What difficulty rating should a cache like this be rated?

[Nick - Cacher]

I'm still a newbie and have only placed one cache so far, so am asking for some help for another cache!

 

I was thinking of using one of those fake, hollowed out, magnetic bolts. Under the skirt of a light pole, that you lift up, I was going to put it between two already existing bolts, and place a washer underneath it. Although it wouldn't be the same size as the other bolts, I was wondering if a lot of people lift these light pole skirts up and down quickly and aren't as noticing of small minor details? (since lifting these skirts makes a lot of noise and are in public) On the scale of 1 to 5 stars, what would you think the difficulty should be rated?

 

The alternative I was thinking about was using one of those small magnetic nanos the size of buttons, and attaching it to the underside of one of those skirts you lift up. After lifting the skirt, the geocacher would either have to feel underneath the skirt, or get at a really low angle to look while having someone else hold the skirt up. What should I rate that if I were to make that my choice?

[+the4dirtydogs]

I would say 1.5/1.5 because it's a LPH. Where else could the cache be. I would also say no to the LPH this has been done way too many times. Good luck

[Nick - Cacher]

Where else could the cache be.

 

And some more details, I was thinking about a light pole right next to some trees, so after lifting up the skirt and not seeing it right away they may then get caught up looking throughout the trees.

[+Ms.Scrabbler]

There are so many other and much better places to put the bolt. Please do not waste it on a LP. even a guard rail is better, but not much. Give it some good thought.

Many cachers will not go to any LP cache so you would be better off putting it somewhere fun.

park bench, sign pole in a cool place. Keep thinking! don't waste it!

I NEVER reach up to find something hidden on the walls of the LP skirt. Things make those spots home same with guard rails. I try to have latex gloves with me for those kind.

Edited April 13, 2012 by Scrabblers

[+the4dirtydogs]

Where else could the cache be.

 

And some more details, I was thinking about a light pole right next to some trees, so after lifting up the skirt and not seeing it right away they may then get caught up looking throughout the trees.

The main reason why I don't like LPH is when you lift the skirt, the skirt tends to rub against the pole making that awesome sound and taking the paint off causing damage to the pole. There is just WAY too many other spots to hide a tricky hide.

[+briansnat]

Probably a difficulty of 1 or 1.5. The skirts are the first place 97.346 percent of all geocacahers will look.

[+Mr.Benchmark]

I was going to say D2 - if only because the lack of a pill bottle or altoids tin might throw some off. Expect throwdowns...

[Nick - Cacher]

Probably a difficulty of 1 or 1.5. The skirts are the first place 97.346 percent of all geocacahers will look.

 

The reason I ask is when I go to places like the store at geocaching.com, people rate liking the small magnetic nanos quite favorably, and say it's fun to put them under park benches. They say it takes for ever for anyone to finally find it. Since it sounds very uncreative to put them under park benches, because that's the "usual" of what people say they do with them online, I was curious how many people actually on a regular basis lay down on their backs to look under the underside of the moving light pole skirt just like they do with the very usual park bench? Lifting up the pole skirt is common, but lying on your back to look on the underside of the moving part?

 

But then what do I know, I'm still a newbie!

Edited April 13, 2012 by Nick - Cacher

[+acpape0]

I actually like the idea. Most people will just life the skirt really quick and dismiss it with out a good inspection. I would give it a 2.5 on the difficulty. Dont let anyone discourage you from the idea it is a good one. Anything that is a spin on a normal hide will throw people off. I have been tripped up by mag key holders on the top of a skirt just because you usually don't have to give them to through of an inspection and this idea is way better than that.

[+KyleYankan]

I've personally been contemplating my first hide lately, have a bunch of good ideas, and one of them was a LPH. But mounting the cache into the actual skirt, so when you lift it up, the cache goes up with it as well. What difficulty would you rate that?

