be?

[bogleman]

Thats a risk I'd be willing to take - I get hurt, that's my problem

[+StarBrand]

I'm no lawyer - but I am pretty sure that if you get hurt while making use of public land. The consequences would be:

• pain
  

 

and little else - you kind of accept your own responsiblity when you go out to such places. No matter what you are doing.

[Motorcycle_Mama]

Every user who signs up for an account on the site must agree to this ...

 

"Geocaching, hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor activities involve risk to both persons and property. There are many variables including, but not limited to, weather, fitness level, terrain features and outdoor experience, that must be considered prior to seeking or placing a cache. Be prepared for Your journey and be sure to check the current weather and conditions before heading outdoors. Always exercise common sense and caution. You assume all risks arising in connection with seeking a cache or any other related activity."

[+flask]

I'm no lawyer - but I am pretty sure that if you get hurt while making use of public land. The consequences would be:

• pain
  

and little else - you kind of accept your own responsiblity when you go out to such places. No matter what you are doing.

 

possibly medical expenses or even death. it's still the finder's responsibility. it's called a "risk-assumed sport".

 

my december caching adventure cost me over $1800 just for the rescue alone.

 

if you are afraid of people getting hurt, stick to hiding caches in suburban parks on level terrain far from the bikepath and away from poison plants or bugs.

[+Wintonian]

Thats why we have the NHS (National Health Sevice - free at the point of use)

 

Don't want to lose your tax by not getting hurt.

Edited February 21, 2009 by Hampshire_Hog

[+poohstickz]

I have two spots I would like to put a geocach at. These spots are not exactly easy to get to. Very steep and off trail of US Forest Service land. One could take a whole day to get to. 12 mile hike in. I was wondering if someone got hurt while searching for a geocach what the consequences would be?

It's playing in the great big outdoors, so the consequences are pretty much the same as if there wasn't a geocache there.

 

I've had several hospital trips and bits of surgery as a result of caching adventures but the person who is responsible for my actions is me. No rescues though. Methinks I'm going to have to try harder!

[+briansnat]

Every user who signs up for an account on the site must agree to this ...

 

"Geocaching, hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor activities involve risk to both persons and property. There are many variables including, but not limited to, weather, fitness level, terrain features and outdoor experience, that must be considered prior to seeking or placing a cache. Be prepared for Your journey and be sure to check the current weather and conditions before heading outdoors. Always exercise common sense and caution. You assume all risks arising in connection with seeking a cache or any other related activity."

 

That is written to protect the owners of this website. I put a similar disclaimer on my cache pages. But in the end the disclaimers aren't worth the pixels they are written with.

 

Anybody can sue anybody for anything. Even if the disclaimer holds up and you win, you are out the time and attorneys fees required to defend yourself and it could potentially be very costly.

 

I've had several people injured while searching for my caches, one quite seriously. Thankfully they weren't the litigious sort. But if it happened to the wrong person you never know.

Edited February 21, 2009 by briansnat

[+Juicepig]

just do your best to warn them in the cache page that it is a long hike, to bring plenty of food, water, and a means of getting out of there if trouble should arise.

 

If they choose to disregard your advise, it's their own fault

[+Rockin Roddy]

Every user who signs up for an account on the site must agree to this ...

 

"Geocaching, hiking, backpacking, and other outdoor activities involve risk to both persons and property. There are many variables including, but not limited to, weather, fitness level, terrain features and outdoor experience, that must be considered prior to seeking or placing a cache. Be prepared for Your journey and be sure to check the current weather and conditions before heading outdoors. Always exercise common sense and caution. You assume all risks arising in connection with seeking a cache or any other related activity."

 

That is written to protect the owners of this website. I put a similar disclaimer on my cache pages. But in the end the disclaimers aren't worth the pixels they are written with.

 

Anybody can sue anybody for anything. Even if the disclaimer holds up and you win, you are out the time and attorneys fees required to defend yourself and it could potentially be very costly.

