apogee Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 Here's a question I didn't see covered in a topic search. [Someone Markwell me if there's a FAQ.] What exactly are the rules for grabbing a cache when there are muggles in the vicinity? I understand the need for not giving away a location, but are you supposed to avoid carrying a GPSr in plain view? Is it better to grab the cache and examine it in private? If a cache is in an urban park, it can be hard to avoid people without spending a lot of time in the area. Quote Link to comment
+Renegade Knight Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 (edited) The rule is don't get caught. Sometimes it is better to find it and walk away until whoever might of seen you is gone, then return the cache. Edited April 18, 2004 by Renegade Knight Quote Link to comment
+Night Stalker Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 When I am geocaching I don't hide my GPS. I am only careful when I am in the area of the cache itself. Curiosity about what I am doing has led people to join in this hobby in the past. Do be extra careful if the there are muggles about when you get near the cache, and if necessary come back later. There have been far to many caches plundered because someone was not careful when they found a cache. Quote Link to comment
+RichardMoore Posted April 18, 2004 Share Posted April 18, 2004 The rule is don't get caught. Sometimes it is better to find it and walk away until whoever might of seen you is gone, then return the cache. That's about it. One of the things that I do to avoid being seen is to go to the high-visibility caches at a time when no one else is around. Like at dawn on the weekend, or when everyone else is at work or school during the week. Quote Link to comment
+Imajika Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 (edited) You can always use my tried and true trick: I was looking for a cache in a busy park and this lady and her dog started walking my way. Rather than give myself away, I sat on a rock and placed my GPS to my ear. I started talking like I was on my cell phone. "Where are you guys? I thought we were meeting here for our daily walk? Oh, you're on the way? Good because I am sick of sitting here waiting for you! See you soon!" The lady just looked at me, smiled and walked on past. I sat on the rock until she was way down the path and then started looking for that cache again. Of course, I have met some muggles while looking for a cache and they seemed truly interested in what I was doing. I explained geocaching to them and gave them the web address. I just try to decide on the spot if the person would understand what I was talking about or think I am a terrorist. If they look like they would understand, I explain it (if they ask) and don't try to hide what I am doing. If they look like they would be clueless, I lie. But typically, I just make sure I am aware of my surroundings and I keep to myself. I can be sneaky when I want to be. Edited April 19, 2004 by Imajika Quote Link to comment
+Lone Duck Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 All I do is make sure that someone doesn't see me retrieve the cache or hide it again. I don't worry about any seeing me handling the cache once I have it. Quote Link to comment
+fly46 Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 The cel phone idea seems to be a common one.. One guy at a cache near here was just about to grab the cache box when a bus full of old ladies showed up (Ashtabula County is famous for it's covered bridges and they were touring them).. He put his gpsr to his ear and they ignored him.. then he got the cache.. not going to very public areas during peak times of day is definately the best option... Quote Link to comment
+captnemo Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 Pretending your GPSr is a camera also works. My favorite, especially on remote caches that have taken lots of time to get to is to use my rock hammer. I just pick up a rock and clink on it. Drop the rock, pick up another and clink on it. Continue until nobody is paying any attention to you then grab the cache, go to the car, trade and then make my back to the cache picking up a rock, clinking on it, dropping it until I can replace the cache. I have done this is the middle of a group of off roaders on quads and it worked just fine. Quote Link to comment
+Gizmo & Brazin Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 And once you have the cache, move away from the hide area before opening it and going through the contents. I have found by sitting in the open, rather than trying to hide, makes you more invisible. But again, do the trading and signing away from the hide area if Muggles could possible come around a corner and surprise you. I also carry a camera with me and love to take photos. Just today my son was 'in the act' when my husband gave the muggle warning. I grabbed the camera while my son struck the 'lean again the nice stump' pose and no one was the wiser. Quote Link to comment
+woof n lulu Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 I met some cachers who told me when they run into a muggle, they put their GPSs to their ears, and start talking like it was a cell phone... I have an urban micro cache that is in a very small park with alot of houses nearby, and a half basketball court, and with a jogging path through it. It worries me far more then any of my other caches, as it has lots of traffic. I have to trust that the cachers who search there will know when to walk away, rather then give it away. Quote Link to comment
+Wacka Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 I have come up with the story that if it is an urban park with high weeds or trees in part of it, I'm checking rat traps! Quote Link to comment