 

(not that this is going to be my first hide, I want my first hide to last years and years)

[+Semper Questio]

LPC's of just about ANY variation are only challenging to newer cachers. In my opinion they are just a bad idea. As previously mentioned, they can cause paint damage, but I have seen skirts disassembled or broken as well as other parts of the lamppost - the plates that cover the wiring - removed. Having heard cachers talk about how they have done these things, I can only assume that it happens fairly often and fairly globally. These actions not only can reflect badly on our activity, but can also become a major safety issue. Please, just say "NO" to LPC's.

 

I am also not a big fan of guardrail hides because of the safety issues of having cachers standing along busy roads looking for a micro when paying attention to traffic whizzing by should be a far greater concern. I'm pretty sure most of us have seen the videos of cops and construction workers being taken out by cars veering off the roadway. Sure, there are little used roads and guardrails with relatively safer access from the non-road side, but even at that, they are a serious accident just waiting to happen.

 

Give it some thought and find a better place for your cache. I've seen these used on park benches, on support beams at park pavilions, on footbridge structures, and more. Use your imagination and give folks something a little different and more challenging and fun to go after.

[+the4dirtydogs]

I've personally been contemplating my first hide lately, have a bunch of good ideas, and one of them was a LPH. But mounting the cache into the actual skirt, so when you lift it up, the cache goes up with it as well. What difficulty would you rate that?

 

(not that this is going to be my first hide, I want my first hide to last years and years)

Oh I would say 1.5 because this type of hide has be done a bunch of times. You really want to make this hide hard, place the cache on top of the light pole.

[+KyleYankan]

I've personally been contemplating my first hide lately, have a bunch of good ideas, and one of them was a LPH. But mounting the cache into the actual skirt, so when you lift it up, the cache goes up with it as well. What difficulty would you rate that?

 

(not that this is going to be my first hide, I want my first hide to last years and years)

Oh I would say 1.5 because this type of hide has be done a bunch of times. You really want to make this hide hard, place the cache on top of the light pole.

 

You are an evil, evil man. I used to work for the fire department, and am pretty confident they'll let me use the ladder truck to do exactly this. would that be a 5/5?

[Clan Riffster]

Nick, welcome to the addiction! As you contemplate your first cache hide, obviously you'll want to read the guidelines, so you'll know what envelopes can be pushed and what ones cannot. While not required reading, I would also suggest reading the Geocaching 101 tutorial, written expressly to help you play the game in a way that will leave you, and the folks that interact with you, (hunting your caches), happy.

 

Specifically, I hope you'll focus on this opening paragraph, in the Hiding Your First Geocache segment, which offers some really good advice regarding placement:

 

"Step 1 - Research a Cache Location"

 

"Geocaching is just like real estate - location, location, location! It is common for geocachers to hide caches in locations that are important to them, reflecting a special interest or skill of the cache owner. These unique locations on the planet can be quite diverse. A prime camping spot, great viewpoint, unusual location, etc. are all good places to hide a cache."

 

On a similar note, BrianSnat is attributed with the following quote:

 

"When you go to hide a geocache, think of the reason you are bringing people to that spot. If the only reason is for the geocache, then find a better spot."

 

With this in mind, of all the truly amazing locations around you, do you really want to be known as the guy who brought people to yet another big box store parking lot to see yet another lamp post? Ultimately, it is your decision, since it'll be your cache, but I hope you will give it some thought.

[+jellis]

I would say 1.5 5o 2 because so many newbies don't know about fake bolts.

 

And like some others I don't mind LPH for numbers but not crazy about the noise that attacts attention of muggles.

[+the4dirtydogs]

I've personally been contemplating my first hide lately, have a bunch of good ideas, and one of them was a LPH. But mounting the cache into the actual skirt, so when you lift it up, the cache goes up with it as well. What difficulty would you rate that?

 

(not that this is going to be my first hide, I want my first hide to last years and years)

Oh I would say 1.5 because this type of hide has be done a bunch of times. You really want to make this hide hard, place the cache on top of the light pole.

