Ruining A Good Cache ...

[+superpowerdave]

My wife and I have recently gotten into geocaching as much as our free time will allow. A few weeks ago we found ourselves searching in a populated area and may have inadvertently attracted more attention than we thought. Several days later the cache was reported as plundered, and now we feel ourselves to blame since we were the last to log the find.

 

I'm sure sometimes these things just happen, by no fault of any one geocacher, but my wife and I both feel responsible. Is there ettiquette to correct this error with the owner? We've been mulling over solutions, some way to make amends for the past few days and think that we are going to build a cache (our first incidentally) to replace the one we may have caused to be plundered.

 

I guess my question is if there is any kind of precident when this kind of thing happens?

 

We love the sport, really do and it has done wonders for us as a couple. Now instead of sitting on the couch watching reruns we're planning our next caching trip and marching through the woods on Saturday afternoons in the spirit of the hunt. We enjoy it so much that we don't want anything we've done to harm it, or our inadvertent relationship with any cacher along the way.

 

If anyone has any suggestions on where we could 'right' this 'wrong' please don't hesitate to email me.

 

Thanks-

 

superpowerdave

[+bitbrain]

It happens. May have nothing to do with your hunt. I hate when it happens to a cache after I have found it -- I'm sure that's happened... I don't blame the cachers if one of my caches happens to go missing. It happens.

 

I, for one, appreciate the fact that you have a conscience. Thanks!

[+Team Perks]

These things are eventually unavoidable. I've been last to find on more than one cache, even when I was absolutely certain nobody was watching. Sometimes you're unfortunate enough to be caught in the act. But sometimes it's just the luck of the draw, where the cache's disappearance had nothing to with your finding it but you just happened to be the last person to find it nonetheless. I certainly don't hold anything against the last person who finds a cache before it goes missing (unless it happens consistently ).

 

My best advice is to move on and not let it bother you.

[+NightPilot]

Putting a cache in a heavily traveled area begs for plundering. It happens. A hider in my area recently put out a cache with a FTF prize of a Magellan GPS. It was plundered before the first cacher could get to it, and there was a race to be first. It was hidden in the woods near a golf course, and of course golfers do hit balls into the trees now and then, and then go look for them.

 

Caches get plundered for all sorts of reasons, and you can't always be discreet about finding them, and sometimes you just get walked up on, and sometimes people are watching with binoculars, especially something that appears suspicious and attracts lots of people sneaking up on it. I wouldn't worry about it that much. It may not have been your fault at all, and if it was, there isn't much you can do about it now. Just keep caching, and don't go ballistic when your cache gets stolen. To put an obtuse wrapper around it, defecation occurs. Get on with your life and caching.

[+CapnJackSparrow]

I am so new to this game I haven't even gone on my first hunt yet but already found a cache by accident. That's what turned me on to the game just four days ago. I read the information inside the cache and understood why it was there and respected that fact which I would have done even if I didn't think it was the coolest game I had ever seen. Instead of stealing or destroying the cache I went out and bought myself a GPS unit so I could start playing too. Obviously some people get it and some don't but you can't blame yourself.

 

CapnJack

[+Renegade Knight]

An appology to the cache owner would go a long way. Being discreet at times is very hard to do. Sometimes it's best to walk away.

 

Did you cause the cache to be lost? Hard to say. It's time could of been up 4 hours later when some kids found it. You will never really know.

[+CompuCash]

My wife and I have recently gotten into geocaching as much as our free time will allow.  A few weeks ago we found ourselves searching in a populated area and may have inadvertently attracted more attention than we thought.  Several days later the cache was reported as plundered, and now we feel ourselves to blame since we were the last to log the find. 

 

I'm sure sometimes these things just happen, by no fault of any one geocacher, but my wife and I both feel responsible.  Is there ettiquette to correct this error with the owner?  We've been mulling over solutions, some way to make amends for the past few days and think that we are going to build a cache (our first incidentally) to replace the one we may have caused to be plundered. 

 

I guess my question is if there is any kind of precident when this kind of thing happens? 

 

We love the sport, really do and it has done wonders for us as a couple.  Now instead of sitting on the couch watching reruns we're planning our next caching trip and marching through the woods on Saturday afternoons in the spirit of the hunt.  We enjoy it so much that we don't want anything we've done to harm it, or our inadvertent relationship with any cacher along the way.

 

If anyone has any suggestions on where we could 'right' this 'wrong' please don't hesitate to email me. 

 

Thanks-

 

superpowerdave

wow - leave it to a newbee to ask the hard ones!

