Caches are meant to be found

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 11:23 am

This is a light-hearted post, I'm laughing, so don't take it too seriously. Just Venting:
-------------------------
Dear Cache Hiders:

RE: Useless "Hints":

Know where I'm going with this?

So there you are, in the middle of a geocache hunt, the mosquitoes are strapping on some sort of lifting straps so they can carry us away. Ok, we've earned this one.. no luck in finding this 1/1 in the first 20 minutes. My ground zero is here, no, here. no over there! Let's check out the hint:

guvf vf gbb rnfl sbe n pyhr! vs lbh ernyyl arrq n pyhr, rznvy zr.

I'll wait while you decode it. I really want you to share in my experience. Tick Tick Tick...

What? Are you kidding me? That's your hint?

Ok, I don't want you to give the find to me. And I don't expect hints on harder difficulty. But to put in a hint that says "You don't need a hint..."

Since we are paperless, we don't decode hints in 500 caches that I have loaded, so I wouldn't see your worthless hint until it's too late.

There are lots of factors that go into NOT finding a cache.

1. You’re (the cache owner) level in patience when placing a cache when "averaging" a waypoint. If you do a fly-by "mark" and say there it is, you're going to give us all 100 foot accuracy.
2. GPS Accuracy that particular day.
3. Not wanting to trample all over Mother Nature in a 100 foot radius. We're supposed to not leave cacher trails right? Leave no trace? We toe the line everyday with certain land managers, and don't need to push the envelope.

So please Cache hider: Either forget the hint altogether, (Then I know that I'm on my own) OR provide a hint that IS a hint.

If you think this is whining...Just so you know, I don't have a problem having a no finds; had plenty of them. I don't mind coming back multiple trips if it's an especially devious hide.

Yes I know, I don't even have to be geocaching.. It’s my choice. yada yada, so don't give me that

LOL

Your thoughts, WGA members?

WGA Member Joined: 2003-12-21 Posts: 250

I know what you mean
it is over there in that 3 acre field of rocks

by the tree in the forest

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 1:59 pm

...and all you have to do to find it is follow that 12 inch spread called a path...what the grass and brush doesn't take from you on the way in, and the skeeters don't enjoy while you hunt, the grass will take on the way out!

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:11 pm

In years past I've stated that a cache should be hidden that it can be found by a cacher but not by a casual passer by. A useful hint should be given to enable the cacher to find it.

Of several reasons, perhaps the best is to minimize environmental damage and lessen land manager's wrath.

------------------
Steve Bukosky
Waukesha

Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2005 5:13 pm

Problem solved - that is finding geocaches - if all geocaches were 5 gallon pails.

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:49 am

quote:
Originally posted by rpaske:
Problem solved - that is finding geocaches - if all geocaches were 5 gallon pails.

New Cache Announcement:
Randy's Nightmare -- Waypoint GCPAIL
Clue: Hidden in a 5 gallon pail.

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 6:16 am

quote:
Originally posted by jthorson:
[b]
New Cache Announcement:
Randy's Nightmare -- Waypoint GCPAIL
Clue: Hidden in a 5 gallon pail.

[/B]

And the hint would be..... (No meaningless ones!

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 7:22 am

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned this hint yet----

"parking is at 12 34.567 / W001 23.456"

or

"this cache is already too easy"

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 8:30 am

We had to decode this one in the midst of rain, mosquitos and partial mudslide...

Just think of what the Grand Old Duke of York said, "when you're up you're up, and when you're down you're down, but when you're only half way up you're neither up nor down."

Yep. I was a little frustrated as my pencil kept poking through the wet cache page while decoding it...

[This message has been edited by Green Bay Paddlers (edited 08-12-2005).]

WGA Member Joined: 2004-05-11 Posts: 17

I know what you mean too. I hate hints that either tell you that you don't need a hint or say exactly where the cache is. It's a hint, it is suppose to giv eyou a clue but not tell you exactly where

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:08 am

I've seen some people tier their hints.

For example:

1) Not on the ground...

2) Inside of something...

3) Inside the knot of the large oak next to the creek.

That helps those who just want a simple hint -or- the family of five who have invested an hour into this cache already and they are getting eaten alive by mosquitos.

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:46 pm

Tiering is a good idea!
I've not ever run into one of those yet, for some it would be nice.

I sort of did that on my "The Dream?", but in that case it's all about the "prior to the drive" work, not the cache location itself.

For those that use their Palms ... if your not aware, the latest version of Cache Mate (7/15/05, version 4.1.0 or greater), finally works for decoding only part of a hint at a time ... very fitting with this discussion (or for hints on multi-stages) ... you just highlight the text you want to decode and it decodes just that portion vs. if nothings highlighed it all gets decoded.

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:57 pm

quote:
Originally posted by EnergySaver:
..."The Dream....

oooohh....isn't this near where we'll be Sat? We decoded it a while ago but never went up and got it. Sat. could be the day...

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:56 pm

quote:
Originally posted by MajorBrat:

oooohh....isn't this near where we'll be Sat? We decoded it a while ago but never went up and got it. Sat. could be the day...

Oh, yes please come and get it ... I always like see more "found its" in the good 'ol email folder ... so don't ask me why I made this one so "tricky" then?

If your coming from the south and using I-43 it would be a dirty shame to not stop, it will not take you long. A bit of road work as you near the location, but it's only going to slow you down for about 100 feet.

Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2005 5:03 pm

quote:
Originally posted by EnergySaver:

...For those that use their Palms ... .

Hmmm, when I read my palm, the heart line, head line, and life line keep twisting and ending! What does that mean?