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I was thinking today about the biggest issue I have with todays geocache hunting:
Bad Caches
I am not saying that there are not a number of great ones out there, as I have done many and will still do some, however, there appears to be an increasing number of really lame caches out there.
What would happen if everyone who had a lame cache, picked it up and archived it?
Could everyone just look at their own caches and say:1- Did I bring them to a special place?
2- Was the hunt unique in some way?
3- Is there historical, social or human importance associated with the cache?
4- Did I challenge the hunter in some way?
5- Was the hide clever or camo in a new way?
If the answer is yes, then these caches are of the type that should be out there.I am sure others could come up with a bunch of other things but if the cache is:
1- In the middle of the woods for no apparent reason.
2- In a area of no real importance or value.
3- Hidden in such a way as to be easily found by anyone.
4- Brought the hunter on a five mile walk only to hide the cache in a very common location.
If these are what the answers would be, don’t you think we could do without them?
What is the point of a micro along the side of a road with no apparent reason?
What is the point of a cache in a bush in a small park that would not warrant a return even though you know where it is now?I understand that there needs to be a number of different difficulty level caches due to varied physical abilities of everyone
but they can still offer things from the list of things that make them good caches.I will admit freely that I have placed some very good caches and some very lame ones. I think people preferred the good ones by far and felt the lame ones were a waste of time.
Feel free to leave your opinion on this subject but lets not trash anyones caches in particular if it can be avoided.
I archived one of mine recently, because it had been bugging me. Would think of it every now and then, and wonder if it was really anything special. Could not say yes, so ….
You bring up a lot of good points. And without much thought (forgive me) one thing I’d say is that some of even the lamest caches bring me to places I’ve never “seen.”
Geocaching in general has heightened my awareness to my surroundings. I’ve noticed stores, parks, and other locations in West Bend that have been oblivious to me for the six years or better since I first moved hereI prior to geocaching. Perhaps it is me looking for a spot or searching for a locationless cache, but it is for sure that I am more aware of my surroundings.
One of the first thing I think of when I read this is the saying, “someone’s junk is another one’s treasure.” Something of beauty may not be of any significance to another. A certain memory makes a spot special, whereas to another it may just be a spot. So whether a cache is thrown into a bush at a park no “clever” way, it got you to the park.
I agree that there are a lot of lame caches out there; caches just placed for whatever reason of the cachers who place them. I do like the diffiuclt ones and enjoy them a lot, but the lames ones are a “gimmee” and help me maintain my confidence.
I will think more about this and perhaps post more later. To me it seems that caching has changed over the last year a lot. I didn’t know if it was just me because I’m more seasoned or if it has changed for others too. The hobby is evolving, more players getting involved, and some leaving because of various reasons. One thing is for sure though: whether it is a difficult cache or a lame cache out there, caching has gotten me outside where in the past I’ve been inside, eating, watching TV, reading, and other stuff.
Thanks for putting this thread out here.
That’s funny. Just the other day, I was examining my existing caches that I have out there, and wondering “what am I offering with these caches”? Although I appreciate really challenging hides when I search, I try to bring cache hunters on a nice scenic hike or to a scenic end point, and hide it just well enough so that non geocachers won’t notice it, but not too hard for a geocacher to find. I do have one in a cemetery, but it’s an old and interesting place, and a couple in parks that meant something to me. About half of them are multi-caches or mystery caches, but not too difficult to figure out (okay..maybe one is a bit tricky for the first waypoint), and one has a bonus added onto it. As far as caches I like to search for..I like them all, but if I had to pick my favorites, I’d go with the ones that left an impression on me with the hiking or finding experience.
The Geocache Purist will always look for “Caching the way it used to be”. Originals, whether they be Paintings, or Geocaches, hold more significance to a select few than they ever will to the masses. Not everyone who has a painting feels they MUST have an Original, a Print will suit them just fine. The same is true for Caches. Not all Cachers feel like they must seek only “Original Type” caches. These cachers can just as easily be satisfied with a “Print” type variety. Are they wrong for taking this approach to caching? No, not if that is the experience they find satisfying. There is enough variety out there to suit everyone, without eliminating options for anyone! Personally, I like a Mix. Lucky for me, I don’t have to choose. I can just do them ALL!!
Perhaps I wrote first before thinking- I’m guilty of that often (I will stop writing- …after this ). I wouldn’t say we found any caches that didn’t belong as a cache. I don’t even think I agree that anyone should go through their caches and eliminate some. I think I was more “writing out loud” my thoughts about how “a cache” is not “a cache”. There seems to be a big push for numbers amongst the caching community that I don’t understand.
Probably my real problem is that I do have a “driven” side that likes to see the numbers go up and it is in conflict with the other side that really appreciates the kind of cache that doesn’t lend itself to rising numbers. Ack, I think I’ll pour another cup of coffee and get off the computer before I write something else that doesn’t matter.
I know, too late.
Enjoy your day.
Don’t stop writing, Forefeathers.
