Would you claim a container from an archived cache?

April 1, 2010

If you come across a cache that has been archived for almost a year (or longer) and the CO of the original is no longer in the game. Would you claim the container as Geotrash and clean up and reuse the container?

I stumbled onto a geocache during an outting today and turns out it has been archived for almost a year. I was doing a little CITO when I found it while looking for another nearby. The CO is no longer available so am I wrong in keeping the container, or should I have left it to trash up the area?

Odie

7k · April 1, 2010

absolutely yes, take it and re-use it.

4k · April 1, 2010

Speaking from experience this is a slippery slope.

4.8k · April 1, 2010

Just because it's no longer listed on Geocaching.com does not mean it's not listed somewhere else.

38.2k · April 1, 2010

If I was positive that the owner had left the sport and the cache was not simply listed elsewhere I'd probably remove it.

5.8k · April 1, 2010

Me...not without doing some research first. There are a number of other sites that list geocaches, it may still be in play at one or more of them. Even if the book shows no finds, it still may be listed.

The owner may not be playing, but the Cache may still be in place for them, even if it's listed nowhere. It would take some research to figure these out.

I have had a Cache in place for over a year that was archived here, but was still in play(just recently picked it up. I would have been quite disappointed if it had been stolen. I also have a Cache hidden that's not available for viewing anywhere.

Edited April 1, 2010 by WRITE SHOP ROBERT

5.8k · April 1, 2010

If you come across a cache that has been archived for almost a year (or longer) and the CO of the original is no longer in the game. Would you claim the container as Geotrash and clean up and reuse the container?

I stumbled onto a geocache during an outting today and turns out it has been archived for almost a year. I was doing a little CITO when I found it while looking for another nearby. The CO is no longer available so am I wrong in keeping the container, or should I have left it to trash up the area?

Odie

Oh, not exactly the question but...I would certainly log my find online if I signed the book.

April 1, 2010

Did you try emailing the owner at the last known address? If you can get a hold of them you can simply ask if it is abandoned and if you can collect it.

April 1, 2010

There was a hole chewed in the side of the holder. The CO has not been on since May, 2009. and the log that was inside was a lot more than wet. The spot was so nasty I was surprised when I picked it up to CITO that it was in fact a cache. The container inside the holder was opened and that is why the log was destroyed. I can tell from the area that nobody has looked for this. I sent off an email, but no response.

4.8k · April 1, 2010

Why would you want to reuse a container like that?

18.9k · April 1, 2010

I'd have to check it out first - no matter what I thought of the condition. I'd at least try to contact the hider.

5.8k · April 1, 2010

Why would you want to reuse a container like that?

Sounds like the container was inside some kind of "Holder".

6.7k · April 1, 2010

If it were me I would take a minute or five to check the other sites and email the owner. From your description it probably would have been to let 'em know it was dead. If it was listed somewhere I may or may not offer to replace it. Depends on where it was hidden. If I thought there could be permission issues I would let the owner handle it their self.

April 1, 2010

Because I was CITO'ing the area I was in I did trash everything, I kept the container and sent the CO a message. I said if they want the container back just let me know. What if it had been just a road clean up crew that found it and didn't know it was a geocache, it would have totally been pitched. At least I was able to salvage the container. If I don't hear from the CO I will clasify this a salvaged cache that was abandoned.

Thank you for all your answers.

April 1, 2010

I just had this happen to me last week. I took it on the advice of a reviewer from Groundspeak. The log had the info from the Geocaching.com site but didn't show up when I checked the CO. We will be placing it soon and hope it gets a lot of finds. :laughing:

6.7k · April 1, 2010

I just had this happen to me last week. I took it on the advice of a reviewer from Groundspeak. The log had the info from the Geocaching.com site but didn't show up when I checked the CO. We will be placing it soon and hope it gets a lot of finds.

Do you know that it wasn't listed on one of the other sites? Geocaching.com is not the only place to list a cache.

22.2k · April 1, 2010

I just had this happen to me last week. I took it on the advice of a reviewer from Groundspeak. The log had the info from the Geocaching.com site but didn't show up when I checked the CO. We will be placing it soon and hope it gets a lot of finds.

