Virtual and locationless caches

[+dfx]

Waymarking is useful if you use the categories well. browse through the available categories and pick the ones that interest you, then you will only find those waymarks that you will enjoy. browsing through all waymarks without restricting the category is useless.

 

it makes perfect sense that virtual and locationless caches were abandoned as they're a totally different thing. if you're looking for interesting spots that don't have a hidden container, use the Waymarking website. learn to use its categories and you'll find the spots you're looking for.

 

earthcaches are a special case - there's no actual cache, yet they're listed as a cache. it's a deliberate, somewhat arbitrary and maybe kinda understandable decision from Groundspeak, to keep some form of "virtual" cache in those locations that they considered to be interesting.

 

that being said, it's a shame for those locations that are unable to actually have a cache (prohibited areas, national parks etc) and thus will never lead geocachers (and non-waymarkers) to them. but it makes sense if you think about it: people would abuse virtual caches because they're just too lazy to put a container in an interesting spot, or even create virtual caches in non-interesting spots just because they can.

Edited March 11, 2010 by dfx

[+Sumbirdy]

We vote YES to virtuals coming back. We have not been able to embrace the Waymarking bit---seems like you visit lots of post offices, etc., and it is just different enough that the learning curve was steeper than we wanted to mess with.

We have enjoyed vituals when we travel because we have found fabulous historic spots in towns we never would have visited, learned things we never knew we were missing. Also, especially when travelling, the virtuals don't leave us with twigs in our hair and mud on our shoes as often as regular caches do.

We saw mentioned that owners don't keep up with their virtuals...there are a lot of regular cache owners who don't keep up their caches either.

[+seabee89]

I say bring 'em back. With regulations in National Park holdings and other state and local laws, it does allow people to enjoy geocaching in those areas.

[jholly]

Virtual caches:

 

Locationless caches:

 

You can put earthcaches in national parks. Some national parks are starting to think about allowing traditional caches.

[+baloo&bd]

You can put earthcaches in national parks. Some national parks are starting to think about allowing traditional caches.

 

You can place caches on NPS property now. NPS had left it to the discretion on the facility/land managers. In other words, you must first obtain permission, which is no different from every other cache other cache.

[+briansnat]

We vote YES to virtuals coming back. We have not been able to embrace the Waymarking bit---seems like you visit lots of post offices, etc.

Only if you want to visit post offices

 

We have enjoyed vituals when we travel because we have found fabulous historic spots in towns we never would have visited, learned things we never knew we were missing.

 

You mean like this, this, this or this?