+Kodak's4 Posted March 10, 2002 Share Posted March 10, 2002 Ok, it's time to 'fess up. How often and how do you use the hint when hunting a cache? Quote Link to comment
+travisl Posted March 10, 2002 Share Posted March 10, 2002 A lot of the time, it depends on how much time I have. I bag a lot of caches on my lunch break, so if I can't find it fairly quickly, I'll break the hint. On weekend caches, I'll take a lot longer. If I can't find it after about 45 minutes, then I'll decode the hint (which, sometimes, is actually useful). Quote Link to comment
Walkin Stick Posted March 10, 2002 Share Posted March 10, 2002 OK... I can't say I've never read the hints or descriptions... but usually, when I'm heading out... I'll just grab my GPSR... which I've already loaded with all in-state cache coordinates and go with nothing more than that. Since most of the caches I search are 100 miles (or more) away, it doesn't make sense to review them (or the cache descriptions) when I get back home... I may never get a chance to hunt for them again. _____________________________________________________ Eagles may soar but weasles don't get sucked into jet engines! _____________________________________________________ The early bird gets the worm but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese! Quote Link to comment
+Ladybuggers! Posted March 10, 2002 Share Posted March 10, 2002 When my wife and I cache alone we use the hints more sparingly, but when we cache as a family we tend to use them quicker. When with family, we have younger ones with us and this tends to keep them more interested. Quote Link to comment
+exConn Posted March 10, 2002 Share Posted March 10, 2002 I always decrypt the page before printing. So I answered number 1 on the poll. However, I just fold it and put it in my Camelbak without looking. I only pull it out and use it if I am really stumped. Side note: I'm amazed at how some "hints" are completely useless. -exConn What is Project Virginia? Quote Link to comment
+Upham Posted March 10, 2002 Share Posted March 10, 2002 Once before I had a GPSr I used the hint. Now I have all the caches that are close to me loaded in my unit. That's about it. Bob Quote Link to comment
+T-storm Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 We never decode hints unless we are badly stuck and also feel that the cache might be missing. If we're struggling but don't have any reason to feel the cache is missing, we likely still won't decrypt. Not sure why, maybe because we don't want as big a hint as some encrypted hints offer? T-storm http://www.cordianet.com/geocaching Quote Link to comment
+park2 Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 I would truly rather eat eels then read the hints Unagi - real tasty Quote Link to comment
+Macro Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 I actually use it more often than not. I like tough caches so the hint comes in handy. For easier ones I will reserve it for the event that I dont find a cache without it. Quote Link to comment
Moun10Bike Posted March 11, 2002 Share Posted March 11, 2002 Like others, my use of hints is situational. If I am alone on a hunt for one or two and not pressed for time, I'll refrain from using the hint until all other measures have failed. If I'm out on a day of caching with someone else and we're trying to hit a bunch in a given area, or I'm in a spot where I am not likely to return anytime soon, I'm more apt to use the hint if we run into problems locating the cache. I completely agree with exConn, too: some hints are completely useless (and I'm probably as guilty as anyone for having provided some lame ones in the past)! My favorite: those that you decrypt to find that they only tell you the name of the park in which the cache is hidden (as if you can't tell that from the map)! Quote Link to comment
+GatoRx Posted March 12, 2002 Share Posted March 12, 2002 Sounds like exConn and I have the same idea. Unless its a really short cheat, I'll go ahead and decrypt it before printing. Then I just fold the paper so that I can't see the cheat. If I can't find it after searching for a while, I'll go ahead and unfold the paper and take a look. And I have defnitely seen some pretty bad cheats. A recent example was something like, "take the trail for about 3/4 of a mile, cache is off to the side." Quote Link to comment
Shel Posted March 12, 2002 Share Posted March 12, 2002 I always read the hint before I go, because we have to travel so far to find a cache these days -- easily a couple hours' drive one way. And I usually try to find an area where we can try to find three or four, so then I end up getting myself confused about which hunt goes with which cache. But since I'm usually not able to come back for a second try for the better part of a year, I REALLY want to find it. (And I get frustrated easily, which doesn't help at all.) Quote Link to comment
+bigcall Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 I usually look at the hint when I see the cache page for the first time. Helps me decide if I even want to attempt it. If it looks like something I'm interested in I'll print out the first 2-3 pages (unencrypted and enough to get a couple of recent logs), enter the coordinates, and file the printout away in a folder. I usually have a set agenda in planning out the order and number of caches to seek given my time constraints. Some that appear harder I may put off so I can dedicate more time to them. Since there is normally a pretty good time delay between printing the cache details and beginning the adventure most of the details are forgotten. Once I'm ready to go I'll reread the caches notes for details (parking, things to watch for, trail info, etc.). I'll usually give it about 45 min before resorting to decrypting the hint and/or reading a few of the logs for potential clues. Anyway, the short version is #3 with a caveat. Quote Link to comment
+Seth! Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 Sure, I use the hints. Sure beats a "not found". I've started a thread on writing a GOOD hint: http://opentopic.Groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1750973553&f=3000917383&m=4750995004 Quote Link to comment
+Web-ling Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 Yeah, I use the cheat. But I don't use my GPSr until I'm really stumped... Quote Link to comment
+Upham Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 You know that eels ain't that bad. Bob Quote Link to comment
+cache-potato Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 hint? absolutely not ... no way... un-uh. If I brought the cache sheet my wife wouldn't have anything to complain about as we go into our second hour of searching the same 50 square feet! I have made phone calls from the middle of the deep dark forest back to the base camp and been given the hint. BUT ONLY ONCE Quote Link to comment
+cache-potato Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 hint? absolutely not ... no way... un-uh. If I brought the cache sheet my wife wouldn't have anything to complain about as we go into our second hour of searching the same 50 square feet! I have made phone calls from the middle of the deep dark forest back to the base camp and been given the hint. BUT ONLY ONCE Quote Link to comment
+glenn95630 Posted March 13, 2002 Share Posted March 13, 2002 I geocache for entertainment. I decode the cache when I feel that the enjoyment of searching is dropping. Usually about 15 minutes. Quote Link to comment
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