Location available or not?

[+Ghacam]

Before I take all the effort of creating a cache, I want to know if the location is available.

I know I need to be 161 meters from any other cache. But apart from physical hidden caches, does this also include waypoints, starting points of multicaches, and mystery caches as projected on the map?

 

For example, let's say I want to place a traditional cache at Neude, Utrecht (52.093641, 5.118600).

The map on geocaching.com tells me there is both a multicache and a mystery cache close to that location. So I would not be able to place a cache there. See:

https://www.geocaching.com/play/map?lat=52.09295490682035&lng=5.121109485626221&zoom=17&asc=true&sort=distance

But the "Hide a geocache"-tool tells me all other caches are more then 161 meters away, so I would be able to place a cache there. See:

https://www.geocaching.com/hide/planning.aspx   and search for neude, utrecht.

 

Now how can I know whether it is possible to place a cache here?

 

 

[+Twentse Mug]

The reviewer will let you know after you published.

[+L0ne.R]

The help centre says to contact your local reviewer to ask about proximity. 

 

https://www.geocaching.com/help/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&id=128&pgid=78

[+Touchstone]

From the Help Center article that L0ne.R provided:

 

Quote

To be completely sure, ask your community volunteer reviewer if a location is available.

 

The best way to do this is to submit a Listing page before you place your cache.  Make sure you make it clear on the Listing page that the Listing is for a coordinate check.  Most people will put the words, "coordinate check" in the Title, Description and Note.

 

The alternative is to find all nearby Puzzles, Multi's, etc, in the area to find out where the Finals are.  This can be a very arduous project depending on your area and your skill level.

[+frostengel]

1 hour ago, Ghacam said:

The map on geocaching.com tells me there is both a multicache and a mystery cache close to that location.

 

These are incorrect thoughts. Please take a look at the images about the distance rule under this link: https://www.geocaching.com/play/guidelines

 

You have only found two bonus caches as unknown caches but you should know by now that the posted coordinates of this cache type are (usually) bogus coordinates which are only in a certain area around the cache box. If the final cache is (let's say) one mile away these coordinates count - not the posted ones. That means the map can never show you if a mystery cache is too close to your cache or not. (Other way round a mystery cache can be too close to your area though the map doesn't show it.)

 

With multi caches it is a little more difficult: If it is a "virtual stage" (count the signs, read the number, ...) it does not count but if it is something to touch ("physical stage": a box, a badge which the owner attached to something, ...) it works like a cache container and you must be away 161 metres at least.

Just reading the listing of the multi cache it should be easy to figure out if stage 1 is "virtual" or "physical".

 

Of course in both cases you don't know where the finals or other stages might be but have you tried solving the caches in first place?

 

By the way: This is easy with traditional caches or mystery caches with only the final box. If you are ever going to hide a cache with more than one physical stage it's going to be even more complicated! :-)

 

Best wishes

Jochen

[+Isonzo Karst]

I would use Search, I'd limit to 2 miles from my coords,  remove all the virtual cache types, and the Traditional caches, because you can clearly see those.

 

https://www.geocaching.com/play/search?lat=52.092955&lng=5.121109&origin=52.0929549++5.121109499999989&radius=2mi&types=2,3,8,5,1858,9,3773

 

You see 91 stages or hidden final  caches within 2 miles of your proposed coords. 

I'd create a test cache, and submit it to a reviewer.  Just a simple page called Coordinate Check with a reviewer note asking if the area is clear, and okay - before I'd put any work in a location with so many Mystery and Multi around.

[+cerberus1]

3 hours ago, Ghacam said:

Before I take all the effort of creating a cache, I want to know if the location is available.

I know I need to be 161 meters from any other cache. But apart from physical hidden caches, does this also include waypoints, starting points of multicaches, and mystery caches as projected on the map?

 

For example, let's say I want to place a traditional cache at Neude, Utrecht (52.093641, 5.118600).

The map on geocaching.com tells me there is both a multicache and a mystery cache close to that location. So I would not be able to place a cache there. See:

https://www.geocaching.com/play/map?lat=52.09295490682035&lng=5.121109485626221&zoom=17&asc=true&sort=distance

But the "Hide a geocache"-tool tells me all other caches are more then 161 meters away, so I would be able to place a cache there. See:

https://www.geocaching.com/hide/planning.aspx   and search for neude, utrecht.

 

Now how can I know whether it is possible to place a cache here?

 

Here, we have a good idea after we ask for permission.  The landowner usually knows what's on their property.

We never assume that just because there's a cache at one spot, all other areas are open without permission too. 

[+Ghacam]

Thanks for all the helpful explanations! I know what to do now!