 

my suggestion is to write to the owner and ask if there is something he'd like you to do. You don't have to bear your guilt quite so openly but telling him you feel responsible wouldn't hurt. Replacing the cache could be in order - but you/he may not want to put a new cache in exactly the same place. Maybe there is someplace close buy you can use an not have to alter the cache page.

 

from my reading of these forums, writing to the owner seems to be the ultimate answer to all problems with caches or between finder and owner.

 

let us know what you do and how it comes out -

 

==============

dang - beat out by three people while I was typing -

Edited September 9, 2004 by CompuCash

[+Torry]

A quick search through the forums will give you a few good tips on appropriate behavior while caching. Basic common sense will help a lot, as well.

 

- - Don't try TOO hard to hide. That only makes you look MORE suspicious.

 

- - Have a "cover" for your activities. I like to carry a clipboard when caching in busy areas and look like I'm doing something official. If you are found while dealing with the cache: act like you're counting grubs, examining leaves, checking for barking spiders, etc., ANYHING other than opening a Tupperware bowl and sorting through some golf balls and Hot Wheels.

 

- - If all else fails give a hearty "Hello" and openly discuss what you're doing. Sometimes just the "Hello" will make people leave.

[+blindleader]

Don't beat yourself up about it. Although it's possible you were observed, or didn't re-hide the cache adequately, it's much more likely that someone stumbled upon it by chance. It happens all the time and can sometimes be attributed to the owner's choice of site. The fact is that none of us ever witnesses the plundering of a cache so we can only speculate on the causes.

 

A little over a year ago I was the last finder on three caches in one day. All were in the woods; All the finds were unobserved; And all were re-hidden appropriately. It creeped me out and caused me to examine my technique critically, but the fact is that it was just unfortunate chance.

[+ChileHead]

Remember that it is far better to come back another time or post a DNF, than to compromise a cache. There have been countless times I've visited cache sites and decided there was no way I could search properly without being compromised. I simply come back at a later date.

[+Mopar]

Remember that it is far better to come back another time or post a DNF, than to compromise a cache. There have been countless times I've visited cache sites and decided there was no way I could search properly without being compromised. I simply come back at a later date.

What's done is done , but in the future this is the best advice out there.

There have been plenty of caches I've passed on for this reason. If you already have the cache when you are "caught", take the cache with you. Either come back 30 minutes later and see if everyone is gone, or go home and post a note on the cache page so people know not to look. Then see if the owner wants you to replace it or move it someplace new.

[BassoonPilot]

An appology to the cache owner would go a long way.  Being discreet at times is very hard to do.  Sometimes it's best to walk away.  Did you cause the cache to be lost?  Hard to say.  It's time could of been up 4 hours later when some kids found it.  You will never really know.

I'd agree with this suggestion if the cache had been well-hidden in an inconspicuous location.

 

But if, for example, the cache was hidden so that it was sticking half-way out a knothole at eye level, next to a public walkway and visible from several directions, I would not agree. Cache hiders should do better than that.

Edited September 9, 2004 by BassoonPilot

[+SixDogTeam]

- - Don't try TOO hard to hide. That only makes you look MORE suspicious.

 

- - Have a "cover" for your activities. I like to carry a clipboard when caching in busy areas and look like I'm doing something official. If you are found while dealing with the cache: act like you're counting grubs, examining leaves, checking for barking spiders, etc., ANYHING other than opening a Tupperware bowl and sorting through some golf balls and Hot Wheels.

 

Torry's advise is excellent and bears repeating. Carrying a camera and walking a dog is a good cover, that's what Patrick and I do. Patrick has been instructed to wag his tail and be playful with ladies and children and CO's we meet, and bear his teeth, snarl, foam at the mouth at guys(and he's good at it). You DON"T need to apologize to anybody, if you exercised reasonable caution in your search. The owner is responsible for being aware that caches are vulnerable in populated areas, and they have the option of not placing them there, and the responsibility of incurring any extra maintenance they may require.

[+Robespierre]

An appology to the cache owner would go a long way. Being discreet at times is very hard to do. Sometimes it's best to walk away.

Whenever you get a chance to echo R.K. you should take it.

I have only 1 micro, in a very public park, but well hidden. So far, only one log mentions that he had to go away and come back after another cache. Sometimes that is the best policy.

However, maybe you didn't cause the problem, and you certainly didn't intend it.

When you hide your first cache, think remote, secluded....just around the corner so it is not hard for the cachers to use caution. My oldest cache is right beside the trail, but located around a turn so you can post a look-out.

