Travel mystery cache

[+pastawarrior18]

I recently had a cool idea, but not sure if it is allowed by the geocaching guidelines. I was wondering if I could set the posted coordinates for a mystery cache somewhere across the world from where I currently live (Ontario, Canada) like Paris or London, as a travel challenge where the final coordinates would be here in Canada. Users from anywhere could solve it and head to Canada for the final coords, even if they are from Canada. 

Would this be allowed? And how would the reviewers respond to something like this?

[Keystone]

The posted coordinates for a Mystery Cache cannot be more than two miles / 3.22 km from the actual cache location.  This guideline was established many years ago, so that caches local to an area will show up in search results, and so caches that are not in the area will not show up in search results.  If you try to submit a cache page for review with the posted coordinates farther away than the maximum distance, automated alerts are displayed for the Reviewer.  This is not an area with a lot of discretion.

[+JL_HSTRE]

For purposes of which country your cache is in, Mystery caches use the posted coordinates not the hidden waypoint final coordinates.

 

So placing the posted coordinates in Europe with a final in Canada not only causes people in Canada to miss a cache they could otherwise solve and find, but also dishonestly provides Canadians with a find in Europe.

 

After some Eastern European shenanigans last year I hope Groundspeak has no patience for such listings.

[+CAVinoGal]

What you might consider, though not a CHALLENGE cache, is a MULTIcache called a Teamwork cache - You team up with another geocacher in your "other" location, you each hide a cache at your own location.  You provide clues and the final location to the "other" cache, while the second geocacher does the same, providing clues and final coordinates for YOUR cache.  The seekers need to team up with a cacher who has the final coordinates to their local cache.  It takes some coordination, but I had fun setting this up.  Those who do complete it seem to also enjoy the teamwork involved.

 

I realize there will be sharing of coordinates once both have been discovered, but most seem OK with doing things the way we suggest.  And it doesn't get found often, many like a quick traditional, go to the coordinates and sign the log and move on.  This involves some time and effort!!

 

https://coord.info/GC7WZ25  is my cache; https://coord.info/GC7WZ25 is the partner cache.  I might attempt to set another one someday - it took some time and coordination but it is satisfying to see it play out!!

[+Viajero Perdido]

3 hours ago, CAVinoGal said:

Teamwork cache

 

I experienced one of these, with a fun twist.  One of the two caches, the one in my city, offered no real clue about what's going on.  No mention that it's a partnership cache.  The hint said something like, say you'll help and see what happens.  So the page is full of offers of help.

 

I did, and a year later, out of the blue someone contacted me with what I needed to know, and I was able to return the favor. 

[+GeoElmo6000]

On 2/14/2025 at 12:44 PM, pastawarrior18 said:

I recently had a cool idea, but not sure if it is allowed by the geocaching guidelines. I was wondering if I could set the posted coordinates for a mystery cache somewhere across the world from where I currently live (Ontario, Canada) like Paris or London, as a travel challenge where the final coordinates would be here in Canada. Users from anywhere could solve it and head to Canada for the final coords, even if they are from Canada. 

Would this be allowed? And how would the reviewers respond to something like this?

 

I did something similar in a cache I called "Digging a Hole to China".  https://coord.info/GC3EK0E. Maybe you can do something like this.

 

I didn't put the posted coordinates across the world, I used a waypoint instead, as the posted coordinates have to be within 2 miles of the final cache location.  Also, on a practical level, if the posted coordinates were on the other side of the world, no one from your area in Canada would know it was there.