+viennesewaltz Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) Is there any form of etiquette for what you should do if you go to a cache location and find another cacher looking for the same cache? Should you team up with them and look for it together? And if you do, and only one of you finds it, can you both sign the logbook? Or should you leave them to it and come back another day? I am conflicted on this issue myself. I don't think it is really fair for me to log a cache if I didn't find it. But on the other hand, it seems strange just to leave a cache location if you find someone else there, especially if you've travelled some way to get there. Edited July 15, 2015 by viennesewaltz Quote Link to comment
+jellis Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 You can always ask if they mind you joining them in the search or wait back until they leave. Quote Link to comment
+T.D.M.22 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Well as long as your name is on the logbook you can log it online. Doesn't matter if you're alone or not. As for before you get your name in there, well it depends. Sometimes you team up. It may be a hard cache, you may be a new cacher not knowing what to look for, you may be short on time, whatever. Or you may wait. Perhaps it's a puzzle to open the cache, or a night cache you want to try, or such a good hide and you want to try for yourself. Or perhaps you're out with a friend-your not going to go back to the same location when you've already been there. It's up to you, and situation dependant. Ultimately all that matters is that you sign the log. As much as the CO wants, they can't dictate how you get to the log(although some things like breaking open the container would just be plain rude) Quote Link to comment
+T.D.M.22 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 And that's part of the fun- meeting cachers. That's exactly how I first met 2 local cachers here. We spent half hour looking, and never did find the cache that visit. But it's not always about finding it, it's about the search. Quote Link to comment
+dprovan Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 "Mind if I join you?" Although that's if you want to be strictly polite. The culture in my area is such that another searcher is always welcome, so most people don't bother to ask, they just say "Hi", introduce themselves if they haven't met before, and start searching. Quote Link to comment
+redsox_mark Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 When I have met someone also looking for a cache we have always teamed up and looked. Quote Link to comment
knowschad Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 In my early caching days, I also felt as you do... not sure if I should join (also not sure I wanted somebody else to join me) but once I got to know a few other cachers, those feelings went away, and geocaching became more of a social thing than it started out to be for me. Join in, and welcome others to join you. You'll make more friends that way. Quote Link to comment
+fuzziebear3 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 It's great when you meet someone out in the field. Team up for the find, you both get to sign the log no matter who actually finds it first. Think of it this way, each of you were eliminating places that it was not, until one of you determined the place where it was. You both earned the find. Sometimes you will then decide to go hunt another one together, it is fun with friends (and this from a solo cacher). Sometimes, when caching with others, after one sees it they will back off and let the other one find it for themselves as well. Some will mention that they saw it, but not retrieve it until others see it too. Others just announce it, retrieve it, they both sign, and move on. This is just a style of play that is different in different groups and areas. Quote Link to comment
+uxorious Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 When meeting someone else at a cache, I've always asked if they wanted me to share the hiding spot if I find it first. Just as when I go with friends. Some times people like to share the spot with everyone there, hunt over and cache found. Other people would like to have you stand back after you find it,(if possible) and let them find it before retrieving and signing the cache. Quote Link to comment
+viennesewaltz Posted July 15, 2015 Author Share Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) Thanks for all the interesting responses. The reason I've been thinking about this is because of the upcoming road trip to find a D5 or T5 cache. Well, I'm not really interested in T5s but I would certainly be interested in finding a D5, however there is only one of those in my area. So it's not unlikely that there will be a fellow cacher there at the same time looking for it. On the one hand I've been thinking that it would be a very satisfying thing to find it myself and therefore that I would rather not team up with anyone at the location. On the other hand I think the above answers are probably spot on in that there is also a lot to be gained from teaming up. I will see how it goes when I get there. Edited July 15, 2015 by viennesewaltz Quote Link to comment
+on4bam Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 When we see people near GZ from a distance we tend to wait to get closer and let them log first. No problem in having a chat with fellow cachers but we like to cache on our own. It's no fun having the container/log handed over. Fortunately on longer multi's you hardly see anyone, doing a series in the first few weeks after publishing however can look like an event. Quote Link to comment
+J Grouchy Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 All the stupid "co-FTF" logs I see seem to indicate that most folks don't care about actually finding it themselves. Quote Link to comment
+Chief301 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I keep a bookmark list of all the caches where I've met other cachers. It's happened to me several times and it's always a treat. Quote Link to comment
+NYPaddleCacher Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 All the stupid "co-FTF" logs I see seem to indicate that most folks don't care about actually finding it themselves. The same liberal definition of "finding a cache" seems apply when the cache is up in a tree. Quote Link to comment
