New Way To Identify Challenge Caches I have Signed But Not Qualified For

[+Karate Hiker]

Hello - Over the past 3 years I have really gotten into challenge caches.  Over the past year I have started signing all challenge caches that I come by whether I qualify for them or not.  If I do not qualify for the challenge I write a note.  However, I find it difficult determining on my map which caches I have signed.  I do keep an extensive spreadsheet but that is growing cumbersome.  Is there a way to track these on line and on a map?  How could I suggest this to those at Geocaching HQ?

[+Max and 99]

5 minutes ago, Karate Hiker said:

Hello - Over the past 3 years I have really gotten into challenge caches.  Over the past year I have started signing all challenge caches that I come by whether I qualify for them or not.  If I do not qualify for the challenge I write a note.  However, I find it difficult determining on my map which caches I have signed.  I do keep an extensive spreadsheet but that is growing cumbersome.  Is there a way to track these on line and on a map?  How could I suggest this to those at Geocaching HQ?

Add them to a list? Call it challenge geocaches I have signed but not yet qualified for. 

[Keystone]

You would benefit from the challenge cache functionality at project-gc.com, especially the list of "Challenges signed (but not yet logged as found)" at the bottom of the challenge cache tab in your profile statistics.  Looking at that, I see you have three challenge caches that you can log an online find for, if you previously signed the log in the cache.   Yay!

[+RecipeForDisaster]

24 minutes ago, Max and 99 said:

Add them to a list? Call it challenge geocaches I have signed but not yet qualified for. 

This is what I do - when I sign a challenge I don’t yet qualify for, I write a note in the personal cache note field with the date I signed (and anything I’d want to add to my log), I add it to my "challenges signed by not yet qualified" bookmark list, and I put any caches that could help to qualify me for the challenge to my "to do list" bookmark list.

[+thebruce0]

51 minutes ago, Karate Hiker said:

I find it difficult determining on my map which caches I have signed.  I do keep an extensive spreadsheet but that is growing cumbersome.  Is there a way to track these on line and on a map?  How could I suggest this to those at Geocaching HQ?

Personally, I do two things.

 

1. Add them to a "Found but not qualified" bookmark list. I check back on these occasionally to see if I've yet qualified (if I haven't added the challenge to my active goals)

 

2. Edit the personal corrected coordinates for the listing to the same posted coordinates. It will show on the map as a corrected pin, distinguished from any other untouched Mystery cache.  This has the benefit of making them similar to solved puzzles (as in, "there is a geocache at these corrected coordinates that you can now find and sign!"), but doesn't work as well if the challenge container/final location is "not as posted" and behind a puzzle task not yet solved... That's rare though. I can't remember if it's allowed, but I know of a few challenges I couldn't correct to a known final location once I signed in, so I had to highlight it separately within Cachly to remind me that it's found and signed, but the final location isn't determined.   In any case, this strategy is a very nice visual indicator of "findable" mystery caches (whether puzzles or challenges).

 

Edited November 13, 2023 by thebruce0

[+JL_HSTRE]

I try to avoid signing challenges without qualifying for them as part of the same trip, though I won't deliberately pass up a challenge cache if I expect to qualify in the future. I skip those I an unlikely to qualify for.

 

I log a Note, add the cache to my Signed Not Qualified bookmark list, and add Personal Note on the cache page about how close I am to qualifying. I also add the cache to the My Finds database in GSAK.

Edited November 14, 2023 by JL_HSTRE

[+Smitherington]

I love challenge caches but I hardly ever sign them until I qualify.  An exception would be if I am in another state and I am close to qualifying.  I am waiting to qualify  for a "Z" cache in an alphabet series but need a few more that start with Z.  It is only a 2 hour drive so when I qualify I will make the drive.

[+Goldenwattle]

1. I keep a list of those I have signed the log for, but don't yet qualify for. Every now and again I check the list. If I find one I now qualify for, I make a find log and delete this challenge cache from my list.

 

2. Those I qualify for but haven't found yet, I copy the coordinates and add them as updating the coordinates as though it were a solved multi or puzzle cache. Then it shows up on the map as solved.

