Three questions about a series of caches

[+RhinoInAToga]

We have a cache series coming out soon, 13 caches, with a final "prize" cache (a large cache, about 6 ft. Long) I have three questions about it before we get any further with it. 1)Is it a good idea to not list the final cache on the site? It fits better with the series if we don't actually list it, but I'm guessing there might be a way that could go wrong. 2) is there somewhere I can obtain a full map of SCDNR land so we don't place anything where it doesn't belong? 3)How do I change the font color on the cache page? (I plan on adding background images, & black words would get lost.) Thanks in advance for any & all advice!

[+Isonzo Karst]

1) "to not list the final cache...."

sure just don't list it, but mention it in the caches. It won't be found much this way. If you do list it, the coords can be "bogus", the type Unknown, finding it made dependent upon finding the others in the group. It will be found much more this way. Not listing it frees you to place it conveniently without needing to meet guideline restrictions. Of course, someday, another cacher may drop a hide on top of it, because it's not in the Groundspeak database.

 

2) I googled South Carolina DNR lands and got this link - I think this may do it for you

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/mlands/projectMLviewer.html

 

3) Here are 3 html primers for geocachhe owners. The simplest is the Nozen guide:

 

http://nozen.com/geo/html.htm

 

http://www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk/resources/htmlcodes.html

 

http://gizmoguy411.com/Geocache-HTML/

Edited October 14, 2011 by Isonzo Karst

[+mpilchfamily]

1. If you don't list the final then it becomes part of the second to last cache making that one a multi. You would be better off listing the final cache. It would probably be listed as an unknown/puzzle cache. I'm assuming one has to pick up clues from each of the previous caches in order to find the location of the final.

 

2. unknown

 

3. Look up HTML. You will need to use HTML to code the page with different text and images. You'll be able to change the background image on the page but the text fields will still have a white background. So the page with a background would look something like this.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5d0350d2-11ee-43b6-8de9-09c88ec19719

Edited October 14, 2011 by mpilchfamily

[+RhinoInAToga]

1) "to not list the final cache...."

sure just don't list it, but mention it in the caches. It won't be found much this way. If you do list it, the coords can be "bogus", the type Unknown, finding it made dependent upon finding the others in the group. It will be found much more this way. Not listing it frees you to place it near another cache in the group. Of course, someday, another cacher will drop a hide on top of it, because it's not in the Groundspeak data base.

 

2) I googled South Carolina DNR lands and got this link - I think this will do it for you

http://www.dnr.sc.gov/mlands/projectMLviewer.html

 

3) Here are 3 html primers for geocachhe owners. The simplest is the Nozen guide:

 

http://nozen.com/geo/html.htm

 

http://www.follow-the-arrow.co.uk/resources/htmlcodes.html

 

http://gizmoguy411.com/Geocache-HTML/

Awesomely helpful, thank you. However, the first question & answer: I know that this is usually how it's done (leaving clues in the other caches) but it would fit so perfectly if this didn't happen, and they instead used maps. (That I would be drawing, scanning,printing,& copying.) Hmmm... how about the clues leading them to a box of the maps? Or something like that?

[+mpilchfamily]

What your describing sounds like a letter box cache.

 

So what about these cache makes them a series? What will be the common thread that links them all together? You could have clues in each cache that gives one the coords to the location of the box of maps which then leads into the Letterbox Hybrid cache.

[+RhinoInAToga]

What your describing sounds like a letter box cache.

 

So what about these cache makes them a series? What will be the common thread that links them all together? You could have clues in each cache that gives one the coords to the location of the box of maps which then leads into the Letterbox Hybrid cache.

Trust me, it's not a letterbox hybrid. & there is definitely a strong link between the 13 caches & the prize final cache. I just somehow need to let them find it with a map. It makes so much sense for it to end that way.

[+Isonzo Karst]

If you want to list the final cache on Geocaching.com, it must use coords, not just a map.

 

This may lend itself to a final staged cache - clues in the series create coords. Coords are to box. In box are maps, maps go to final cache. This is publishable.

 

I may not understand your purpose enough to have said anything useful here, sorry. =;-)

[+RhinoInAToga]

If you want to list the final cache on Geocaching.com, it must use coords, not just a map.

 

This may lend itself to a final staged cache - clues in the series create coords. Coords are to box. In box are maps, maps go to final cache. This is publishable.

 

I may not understand your purpose enough to have said anything useful here, sorry. =;-)

Final staged Cache looks like the best option. I list the first stage of the 2 stage final as a mystery cache? (Leaving clues to that stage in the other caches, of course)

[+St.Matthew]

Around my location, the series are usually traditional, and contain 1 or more coordinates to the final (in addition to the logbook, swag, etc.). The final itself is listed as unknown and bogus coordinates are listed for that cache. Thus, the only way to find the final is to find the entire series.