To clarify, Geocaching.com or its volunteers would never advocate the removal of someone's cache, without the owner's consent. It is the owner's personal property.

4.2k · April 1, 2010

based on the facts presented by the OP in his/her post its very clear that he stumbled upon an abandoned cache, i don't see why some feel the need to beat around the bush with all kinds of scenarios

IMO you can't reasonably expect anyone to know of all the geocaching listing sites out there or go on a witch hunt to find them

personally i would have done the same as the OP did

Edited April 1, 2010 by t4e

5.8k · April 1, 2010

based on the facts presented by the OP in his/her post its very clear that he stumbled upon an abandoned cache, i don't see why some feel the need to beat around the bush with all kinds of scenarios

IMO you can't reasonably expect anyone to know of all the geocaching listing sites out there or go on a witch hunt to find them

personally i would have done the same as the OP did

The one I just pulled that was archived for over a year was in such poor condition that anyone would have assumed that it was abandoned. The logbook was sopping wet, unable to be handled without ripping, and completely moldy. The container was burried about 18 inched deep in silt and iceplant, and was all muddy inside. Even in those conditions, the Cache was in no way abandoned, since it was always my intention to retreive it or restore it. I have taken the logbook and seperrated all the pages, laminated each one(to contain the mold spores) and bound them all into a new logbook. It will now be released as a Travel Bug.

You cannot assume by the condition of the Ccahe that the owner wishes to make no claim of ownership. I have always retained ownership of that Cache and am very glad that no one removed it and threw it away.

4.2k · April 1, 2010

The one I just pulled that was archived for over a year was in such poor condition that anyone would have assumed that it was abandoned. The logbook was sopping wet, unable to be handled without ripping, and completely moldy. The container was burried about 18 inched deep in silt and iceplant, and was all muddy inside. Even in those conditions, the Cache was in no way abandoned, since it was always my intention to retreive it or restore it. I have taken the logbook and seperrated all the pages, laminated each one(to contain the mold spores) and bound them all into a new logbook. It will now be released as a Travel Bug.

You cannot assume by the condition of the Ccahe that the owner wishes to make no claim of ownership. I have always retained ownership of that Cache and am very glad that no one removed it and threw it away.

you are missing my point....the OP said the cache was archived for over a year and CO not active

there is no more compelling evidence that the cache was abandoned

after all, we are being encouraged to practice CITO, aren't we?

if circumstances were different and cache was still active or just been archived a month or so ago, than i would leave it behind

having said that, you are amongst the very few COs that bother to go and retrieve a container they archived

April 1, 2010

Like this?

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...44-f0bf891a1fbf

4.8k · April 1, 2010

Like this?

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...44-f0bf891a1fbf

Look on the page. The original recycled container was replaced.

9.3k · April 1, 2010

...so am I wrong in keeping the container...?

Absolutely not, and thank you for cleaning up their litter.

When someone submits a cache for publication on this site, they start a process which includes a certain degree of accountability. While they are certainly free to leave this game at any time, doing so is not a license to litter. Had the cache owner listed the cache on another site, at a minimum, they should have posted a note to that effect on the old cache page. Since they decided not to do so, they leave it up to the rest of us to decide if their cache has been abandoned. It looks like you made a good guess, with the data the cache owner left you. Kudos!

5.8k · April 1, 2010

OK, Now I'll get off my personal situation and point out that the overwhelming majority of archived Caches that you find in that condition are indeed abandoned and ar indeed trash. Thanks for creaning it up, and good luck finding a place to hide it. The flip side of this kind of situation is the risk of eventually having 1,000,000 abandoned containers out there causing bomb scares, litter and other such mayhem...all with our good geocaching name attached to them...that can't possibly be good for the game. Thanks for cleaning up. I'm glad mine was still in place.

9.3k · April 1, 2010

You cannot assume by the condition of the Ccahe that the owner wishes to make no claim of ownership.