[+nfa]

Hi,

 

There has been tons of excellent advice above this post, but I'll put in my 2 cents...

 

I would email the cache owner, explain the situation, and offer to provide either the swag or a new container for a replacement. I would also suggest to the owner that he moves the cache by 100 feet or so to avoid a repeated plundering (he can do that by editing the cache listing after you get together to replace the cache.

 

The cache owner may just tell you not to worry about it, or may want to archive the cache in favor of a new location altogether, but your offer shows you to be a good geocacher regardless.

 

nfa

[+tirediron]

and may have inadvertently attracted more attention than we thought

 

Do you say this simply because the 'cache was plundered, or because you actually noticed someone observing you?

 

several days later the cache was reported as plundered

 

Quite a time gap in here to my way of thinking...

 

Okay, my $00.02 worth: A significant number of the posters so far seem to feel that you are responsible and should replace the 'cache, contents and all. I really can't agree with this. As far as I know, our justice systems both follow the "Innocnet until proven guilty" approach to justice. Unless you have a specific reason to think that it was you, that is, there was someone watching your every move as you found, logged and replaced the 'cache then I can't see your culpability.

 

I am sure that most owners of plundered 'caches would love to have someone volunteer to Purple pony up the swag for a new 'cache, but how often does it happen.

 

IMHO, loss in whatever form it takes is a risk that we as 'cache owners assume on placement. Unless someone has done something blatantly stupid, then I would not expect them to assume responsibility, and even fi they had, I would find it hard to blame someone with only a very few finds...

 

Bottom line? By all means put on a hair shirt and buy the person a new 'cache if you so desire, but unless you truly think that the plundering was the result of your error, AND you have a reason to think that, I wouldn't!

 

All that said, Welcome to the addiction, and don't let one minor annoyance cloud your fun!

Edited September 9, 2004 by tirediron

[+superpowerdave]

First and foremost I'd like to thank everyone who responded, and how quickly I might add, to the question I had. A lot of useful and though-provoking advice was offered on not only my situation in particular, but also the sport in general and the etiquette involved.

 

By reading the responses I was able to glean some tricks from the pros, and certainly advice I'll carry with me in the future.

 

While many readers did not think an apology was in order, a good number did and that was the route we chose to take. We emailed the owner, told him we think we could have been the cause of his loss, and wanted to replace his cache, to which he denied. "No need to apologize. It happens," he said, "It's in a high-traffic area ... actually surprised it lasted as long as it did. As soon as I find another container like that one I'll build another one."

 

So rather than go against his wishes, my wife and I have decided to buy a handful of the containers he used, drop some goodies in them and then arrange for them to reach the owner of the plundered cache.

 

Is it too much? I don't think so, but some of you will. Is it enough? I think that question is up to the owner of the cache. Was the apology necessary? To my wife and I, absolutely.

 

I don't know a great deal about geo-caching just yet, but I do know how much I enjoy it. I also know that it is a sport that not only encourages friendships, but makes them downright impossible to avoid. And while there are rules of ettiquette and rules of responsibility, there is also that human factor there that makes us depend on one another.

 

We depend on other cachers for hiding caches for us to find, for finding the caches we hide, for posting so we can keep track, for letting us know when the coords are on or when they're off, etc. This isn't a solo sport. It is a cooperative effort by everyone involved, and my decision to apologize and to make amends stemmed largely from how I'd want it to be handled were the situation reversed.

 

Thank you, once again for all that had input. I appreciate everything that was written here.

 

-superpowerdave

[+CompuCash]

I just looked up your profile - Anchorage huh?

 

wish you lived down here - you sound like people we'd like to know!

 

so have fun with your caching - and welcome to the group -

[+Team Perks]

Wow, I wish all my local cachers were just like you!

[+GPSKitty]

- - If all else fails give a hearty "Hello" and openly discuss what you're doing. Sometimes just the "Hello" will make people leave.

Well, heck. If I stumbled upon a wet snouted pig in the woods, who was holding a Tupperware bowl full of golf balls, and he gave a hearty "HELLO", I'd certainly turn tail and run.

 

 

[+GPSKitty]

We depend on other cachers for hiding caches for us to find, for finding the caches we hide, for posting so we can keep track, for letting us know when the coords are on or when they're off, etc.  This isn't a solo sport.  It is a cooperative effort by everyone involved, and my decision to apologize and to make amends stemmed largely from how I'd want it to be handled were the situation reversed.

You are most definitely going to be an asset to this game/sport.

Welcome to the club.....Happy Caching.