[+RhinoInAToga]

Around my location, the series are usually traditional, and contain 1 or more coordinates to the final (in addition to the logbook, swag, etc.). The final itself is listed as unknown and bogus coordinates are listed for that cache. Thus, the only way to find the final is to find the entire series.

I understand that, I just don't need them to find the (true) final cache with coordinates. They need to use a map. I think we've settled on 2 stages to the final, with clues to the first stage (the box with the maps) in the first 13 caches.

[+RhinoInAToga]

Which means, in actuality, this is going to end up being a 15 stage cache. ...yikes!

[+Ike 13]

1)I would list it here as an unknown where you had to get information from the other caches.

 

2) Also check with our reviewer gpsfun. He has very detailed DNR maps, and can help you avoid those areas.

 

3) I use http://www.free-online-html-editor.com/

[+Ms.Scrabbler]

I hadn't come across a "series" until recently. I was looking at caches close to my daughter's home and found a few that might be done in a long walk. As I pulled up the descriptions for some traditional caches on the one morning it wasn't raining or snowing I read:

 

"There are four in this series and for them to count you need to get all FOUR!! (as of 10-10-10 the entire series is published so no excuses I will delete them if there aren't all four!

They are located so close together that it should be easy to get all four on the same outing."

 

Because of the weather being so unpredictable last week and my plans to do these on walks with my 7 week old granddaughter, I wasn't sure I'd get more than 1 or 2 so I didn't bother.

 

I'm just curious, these were labeled as Traditional, not multi, is this a normal requirement for a "series"?

[+Ike 13]

"There are four in this series and for them to count you need to get all FOUR!! (as of 10-10-10 the entire series is published so no excuses I will delete them if there aren't all four!

They are located so close together that it should be easy to get all four on the same outing."

Sounds like a multi that was split. The CO probably added that in after publication because as it reads that is an ALR and I doubt a reviewer would allow that. The CO has no right to delete your log if you find those caches.

[+Isonzo Karst]

I'm just curious, these were labeled as Traditional, not multi, is this a normal requirement for a "series"?

 

No, this is an Additional Logging requirement, and cannot be enforced. You can find 1 or 2 or 3 of these. If the cache owner deletes a find, he is in error.

 

Here is a link to the Guideline section on Logging of Physical caches

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=309

 

 

To RhinoInAToga - Your "final" or bonus cache would be listed as a Unknown type, it would have bogus coords at the top of the listing. The other caches in the series would somehow allow cachers to get the coords for first stage. It would be submitted with 2 additional HIDDEN waypoints, one for the cache container with the maps, found from coords; and one for the container that the map will take you to.

[+RhinoInAToga]

1)I would list it here as an unknown where you had to get information from the other caches.

 

2) Also check with our reviewer gpsfun. He has very detailed DNR maps, and can help you avoid those areas.

 

3) I use http://www.free-online-html-editor.com/

Thank you I didn't think of asking him. I'll use the Googled SCDNR map, & then send an email double-checking before we go out to place it. It is a pretty huge container to have to place twice

[+RhinoInAToga]

I'm just curious, these were labeled as Traditional, not multi, is this a normal requirement for a "series"?

 

No, this is an Additional Logging requirement, and cannot be enforced. You can find 1 or 2 or 3 of these. If the cache owner deletes a find, he is in error.

 

Here is a link to the Guideline section on Logging of Physical caches

http://support.Groundspeak.com/index.php?pg=kb.page&id=309

 

 

To RhinoInAToga - Your "final" or bonus cache would be listed as a Unknown type, it would have bogus coords at the top of the listing. The other caches in the series would somehow allow cachers to get the coords for first stage. It would be submitted with 2 additional HIDDEN waypoints, one for the cache container with the maps, found from coords; and one for the container that the map will take you to.

Thanks. Makes sense, & sounds simple. I haven't done an unknown cache yet.

 

I think everything's decided. Hopefully it will all work out & the cachers around here will like it. We'll see!

[GOF and Bacall]

I hadn't come across a "series" until recently. I was looking at caches close to my daughter's home and found a few that might be done in a long walk. As I pulled up the descriptions for some traditional caches on the one morning it wasn't raining or snowing I read:

 

"There are four in this series and for them to count you need to get all FOUR!! (as of 10-10-10 the entire series is published so no excuses I will delete them if there aren't all four!

They are located so close together that it should be easy to get all four on the same outing."

 

Because of the weather being so unpredictable last week and my plans to do these on walks with my 7 week old granddaughter, I wasn't sure I'd get more than 1 or 2 so I didn't bother.

 

I'm just curious, these were labeled as Traditional, not multi, is this a normal requirement for a "series"?

 

The ALR is not enforceable. If the CO deletes your found it and you care to you can contact Groundspeak and ask them to restore it.