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In light of the upcoming decision about allowing temporary event caches to be logged, I have a few suggestions on the proper etiquette while hunting temps at an event.
1. Use the finder’s tree method.
For those unfamiliar with this practice I will explain. You’re hunting with a group. As some of the others in the party are checking the root system of the huge downed tree, you spot the cache 10 feet away near a small stump. Using your best poker face, you walk away from the stump, yet continue to act like your still searching. Give yourself plenty of time to check out a few more likely looking places, then quietly walk to a nearby large tree and proclaim to the rest of the group you are now standing at the finder’s tree. This can be done with as much bravado as you see fit. Don’t hesitate to throw taunts and knowing grins at as many of the members of the group as possible. It’s your moment to relish, make it count! The key to pulling off a successful first finder’s tree is in the first moments after you make the find. Resist the urge to blurt out the hootie hoo! This will be the single most difficult step for most people to master. If you can accomplish this first part, the rest is fairly easy. Don’t immediately find a tree and promptly call out the find. Others will simply go to the area you were just at and begin searching there. A well executed first finder tree will have everyone wondering where in the heck you were. This accomplishes two goals simultaneously, first proclaiming you as the master cache finder for this hide, and second allowing everyone else in the group the opportunity to experience the thrill of the find, and the sense of accomplishment for themselves. This continues as the second person makes the find, then the third and so forth. As long as everyone can keep the location secret the fun continues. Until you’re the last person who hasn’t yet made the find, then it’s not so funny anymore. Believe me; I’ve been there on many occasions. Many people feel a bit guilty for claiming finds that they really didn’t make, just because others made the find for them. You can’t undo a hootie once you’ve blurted it out, and you’ve ruined the hide for everyone else. Don’t do it.
2. Don’t loiter at the cache.
Stamp your books as fast as possible and replace the cache before another group comes along.
Jeff: “Hey Brian, I think the cache may be hidden in those rocks over there.”
Brian: “No, my guess is it’s probably in the middle of that group of people standing by that tree over there.”If you’re in the finders group, and you notice someone heading your way, don’t hesitate to call out and inform them that you haven’t replaced the cache yet. This will give them the opportunity to stop where they are, and possibly turn their backs as you replace the cache. If the finder’s tree is used, and the cache is not attached to anything, bring the cache to the group, not the group to the cache. Then if someone does stumble upon the group, you are not all standing at ground zero.
3. Avoid mass groupings.
Some caches can be deviously clever. They may take an extra amount of time to locate. Try to avoid the urge to join another group as they search. The more people in the group means the longer the wait as everyone gathers at the finder’s tree. This of course can be thrown out the window if the first group requests the help.
Taking these few suggestions, I believe everyone can enjoy the events as they are meant to be enjoyed. Just remember to be respectful of others and you can’t go wrong.
Oh yea, on a side note. FRS Channel 3 is the designated “No Whining Channel”. Feel free to broadcast hints, clues, decoded encryptions, and even blatant giveaways. Juicy gossip strongly encouraged as well!
Have fun and we’ll see you all at the picnic!
Commander Bob
Edited in tribute to MajorBrat.
[This message has been edited by Commander Bob (edited 07-31-2005).]
Thanks for posting this. When we placed a lot of caches at Lake Wissota it was to hopefully keep people spread out and to possibly reduce the trampling of the environment. The park ranger was concerned about trails forming. However, from some of the complaints I heard, I know that some players didn’t play by these rules of etiquette, thereby lessening the enjoyment of the hunt for many. Perhaps this was because they felt the need to rush to find all the caches, or maybe they didn’t understand that one should step back and let a team finish their find before starting their own search.
Thanks again. Sometimes what we think is obvious isn’t obvious to others. I’m sure I’ve been unknowingly inconsiderate in my 47 years and had I known so, would have acted in a different way.
Great suggestion CB and MB. Well put, I couldn’t agree more.
~Brian
quote:
Originally posted by Commander Bob:
2. Don’t loiter at the cache.Stamp your books as fast as possible and replace the cache before another group comes along.
