madapple Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 We have had a rash of these little 35MM caches placed around here, is everyone using these things or is it just this area. Personally I don't like them. They only have a small rolled up log and are very easy to loose. Give me your thoughts. I vote for ammo boxes and decent sized plastic containers. Team Madapple West Baden, IN Exploring the world,,,one Cache at a time !!!!! Quote
+Mr. Snazz Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 ...and I suspect you're about to get flamed by a lot of people. Better hide inside an ammo can and wait it out Quote
+bigredmed Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 As a fan of both micro and traditional caches, both have their roles to play. Just look in the descriptions and avoid the micro caches. Cheers. By appointment to the Court of HRM Queen Mikki I. Quote
+briansnat Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 quote: If you don't like micros, don't search for them ... and don't hide them. Although I'm not a fan of micros, I realize that there are some people who enjoy them. This is why there are a number of micro caches included among my hides. I try to place caches to suit as many types of geocachers as possible. If I hid only the kind of caches I like to find, they'd all be in the woods at the end of a nice, long and strenuous hike (and they would get maybe 5-6 visits a year). [This message was edited by BrianSnat on February 11, 2003 at 08:36 AM.] Quote
+briansnat Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 I much prefer standard size caches to micros. Micros do have their place in areas such as urban parks, where a standard sized cache would be difficult to conceal. They also work well as the preliminary stages of a multi cache. I think the major reason for their popularity is that they take little in the way of preparation and it isn't necessary to put a lot of thought into hiding them. What I really dislike though, is when a micro is used in an area where a standard cache would work just fine. I don't like searching the forest for the "needle in the haystack". Quote
BassoonPilot Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Team Madapple:... Give me your thoughts. I vote for ammo boxes and decent sized plastic containers. The solution is both elegant and simple: Read the cache description. If you don't like micros, don't search for them ... and don't hide them. And for cryin' out loud, will everyone stop belly-achin' about how others decide to hide their caches. Quote
+sbell111 Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 I rather enjoy urban micros when I'm out-of-town. They take me to places that the average tourist would not see. Sometimes these places are really cool, sometimes its an empty lot in a dangerous area of town. Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again. Quote
+Markwell Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 In the Chicago area... 368 active caches Normal-Sized 244 (66%) Micro 75 (20%) Not Listed 26 (7%) Virtual 21 (6%) Large 2 (0.5%) One year ago today 93 total active caches 55 Normal-Sized 29 Not Listed 6 Virtual 2 Micro 1 Large Markwell Chicago Geocaching Quote
+Renegade Knight Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 According to popular opinion (which I don't hold myself too) better a micro than a VC. There are places where you just can't hide a full size cache. And yes I like full size better but I've got a lot of micro's under my belt too. Quote
+montythemule Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Micros are their own challenge for sure. I have even seen super micros-Pencil lead containers-that need tweezers to get the log out of it. I like bigger caches myself, but in urban areas placement can be difficult. Monty ******************************************* I am a severely patient sort of guy.. Quote
The_Brownies Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 You obviously have not experienced a good micro Bri.. I take pride in my micro's... Before I place a cache, regardless, micro or normal, I carefully think out the reason for the cache, then I research the topic, I.e. I go to the library and find out a little bit about what the micro is going to be about. Then I carefully compose my cache page with a bunch of good information which I hope will give my fellow cachers a little bit of history and to educate them on their adventure to find the cache. I have been on some mirco's that have been no brainers. I.e. Here's the cache, and try and find where I dropped this micro. Personaly, I do not like these types of caches but I hunt them none the less. The people who place these types of micro's obviously are the people you are talking about. So before you pass judgement on all micro's you first need to experience a good micro. Here are just a couple, and I hope you see how micro's can be just as compelling to find as the larger containers. Labyrinth Frozen In Time Touch and Go CopyCat #1 A Beautiful Mind" Part V Confluence Conundrum A Beautiful Mind" Part I Worldly Reflection One additonal note. After 10 or so regular caches, I find that a micro is a lot easier to maintain. Normally I stuff my regular caches with quality items. However, cachers do not tend to exchange items of equal value so I get junk in my containers which I have to weed out and replace. If cachers would do an equal exchange, I.e. good items in, good items out, then I probably would hide a lot more larger caches. Right now when I hide these caches, I tend to make them somewhat hard to find to cut down on the visits. In short the reason I prefer micro's is because a log file is a lot easier to maintain than an entire cache. Plus they can be placed just about anywhere, and they can be a lot more challenging than a large cache could ever hope to be. [This message was edited by The_Brownies on February 11, 2003 at 09:52 AM.] Quote
+briansnat Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Brownies, It looks like your micros are interesting and well thought out. Unfortunately, they seem to be the exception, rather than the rule. Most I've found are along the likes of this and this lame excuse for geocaches. A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away. -Barry Goldwater [This message was edited by BrianSnat on February 11, 2003 at 10:15 AM.] Quote
+evergreenhiker! Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Sure, they make good micro caches. They're good for placing caches in very public places or in hiding spots too small for ammo boxes or similar. Sometimes I feel like a good micro hunt. Quote
The_Brownies Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Bri -- Now you have seen examples of good micro's, maybe it's time for you to show the cachers in your neck of the woods what a truely good micro cache can be like. Pick out a good topic like the Civil war, or Coloniel America and make a new micro series that will give everyone a good history lesson. Be inventive and try to make them a true adventure. Trust me, you will be rewarded by the logs you reveive. Plus, someone in your area might get some ideas from you, and start placing cool micro's that you can hunt. Remember, education and leading by example are the keys to success. Quote
