If you rate your cache a terrain "1"

[+PalmettoBuckeye]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple) it really wouldn't be the easiest terrain rating right? It would at least be a 1.5.

 

We went caching the other day and I picked a "1" cache and yes it was accessible up until 8 feet away from the cache which was hidden in a tree that was at the bottom of a steep slope off the side of the paved trail. The slope had dense underbrush too. It was o.k. for me but for my disabled husband it was a no go because he knew he could slide down the slope but he would never get back up it. He still enjoyed it though because he got to watch me race back up the slope screaming " Auuugh, banana spider!!".

 

I know there are attributes that can be put on the cache page but I've seen several cache pages with no attributes at all.

 

Just asking for clarification, maybe I'm assuming too much.

[+t4e]

when i placed my first cache i rated it T1

 

the reviewer asked me if its wheelchair accessible, which is the implied T rating for such situations, if its not wheelchair accessible it should be 1.5

[+debaere]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple) it really wouldn't be the easiest terrain rating right? It would at least be a 1.5.

 

We went caching the other day and I picked a "1" cache and yes it was accessible up until 8 feet away from the cache which was hidden in a tree that was at the bottom of a steep slope off the side of the paved trail. The slope had dense underbrush too. It was o.k. for me but for my disabled husband it was a no go because he knew he could slide down the slope but he would never get back up it. He still enjoyed it though because he got to watch me race back up the slope screaming " Auuugh, banana spider!!".

 

I know there are attributes that can be put on the cache page but I've seen several cache pages with no attributes at all.

 

Just asking for clarification, maybe I'm assuming too much.

 

I can't see anything in the guidelines for hiding caches that specifies a terrain of 1 being wheelchair accessible. There is a cache attribute for wheelchairs tho, so if that is not set I would not expect the cache to be wheel chair accessible.

[+PalmettoBuckeye]

Hmm. So I am assuming too much.

 

Thanks!

[+t4e]

 

 

I can't see anything in the guidelines for hiding caches that specifies a terrain of 1 being wheelchair accessible. There is a cache attribute for wheelchairs tho, so if that is not set I would not expect the cache to be wheel chair accessible.

 

 

sure there is

 

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?p....page&id=82

 

D I F F I C U L T Y T E R R A I N

1 star Easy

In plain sight or can be found in a few minutes of searching.

1 star Handicapped accessible

Terrain is likely to be paved, is relatively flat, and less than a ½ mile hike is required.

Edited August 21, 2010 by t4e

[+briansnat]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible?

 

Yes, it should. Unfortunately in practice it often isn't the case.

[+narcissa]

The Clayjar system that people often use to rate terrain and difficulty defines terrain 1 as wheelchair accessible, but not everybody follows this system. The Clayjar system is a decent, but flawed, attempt at creating a standard for these ratings and there's nothing in the guidelines that requires cache owners to use it.

[+keehotee]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple)

 

If you meant wheelchair accessible, why didn't you say wheelchair accessible?

 

There are almost as many physical disabilities as there are stars in the sky - by many definitions I'm physically handicapped. Doesn't stop me doing the (very) occasional 5* terrain, kayaking, sailing, running, or walking 20 miles in a day!!!

 

Clayjar's only as good a system as the end user - when a cache gets rated 5* terrain because you need welly boots and a torch as specialist equipment - or the ascent's over 1000 feet and takes a day - the systems already past failed!

Edited August 21, 2010 by keehotee

[+PalmettoBuckeye]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple)

 

If you meant wheelchair accessible, why didn't you say wheelchair accessible?

 

There are almost as many physical disabilities as there are stars in the sky - by many definitions I'm physically handicapped. Doesn't stop me doing the (very) occasional 5* terrain, kayaking, sailing, running, or walking 20 miles in a day!!!

 

Clayjar's only as good a system as the end user - when a cache gets rated 5* terrain because you need welly boots and a torch as specialist equipment - or the ascent's over 1000 feet and takes a day - the systems already past failed!

 

My pardon. I was trying to keep it as simple and a general as possible. Wheelchair accessible terrains would be something would be something my husband could handle as his legs are paralyzed. He just sort of drags them along because he walks with crutches( he's done this since he was 3 years old, he never walked before then). How lucky you are, as a self-proclaimed disabled person, to be able to run, kayak, sail, and walk 20 miles a day! Go on with your bad self!!

 

Luckily, the first four people who answered in the thread understood my question and answered it.

[+NanCycle]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple) it really wouldn't be the easiest terrain rating right? It would at least be a 1.5.