[+Twinklekitkat]

If you have Cachly you could use the highlight feature. Choose one of the colors and rename it ‘challenges signed but not qualified’. Then, using the list feature, display them all on the map in Cachly. Once they are all displayed use the hamburger button and choose highlight/add highlight/all caches then choose the color. Those will then show up on the map with that colored line under the pin so when you see it on the map you’ll know it’s one of those caches you’ve signed already so no need to go back and revisit. I love this feature and use it for field puzzles, large size, night cache and many other things. 

[+DRJDSmith]

On 11/13/2023 at 2:49 PM, Keystone said:

You would benefit from the challenge cache functionality at project-gc.com, especially the list of "Challenges signed (but not yet logged as found)" at the bottom of the challenge cache tab in your profile statistics.  Looking at that, I see you have three challenge caches that you can log an online find for, if you previously signed the log in the cache.   Yay!

How do you add the challenge cache tab to you profile stats? My stats do not include the challenge cache tab or the lab cache tab.

[+MartyBartfast]

10 minutes ago, DRJDSmith said:

How do you add the challenge cache tab to you profile stats? My stats do not include the challenge cache tab or the lab cache tab.

You have to have a paid membership of Project-GC.

[+Karate Hiker]

On 11/14/2023 at 6:17 PM, Smitherington said:

I love challenge caches but I hardly ever sign them until I qualify.  An exception would be if I am in another state and I am close to qualifying.  I am waiting to qualify  for a "Z" cache in an alphabet series but need a few more that start with Z.  It is only a 2 hour drive so when I qualify I will make the drive.

I used to do that as well but then I got burned on 3 challenges that I had been working on for over a year when they were archived.  I was extremely disappointed but the challenges are still on my challenge list.

[+Karate Hiker]

I see many suggestions here and have tried them all but none really solve my issue.  When I am planning a trip I do not want to have to look in 2 or 3 different places to find caches in the area I might want to visit.  I seems to me that it would be a simple thing have the ability to check a box on the cache page and have the Icon turn a different color.

[+Karate Hiker]

On 11/13/2023 at 12:25 PM, thebruce0 said:

 

 

2. Edit the personal corrected coordinates for the listing to the same posted coordinates. It will show on the map as a corrected pin, distinguished from any other untouched Mystery cache.  This has the benefit of making them similar to solved puzzles (as in, "there is a geocache at these corrected coordinates that you can now find and sign!"), but doesn't work as well if the challenge container/final location is "not as posted" and behind a puzzle task not yet solved... That's rare though. I can't remember if it's allowed, but I know of a few challenges I couldn't correct to a known final location once I signed in, so I had to highlight it separately within Cachly to remind me that it's found and signed, but the final location isn't determined.   In any case, this strategy is a very nice visual indicator of "findable" mystery caches (whether puzzles or challenges).

 

I do this to challenge caches I have qualified for but have not signed or puzzle caches I have solved.  It would be nice to have the option to check a check box on the cache page to have it turn a different color or have a "note" symbol on the cache.

[+Goldenwattle]

7 hours ago, Karate Hiker said:

I see many suggestions here and have tried them all but none really solve my issue.  When I am planning a trip I do not want to have to look in 2 or 3 different places to find caches in the area I might want to visit.  I seems to me that it would be a simple thing have the ability to check a box on the cache page and have the Icon turn a different color.

That's as I suggested to you before, but seem to have dismissed. "2. Those I qualify for but haven't found yet, I copy the coordinates and add them as updating the coordinates as though it were a solved multi or puzzle cache. Then it shows up on the map as solved." To make it clearer, changes to: . What is wrong with that? Stands out!

 

For those I have signed, but don't qualify for yet, I just keep a list in a document on the computer. Simple.

Edited December 15, 2023 by Goldenwattle

[+Karate Hiker]

On 12/14/2023 at 4:43 PM, Goldenwattle said:

That's as I suggested to you before, but seem to have dismissed. "2. Those I qualify for but haven't found yet, I copy the coordinates and add them as updating the coordinates as though it were a solved multi or puzzle cache. Then it shows up on the map as solved." To make it clearer, changes to: . What is wrong with that? Stands out!

 

For those I have signed, but don't qualify for yet, I just keep a list in a document on the computer. Simple.

