Hiding a Cache - procedure.

[+cheboludo]

Which is recommended procedure?

 

1 Hide a cache - the send off the details for approval and registration,

or

2 Choose a site - take Lat,Long and go back home (with cache) and apply for apprval and registration.

 

I assume that the first is correct - but this means that you cannot put the number of the cache on the box. It also means that if the cache is not approved - you have to go back and retrieve it.

 

Any guidance, and recommendations welcome.

[+Kryten]

The first thing to do is to read, understand and apply the placement guidelines, this will greatly reduce the possibility that your cache will be rejected.

 

Next enter the details of your new cache but leave the "This cache is currently active" box unticked. Submit your cache to the site and it will be allocated a "GC" number but remains inactive.

 

You can now write the GC number onto the box and then hide it.

 

Finally return to the website and tick the "This cache is currently active" box.

 

Your cache then moves onto the reviewer queue.

 

You box needs to be in place when the cache goes live because the FTF crowd will get there quicker than you can :-)

Edited October 16, 2009 by McKryton

[+palmetto]

Choose a site - take Lat,Long and go back home

 

Go home, and enter those coordinates in the hide and seek a cache form Latitude Longitude boxes.

 

If you put your proposed cache coordinates into the Lat, Long boxes it will bring up a list of the 20 nearest caches. Now check for proximity issues. Your new cache must be at least .1 miles, 161 m, from the physical components of any existing cache. You will see only the public coordinates for those caches! There may be hidden multi-cache stages or puzzle solutions as well. Generally a puzzle solution will be within 2 miles of its "bogus" coordinates, and most multi-caches will start and finish in the same park or general area.

[+niraD]

As others have said, start by reading and understanding the guidelines.

 

The first approach (hide, then submit listing) is the basic, standard approach. But as you said, then you can't put the GCxxxxx number on the container, stash note, or log. If you just want the GCxxxxx number, then you can save a listing with the "Yes, this listing is active" checkbox unchecked, and you'll be assigned a number. You can then use that GCxxxxx number on the container, stash note, and/or log, and complete the rest of the form later after you've hidden the cache. Once the form is complete, check the "Yes, this listing is active" checkbox and submit the form for approval.

 

As you said, if there are any problems that prevent the cache from being approved, then you'll need to go back out to retrieve/relocate it. But if returning to the cache site to retrieve/relocate the cache would be too difficult, then you have to consider whether returning to the cache site to maintain the published cache would have been too difficult.

 

On the other hand, if relocating the cache would be a problem because you're planning to invest a lot of effort/money into site-specific camouflage, then you can check with the local reviewer in advance to make sure the location is acceptable--before you invest the effort/money.

 

The simple way to check the coordinates is to email the local reviewer.

 

Another way is to publish the cache with a reviewer note that explains that the cache is not yet in place, and that you'd like confirmation that the coordinates are okay before you invest the effort/money in a site-specific hide. If you have a couple alternative places in mind (in case the first one is too close to a stage of another cache), then you can include those coordinates as additional waypoints. That makes it easier for the reviewer to check all the locations at once.

[+cheboludo]

The first thing to do is to read, understand and apply the placement guidelines, this will greatly reduce the possibility that your cache will be rejected.

 

Next enter the details of your new cache but leave the "This cache is currently active" box unticked. Submit your cache to the site and it will be allocated a "GC" number but remains inactive.

 

You can now write the GC number onto the box and then hide it.

 

Finally return to the website and tick the "This cache is currently active" box.

 

Your cache then moves onto the reviewer queue.

 

You box needs to be in place when the cache goes live because the FTF crowd will get there quicker than you can :-)

Thanks for your help - all makes sense

[+cheboludo]

Choose a site - take Lat,Long and go back home

 

Go home, and enter those coordinates in the hide and seek a cache form Latitude Longitude boxes.

 

If you put your proposed cache coordinates into the Lat, Long boxes it will bring up a list of the 20 nearest caches. Now check for proximity issues. Your new cache must be at least .1 miles, 161 m, from the physical components of any existing cache. You will see only the public coordinates for those caches! There may be hidden multi-cache stages or puzzle solutions as well. Generally a puzzle solution will be within 2 miles of its "bogus" coordinates, and most multi-caches will start and finish in the same park or general area.

Thanks for your help

[+cheboludo]

As others have said, start by reading and understanding the guidelines.

 

The first approach (hide, then submit listing) is the basic, standard approach. But as you said, then you can't put the GCxxxxx number on the container, stash note, or log. If you just want the GCxxxxx number, then you can save a listing with the "Yes, this listing is active" checkbox unchecked, and you'll be assigned a number. You can then use that GCxxxxx number on the container, stash note, and/or log, and complete the rest of the form later after you've hidden the cache. Once the form is complete, check the "Yes, this listing is active" checkbox and submit the form for approval.

 

As you said, if there are any problems that prevent the cache from being approved, then you'll need to go back out to retrieve/relocate it. But if returning to the cache site to retrieve/relocate the cache would be too difficult, then you have to consider whether returning to the cache site to maintain the published cache would have been too difficult.

 

On the other hand, if relocating the cache would be a problem because you're planning to invest a lot of effort/money into site-specific camouflage, then you can check with the local reviewer in advance to make sure the location is acceptable--before you invest the effort/money.

 

The simple way to check the coordinates is to email the local reviewer.

 

Another way is to publish the cache with a reviewer note that explains that the cache is not yet in place, and that you'd like confirmation that the coordinates are okay before you invest the effort/money in a site-specific hide. If you have a couple alternative places in mind (in case the first one is too close to a stage of another cache), then you can include those coordinates as additional waypoints. That makes it easier for the reviewer to check all the locations at once.

Thanks for your help