 

I've had several people injured while searching for my caches, one quite seriously. Thankfully they weren't the litigious sort. But if it happened to the wrong person you never know.

 

Very wise words, and very much correct! Even if you do win a lawsuit, you've lost...

[+Headhardhat]

Lessee Here:

 

I have been in the mountains and forests of West Virginia and Virginia, the swamps and woods of North Carolina. There have been times where I would stop for a moment and just go "dadgum" they would never know where the body was. I use loopt to send to my blog and where someone can look to see where I left the car or where my last location was. I send a text with the coords to my wife if I am really going in someplace deep.

 

There are tools out there with more coming.. We are not completely alone anymore.

 

-HHH

[+BadAndy]

The city of Edmonds WA set up a scuba park in Puget Sound. They placed (or allowed to be placed) many sunken items for divers to enjoy. I'm pretty sure their lawyers reviewed the project to assure the city wasn't taking on any liabilities for the numerous DEAD scuba divers that the park would produce.

 

If they're safe...I'm pretty sure we are too.

[+flask]

never underestimate the sheer power of a litigious society.

 

i know someone who won a wrongful death suit against the commonwealth of pennsylvania in the case of an 80 year old man who fell on an road embankment that was allegedly too steep.

 

the man was blown over by a passing truck, which the plaintiff said was the cause of his untimely death

 

 

...five years later

 

 

...of the stomach cancer he'd had for eight years.

[+Harry Dolphin]

In such a litigious society anything can and will happen. Recent example was the drunk who fell off a NYC subway platform into the path of a subway train. He lost one leg. He sued because 'the conductor should have been able to stop the train'. He won 2.3 million dollars.

[+briansnat]

In such a litigious society anything can and will happen. Recent example was the drunk who fell off a NYC subway platform into the path of a subway train. He lost one leg. He sued because 'the conductor should have been able to stop the train'. He won 2.3 million dollars.

 

Then there was the burgler who fell through a skylight and died and his family won a wrongful death suit.

[+Jennifer&Dean]

I have two spots I would like to put a geocach at. These spots are not exactly easy to get to. Very steep and off trail of US Forest Service land. One could take a whole day to get to. 12 mile hike in. I was wondering if someone got hurt while searching for a geocach what the consequences would be?

Hi! Glad to see you are still around!

 

Things to remember around here:

Wilderness is off limits to cache placements.

Check with the local reviewers to make sure your placement will be OK if you are concerned at all.

Don't expect alot of finders. For example, Asatruar's Ride the Rat is one heck of a bike ride/hike and gets hit only a few times every year, if at all.

If it is possible to drive and cut out part of the hike, there is a chance someone will. We once got a ride to the top of MT Sentinel with the Hang-gliding club- it was awesome!

 

Check the FS maps to make sure you haven't placed in one of their research and testing parcels. At one point they were asking that we avoid those but Dean and I only know of 2 in our area designated as such.

 

Definitely spend some time checking out Asatruar's caches- he doesn't stop until he gets to the top and even then may keep going.

[+team moxiepup]

I have two spots I would like to put a geocach at. These spots are not exactly easy to get to. Very steep and off trail of US Forest Service land. One could take a whole day to get to. 12 mile hike in. I was wondering if someone got hurt while searching for a geocach what the consequences would be?

 

You could end up with some "Needs maintenance" logs...

 

"Cache in great shape. Cache area a bit odorous from nearby rotting corpse."

Cito event anyone?

 

Ok, maybe that wasn't in the best of taste, but the thought ran through our heads this past weekend. I had to climb a tree to find a cache. The climb up was fine, but the climb down was a bit more worrisome. Ppup (the one on the ground ) was joking around with the idea of simply placing a "Needs maintenance" log - to remove stuck geocacher! Some things are funnier from the ground!

 

Seriously, as others have said, it would depend on the mindset of the person searching for the cache. Common sense would dictate that the responsibility is with the searcher, but then, common sense isn't as common as we'd like to believe.