 

We went caching the other day and I picked a "1" cache and yes it was accessible up until 8 feet away from the cache which was hidden in a tree that was at the bottom of a steep slope off the side of the paved trail. The slope had dense underbrush too. It was o.k. for me but for my disabled husband it was a no go because he knew he could slide down the slope but he would never get back up it. He still enjoyed it though because he got to watch me race back up the slope screaming " Auuugh, banana spider!!".

 

I know there are attributes that can be put on the cache page but I've seen several cache pages with no attributes at all.

 

Just asking for clarification, maybe I'm assuming too much.

 

It is supposed to; but people being people, never assume.

 

You can always try to contact the cache owner and explain your concerns before you go; most will be happy to let you know if it's doable or not.

[+SwineFlew]

A 1 in terrain assumes that its wheelchair accessible. It drives me nut when people dont rate it the correct way or dont really understand what wheelchair accessible means.

 

Wheelchair accessible means, they can get to and from the cache site AND to be able to reach for the cache WHILE sitting in the wheelchair WITHOUT any help at all. That simple!

[+keehotee]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple)

 

If you meant wheelchair accessible, why didn't you say wheelchair accessible?

 

There are almost as many physical disabilities as there are stars in the sky - by many definitions I'm physically handicapped. Doesn't stop me doing the (very) occasional 5* terrain, kayaking, sailing, running, or walking 20 miles in a day!!!

 

Clayjar's only as good a system as the end user - when a cache gets rated 5* terrain because you need welly boots and a torch as specialist equipment - or the ascent's over 1000 feet and takes a day - the systems already past failed!

 

My pardon. I was trying to keep it as simple and a general as possible. Wheelchair accessible terrains would be something would be something my husband could handle as his legs are paralyzed. He just sort of drags them along because he walks with crutches( he's done this since he was 3 years old, he never walked before then). How lucky you are, as a self-proclaimed disabled person, to be able to run, kayak, sail, and walk 20 miles a day! Go on with your bad self!!

 

Luckily, the first four people who answered in the thread understood my question and answered it.

 

Hey - I wasn't criticizing you, or your aims. But as you will know better than most, "handicapped" does not just apply to legs and mobility.

And I didn't say I was disabled, I said I was handicapped.

[+t4e]

 

If you meant wheelchair accessible, why didn't you say wheelchair accessible?

 

 

hmmm they did

 

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple) it really wouldn't be the easiest terrain rating right? It would at least be a 1.5.

Edited August 21, 2010 by t4e

[+Chokecherry]

We have someone here who will regularly rate terrains 1 or 1.5 because they can easily be reached on ATV. Nothing drives me more crazy. I go with my mom a lot who has mobility issues and loves this. I need to pick caches that she can access as a result and when someone lowballs the terrain it sucks frankly. She can get up to the tree but can't climb the tree... and people still put it as a 1 or 1.5 because it's an easy walk up to the terrain.

 

That rating is there to inform people who are seeking your cache what level of fitness or ability is needed to complete it. It's not supposed to be used to trick people into finding your cache when they aren't able to. It's not there to misinform how hard or easy it is. It's just simply there as information so that people like me can screen out the ones that I can't do with mom and save them for a different day (for example). People ascribe so much extra hooey to the d/t ratings that they get all skewed.

 

To answer the question, 1 per the website is supposed to be wheelchair accessible.

[+terrkan78]

I noticed a cache page once where a prior cacher had taken the CO to task for rating a cache T1 when the cache wasn't at all wheelchair accessible. The CO had responded with a note saying that in the "old" days, a T1 didn't mean wheelchair accessible (this was an older cache).

 

I don't know if that's correct, but if so, then it's one explanation for why an older cache might have a T1 rating and still not be wheelchair accessible.

[+sTeamTraen]

To answer the question, 1 per the website is supposed to be wheelchair accessible.

My understanding is that wheelchair accesible means 1*, but 1* doesn't necessarily mean wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair accessibility is specified by the attribute of (almost) the same name, which should only be used on 1* terrain caches. But, a cache can be 1* terrain with the "crossed out" wheelchair.

[+roziecakes]

Thought I might also mention that this site is a great resource for differently abled cachers:

 

Handicaching

[+Chokecherry]

To answer the question, 1 per the website is supposed to be wheelchair accessible.

My understanding is that wheelchair accesible means 1*, but 1* doesn't necessarily mean wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair accessibility is specified by the attribute of (almost) the same name, which should only be used on 1* terrain caches. But, a cache can be 1* terrain with the "crossed out" wheelchair.

