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what do do when you run into another geocacher looking for a clue


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Posted

Last weekend we ran into another geocacher looking for a clue to a multistage cache. We found the clue pretty quickly but couldn't read it without alerting the other geocacher and we wanted to leave the sport in it for them. We were trying to get as many caches as we could that day so we wanted to keep moving.

 

What are some opinions on the best way to handle this?

 

Team Webfargo

Posted

If it was me, I'd try and retrieve it as surreptitiously as possible, walk off a little way (preferably out of sight) read it and return it in the same way.

 

I've only been caught looking for a cache once (/me waves to the Relic Hunters icon_biggrin.gif), and actually we ended up searching together with the Relic Hunters for the cache as the co-ords were a bit off (near transmission lines & broadcasting antennae), then we went our separate ways for the next part..... but for the rest of that day, I was conscious that whenever we found the "next part" that I'd make sure we wandered off 20-30m to open the cache, just in case they showed up and caught us cache-handed icon_wink.gif

 

In fact that's how I normally cache - find it retrieve it and retire from 'ground zero' where possible to do so.

 

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Posted

If it was me, I'd try and retrieve it as surreptitiously as possible, walk off a little way (preferably out of sight) read it and return it in the same way.

 

I've only been caught looking for a cache once (/me waves to the Relic Hunters icon_biggrin.gif), and actually we ended up searching together with the Relic Hunters for the cache as the co-ords were a bit off (near transmission lines & broadcasting antennae), then we went our separate ways for the next part..... but for the rest of that day, I was conscious that whenever we found the "next part" that I'd make sure we wandered off 20-30m to open the cache, just in case they showed up and caught us cache-handed icon_wink.gif

 

In fact that's how I normally cache - find it retrieve it and retire from 'ground zero' where possible to do so.

 

6279_200.jpg

Posted

If I haven't found it yet, I would either back off and let them find it first and come back to find it myself, or I would ask the other cacher if he wants to team up on it.

 

I usually cache alone, but I don't mind occasionally teaming up with another cacher.

Posted

If they seem ahead of me, I'll back off, maybe give them 10 or 15 minutes before proceeding. If they're behind me (or even if there's no one around), once I find the cache, I'll move a good distance away before even opening it. I don't want to spoil the hunt for other cachers, and I don't want someone to see me and come back later to that spot and locate the cache.

 

I was trying to place a new cache last week, and apparently some guy though I looked suspicious. He kept walking up and down the trail while I was searching for a good hiding place. Every time he walked by, I had to hide the ammo box, and look like I was really interested in whatever tree I happened to be standing near.

 

PS_sig.gif

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Prime Suspect:

 

I was trying to place a new cache last week, and apparently some guy though I looked suspicious. He kept walking up and down the trail while I was searching for a good hiding place. Every time he walked by, I had to hide the ammo box, and look like I was _really_ interested in whatever tree I happened to be standing near.


 

When I was placing my Baker's Quarter-Dozen cache the weekend before last, I had placed my box in it's hiding place, and walked away from it and back several times to get an average waypoint reading...then I sat down at a nearby picnic table to do my caculations. I didn't notice this woman until she was almost on top of me. I have no idea what all she had seen (apparently at least my taking my calculator out and/or putting it back away. She walked up and asked me, "Excuse me, did I just see you put a turtle in your backpack?"

 

"Nope," I said, opening my empty backpack for her to view (relieved that the camo-painted Rubbermaid container was already hidden...so I wouldn't have to explain the oddity).

 

"Oh, ok." she said. "I've noticed some odd looking turtles around here in the past, and wasn't sure what kind they were. I thought you might be able to tell me what kind you had found."

 

"Hmmm," I said, "Sounds interesting. I'll have to keep my eyes open for them." At that point, the lady took her leave, and resumed her jog.

 

I thought her story sounded pretty lame. My suspicion is that she was planning to bust me for making off with a live turtle. (The sign at the entrance of this wildlife preserve explicitly states that there is no hunting or trapping allowed.) I think her story about the "unusual" turtles that she couldn't identify was just a cover story...the quickest thing she could come up with on the fly.

 

After she left, I got to thinking that it must have looked pretty odd for me to be out in the middle of the woods...carrying an EMPTY backpack. I'm glad she didn't ask about that.

 

The next cache I hid, I made a point of putting a few extra things in my backpack...water bottle, a granola bar, a hat and gloves, my camera and cell phone, etc...so I'd at least look semi-legitimate for having the backpack with me.

 

But I wonder, in a situation like I encountered, would it have been better to simply speak up, and tell the lady exactly what I was doing...and show her the cache itself? Or is the average 'layman' likely to respond negatively to the idea...and maybe even go back and steal the cache later?

 

(I'm not sure how much of my activity she observed...but I don't think she actually saw me hide the cache box. I went back this past weekend to check on things, and thankfully, the cache had not been disturbed.)

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by webfargo:

Last weekend we ran into another geocacher looking for a clue to a multistage cache. What are some opinions on the best way to handle this?

 

Team Webfargo


Say, "Hi!" and ask them if they want to go first, wait, or team up.

 

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