+briansnat Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Brownines, I sometimes do that with my standard caches. See this one. A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away. -Barry Goldwater Quote
The_Brownies Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Wish I was in Jersy. I'd love to hit some of your caches. Quote
+georgeandmary Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 quote:Originally posted by Team Madapple:I vote for ammo boxes and decent sized plastic containers. Team Madapple West Baden, IN Exploring the world,,,one Cache at a time !!!!! You know, I tried to hide an ammo box in this really small nice rose garden park in the middle of town. Do you know how many magnets it took before it would stick behind the dedication plaque? george Pedal until your legs cramp up and then pedal some more. Quote
+georgeandmary Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat:I think the major reason for their popularity is that they take little in the way of preparation and it isn't necessary to put a lot of thought into hiding them. How much thought does it take to hide an ammo box in a bush? Big or small it's not the size of the cache that makes it good or bad. It is the thought that goes into it. george Pedal until your legs cramp up and then pedal some more. Quote
madapple Posted February 11, 2003 Author Posted February 11, 2003 I didn't expect this kind of responce !!!!!! I think the Micro's are like some others, not very well thought out,, I was just wondering if they are being used all over? I am, in some standards, a newbie,(60+ finds & 3 hides), and enjoy the hunt. I don't like finding them from my vehicle, as I have. I also very much enjoy trading things around from one cache to another,,,to say nothing about moving Travel Bugs,,which you can't do with a Micro. But a well thought out and well placed Micro is always as welcome as a well placed ammo can would be. Hope I am not starting another rant...sorry. Exploring the world,,,one Cache at a time !!!!! Quote
+Nurse Dave Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 I'm not into micros so I haven't found many, but I do look if they are near and there aren't any ammo boxes around. I have even hidden one to lead to a regular cache. My beef is that people still try to squish a log book in those things. It ends up being a moist lump of loose scraps of paper. I just leave my calling card or nothing at those. Also, anything is better than a virtual. To me that says, "Hey go stand here. Good job". ---Real men cache in shorts. Quote
netgeist & melborne Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 My first found cache was a micro and it took me to an area in my town that I've never bothered to explore! Now I go there a lot and check out the whole area. Thanks again georgeandmary...micros now hold a special place in my heart! - netgeist Quote
King Pellinore Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Howdy! The size of the cache container is a great variation in the game, large or small. Generally I find it as difficult to hide a little tiny one as to hide a great big one, at least to hide it well. I've had a lot of trouble with containers, though. A film can of mine got quite mangled, a deli container shattered and those listerine strips containers leak. Hmmm. . . King Pellinore Quote
+briansnat Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 quote: How much thought does it take to hide an ammo box in a bush? Big or small it's not the size of the cache that makes it good or bad. It is the thought that goes into it When I get to the site where I plan to hide a cache, it does indeed take a lot more thought to determine where to place an ammo box. To hide an ammo box where it won't accidently be found can take me up to an hour. I can find a dozen possible hiding places for a micro in a matter of minutes. And as far as effort, I can put together a micro, complete with logbook and trade items in maybe 10 minutes. A standard cache takes me several hours to prepare, between sanding and painting it, printing and laminating the cache letter and finding suitable items to place inside. A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away. -Barry Goldwater Quote
+Marky Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Some idiot placed this cache near my house and all these micros started popping up! Fortunately I knew someone in the parks dept and got the entire park roped off so they had to disable the cache. --Marky "All of us get lost in the darkness, dreamers learn to steer with a backlit GPSr" Quote
+Dread Pirate Roberts' Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 quote:Originally posted by bigredmed:Just look in the descriptions and avoid the micro caches. I wish micros had their own special icon so that I didn't have to open the 'details' to find out. Several folks in my area have been hiding micros like there's no tomorrow. I think there are several varieties of geocachers. Some folks are out to compete--see who can find/place the most caches. Some people just like to find them regardless of difficulty. Some want to get/leave cool prizes. Some just like to go outdoors and this is a good excuse to check out different parks. And some just like to play with hi-tech toys. Micros fit the needs of some groups but not others. I personally dislike micro, virtual, and themed caches. Quote
+briansnat Posted February 12, 2003 Posted February 12, 2003 I think the issue is that because they are so easy to put together...esp logbook only ones, that some people sprinkle them around like grass seed and they wind up being the predominant kind of cache in some areas. A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away. -Barry Goldwater [This message was edited by BrianSnat on February 12, 2003 at 06:00 AM.] Quote
mortonfox Posted February 12, 2003 Posted February 12, 2003 Over the weekend, I found a micro cache just outside a park. (Yes, that's where it was supposed to be.) Then when I went home to log it, I discovered that it was archived because the cache owner thought it had been plundered! That's the strangest micro cache experience I've had. I find micro cache difficulty to be very variable. Those could be easier than regular caches or much more difficult. Only way to know is to try to find all of them. But that's the nature of the game, isn't it? Quote
Micqn Posted February 12, 2003 Posted February 12, 2003 I've hidden one micro and one traditional. The micro is hidden in a rock retaining wall behind a clump of concrete. To my suprise it is fairly popular. Micros, to me, just add a little more meat to a cache. On the other hand, if you like trading, micros pretty much suck the fun out of the hunt. Take Care. Happy. Hunting. Quote
Terrafied 2 Wheeler Posted February 13, 2003 Posted February 13, 2003 This is the closest topic I can find for my question: Where does one get the small log sheets to put into a micro cache? They're not in the Shop. Quote
+Camping Hoosiers Posted February 13, 2003 Posted February 13, 2003 You rushed out to be the first finder of my latest Micro then complain about it? http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=53892 I hate it when that happens... Camping Hoosiers Memphis, Indiana. USA Quote
+The Commissar! Posted February 13, 2003 Posted February 13, 2003 Some love 'em, some hate 'em, and some don't care... I love 'em! But I like ammo cans too ! Quote
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