I do this as well so that the puzzle icon will show on all caches I have either solved the puzzle on or qualify for.  My issue with this those caches I have signed but do not quality for.  I have an extensive spreadsheet keeping track of them all but, again, it would be nice to have a simple check box on those caches I have written notes on so that there is another icon on the ? or the ? turns another color.  I would like to be able to open my map and see all the challenge caches:  A blue ? would be I have not signed it / I do not qualify for it.  A puzzle icon means I qualify for it but have not signed it.  Perhaps a green ? would mean I have signed do not qualify for.

[+nachtmusik]

On 11/13/2023 at 2:49 PM, Keystone said:

You would benefit from the challenge cache functionality at project-gc.com, especially the list of "Challenges signed (but not yet logged as found)" at the bottom of the challenge cache tab in your profile statistics.  Looking at that, I see you have three challenge caches that you can log an online find for, if you previously signed the log in the cache.   Yay!

 This is what I use. The Map Challenge caches feature also lets you quickly see which challenges you qualify for in a given area, and which ones have notes. I find it much more convenient than correcting coordinates or keeping lists or spreadsheets. 

[+MNTA]

Would love it if Groundspeak would purchase project-gc 

[+MartyBartfast]

10 minutes ago, MNTA said:

Would love it if Groundspeak would purchase project-gc 

Pleeeeeeeeaaaaase Noooooooo  They would ruin it !

[+ChriBli]

1 hour ago, MNTA said:

Would love it if Groundspeak would purchase project-gc 

...the horror......the horror...

[+HowDee]

This works for us:

 

Write note that you signed log.

Add to bookmark list of caches signed.

Then we put on ignored cache list. This keeps it off map and out of PQ's.

 

Then just check list from time to time.

 

[+Karate Hiker]

 

On 11/13/2023 at 11:49 AM, Keystone said:

You would benefit from the challenge cache functionality at project-gc.com, especially the list of "Challenges signed (but not yet logged as found)" at the bottom of the challenge cache tab in your profile statistics.  Looking at that, I see you have three challenge caches that you can log an online find for, if you previously signed the log in the cache.   Yay!

Alas, that list is not very accurate.  This list includes all challenge caches that I have written NOTES on.  The three in question are not notes that I have signed the cache.  One was a note to the CO that a nearby business owner was not very pleased with the cache being there and I had to leave before I found it.  One was just stating my qualifications and one I did not qualify for yet as the query used was looking for all caches with the Night Time icon but several of my finds had that icon but were not true nighttime caches.   

[+Karate Hiker]

On 12/21/2023 at 10:40 AM, HowDee said:

This works for us:

 

Write note that you signed log.

Add to bookmark list of caches signed.

Then we put on ignored cache list. This keeps it off map and out of PQ's.

 

Then just check list from time to time.

 

But I WANT them on my map.  When I plan a trip I want to see 1) Challenge caches I have qualified for but have not signed and 2) caches I have signed but do not qualify for.  So, I know what caches I need to go sign and those that I have already signed.

[+Karate Hiker]

So far, there have been many good suggestions but none that solve my problem:  How to see Challenge caches that I have SIGNED the log already but do not qualify for.  I want to see these on my map so when I plan a trip, I KNOW I do not need to go back to that cache.  Currently I use the puzzle icon (solved coordinates) to show those caches I qualify for but have not signed and need to visit that cache.  I do not want to have to go back and forth between my map and a saved list or spreadsheet trying to figure out what caches I want to visit on my trip.  Again, is it too much to have a check mark on the cache page that would turn the puzzle icon (solved coordinates) to say green or purple????

[Keystone]

1 hour ago, Karate Hiker said:

 

Alas, that list is not very accurate.  This list includes all challenge caches that I have written NOTES on.  The three in question are not notes that I have signed the cache.  One was a note to the CO that a nearby business owner was not very pleased with the cache being there and I had to leave before I found it.  One was just stating my qualifications and one I did not qualify for yet as the query used was looking for all caches with the Night Time icon but several of my finds had that icon but were not true nighttime caches.   

 

You can easily fix this on Project-GC by reading and following the instructions at the bottom of the Challenge Caches tab:  "All noted challenges which aren't logged, locked or owned are listed. For exclusion they can be tagged in the logs with [NOT-SIGNED]."

[+arisoft]

5 hours ago, Karate Hiker said:

How to see Challenge caches that I have SIGNED the log already but do not qualify for.

 

You put them in a special list you have made for caches that you have signed before you qualify and then you ignore them. Now you can see them from the list when needed and they do not show on the map when you plan a new trip.