Jeff: “Hey Brian, I think the cache may be hidden in those rocks over there.”
Brian: “No, my guess is it’s probably in the middle of that group of people standing by that tree over there.”Or — just make this the hint for each cache: gur pnpur vf uvqqra arne n tebjc bs pnpuref!
(hope I did that right — it was from memory.)
Bec
Poignant, Timely and well written.
well, sorry, i don’t like the finders tree method. i don’t like being laughed at for not finding a cache someone else thinks is obvious, and i don’t have the greatest vision, or the best ability to find small sneaky hiding spots. when our group finds a cache, we share the find. however, we do try to hide it from the next group.
the finders tree method is just one way to hunt as a group, and needs to be voiced at the start, as in “how does your group announce a find? the finders tree method, or a quick hootie hoo.quote:
Originally posted by djwini:
well, sorry, i don’t like the finders tree method. i don’t like being laughed at for not finding a cache…the finders tree method is just one way to hunt as a group…
Okay, so Commander Bob is nicer than I am these days, so he won’t say this. Me…I’m not nice so I will!
No one is telling you that you (“you” being a general term for all cachers) have to like the idea of the “finder’s tree” or even practice it. What’s he’s trying to say, without saying it aloud (or in print) is that there are some people who find it necessary to find a cache, announce where it is to everyone else around and then linger for Waaaaaaayyyyyyy to long at the area. Some people think that every person in their group has to spend ten minutes digging through the contents of an ammo box before passing it to the next one who then does the same thing. Some people think that it’s okay for them to tell other people where a cache is hidden (even if the latter hasn’t asked for help). Bob is simply trying to get those who travel in groups to respect the desire of other cachers and ask them to find, log and move on before the next group arrives. As for the “finder’s tree” being used by everyone…that will never happen, that is for each group to decide. If you hear another group arriving at a location, and you know that the cache is still out, stop that group from seeing the hide and give them the option of whether or not they want to see it in your hands, or find it for themselves. We’ve NEVER had a group continue toward a cache that we have told them was still in the open. They have always waited until we replaced it.
Also…may I suggest that hints (or should I say EXACT locations) be given over another channel!!! If someone is stuck on a cache, ask for help. But please switch to another channel before announcing the cache to the rest of us. Can’t we keep the main channel open for general business? It isn’t that hard to say, “I need help with ‘Dang, I can’t find another one’…does anyone have a hint for me?” “Sure, I can help…switch to channel 9000 for your hint.” “Thanks, I’ll do that.” Then anyone who wants to hear the hint can go to that channel and listen in. Thus allowing everone else the opportunity to find “Dang, I can’t find another one.” It’s not that hard. It doesn’t take that long. And no one will break if they spend 20 seconds changing channels on the radios!
Bottom line for me: Everyone of us needs to remember that we are not alone on the trails. We all need to respect the other cachers involved in our event.
(editing for those who need to see it edited…yes, I know Bob already said some of what I said…I’m just saying it again and a bit differently because some obviously didn’t get what he was saying. I thought I’d give them another chance to figure it out. This is just me being out of line again.)
[This message has been edited by MajorBrat (edited 08-03-2005).]
Excellent points, MB!
While my family uses “Finders Tree” (FT) … finding regular caches is different than using FT at an event. FT at an event as to be briefer (maybe 2 minutes, then we open it up) or only “drag it out” when no other approaching teams are in site.
I too hate it when other teams yell “it’s over here Ron”, so we tend to avoid contact with passing groups when we feel we’re near a cache. I’d rather find half of the event hides and enjoy the experience, than be able to tick them all off a list with the help of half the teams out there.
Kind of goes back to the question- If you didn’t find the cache is it ok to log it?
I’ve seen temp caches being passed around at an event. In some people minds, apparently if they see/touch a cache, they deserve credit for finding it.
Finder’s Tree is a great solution! We used it at the campout for the first time and thought it a better way to geocache.
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