+narcissa Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Usually when I meet other cachers, I get too caught up chatting with them to worry about who found the cache. Quote Link to comment
+Coqui572 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Is there any form of etiquette for what you should do if you go to a cache location and find another cacher looking for the same cache? Should you team up with them and look for it together? And if you do, and only one of you finds it, can you both sign the logbook? Or should you leave them to it and come back another day? I am conflicted on this issue myself. I don't think it is really fair for me to log a cache if I didn't find it. But on the other hand, it seems strange just to leave a cache location if you find someone else there, especially if you've travelled some way to get there. For some geocaches out there, another set of eyes is a welcomed addition. In all my years geocaching I think I have been joined by others probably a handful of times, and it has been a good experience. You get a new perspective, plus the other set of eyes. Quote Link to comment
+cerberus1 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I like to be alone most times, and rare that the caches I hit now have a waiting line. Today I found one that sat three days just because it's a mile in, and I was the ftf. No one wants to walk anymore... Anyway... When CJ would drag me around or get conned solo for park & grabs, cache N dashes, whatever you want to call 'em, I appreciated the fact that there was another person there. I ask if I can join in when I see another in an area, in case this is the day they found out their spouse was cheating, the cat died, whatever, and wants to be left alone. Most don't ask when they see me there first, as they know I appreciate the help (not really wanting to be there in the first place). Quote Link to comment
+corupt1 Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 I have ran into other cachers multiple times while out caching. Most of the time we join together while on the hunt for the cache while trading caching stories. Sometimes we hit a few other together, other times we have found the one together and then head our separate ways. I haven't got a FTF yet, and it isn't a big deal to me until I happen on that FTF cache LOL. Quote Link to comment
+dprovan Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 All the stupid "co-FTF" logs I see seem to indicate that most folks don't care about actually finding it themselves. I care that my team finds it. Quote Link to comment
+Path Pacer Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 If you're both going for an FTF, it seems you should go it alone. Whoever spots it first wins. But if it's just a regular cache and you run into another cacher, why not find it together? Sounds like more fun. Quote Link to comment
+Wet Pancake Touring Club Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 (edited) Taking it one step further, I was driving by a cache that I had already found, and stopped when I saw cachers looking for it. My opening line was, "Have you found it yet?". They hadn't, and had already spent some time, so they asked to verify that the cache still there. I was able to verify that the cache was missing, so we were able to log a NM on the cache. They were on a geocaching vacation, and had a ways to go before stopping for the night. Skye. Edited July 16, 2015 by Wet Pancake Touring Club Quote Link to comment
+WarNinjas Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I like to walk up all questioning like and ask if they are looking for something. Then get the weird answer! Then laugh and join in to find. It is great to meet other cachers and I enjoy it. I am not worried if I find it first or the other cachers do. Especially now. I have found over 3000 what is it going to matter. If it is a interesting camo I will still get to see it and appreciate it. One of my favorites was I got a FTF on a cache and texted the CO to tell him something about it and he said another cacher was on his way and should be there shortly. I was logging it from my phone when I seen the other cacher walking up from a distance. I opened my car door and asked if he was looking for something? He was so confused. Then I let him know who we were and we chatted for a bit. Quote Link to comment
+JL_HSTRE Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 I have always teamed up for the hunt with other cachers at the same GZ. I have arrived at GZ to find the cache already in someone's hands. Quote Link to comment
+Maebius Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 Usually when I meet other cachers, I get too caught up chatting with them to worry about who found the cache. Yep, I've run into other cachers twice now, and both times we were so busy chatting that the actual logbook almsot didn't get signed the one time. I have had soemone come across Me once, and they asked politely if they could help hunt. I said sure, but they decided to grab another one nearby, and then return to that one, so we could both "Find" it on our own. So, I guess it all depends on the person. Never hurts to ask though. Quote Link to comment
+Shawnonabike Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 People look for caches in groups all the time, and obviously one of them is the one to find it. What difference does it make if you went out with a group or met up with them on the way? Quote Link to comment
+Shawnonabike Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 There are very few (if any) official rules about geocaching. I don't even think there is any official way to record FTFs. You do what you think is correct. It is very rare for me to encounter someone while geocaching because I am way out in the woods, but when I do encounter one we merrily look together. My personal philosophy for FTFs in this case would be whoever spots it first gets the FTF. People value different things, Sometimes its the FTFs sometimes its the numbers, someones badges. Me, I like to find a cache that haven't been found in years, and i value it more if i get there by non-motorized means. Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted July 16, 2015 Share Posted July 16, 2015 People look for caches in groups all the time, and obviously one of them is the one to find it.Unless they're playing huckle buckle beanstalk style, in which case all of them can be "the one to find it". Quote Link to comment
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