+hikemeister Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 In south Florida, there are several new caches that are easy to find if you are lucky enough to own a boat. Otherwise you can rent one and get to the site (also pretty easy). These caches almost always have a terrain level of 5 and usually a difficulty of 4 or 5. That tops off the scale. Well, there are other caches down here that really are a 4 or 5 -- multi-stage caches with a first step of finding an underwater marker or two with Lat / Lon numbers that then lead to the cache. Question -- should a cache have a high difficulty and/or terrain level just because one must use a boat to get to the location ? Even for example on an island that is a frequently visited 'party spot' by boaters and serviced by a water taxi ? Quote Link to comment
+El Diablo Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 Since it requires special equipment to reach...yes. I placed one about a year or so ago that required a boat to reach and the approver of the cache said it had to be a level 5. El Diablo Everything you do in life...will impact someone,for better or for worse. http://www.geo-hikingstick.com Quote Link to comment
+Frolickin Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 quote:Originally posted by hikemeister:Question -- should a cache have a high difficulty and/or terrain level just because one must use a boat to get to the location ? The ratings, found at www.clayjar.com, indicate that any cache that requires specialized equipment (for example, a boat) earns a five-star rating. quote:Extreme. A serious mental or physical challenge. Requires specialized knowledge, skills, or equipment to find cache. Fro. ________________________________________ Geocaching . . . hiking with a purpose Quote Link to comment
+sept1c_tank Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 So, should I add 2 more stars to my latest cache? ==============="If it feels good...do it"================ **(the other 9 out of 10 voices in my head say: "Don't do it.")** . Quote Link to comment
+canadazuuk Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 The problem with a simplistic rendering of level 5 for a boat cache is that it doesn't do justice to a TRUE 5 star difficulty... but I think that most folks would realize from reading the cache descriptions what they are getting into Now, somebody who hides a cache that requires a boat trip AND a 7 hour hike uphill, without mentioning the hike, well let's just say that in my books they would be up the creek without a paddle Quote Link to comment
+hikemeister Posted August 9, 2003 Author Share Posted August 9, 2003 It looks like this canoe in cache is ranked just about right, except that perhaps the difficulty level is slightly higher. The issue of how to set a difficulty level really hit home last week, when we did some geocaching in western Maryland and West Virginia. A terrain of 3 up there would be a 5 down here. We did a cache with a two mile walk (one way), followed by some serious rock climbing, with green briers everywhere and warnings about snakes on the rock ledges. It was rated as difficulty 3 terrain 3. Compared to that, jumping in my boat and stopping by an island to find a cache located 100 ft from the beach while on my way to dinner does not seem to be a 5. But them be the rules !! Quote Link to comment
+SearchRescueDog Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 I think that this issue could bo solved all together if we ever get searchable cache attributes added to the cache pages. This will solve the problems of dog/wheelchair access as well as special equipment. Cache reporting form has several attributes with check boxes. The check box for special equipment then has a dropdown list for SCUBA, 4x4, boat, climbing, etc.) Quote Link to comment
solohiker Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 Sheeze... The approvers don't pay attention to any of the existing rules, you want to add more??? Quote Link to comment
+Stunod Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 quote:Originally posted by solohiker:Sheeze... The approvers don't pay attention to any of the existing rules, you want to add more??? I thought he was gone... (and nice pic on the profile. Same back to you.) "Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand." - Homer Simpson Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted August 9, 2003 Share Posted August 9, 2003 A boat is 5 for terrain since that's how you get there. It could be a 1 for difficulty once you are there. Quote Link to comment
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