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Cache Visits By Owner


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Posted

I have hidden a few caches and, as a general rule, visit them after two months if there has been no activity or after 2 or 3 DNFs. Do any other cache owners have criteria that they use for ensuring their caches are still in place and in good order.

 

A little research shows that caches that have had a couple of DNFs tend to lose their attraction. From my own experiences of DNFs, I now tend to avoid caches that have gone undiscoverd for a long period or have had a couple of DNFs. I take the DNFs more seriously if they have been posted by a cacher with a couple of hundred finds.

 

Any thoughts?

Posted

We try to make "maintenance" visits to our caches every few weeks to make sure all is well. Judging from our experience in finding caches in a bad state our practice is not universal among cachers! One also wonders how those who lay a large number of caches, or those who lay them far from home, can possibly maintain them?

 

DNFs do not deter us. We did a cache yesterday which the previous seekers had not found after a lot of searching. We found it quickly and have done this before with DNFs. Equally, there are several which we DNF and which were found quickly after us so DNF should not be a reason for not seeking a cache.

Posted

When assessing caches with many DNF's i always look at the Difficulty rating this should be a good indicator of why there are DNF's.

We try to go ot our caches straight after DNF's this is easy as i pass three of our caches every day on my way to work!. When a maintainance visit is done we post a note on the cache page telling what we did CITO etc.

I have noticed that caches rise up as they are lifted out the stuff on top falls underneath and the hding holes tend to fill up.

Posted

I try and check on mine after two or three consecutive DNFs - but it is not always possible do to pressures of work. It is worth noting that some of mine have been repeated reported DNF in the past when they are in fact present and found by later cachers. I am planning a maintenance trip on all eight this afternoon, and expect to find a couple have gone missing.

Posted

I keep an eye on all the reports of the finders of my caches. All but one are within 15 minutes walk of my home, so they are easy to maintain. I have one which is quite a way away and I look even more carefully at finders' reports. I visit it every two months or so, but generally a good clear report tells me enough about its condition to indicate whether an emergency visit is required or not.

 

Hope this helps.

Posted

I always check on mine as soon as possible after a problem has been reported, for example a report of damp. I will generally check on them after a DNF, but certainly always after two DNFs... depends upon which of my caches it is, as not all are as accessible for a a quick check as others, or I may be away from the area.

 

When looking for caches, a DNF or two will not put me off looking (unless it's very many sequential ones), but may stop me spending too long searching if I don't find the cache (depending upon cache difficulty rating, of course). Sometimes a DNF log will yield as much information as a found, especially if the DNF gloomily lists all the places the cacher went wrong and the found log just says "found cache easily, TNLNSL"

Posted

I tend to do a maintenance visit if the cache has had two DNFs or has not been visited for a while. Most people put in their logs if the cache needs maintenance (and some if the cache is OK), so I tend to assume that no adverse comments mean that all is well. If I'm passing I will call in anyway.

 

I wouldn't ignore caches which haven't been found for a while - it can be quite exciting to find a cache that has had several previous cachers stumped or hasn't been found for ages. I once did one that hadn't been found for 8 months and I was really chuffed! Another had four or five consecutive DNFs but I managed to seek it out (took me a while though!)

Posted

I visit my caches after 2 DNF's, I did a cache with my family, my daughter re-hid it so well that a uber caching team and the cache owner DNF'd it. The cache owner actualy disabled the cache. On our next visit to the location (the cache is a urban one) I went back to check as I felt so guilty about it. And "Hey Presto" it was still there! As this proves DNF's tell a different story in each case.

 

Dave :P

Posted
I visit my caches after 2 DNF's, I did a cache with my family, my daughter re-hid it so well that a uber caching team and the cache owner DNF'd it. The cache owner actualy disabled the cache. On our next visit to the location (the cache is a urban one) I went back to check as I felt so guilty about it. And "Hey Presto" it was still there! As this proves DNF's tell a different story in each case.

