volks Posted March 1, 2003 Share Posted March 1, 2003 i wonder if i'm the only one that has a hard time finding burried caches in the winter..the hike and hunt is still alot of fun but be more fun if the caches were off the ground.but it's not a big problem i'll try too find them again this summer volks Quote Link to comment
+res2100 Posted March 1, 2003 Share Posted March 1, 2003 I think it's just you. I have had a few no finds this winter, but that is only because the actual cache has gone missing. I will usually search for atleast 30 minutes and may times more, before giving up...and then a number of times just as I have given up, I find the cache. I have done done any caches in the summer yet, but so far the 2 advantages to winter caches are: 1) I can pull my son on the sled, so that means we travel faster. 2) I can follow previous cachers footsteps 3) I could ski to a cache (haven't done that yet, since it would be hard with a 5 year old, but it has been a thought. Which ones couldn't you find? Maybe they went missing. http://ca.geocities.com/rsab2100/pond.html Quote Link to comment
+chris-mouse Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 I only started caching last fall, so most of my caching has been done in the winter months. The snow has made things harder in some ways, but easier in others. The tracks in the snow can be helpful, although they can also mislead. Usually the snow isn't deep enough to make finding the cache impossible, although it does add quite a bit to the camoflage.The snow has only beaten me once, that time there was enough snow to not only cover the cache, but to also cover the landmarks mentioned in the clue. In the city areas, snow hasn't been a problem at all. Quote Link to comment
binthair Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 In Ottawa we have a number of cachers who make it out in -25 C weather around midnight with flashlights and shovels intent on finding Tupperware under a foot or more of snow. Just makes it a bit more interesting...and the caching stories are hilarious...LOL! And best of all it's bug-free.... with little competition....except for the odd curious cop looking to make what he figures will be a drug bust...Some of them have been educated into the art and science of geocaching now . Quote Link to comment
xyzabc Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 don't let the snow get to you. Here in Gander, Newfoundland, we have, in places. 4 feet of snow. I may not be able to hide traditional cache, but I sure can hide micros. Try to find ways to work around the snow, like I have. "Make it idiot proof, and someone will make a better idiot" Quote Link to comment
+Couparangus Posted March 2, 2003 Share Posted March 2, 2003 For me also the chase is better than the catch (cache?). But, let's be honest, finding the cache is the icing on the cake - and what counts as another successfull find!! I've hidden a few caches myself and include enough information in the cheat to find the container regardless of weather conditions. I just wish everyone else did this also. There's no hard and fast rule about this, but given that there are often kids involved (big and small) you don't want them to be disappointed with a failed hunt. I think only one person couldn't find one of my caches on the first attempt and this was as a result of foul weather turning them back before they got to the actual site. Cheers! Coupar-Angus Quote Link to comment
boreal jeff & sons Posted March 3, 2003 Share Posted March 3, 2003 I haven't done any winter caching this year. Its been too cold. Call me a wimp but I'd rather not freeze to death and live to cache another day. Today, my thermostat on the outside of the house was pegged over at -30C. Polar Bears die at that temperature. Every hour spent geocaching is added to the end of your life Quote Link to comment
+Zartimus Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 quote:Originally posted by binthair:In Ottawa we have a number of cachers who make it out in -25 C weather around midnight with flashlights and shovels Yes, Binthair took a buried cache out with a shovel just the other day (can the next cacher bring a new container?! But so far you were the only one to find that puppy! I think it is fairly important to try and make all Canadian caches somewhat winter freindly unless there is a good reason not too. 'Cause if you don't, you'll have the crazies like us out there shoveling the woods looking for them! One great method Tick and Nammie use here is a string, sometimes dirty enough or colored to match the surroundings, cleverly tied to the cache box and affixed to a tree or something above the snow line. Quote Link to comment