That's true. However, we can assume, upon finding a cache in such pitiful condition, for such an extended length of time, that the cache owner is not following up with the maintenance that they agreed to perform when they listed the cache. For the life of me I can't conceive of a single reason that such an icky container should be left to despoil the wilderness. I imagine if anyone in a park management position had found such a gathering of goo that this would give them ill thoughts about geocachers in general.

April 1, 2010

Like this?

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...44-f0bf891a1fbf

Look on the page. The original recycled container was replaced.

I know. Look on the page, it is mine and I replaced it. But I replaced it with the same container. It is one of those match containers Wal-Mart sells in the camping section.

Edited April 1, 2010 by jeffbouldin

4k · April 3, 2010

Oh, not exactly the question but...I would certainly log my find online if I signed the book.

I found a cache that was over 3.5 years old recently. Good shape and the log was intact. I logged my find and the owner deleted my log. They ignored my emails. It's just personal for them. I'm guessing that they didn't want to look bad because it showed that they abandoned their cache.

Like this?

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_detai...44-f0bf891a1fbf

I tried that for the cache I just mentioned. I was denied because it wasn't my cache.

Slippery slope...

April 3, 2010

MiGo (Michigan Geocachers Organization) has this.

MiGo Rescue Mission

Its our way of making sure that archived caches don't become goetrash.

5.8k · April 3, 2010

I found a cache that was over 3.5 years old recently. Good shape and the log was intact. I logged my find and the owner deleted my log. They ignored my emails. It's just personal for them. I'm guessing that they didn't want to look bad because it showed that they abandoned their cache.

That sounds to me like they have it listed on another site and don't wan't to play with the people here anymore. Maybe a search on some other sites would revael it's listing?

Edited April 3, 2010 by WRITE SHOP ROBERT

4.2k · April 3, 2010

I found a cache that was over 3.5 years old recently. Good shape and the log was intact. I logged my find and the owner deleted my log. They ignored my emails. It's just personal for them. I'm guessing that they didn't want to look bad because it showed that they abandoned their cache.

That sounds to me like thay have it listed on another site and don't wan't to play with the people here anymore. Maybe a search on some other sites would revael it's listing?

than they should archive it on GC

as long as its still listed the log should not be deleted

but since the cleanup is in full effect for caches that have had no activity in over a year, it should be gone soon

Edited April 3, 2010 by t4e

5.8k · April 3, 2010

Since this whole topic is about how to handle archived Caches that you find, I assume this post is talking about one that was archived here

4k · April 3, 2010

That sounds to me like they have it listed on another site and don't wan't to play with the people here anymore. Maybe a search on some other sites would revael it's listing?

No. It's an guardrail micro. The last physical log was the last log online.

than they should archive it on GC

as long as its still listed the log should not be deleted

but since the cleanup is in full effect for caches that have had no activity in over a year, it should be gone soon

It has been archived since 2006.

April 3, 2010

If you come across a cache that has been archived for almost a year (or longer) and the CO of the original is no longer in the game. Would you claim the container as Geotrash and clean up and reuse the container?

Yes, because it's archived and no longer part of the game. So it is trash. The owner should care for it, but if he doesn't do so, everybody should dispose the geo-trash.

GermanSailor

April 3, 2010

As mentioned by others, a quick check of other listing services might help and the cache owner has not responded to e-mail. You could notify the landowner of the cache's condition and ask permission to remove it. If the land is a state or local park, though, you might not get a response.

April 3, 2010

If I were certain that the CO was no longer active, then yes, I see no reason not to. Of course I'd be sure to send the CO an email first. If I didn't hear back from them, I would naturally assume that they were no longer caching and would take the geotrash and turn it into a geocache.

6.7k · April 4, 2010

I just had this happen to me last week. I took it on the advice of a reviewer from Groundspeak. The log had the info from the Geocaching.com site but didn't show up when I checked the CO. We will be placing it soon and hope it gets a lot of finds.

To clarify, Geocaching.com or its volunteers would never advocate the removal of someone's cache, without the owner's consent. It is the owner's personal property.

So you're saying a rogue Reviewer has gone off the reservation? :laughing:

Maybe you meant "should" never...

Edited April 4, 2010 by TheAlabamaRambler

Would you claim a container from an archived cache?

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