+Team HomestarRunner Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 On a recent geocaching expedition I came up on another team searching the brush for a cache. (I always wondered what we must look like in action.) After exchanging the usual pleasantries I instinctively began hunting. After a few minutes I found it, we signed the log, and said our goodbyes. My question is, should we have waited for them to finish or not? Especially after I found it before them. Just looking for others experiences in this situation. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment
+Halden Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I wouldn't be offended if you started hunting as well. I have no reservation. The cache is open to all. Maybe you could ask if you want o join forces or if you should keep your find secret. Quote Link to comment
+SBPhishy Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I really wouldn't care either way either. I suppose, for other people's sake, you should ask, as Halden suggested. Maybe ask them that if you find it first, should you not say anything. I'm there to find it, so any help is always welcome. Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 it's always polite to ask. people are usually friendly, and you can usually hunt with them. if their search is far along, you may wish to wait until hey're done so you can enjoy your whole search. Quote Link to comment
+The Cheeseheads Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 We use the "hootie hoo!" rule around here. When you spot the cache, you just keep pretending to look for a couple more minutes as you move away from the area, then call out "hootie hoo!" to jest the other searchers know that you found it. Then just sit back and heckle... Quote Link to comment
4x4luv Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I say aproach and ask.Also It looks better to have one large group walking around aimlessly looking for something than two smaller groups. dont forget also safety in numbers. just some of my learnin Quote Link to comment
Hogarth Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I really wouldn't care either way either. I suppose, for other people's sake, you should ask, as Halden suggested. Maybe ask them that if you find it first, should you not say anything. I'm there to find it, so any help is always welcome. Ditto.. Had this happen on more than a couple occasions, and it was a lot of fun finding the cache with the aid of a few more eyes. Quote Link to comment
+OurWoods Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 I've met Geocachers on the trail about half a dozen times. Mostly we were just passing by each other going in or coming out from the cache location, we did stop to chat and exchange Geocache Names usually. Once as I was signing the log book and a Cacher came up and said he had been looking for a few minutes (I never saw him) and congratulated us as it was a FTF, asked if he could sign the log book (I was with 2 kids so we would have taken a while doing trades) he put an item in the cache signed the book and was on his way. Overall it's all been very positive. I think its always fun to meet up with someone who is wondering around out in the woods with the same goals as me. Quote Link to comment
BeadBoy Posted February 9, 2004 Share Posted February 9, 2004 (edited) "4" eyes is better than 2 "or 6 or 8 or 10" Edited February 9, 2004 by BeadBoy Quote Link to comment
+3 Blondes & Me Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 Like most things in life it probably depends on circumstance. I have not searched with another individual or team but have had several 'passing encounters'. I'm a people watcher by nature and live in a semi-urban environment, so quite often I get the opportunity to watch other cachers 'being sneaky'. Quote Link to comment
+flask Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 "4" eyes is better than 2 "or 6 or 8 or 10" or five. ESPECIALLY five. or seven, or nine... Quote Link to comment
+Nyteyes Posted February 10, 2004 Share Posted February 10, 2004 If i see a vehicle at the parking site and i reconize it as a local i leave them be. However, if i run into them at the cache site the more the merrier. I try to do as the cheeseheads said and look some more before saying i found it. Quote Link to comment
+Team HomestarRunner Posted February 10, 2004 Author Share Posted February 10, 2004 Thanks to all for the replies!!! Quote Link to comment
+WalruZ Posted February 12, 2004 Share Posted February 12, 2004 When you spot the cache, you just keep pretending to look for a couple more minutes as you move away from the area, then call out "hootie hoo!" I always wondered about this. Couldn't you just look for awhile and then hootie-hoo and sit and have the others find it for you? Quote Link to comment
+robert Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 If I see people around what appears to be the cache site, I'll make sure they know I'm there and if they're cachers, I'll introduce myself. I then ask if they'd be willing to search together or if they'd like to find the cache on their own. If they want to search together, we make the agreement ahead of time to either call it and pull the container or "move away and call it" to let the other team make the find as well. Communication is important. If they want to search alone, I'll do whatever makes sense at the time/place to allow them to finish their find. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment
ghOzt Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 I always wondered about this. Couldn't you just look for awhile and then hootie-hoo and sit and have the others find it for you? That seems like a pretty good idea (assuming you hate hunting for caches ) but you could really only do it a couple times with the same people before they realize that "Hey! You never even came within 30 feet of the hiding spot!" Also, what if the cache is missing?? After a half hour of hunting, your companions will give up their search out of frustration and ask you to point it out to them!! "Um, well... hee hee. You see guys... " Quote Link to comment
+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 We've done this and always introduced ourselves. I haven't found a cacher yet that doesn't mind some assistance. Quote Link to comment
+bennet Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 (edited) This is what I did one time. I went out one morning looking for a difficult multi called Pave Hawk. I was in the bushes and up in trees in a public park. After I had been looking for awhile, I saw another man walking around the area, looking hard at trees, the bushes, etc. I saw him before he saw me and I kept an eye on him for a little while. He looked very much like he was hunting for a cache. He made a big loop and as he came back around, he saw me, and it was obvious I was looking for something, me being there in the midst of trees and brush. Not knowing whether he was a cacher or a muggle, but suspecting a cacher, I walked out and asked if he was just walking around and said it looked like he was looking for something. He was evasive and he said he was just walking around. Then he asked what I was doing. I told him I was a student in a forestry class, and that I was looking for specific tree bark for a project called "Pave Hawk". If he had been a cacher, he would have reacted to the words "Pave Hawk", but he did not react at all, so it was obvious he was a muggle. So I walked off to another area for a little while, and he left the area. Then I went back to searching. Cachers can talk to unknowns cryptically and determine if they are cachers or muggles. If they are cachers, I identify myself as one too, and they may be interested in working together or not. Looking back, I think that guy may have been looking for a "date". Edited February 13, 2004 by bennet Quote Link to comment
+Sparky-Watts Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 We use the "hootie hoo!" rule around here. When you spot the cache, you just keep pretending to look for a couple more minutes as you move away from the area, then call out "hootie hoo!" to jest the other searchers know that you found it. Then just sit back and heckle... I've never encountered another cacher while caching, but I like this idea the best.....gives everyone a chance to get the thrill of finding it. Quote Link to comment
Bobthearch Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 Personally, I'd wait and let the first guy finish. But I wouldn't be seriously bothered if I was searching first and someone else started looking too. It's unlikely to happen to me anyway, since I tend to prefer remote areas for hiking and recreation. -Bob Quote Link to comment
+Volwrath Posted February 13, 2004 Share Posted February 13, 2004 (edited) I came upon a fellow geocacher from my area looking for an urban micro. I decided to help him search (without asking, oops). Well I found the micro when I slid my hand across a storm drain and the cache dropped 6 feet to the bottom. hehe Was that rude of me not only to not wait until he was finished, but to also destroy the cache thereby assuring him of not finding it Edited February 13, 2004 by Volwrath Quote Link to comment
ghOzt Posted February 14, 2004 Share Posted February 14, 2004 Well I found the micro when I slid my hand across a storm drain and the cache dropped 6 feet to the bottom. hehe Was that rude of me... Heck, yeah it was rude! It's happened to me so many times... someone thinks they're helping, but just ends up dropping the cache down a storm drain! Every darn time! Quote Link to comment
+mrmnjewel Posted February 14, 2004 Share Posted February 14, 2004 I had my first encounter with another geocacher a couple of days ago. I was after an FTF on a cache (got it, too ), and emerged from the woods to find a gentleman standing there holding a GPSr. If I had known he was there, honestly, I would have yelled to him to come in and join the fun. I am not into the "this cache is mine and mine alone while I am hunting it" mentality. It would have been fun to have another cacher with me. Quote Link to comment
+The Snail Posted February 14, 2004 Share Posted February 14, 2004 If I ever meet up with a fellow cacher I would put on my aluminum foil hat that I carry for such occasions, run at full speed towards him screaming about "engbert cocklespurs are loose", run headlong into a tree for good measure, then hand him a stick of Juicy Fruit Gum, while breaking wind the whole time. Then read the logs the next day. Quote Link to comment
ghOzt Posted February 14, 2004 Share Posted February 14, 2004 ...while breaking wind the whole time. You can do that? Teach me!!! Quote Link to comment
+Volwrath Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Well I found the micro when I slid my hand across a storm drain and the cache dropped 6 feet to the bottom. hehe Was that rude of me... Heck, yeah it was rude! It's happened to me so many times... someone thinks they're helping, but just ends up dropping the cache down a storm drain! Every darn time! Well, on my own behalf, I did go to Lowes and bought a broom handle and some duct tape and managed to fish the cache out (it was dry). I met another caches on the hunt today, and helped her find this one. I guess I am even now Quote Link to comment
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