+PDOP's Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 I've done a few winter caches and the ones that excell in the snow are located above ground. These have been in standing tree stumps or in the roots of uprooted trees. The last cache I found was hidden on the ground under a half metre of snow. It was a pain to find and took a lot of the fun out of the search. Also I had to trample down a fair area while searching which takes away from the ascetics of a winter scene. If you want to create a four season cache hide it up high http://members.shaw.ca/pdops/ Quote Link to comment
+LoneHowler Posted March 5, 2003 Share Posted March 5, 2003 I just started this winter and I have done one at -20. but considering what the temp is going to drop to this weekend I think I'll hide inside below-40 without the windchill More to see, More to do Quote Link to comment
volks Posted March 6, 2003 Author Share Posted March 6, 2003 well i'm glad too see that i'm not the only one that would like to see caches off the ground for winter caching...because i find it's the best time of the year to go out in the woods..with the snowshoes.. volks Quote Link to comment
+coast2coast2coast Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 I live on the west coast and we don't really have a "Snowy Cache" problem...I was away in northern Ontario on business and found this one http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=39474 It was -25 ...it was fun BUT I can honesty say I like the above 0 caches around here *We are teaching our Zoe dog to sniff out Tupperware...* Quote Link to comment
Peregrine007 Posted March 6, 2003 Share Posted March 6, 2003 I'd had my Vista for about a week and was a complete newbie to caching when I went to Calgary in January. I thought it might be fun to try a cache while I was there (I'd done about 2 here). With a light snow cover, and everything completely frozen solid (i.e. couldn't even move a rock!), it was not a successful experience. So yeah, I can see that it would be a problem. Here on the wet coast we don't have winters (well, not really!), so it's all good once you've got your BFL, some mud-proof boots and a rain jacket! Quote Link to comment
gm100guy Posted March 8, 2003 Share Posted March 8, 2003 Bug house cache I went to check this cache I have out today. Check the log and see how it is. Need to add a hammer to my cache gear for awhile. gm100guy http://members.rogers.com/gm100guy/cachepage.htm Ontario geocachers http://groups.msn.com/GeocachinginOntario/homepage Quote Link to comment
Mic or Mac Posted March 10, 2003 Share Posted March 10, 2003 Well I just got my Etrex for christmas and remembered a story I've seen on the discovery channel about geocaching. I couldn't wait till spring or even summer so on New Years Day I looked up a couple of caches in my area (Miramichi the most best place on earth!) and began the hunt. We looked for four with no luck. There was lots of snow and I suspect one was taken away by the tide. Still not detered, we attempted to hide a cache. Only to be later denied later because of some of the contents of the cache. So I'll try again and eventually get it right. I think that this caching is a blast and being able to talk it over with you guys and gals is just another bonus. I have yet to meet any other Miramichi cachers...maybe we should set up a St. Paddies Day get together. I'll get back to you with the coordinates. Quote Link to comment
+Argus2 Posted June 21, 2003 Share Posted June 21, 2003 I did try a few winter caches this year and if they are sitting under 3 feet of snow- it certainly is a challenge. All you can do is start digging at your best reading. My March 15 log on the Albert County Vista comes to mind here. I did this one with cacher Scouterkevin who went back after the snow melted. We missed it by only a couple of feet. We also waited for nicer weather to do the Dillon Dawg that you tried back in January. I don't think we would have found it back then either, but the challenge of the snow was replaced by the challenge of the mosquitos! Quote Link to comment
Spiderkid Posted July 3, 2003 Share Posted July 3, 2003 Since my buddy Allwalk and I started geocaching in October, we did most of our finds thus far during the winter months. While it can be more difficult to find some caches in the snow, there are also definite advantages to winter caching: 1) There are fewer hikers on the trails, so you don't have to worry about someone watching you as much. 2) When we did the parking on the credit series of caches, we were able to save some significant time by crossing the credit river while it was frozen! 3) quite often, you can follow other people's footprints and find the cache easier, which is helpful when you're pulling a marathon day of geocaching. Just remember to dress warmly and perhaps bring a screwdriver or something in case you have to chip a cache out of the ice!! Tess. Quote Link to comment
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