There are growing numbers of us who look for geocaches, and there are different types of caches to suit everyones needs at one time or another. When on the road for trips, the idea of stopping at a rest stop or a nearby park and ride for caches works for me. In time, I’ll go for any cache within my immediate area. I’ll admit, some have left me feeling much more fulfilled than the rest. I may find one cache, and feel satisfied with that, or I may hit a cluster of several that are in close proximity of each other. It varies for me from one day to another. Caches have brought me to a lot of places I would have never been to before that are really worth seeing, but I guess the main thing is that it’s something to do, that I really enjoy doing. As I said before…I like them all.
[This message has been edited by brkster (edited 12-30-2005).]
WOW! These are incredible! I love it!
Forefeathers I felt like I was there! I can feel your excitement, the thrill, and it brings back memories of some of my initial finds when primarily caching by myself.
Digital Dan — WOW! You have a very nice way with words.
Me thinks lame is in the eye of the beholder.
A couple days ago my son and I had some rare time together and he wanted to go caching. Drove 15 minutes to a great park with some excellant hiking potential. Cache was found within 350 ft. from the parking lot. A month or so ago we went to this same park and that cache was on the other side of the same parking lot. I could have leaned out my car door to retrieve it.In my mind these were both “lame”. There was no adventure, no hiking, no challenge. In the mind of others, these were both nice, easy finds.
I can think of more than a couple of caches that were not more than a couple hundred feet from my car that I would consider “lame”. However the cache that I did that was at an artesian well was right next to the parking area. I enjoyed that cache because of the attraction that it was high-lighting.
I would enjoy a five mile hike through the woods for a plainly hidden cache. Others, not so much perhaps. To each his own.
quote:
Originally posted by The Snail:
Me thinks lame is in the eye of the beholder.
A couple days ago my son and I had some rare time together and he wanted to go caching. Drove 15 minutes to a great park with some excellant hiking potential. Cache was found within 350 ft. from the parking lot. A month or so ago we went to this same park and that cache was on the other side of the same parking lot. I could have leaned out my car door to retrieve it.In my mind these were both “lame”. There was no adventure, no hiking, no challenge. In the mind of others, these were both nice, easy finds.
I can think of more than a couple of caches that were not more than a couple hundred feet from my car that I would consider “lame”. However the cache that I did that was at an artesian well was right next to the parking area. I enjoyed that cache because of the attraction that it was high-lighting.
I would enjoy a five mile hike through the woods for a plainly hidden cache. Others, not so much perhaps. To each his own.
What a wonderful time to spend with your son. Fifteen miles of ‘me time’. Time to chat about the events in his life. Time to share family values. Time to discuss things that are important. The Geocache was just a means to to an end. In the end, it shouldn;t have been the geocache – it should have been the time with family.
I think I’m gonna tuck my tail and slink under a bush to die.
Thanks for the perspective change, I obviously needed it.
And while I’m at it, I’ll apologize for the terse cache log (I was feeling terse-y), and thank the hider for placing the cache.
I had a long message framed in my mind about beautiful caches I have done, the vistas, the spectacular trails, the little mountain valley on the way back from a cache where I asked Ms. Honeybunny to be my bride, etc., etc., ad infinitum, ad nauseum. I realized that all I was doing was apologizing for the part of me that loves the number hunt. It’s just a part of who I am. I may as well apologize for being born blonde-haired and blue-eyed.
Yes, there are lame caches. At the very absolute worst, I can thank them for adding one to my count. Somebody else may be thankful to be able to find a cache at the playground they take their kids. Or that their friends can log it when they visit their town, or that anyone logs the cache in their special place in the middle of nowhere.
Just like anything in our society, we can choose whether or not to do it. If I don’t like a cache I don’t have to do it. Someone else will. Treat it like the ability to change the channel if you don’t like the show rather than removing it from the airwaves.
My second cache, recently placed is somewhat experiential. In the winter, you will be swarmed by mallards looking for bread, in the summer it will be one of the easiest park and logs you’ve ever done, in a pretty unremarkable park. The people doing it now are getting it, and it shows in their logs. I doubt others will appreciate it in the summer. Do I take it offline then because it’s not fun? Where do I draw the line on style?
If the numbers went away, I probably would revisit more often some of the other great things I do outside. I wouldn’t look for waterlogged tupperware and rusting army surplus. And I’d still find the amazing vistas, beautiful views, interesting history and the place I asked Marie to marry me.quote:
Originally posted by wzbt03:
What would happen if everyone who had a lame cache, picked it up and archived it?
when i first started caching, i placed a few caches i would now consider lame. i did exactly what you are talking about…. i archived all of them to open the area’s up to new caches/cachers. i liked the locations i brought people to with these first caches but with them all being basicly drive up caches no one could really enjoy the area fully. (only being there for 20min)
i only have a few caches now and consider them quite a bit better(my opinion) than the first ones i placed.
for me it seems that my caching preferences and style are constantly evolving. probably true for others as well. so i will leave it to the cache hider to decide if there cache is LAME, as i did when i archived all my original caches.
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