Replacing disabled geocache

[+Sydneyapple96]

Hello, I am a park ranger at a State Park In Texas. In our park we have 4 geocaches. I noticed that one of the caches was disabled by the original moderator, not us (the park) It was a very popular cache and in a good area. I have tried reaching out to the original owner but they have not replied. I want to replace it myself and moderate it but when I start the process, there is a red circle preventing me from doing so but the cache is no longer there. Any advice on this?

[+TriciaG]

A cache that is disabled is not permanently out of play. The cache owner could fix it up and re-enable it. (It doesn't appear that they will from the last log, though.)

 

Since you are a Premium Member, you can "watch" the cache listing. Then when the cache is archived, you can place your own there and submit a new listing.

 

I personally would be hesitant to log a "Needs Archived" on it, to flag the reviewer to the issue, at this point. But I'd not be averse to contacting the reviewer for the area and seeing if they'd post a reviewer note to start the ball rolling on archival.

 

Hope this makes sense.

[+Sydneyapple96]

Yes this made sense! I did not know that. Thank you so much  

[+Isonzo Karst]

The cache owner has logged on recently. You could attempt to reach that owner through the site.  They can transfer ownership of the existing cache page to you. ONLY the owner can do that.

www.geocaching.com/adopt/

The page is self explanatory. IF you can get the cache owner to respond, they can make the transfer.  If not, then working through a reviewer to have this archived (permanently retired) and then place your own is the other way to go.

[+cerberus1]

34 minutes ago, TriciaG said:

Since you are a Premium Member, you can "watch" the cache listing.

Then when the cache is archived, you can place your own there and submit a new listing.

 

When did you need to be a PM to use the watchlist ?  When basic, we've used the watchlist, since we no longer had bookmarks. 

 

Edited September 17, 2021 by cerberus1
a T

[+TriciaG]

31 minutes ago, cerberus1 said:

 

When did you need to be a PM to use the watchlist ?  When basic, we've used the watchlist, since we no longer had bookmarks. 

 

I'm not certain, to be honest. But I suppose either way, the OP can use it.

[+K13]

I see the cache was disabled by the owner, and has had a note placed by the Reviewer. The CO (cache owner) has since (on 9/28) placed a note seemingly indicating they will replace/repair the container. It is reasonable to expect the cache to be fixed within a month or so.

 

Does your State Park have a Geocache Placement policy in place? My local State Park (Martin Creek Lake SP) requires a permit to be on file (free of charge and basically little more than a description of the cache, location placed, and owner contact information).

[+Max and 99]

That's a strange sequence of recent logs.

[+K13]

1 minute ago, Max and 99 said:

That's a strange sequence of recent logs.

Yeah, as if the CO was referring to a different geocache when they said it was missing. Weird indeed

[+Max and 99]

On 9/17/2021 at 2:26 PM, Sydneyapple96 said:

but the cache is no longer there

This is confusing me since it was found just 2 months ago and several founds before that?

[+CAVinoGal]

The cache is now enabled, and apparently in play.  Is it actually in place?  It seems it must be, there have been consistent finds up until it was disabled, a reveiwer note, and then enabled again.  @Sydneyapple96, I would go visit the cache location; if it is still there and in good shape, do nothing with it as it is there to be found and logged.  If it's not, and you want ot manage it, request that the original CO adopt it over to you, and then you can replace the container, and do other maintenance as needed as it will be YOUR cache.

 

The other option is to to have the original CO archive it, and then you can use the spot to create a new cache inthe same location.  Either way seems doable, now that the original CO seems to be responding to notes.

[+colleda]

The owner has another close by which has a problem. Perhaps confused as to which it is as suggested.

GC3XERT