 

Dave :D

I still think the magic cache pixies of Chester had something to do with that one, Dave!

 

:P

 

James

Posted (edited)
I visit my caches after 2 DNF's, I did a cache with my family, my daughter re-hid it so well that a uber caching team and the cache owner DNF'd it. The cache owner actualy disabled the cache. On our next visit to the location (the cache is a urban one) I went back to check as I felt so guilty about it. And "Hey Presto" it was still there! As this proves DNF's tell a different story in each case.

 

Dave 

 

I still think the magic cache pixies of Chester had something to do with that one, Dave!

 

 

The magic pixies of Chester also got involved with Chester City cache. That had 2 DNFs including one by Mancunian Pyrocacher himself who was assisting another cacher. When I checked it was still there although it had moved a few inches from its original spot. Spooky.

Edited by Kelsborrow Wayfinders
Posted

We check on most of ours after 7 or 8 finds (but only because we need to put more 'stuff' in :P ) and try to get out as soon as possible after a DNF.

 

One was 'lost' for several months because it was put back a couple of feet from the original hiding place and we couldn't find it despite several searches. It reappeared though, spookily, on the day that the last finder offered to come and have a look.

 

We don't avoid caches with several DNF's (unless on holiday) but treat them as something of a challenge and have been quite successful. Last of the Mohicanswas a particularly satisfying find, as was 5 bridges Llangollen

Posted

We check straight after 1 DNF on one of our caches because its so easy to find but for another one of our caches its so hard to find that we're happy to leave it for 3 DNF. Did go running out after a team with over 700 finds DNF our hard one just to find it was exactly in the right place so goes to show experience isn't always a good indicator.

Posted
I have hidden a few caches and, as a general rule, visit them after two months if there has been no activity or after 2 or 3 DNFs. Do any other cache owners have criteria that they use for ensuring their caches are still in place and in good order.

 

Any thoughts?

If the location of a cache is obvious with the clue and there is DNF on it, then we go as soon as possible to check on it.

 

If it's a bit tricky to find, such as our 5/5 cache, then we don't worry if it gets a DNF but check up with whoever logged the DNF to ask the reason for them not finding it.

 

For any other caches, we usually go and check on them if any logs show a problem which needs sorting. Otherwise we leave them alone unless we are passing by.

 

Sarah

Posted

We always check if there is a DNF that all is well. Apart from that we don't tend to visit often unless nearby as reports on finds will always indicate if there is a problem.

Posted

One problem with mine is that the are in very busy places and often a DNF is posted just to say there was not an opportunity to search propperly due to the high muggle factor. Clearly not all DNFs are equal!

Posted (edited)
I still think the magic cache pixies of Chester had something to do with that one, Dave!

 

Just a 14 yr old who actualy said yeuk when retrieving it :o

 

I wonder who that could be?

 

both you and the cache owner outed yourselves on this one :laughing:, I have to add I had to tell the cacher who had the DNF on the Chester City cache with me exactly were to go, as he had a search in the right location and failed to find it :laughing:

 

 

The magic pixies of Chester also got involved with Chester City cache. That had 2 DNFs including one by Mancunian Pyrocacher himself who was assisting another cacher. When I checked it was still there although it had moved a few inches from its original spot. Spooky.

 

I'm glad it's still there, and we spent 10 minute searching, now guess whose embarrised :o and this on a cache I'd previously found.

 

 

this proves DNF's tell a different story in each case.

 

I believe I just reinforced my point and added a red tint to my face as well :o

Edited by Mancunian Pyrocacher
Posted

I check my own caches after a DNF or two, when logs show problems, or when they haven't been visited for a couple of months.

 

DNFs don't necessarily deter me from trying a cache, but I do try to read between the lines of the logs and make an educated guess as to whether the cache is still there or not.

Posted

I check mine when the logs indicate they are getting too easy. I then usually find that the containers have not been replaced exactly as placed by me.

Recently I found that very detailed pictures of several cache locations have been posted, a request to the cacher got these removed from the gallery.

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