 

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?p....page&id=82

 

I'm not going to break into the semantics of what qualifies as handicapped as there are numerous threads about it. If people quit splitting hairs about it and just take it at its most basic form a 1 terrain should be accessible.

[+Highland Horde]

I recently placed a cache there is a terrain 1. I talked to my local reviewer about it because I hadn't selected the wheelchair attribute but the cache would be out of reach for most people in a wheelchair. So the terrain rating is valid but just a little too high to get the wheelchair attribute but I am planning to go back and see if I can lower it by a couple feet to make it wheelchair accessible.

[+debaere]

 

 

I can't see anything in the guidelines for hiding caches that specifies a terrain of 1 being wheelchair accessible. There is a cache attribute for wheelchairs tho, so if that is not set I would not expect the cache to be wheel chair accessible.

 

 

sure there is

 

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?p....page&id=82

 

D I F F I C U L T Y T E R R A I N

1 star Easy

In plain sight or can be found in a few minutes of searching.

1 star Handicapped accessible

Terrain is likely to be paved, is relatively flat, and less than a ½ mile hike is required.

 

Hrm. They should really make that more visible. I went to the "hide a cache" section and looked at the linked guidelines, which are completely absent of any guidelines for terrain ratings except pointing to ClayJars system. ClayJars system also does not specify anything about wheelchair accessibility being an easy rating

 

I agree that a rating of 1 should mean wheelchair accessibility, however its completely possible to go through the process that Groundspeak lays out when placing a cache and not get any guidance that this should be the case. The link to the page you mentioned requires searching for it, and that isn't a reliable method to ensure people will search for it. As a result it is not wise to assume terrain 1 is wheelchair accessible.

[+briansnat]

ClayJars system also does not specify anything about wheelchair accessibility being an easy rating

 

Actually it does. If if you read the definitions that pop up after you calculate the rating it says terrain 1 is handicap accessible.

[+Coldgears]

And I thought that guy was just being stupid when he made well paved grass a 1.5 terrain... Who knew?

[+hawkeyetob]

Just yesterday, we stopped by a beautiful veterans memorial listed as a 1 and 1 with paved bike trail leading up to the memorial. We were anticipated a Park and Grab situation.

 

The hint said "look low."

 

There were 2 benches about six feet from the trail, a wooden bridge about 12 feet from the trail with various flags all around.

 

Much to our surprise, the cache was underneath the bridge requiring a person to lay on their back and while doing so reach along the under side of the bridge through a 6 inch gap.

 

Although the terrain was flat, I am unsure how someone in a wheelchair could easily cross the grass and shimmy under the bridge to find the cache.

 

We were contemplating taking my mobility challenged mother to this cache...we were glad we didn't.

 

Although I realize ratings can be subjective, it did not appear the CO put that much thought in the ratings.

 

Happy Caching! - hawkeyetob

[+jaydeadheader]

now children do we all remember what happens when we assume

 

but i do remember seeing something somewhere on here about T/1 having to be handi-access

 

i shall search for it

[+chetas]

Although not needing a wheelchair, my husband and I are both physically disabled. We can't walk very far but love geocaching. We each have walking sticks to help out when terrain gets hilly. I wish guidelines existed to explain each level of terrain similar to size of cache. I have been so disappointed to walk a quarter mile in mud and then see a sharp drop or rise in terrain. PLEASE either mark terrain carefully, mark attribute of handicapped, or explain in your write up. Thanks to the many, many, many of you who are fabulous at this!

[+baloo&bd]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple) it really wouldn't be the easiest terrain rating right? It would at least be a 1.5.

 

We went caching the other day and I picked a "1" cache and yes it was accessible up until 8 feet away from the cache which was hidden in a tree that was at the bottom of a steep slope off the side of the paved trail. The slope had dense underbrush too. It was o.k. for me but for my disabled husband it was a no go because he knew he could slide down the slope but he would never get back up it. He still enjoyed it though because he got to watch me race back up the slope screaming " Auuugh, banana spider!!".

 

I know there are attributes that can be put on the cache page but I've seen several cache pages with no attributes at all.

 

Just asking for clarification, maybe I'm assuming too much.

 

Automatically? No. Should it indicate Handicap accessible? Yes. Unfortunately, it is very subjective and then there are cachers that just want to be contrary. We had a cachers near us that rated everything a 1.5, including caches that were 15 to 20 ft up a tree or steep hills. 1 would be over a curb across some landscaping however since it was flat, they called it "handicap accessible.

 

You can only be responsible for your caches and mark them as appropriately as you can. Others you can make suggestions to, however be prepared to move on. There will just be that element that resists.