+thirtyfootscrew Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 If I detect incoming muggles I usually do one of two things: (1) Unfold my OS map over cache and pretend I'm planning my route (can be prone to people offering to help you find your way). (2) Grab a bit of food out of my bag and pretend I'm having lunch (most caches looking like lunchboxes). At one site I was just replacing the cache and I heard voices so I quickly went for option (2) and grabbed some food. The family that was coming round the corner saw me sat by a tree eating and decided that I had picked a great spot to have a picnic then sat down, got out their food and started eating too. I waited a while but they looked pretty settled so I used option (1) to cover their line of sight and very carefully replaced the cache, resumed eating for a while then left. Tricky business this geocaching! Quote Link to comment
+Stunod Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 All of these are great suggestions, but maybe the most important one hasn't been mentioned yet: If you think you might compromise the cache location...LEAVE AND COME BACK ANOTHER TIME. One smiley is not worth having a cache muggled. Quote Link to comment
+Lazyboy & Mitey Mite Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 Rules??? Quote Link to comment
+Marine Biologist Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 I have found one of the best ways to become invisible in urban caching with lots of muggle activity is to use a clipboard. A safety vest even adds to the ruse. If you look like you belong then people have a tendency to ignore you. Of course ALWAYS have a story ready in case they ask. For instance if it is a guard rail hide a clip board, safety vest and story about safety or insurance surveys is bound to work. Palm the container and use the clipboard (the metal box style clipboards work great) to keep your paperwork on as well as to screen the cache container. It is the people who look like they are being sneaky that garner the most attention. Just my two cents. Marine Biologist (Rodney & Sandy) Quote Link to comment
+Strapped-4-Cache Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 I just got a valuable piece of camouflage that will help in muggle-dense areas. While clearing out our embroidery company's extra inventory, I noticed a USGS hat in the pile. I immediately pounced on it and claimed it as mine. What's more natural than a USGS worker carrying around a GPS while verifying coords for benchmarks? (No need to say that there may not be one in the area.) Add the clipboard and vest mentioned in the above message and I should be pretty much invisible to anyone. S-4-C Quote Link to comment
+Melrose Plant Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 I haven't run into too many problems with muggles so far, but I have yet to geocache in the summer. My only trick is to carry the container away from the hiding spot before perusing it. Although come to think of it, having the dog with me always helps too. Nobody questions what you're doing, especially if you have a plastic grocery bag handy to whip out for picking up the "poop." Quote Link to comment
apogee Posted April 19, 2004 Author Share Posted April 19, 2004 I just got a valuable piece of camouflage that will help in muggle-dense areas. While clearing out our embroidery company's extra inventory, I noticed a USGS hat in the pile. I immediately pounced on it and claimed it as mine. What's more natural than a USGS worker carrying around a GPS while verifying coords for benchmarks? (No need to say that there may not be one in the area.) Add the clipboard and vest mentioned in the above message and I should be pretty much invisible to anyone. S-4-C Thanks to Strapped-4-Cache and everyone else for the suggestions. I'm just down the road from the USGS office in Menlo Park (CA), so I may stop by their gift shop and see if they have any patches or clothing items. The bottom line seems to be blend in with your surroundings and make it appear you're doing something other than geocaching. Quote Link to comment
CoyoteRed Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 Excellent points on don't let anyone see you retrieve or replace the cache and moving away from the hiding spot. It's okay to be seen with the container as you sign in as long as you're not skulking about. I've found that when you need to really get into your hunt on a harder cache, it's okay to really get into it. Just have an excuse if someone asks what you're doing. But it's important that when you find the cache, KEEP LOOKING AND MOVE ON! Then start scouting for people watching you. If you are intently hunting for something you will get noticed. That's okay as long as you don't pick up the cache right then. Now you know where it is so you can move away, scout for people watching and then if you're clear, go in and scoop it up. Watch out for office buildings and apartments, it's hard to tell if people are looking. It's also helpful if you have the option of a good partner who can distract persistant onlookers. I was able to replace a full sized cache within feet of a loiterer because Sissy distracted her. Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment
+protocoldroid Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 What's more natural than a USGS worker carrying around a GPS while verifying coords for benchmarks? lol, this is a great idea. hahahaha, posing as a USGS employee, brilliant. now i just gotta find myself some apparel. what a clever ruse, love it! Quote Link to comment
+Smitherington Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 Another ruse is a trash-out bag. Actually picking up trash on the way out can explain visibly why you were back in that part of the park. Has the added benefit of being a good steward of the land and promotes one of the features of geocaching that can sell us to park managers. Quote Link to comment
