+Enspyer Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 I am going to hide my first geocache next weekend. My site (I already checked) is not private property but most people don't know it exists and therefore would have to spend a while trying to find a place to park. If I know a parking lot nearby they should use, should I say so as a hint or something? And also, that is a parking lot owned by a local business, so does that matter? Thanks so much and I'm really excited! <font size="+5" color="garbage" font="broadway">~Enspyer~ Quote Link to comment
ChiefPig Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 In my 2 hides, I specified the parking coordinates/trailhead so that people don't waste time and gas trying to look for it. I hate wasting gas myself. Quote Link to comment
+Smitherington Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 In cases where there is no obvious place to park I like help. If you want the cache to be found, give them the help. Quote Link to comment
+WARTIDE Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 I love to have parking coordinates. I hate parking somewhere thinking "I hope no one tows my car". I too am almost ready to place my first cache. Unless it is blatantly obvious where to park, I'll definately give parking coords on the cache page. BTW, if it is a private business with only a small number of spots, you might need to ask permission. If there is a large number of spots and they have the room, I wouldn't even ask. Chiro Quote Link to comment
+Brian - Team A.I. Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 This falls somewhat into the category of coordinates for trailheads. My belief is the same with this, that I think it's part of the challenge. If there's an issue where someone might be parking on private property, then yes, it would be helpful. The big question is, how many complaints would be generated if someone was already parking there when you arrived? Brian Team A.I. Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 Include it if you think it will be helpfull, but not as a hint. Hints are for when you're within 50', and still don't have a clue. They're not for parking instructions. "Don't mess with a geocacher. We know all the best places to hide a body." Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 I put parking coordinates in the hint, but make sure I label them as parking coordinates. Here's an example: [parking]40.svir-frira.gjb74 74qbg28.frira43. [cache] Va perivpr nzbat ebpxf. Qrnq fghzc arneol. If you don't label the coordinates, they are useless, because most geocachers don't decrypt the hint until they're already at the cache site. "You can't make a man by standing a sheep on his hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position, you can make a crowd of men" - Max Beerbohm Quote Link to comment
+ZingerHead Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 I truly appreciate parking coordinates in cache descriptions because I commonly cache in unfamiliar neighborhoods. It makes me a little nuts when finding a parking spot for a low-difficulty cache turns into a major expedition. If you intend the parking to be part of the challenge that's OK, but if you simply want people to enjoy a hike and a hunt then by all means put coordinates for the parking area in the description (NOT the hints!!!). Quote Link to comment
opie744 Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 We like the parking right on the page. We would rather spent our time having fun looking for the cache' than looking for parking. Sometimes you can't tell if its ok to park or trespassing, so its nice if the owner can take the parking guess work out of it. Quote Link to comment
+Touchstone Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 I've appreciated those caches that have the parking coordinates on them when it's not so obvious. Especially helps out when I'm driving through an area I'm not familiar. I've started listing parking spots on my caches for the same reason. It would be hard for an out or towner to know all the little surface streets and backroads. Quote Link to comment
+Jamie Z Posted October 1, 2003 Share Posted October 1, 2003 quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat:...most geocachers don't decrypt the hint until they're already at the cache site. BS, mostly I agree with what you say, and if I don't, I usually ignore it anyway but this little bit caught my eye. Of course we can never know for sure, but from reading the forums and many cache logs, I've gotten a strong impression that most cachers decrypt the hint at home before they even print the page. I started a thread about this topic a long while back. On that note... I've met a handful of cachers during hunts, or at get-togethers or wherever, and I've yet to encounter anyone besides myself that uses the "printer friendly" cache pages. Whenever I find a cacher with a printout, it has invariably been the (color) printout of the entire cache page. Strange. Jamie Quote Link to comment
+GeoTeam Maggi Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 Parking coordinates PLEASE. I like to maximize my caching not my driving . Put them on the page, some of us save the hint for the last ditch effort! Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 quote: Put them on the page, some of us save the hint for the last ditch effort! I like putting them in the hint (labeled as parking as in my earlier post in this thread). That way people who prefer to have the coordinates can decrypt them ahead of time, or if they get frustrated looking for parking. And those who would rather not have the parking coordinates, don't have to bother decrypting them. The only time I'll put them in the description is if trespassing might be an issue and I want to make sure people park and access the cache from a legal spot. "You can't make a man by standing a sheep on his hind legs. But by standing a flock of sheep in that position, you can make a crowd of men" - Max Beerbohm Quote Link to comment
+Prime Suspect Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I don't see much point in encrypting parking coordinates. Seeing these numbers aren't going to spoil the hunt in any way. Unless you're some sort of geographic rainman, and can see a set of coordinates and know exactly where they are. You pretty much need plot them on a map or punch them into your GPS. Sure, you can compare the numbers to your current location, and get a rough idea of the direction and distance, but that not something that's not going to happen by accident. "Don't mess with a geocacher. We know all the best places to hide a body." Quote Link to comment
+DavidMac Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I've found coords to be heliful around college campuses, where visitir parking is not always abundant or even availible. This is the case on our campus (where I have a cache hidden): there is one lot for visitors that is not very close to the cache. There are many other lots closeby that are for students/faculty only, though you're more likely to find this out from the friendly people who ticket your car than you are from the signs near the lots. quote:Originally posted by Jamie Z:On that note... I've met a handful of cachers during hunts, or at get-togethers or wherever, and I've yet to encounter anyone besides myself that uses the "printer friendly" cache pages. Whenever I find a cacher with a printout, it has invariably been the (color) printout of the entire cache page. Strange. Jamie And I thought I was the only one who used that feature. Love it- Saves alot of ink! ...Not all who wander are lost... unless the batteries in their GPS die, their maps get ruined by rainwater when their pack leaks, and they find themselves in a laurel thicket. Then, they are probably lost. -DavidMac; (formerly Someonenameddave) Quote Link to comment
+Wadcutter Posted October 2, 2003 Share Posted October 2, 2003 I prefer the cache owner list the parking coordinates of where NOT to park. Finding the place to park is part of the hunt. Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.