 

You are an evil, evil man. I used to work for the fire department, and am pretty confident they'll let me use the ladder truck to do exactly this. would that be a 5/5?

I would think so. We had a fireman around here use his personal ladder truck to place a cache looped around the top of a light pole on the street. The truck was an old one that he had restored. Pretty cool truck. I'll try to find the cache. http://coord.info/GC2N1DE

Edited April 13, 2012 by the4dirtydogs

[+ohmelli]

I've only been caching for almost a month so far -- yes, I'm THAT new... but I can tell you this... I already hate LPH! I was bored with them by the time I found my 2nd one! It was VERY cool when I found my FIRST one... but after that, I was looking for original ideas! Think "outside the box"... especially the lamp post box!

[mjb716]

I actually like the idea. Most people will just life the skirt really quick and dismiss it with out a good inspection. I would give it a 2.5 on the difficulty. Dont let anyone discourage you from the idea it is a good one. Anything that is a spin on a normal hide will throw people off. I have been tripped up by mag key holders on the top of a skirt just because you usually don't have to give them to through of an inspection and this idea is way better than that.

QFE!

 

The fun about geocaching is that there are so many ways to do it. Personally, I do not have a cache type that I will not look for. I am a completionist by nature, so I'll hunt down every last one in my area. =P The double-play of LPH and fake bolt will definitely throw people off. It's a great idea. =)

 

Just make sure you won't be wrecking the lamppost with this. I've seen some demolished skirts in my area when there wasn't even a cache there.

 

As far as difficulty, I would probably go with a 2 or a 2.5.

[+Planet]

I'd rather see it attached to a trail sign a mile into the woods. I don't do lamp skirts. Parking lots are not very interesting to me. I don't even like shopping. And they have been done to death. At least that's what this cacher is hoping for. The death of lamp post hides. If you've done one you've done them all.

 

This is the best LPM I've seen and it wasn't a real cache, just a campsite sign contest entry at an event.

[+JesandTodd]

. I would give it a 2.5 on the difficulty.

 

.

 

As far as difficulty, I would probably go with a 2 or a 2.5.

 

Either you rate your cache on its true difficulty or on its difficulty related to new geocachers.

A LPC is a LPC.

If I lift the lid and it's not immediately there, I feel underneath the lid while I look around. This hide would take about 2 seconds for anyone with >15 finds to find.

 

FWIW, I've also seen plenty of those bolts hidden in the same fashion. It's not new or creative.

 

I never search for LPCs. When I pull up the map and see the hide is in a parking lot, it goes on the ignore list immediately.

 

But to answer the OPs question, it would get a 1-1.5 for difficulty...

Edited April 15, 2012 by JesandTodd

[+J the Goat]

For the love of everything that is hole-y, please don't hide another LPC. The fake bolt on a sign on a hiking trail, or even at a local baseball field, or fishing hole, something....

 

LPC caches aren't difficult. They're not creative, they're generally a waste of whatever container you put there. I certainly appreciate your attempt at making it different, but believe us when we tell you it's been done to death.

[AZcachemeister]

There really isn't much you can do with an LPC that hasn't already been done.

 

Fake bolt under the skirt, container attached to the skirt itself, big rubber spider that pops out when you lift the skirt...seen 'em all, and more.

 

No matter how you slice it, it's still an LPC...no matter how cute or creative it might be.

 

The best LPC is one that isn't...you think it's going to be an LPC but find out otherwise.

[+Planet]

There is a cacher who even creates clever little scenes under the lampskirts. I still don't want to go caching in a parking lot, no matter how cute. You could put dollars for swag. Still not interested.

Take me somewhere really cool that I would never find on my own, if it weren't for geocaching.

[+jellis]

I would say 1.5 to 2 because so many newbies don't know about fake bolts.

 

And like some others I don't mind LPH for numbers but not crazy about the noise that attacts attention of muggles.