ncmtbiker Posted April 19, 2004 Share Posted April 19, 2004 Someone mentioned wearing USGS hat and orange vests. On the same subject what do you wear when caching? Camoflage or regular civilian clothes. I can see how camo might keep you concealed when 200 ft. off the trial in the woods but could also make you look more suspicious if seen snooping around in the woods. Quote Link to comment
+buck09 Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 I had an interesting run-in with a muggle... I'm not sure what you'd do in the situation, but my story is posted at this cache. Quote Link to comment
kc2ixe Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 I don't have a problem - for some reason, benchmark hunting is, FOR ME, a lot more interesting than caches (I've only bothered to look for one - I know where another is, but walked right by on the way to a benchmark) So, like someone else said, a clipboard, my hardhat, orange vest, and a commercal grade HT hanging on the belt, I LOOK like I belong poking around for benchmarks. Quote Link to comment
91B10 Posted April 20, 2004 Share Posted April 20, 2004 My wife and I geocache together and we look young. I always get the "I caught you getting ready to do the nasty" look from passersby. Just last weekend we found a cache in what seemed to be a secluded area when I guy walked by staring at us. I had the cache out and didn't know what to do with it, kinda like getting caught with your pants down. Quote Link to comment
+BuckyD Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I had an interesting run-in with a muggle... I'm not sure what you'd do in the situation, but my story is posted at this cache. I've had a similar experience to buck09, only we were in a less-travelled area of a big city, and the muggle was about a decade younger and slightly more lucid. After explaining the whole concept, she wanted to look for the cache with me. When we found it, I encouraged her to sign the logbook as a find. She was just thrilled to do that and wrote a ton of stuff about the area that the cache was hidden in back when she was a kid! I think most people are fascinated by the game, and will join in on the hunt to see what its like even if they don't know beans about satellites and that little thing you hold in your hand. But, as buck09 said, you have to size people up pretty quickly... Quote Link to comment
+Torry Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I have found one of the best ways to become invisible in urban caching with lots of muggle activity is to use a clipboard. A safety vest even adds to the ruse. If you look like you belong then people have a tendency to ignore you. Of course ALWAYS have a story ready in case they ask. For instance if it is a guard rail hide a clip board, safety vest and story about safety or insurance surveys is bound to work. Palm the container and use the clipboard (the metal box style clipboards work great) to keep your paperwork on as well as to screen the cache container. It is the people who look like they are being sneaky that garner the most attention. Just my two cents. Marine Biologist (Rodney & Sandy) Amen to this one. I've used it a lot in urban caches. Also, avoid looking like an aborigine on a walk-about in the cities and try not to look like a poindexter in the middle of the woods. People in the real woods are often pleasantly curious and positive so I don't panic. My trick for city parks is to NOT look like I'm hiding something. The yard apes will investigate if they see someone acting suspicious. I think some folks are TOO paranoid insome instances. I don't worry about hiding from the soccer mom with her dog or the mall walkers out to check the gladioli. The tweeners and teeners are the biggest problem and if it gets too difficult I'll start paying attention to power lines or acting like a surveyor. I also use the opportunity of getting caught as a chance to explain the hobby. It's a good recruitment tool. Quote Link to comment
qwiksilver Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 Another ruse is a trash-out bag. Actually picking up trash on the way out can explain visibly why you were back in that part of the park. Has the added benefit of being a good steward of the land and promotes one of the features of geocaching that can sell us to park managers. That's a very good idea. Keeps our caching areas clean Would that be a give away later? Clean areas contain caches? Quote Link to comment
+wimseyguy Posted April 21, 2004 Share Posted April 21, 2004 I've started keeping the earbud to my cell phone in place while caching. With sunnier weather my shades are usually on too. If I'm approached I just begin talking into my sleeve. No one want to mess with someone wearing shades, a wire running up to their ear, and talking into their sleeves. Quote Link to comment
+djwini Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 aw, i had one cache in florida that i spent 2 days trying to find. weather in the 80's and muggy. the cache was supposed to be hidden under a baordwalk. and you couldn't get to it off the boardwalk. so i'd get down on my hands and feet and hang my head over the side of the boardwalk. no way can you explain that to muggles, and by that time i didn't care anymore. Quote Link to comment
+New England n00b Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 Violence is ALWAYS the best option.... (That would be a joke, for you lurkers out there ) Cool thread - some good ideas I'll have to start using. Quote Link to comment
+SBPhishy Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 I just carry one of these. Quote Link to comment