[Skippermark]

ClayJars system also does not specify anything about wheelchair accessibility being an easy rating

 

Actually it does. If if you read the definitions that pop up after you calculate the rating it says terrain 1 is handicap accessible.

Yes, I just ran the Clayjar system using the lowest settings for everything, and it returned this result:

 

"Terrain rating: 1

* Handicapped accessible. (Terrain is likely to be paved, is relatively flat, and less than a 1/2 mile hike is required.) "

 

One thing I've seen people do is create bookmark lists for caches that are rated 1 start terrain but are actually higher. It might be something like "Underrated Terrain." That way people who are specifically looking for at the cache because it's a 1 star can see the bookmark and learn why it's not a 1 star. Bookmarks can have descriptions, and they might read something like, "Cache is wheelchair accessible until the last 3 feet." or "Trail is rooty and rocky. This is not wheelchair accessible at all."

 

Oftentimes owners don't realize their caches are underrated, especially when a cache is just a couple feet off of pavement or something like that. I think most owners want to make it right and will change it if they get a friendly email, but that doesn't help the wheelchair-bound cacher unless someone has caught it before they head out.

[+mountainman38]

When a cache is rated "1" for terrain, does that automatically mean handicap accessible? If cache wasn't handicap accessible ( and by this I mean "wheelchair accessible"to keep it simple) it really wouldn't be the easiest terrain rating right? It would at least be a 1.5...

I have a cache located right at the edge of a smooth dirt road. I rated it a 1 for terrain, but the reviewer questioned the terrain. His thought was that if I'm not sure it's wheelchair accessible, then it should be rated 1.5. I wasn't sure, so I raised the grade to a 1.5.

 

As a side note, I did a 4 star terrain cache that doesn't sound as bad as the one you describe. I think some CO's should be a little more careful in their terrain rating selection.

[+roziecakes]

As a side note, I did a 4 star terrain cache that doesn't sound as bad as the one you describe. I think some CO's should be a little more careful in their terrain rating selection.

 

Over time I've gotten to know how the cache hiders in my area rate their terrain, and it's often based on the personal perspective of the person hiding the cache. So what a 3 terrain is to one person might be a 2 terrain to someone else. I agree with you that folks should be more careful. When I make the terrain rating I try to think of how the average person finding the cache would rate it.

 

Of course that's easier said than done, and I can't always please everyone, and I'm not always correct. Sometimes I have to change the terrain rating based on subsequent logs of my cache.

 

As for a 1 terrain. I only use it if I know 100% that someone in a wheelchair can reach it. If I think it's "a little out of reach" for someone in a wheelchair, it's not a 1. It's a 1.5, and that's okay.

[+JL_HSTRE]

We went caching the other day and I picked a "1" cache and yes it was accessible up until 8 feet away from the cache which was hidden in a tree that was at the bottom of a steep slope off the side of the paved trail. The slope had dense underbrush too.

 

Should be Terrain = 2 IMO.

[+roziecakes]

We went caching the other day and I picked a "1" cache and yes it was accessible up until 8 feet away from the cache which was hidden in a tree that was at the bottom of a steep slope off the side of the paved trail. The slope had dense underbrush too.

 

Should be Terrain = 2 IMO.

 

I would also rate that a 2.

[+Photographer Jim]

when i placed my first cache i rated it T1

 

the reviewer asked me if its wheelchair accessible, which is the implied T rating for such situations, if its not wheelchair accessible it should be 1.5

 

I had a similar experience when I went to have one of my first caches published. The reviewer politely asked if the cache was wheelchair accessible, and indicated that "best practice" was to reserve a T1 rating for those that were. I changed the rating to T1.5 and have followed the reviewer's suggestion ever since.

 

I honestly don't know for sure that he would have refused to publish the cache if I had insisted on maintaining the T1 rating despite the cache being non-wheelchair accessible., but knowing the reviewer I would expect so. Hopefully, that would have been the case.

Edited August 24, 2010 by Photographer Jim

[+JesandTodd]

A 1 in terrain assumes that its wheelchair accessible. It drives me nut when people dont rate it the correct way or dont really understand what wheelchair accessible means.

 

Wheelchair accessible means, they can get to and from the cache site AND to be able to reach for the cache WHILE sitting in the wheelchair WITHOUT any help at all. That simple!

 

This.

 

It really is that simple. If I come across a T1 rating and it's really not then I sure as heck make mention of it in my log...

[+TerraViators]

It's a slippery slope. Wouldn't a difficulty rating of 1 still be hard for a blind person?