Logging your own hides

[ao318]

I have adopted 5 caches. I have logged finds for all of them. I found 3 prior to adopting and 2 after.

 

In the logs for the 2 finds I noted that I had just adopted these caches and found them to verify their existance and to find out if they needed any maintanence as the new owner.

 

These are the only caches that I own that I have claimed a find on.

[+Don_J]

What if your cache suffers from "migration"? If yuo had several DNF's to your cache, you search and find the thing 60' away, would you not have a "found it?

 

Would you log a DNF if you didn't?

 

If I didn't find my own cache I would replace it or archive it.

 

If I found it then I would put it back where it belongs.

 

I kind of look at it this way as well.

One of the toughest caches that I have ever found was my own T-Rex cache. T-Rex was a small drink container that was sold with a scary looking 3" plastic Tyrannosaurus Rex head, formed over the bottle cap. I hid him with his head sticking out of a bush, in a rocky area that caused a lot of GPS signal bounce. The idea was that no one but those "following the needle" would normally venture off to this area, and when they did, they would see this scary dinosaur staring at them out of the bush. It was not meant to be a difficult cache at all. The third or fourth finder posted, "Found the cache partially exposed, so I hid it better". Arrrrrrgh!, he's supposed to be partially exposed. A few DNF's later, I go to look. It took me an hour to find the cache about a foot from where I originally placed him. If I ever felt tempted to put a smiley on my on cache, it was this one.

 

BTW, I just adopted an Earthcache, along with the verification answers, from a fellow geocacher. I have yet to visit the location, but when I do, I plan on logging a find. Having done many of this cachers Earthcaches in the past, I feel that knowing the answers will only enrich my learning experience, which is the entire point of the cache in the first place.

 

I would appreciate comments on this aspect of the topic. I have adopted several physical caches in the past, but they were all caches that I have previously found.

 

 

Note: since Trex is very close to my house, I use him as my TB starting, and drop point. If anyone want to look him up, feel free. I just didn't see the need to post the hyperlink.

[+Don_J]

In my world logging your own hides is about as lame as it gets, as is the logging of hides hidden by others in your presence. It's an obvious sign of desperation used to boost ones numbers.

 

No, No, No

As "lame as it gets" is putting down a 35MM film container as a throw down, then picking up the fake rock cache and using it for cover, then claiming a FTF. (I'm not making this up).

 

As far as the so called "Beta Finds", well, I guess that I'm just lame. I'll admit that I have watched people hide caches, compare the coordinates on our readers and head on down the trail, and later logged a find. If our readers don't match up, I'll walk away and test if my reader will head back to the cache. If not, I'll help them adjust the coordinates. At any rate, it has nothing to do with the actual hiding style, so, I'll accept the "Lame" tag and live with it. I have a feeling that I'll still sleep pretty good tonight.

[+Sagefox]

I have adopted 5 caches. I have logged finds for all of them. I found 3 prior to adopting and 2 after.

 

In the logs for the 2 finds I noted that I had just adopted these caches and found them to verify their existance and to find out if they needed any maintanence as the new owner.

 

These are the only caches that I own that I have claimed a find on.

 

Works for me. I would likely log the two as found because they were hidden by someone else.

[+humboldt flier]

1. ...
   
2. I am in the process of adopting 3 fairly remote caches that I have not found yet. When I go to find them, I will be doing it using only the published posting and my GPSr, and nothing else--no help of ANY kind from the original owner. And to me, this is the fundamental, essential criteria. "Did I find this using only the publicly available posting and my GPSr?" I will log them if, and only if, I find them on my own, with no help.
   

This past weekend, I emailed someone a hint on one of my caches. I'll have to remember to delete his find.

 

I dunno... this is always such a grey area. I guess it really depends on the hint. I have only been called or e-mailed for a hint a couple of times, and each time, I ask about where they've looked so far, what their suspicions are... And that way I can give them encouragement and the tiniest hint possible to still keep them "in the game." I think this is a lot more common than people just giving out spoilers. I would be hesitant to delete a find under these circumstances. I have never had anyone contact me again and ask for more. If they did I'd be very comfortable saying to them "if I give you any more, it's too much, and I can't let you log it."

 

Sometimes just saying "yeh, that was a tough one, it took me three tries, and when I found it, I realized I had already looked right at it" is all the encouragement that most cachers need. You know how we all are... just that tiny hint will get us back in the game, and we'll lay awake at night waiting to get back there and try again.

 

And as for deleting their find... I am not suggesting that this is the exact criteria that must always be used. I am just saying that, for me, I don't want to have access to more information, or better hints, than any other cacher has access to. My point was that I was going to go ahead and log the caches I am adopting, solely because I am finding them using only the public cache page, no hints of ANY KIND from the original hider.

Suppose one develops a Challenge Cache similar to the Various DeLorme Challenges where ... what then?? Any feelings about logging that type of cache?

[Clan Riffster]

Suppose one develops a challenge Cache similar to the Various DeLorme Challenges where ... what then?

Good question. If I ever hide a challenge, I'll have to cross that bridge.

For now, I'll say I'd probably post a note saying I beat the challenge and leave it at that.

[+humboldt flier]

Suppose one develops a challenge Cache similar to the Various DeLorme Challenges where ... what then?

Good question. If I ever hide a challenge, I'll have to cross that bridge.

For now, I'll say I'd probably post a note saying I beat the challenge and leave it at that.

I agree with the statements regarding not logging one's own hides and I do not, however, ... I am in a quandry about logging a Challenge that one evolved. It seems to me that if someone puts out a state wide, region wide, county wide, city wide challenge involving visits to caches of whatever nature: it might be acceptable to log a find for one's own challenge cache. >>> ( I think modification of the logging protocols might be appropriate in this type of limited circumstance <<< ) Please chime in ... I do have a rather thick skin sooooooo ... fire away. BUT please don't beat me up too badly because I have to work next week.

Edited September 5, 2009 by humboldt flier

[+Col. Flagg]

Suppose one develops a challenge Cache similar to the Various DeLorme Challenges where ... what then?

Good question. If I ever hide a challenge, I'll have to cross that bridge.

For now, I'll say I'd probably post a note saying I beat the challenge and leave it at that.

I agree with the statements regarding not logging one's own hides and I do not, however, ... I am in a quandry about logging a Challenge that one evolved. It seems to me that if someone puts out a state wide, region wide, county wide, city wide challenge involving visits to caches of whatever nature: it might be acceptable to log a find for one's own challenge cache. >>> ( I think modification of the logging protocols might be appropriate in this type of limited circumstance <<< ) Please chime in ... I do have a rather thick skin sooooooo ... fire away. BUT please don't beat me up too badly because I have to work next week.

 

I think that in the case of a challenge cache such as a DeLorme challenge, county challenge, or even a Well-Rounded cacher type challenge, anyone, including the CO, should be able to log a smiley for the find should they complete the requirements of the challenge to sign the log. If I were to be in that situation, I might go out of my way to provide more evidence of my rights to sign the log than I require of others, but I'd still do it.

[+Sky King 36]

I have adopted 5 caches. I have logged finds for all of them. I found 3 prior to adopting and 2 after.

Works for me. I would likely log the two as found because they were hidden by someone else.

 

I agree, so long as the owner didn't provide you any information to help find the cache. To me, the essential ingredient in logging a cache I am adopting is, "did I find it using only the posting, grid, and hint, just like everyone else has?"