+New England n00b Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 (edited) Not sure if that is the best idea I could take from the forums, Phishy... I like the ones that shoot darts - they have better range *edit: I still hand code ubb some times. best[/i[ idea ever. Edited April 22, 2004 by New England n00b Quote Link to comment
+SBPhishy Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 Oh, you mean like these? Yeah, that way if you see them from afar, sneaking up on you, you can still zap 'em. Nothin' like the smell of burning muggle in the morning! Quote Link to comment
Pixie_Tracker Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 Just carry some Alkaseltzers in your pocket. Muggles around? Pop a few in your mouth and let the foaming begin. Be sure to rant, claw at the ground and babble. Yes.... they may come to lock you away.... but it should buy you enough time to find the cache and sign the logbook! Quote Link to comment
+sTeamTraen Posted April 22, 2004 Share Posted April 22, 2004 I live in the French countryside, and not talking to muggles would definitely be considered strange. On the couple of occasions I've met them, I make a point of telling what I'm doing. Anyone out for a walk round here is likely to be at least politely interested, and very unlikely to trash the cache for the hell of it. Who knows, you may get someone interested - who lives near you - and who will place interesting caches for you to find ! (YMMV, of course...) Quote Link to comment
+1setter Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Of course I have a Magellan Gold. There hasn't been a cell phone seen in public that large for 8 years. The Garmins work pretty good. Quote Link to comment
+SBPhishy Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 I have a MeriGold also. I've used the cell phone trick... Seriously... Quote Link to comment
+New England n00b Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 SBPhishy - that's not a tazer, that's a prop gun from the last "Aliens" movie! Back on topic - I struggled with this decision on a recent (DNF, DPM, (IMO) hunt. I just decided to let them think I was a psycho. Soon after I arrived everyone left! > Muhahahahaha.... although I noticed birds were dropping in mid-flight too... Maybe I forgot the deodorant that day... Hmmmm.... Anyway, they really did leave. Quite odd, but then again you meet all sorts. Quote Link to comment
+SBPhishy Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 It is a tazer gun! look here! Air Tazer Quote Link to comment
+New England n00b Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Yeah, I know - I right clicked the image to find the source. Still, it does look like a movie prop, with all that extra yellow caution marking. Quote Link to comment
+webscouter. Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 What happens when you size up a muggle wrong? Check out this log by my friend CCDawg. Quote Link to comment
theglenwoodgeoers Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 My son just got invited to attend a summer program for gifted youngsters at Stetson University in DeLand Fl.I went on the website to chk what courses he could take and found DEL-201 TREASURE HUNTING ~ Real life treasure hunting at its best! There is a world-wide game being played in which people race around trying to find hidden items. These boxes are hidden everywhere - you probably passed one on the way home today and didn't even know it was there! Learn how to investigate the latest technology: Global Positioning System (GPS), which allows us to participate in the search, practice the techniques that will make us premiere hunters, create treasure boxes of our own to hide, and, of course, get out there and find our share of the loot! (Grades 6-9/July 5-9, 2004) Imagine that! Quote Link to comment
scoutsout Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 Stetson is a beautiful little campus, and a good school too... you'll both have a great time. You ARE going to sign up for that class right?! Quote Link to comment
Geo-Magellan Posted April 23, 2004 Share Posted April 23, 2004 It is better find and run than to not have found at all. Being stealthy is half the fun. Who hasn't wanted to play ninja?? Quote Link to comment
vagabond Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 My old standby, early Sunday mornings about daylight. That gives you at least 3 hours until the parks start getting busy. You can find many caches in 3 hrs Quote Link to comment
UndercoverNinja Posted April 24, 2004 Share Posted April 24, 2004 It is better find and run than to not have found at all. Being stealthy is half the fun. Who hasn't wanted to play ninja?? Precisely. Quote Link to comment
wanderer10 Posted April 28, 2004 Share Posted April 28, 2004 I know I'm late to post on this one, but I thought I'd add my strategy. It worked when I was looking for a blasted Altoid box on a busy street corner. I always carry a camera and when a muggle asks what I'm doing as I search through the bushes or whatever, I reply that I am doing a photo study of cob webs, or whatever topic is appropriate to the surrondings and where I'm searching at the time. Satisfied a couple of them, anyway. Quote Link to comment
+Sparrowhawk Posted April 28, 2004 Share Posted April 28, 2004 I remember a story from awhile back. A group of geocachers were getting REALLY uncomfortable being overly-observed by a curious group of geo-muggles. So one of the geocachers kinda froze, looked at his GPS with 'alarm', and said: "Hey, I'm getting a higher radiation level over here!" The rest of the group caught on instantly and said: I'm getting a higher level over here too!" "So am I!" "This is scary!" The geocacher group was instantly left in peace. Quote Link to comment
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