You can just submit a “skeleton” cache with just the bare minimum of information. Ask the REVIEWER to check your cache first and to wait to activate the cache. That should work. If you decide NOT to use those coords for any reason make you have the “test” cache coords archived or someone else might not be able to place a cache at your test coords.

@Team Deejay wrote:

Actually, this is not very good advice. Create the cache page but DO NOT EVER RELEASE A CACHE PAGE WHICH IS NOT IN THE FIELD.

I think that’s what Mathman said when he said “wait to activate.” Completing the cache page but unchecking the “this cache is active” box before you click submit means reviewers can see it if directed to it but it doesn’t show up in their inbox to approve, correct? At least this is the way we’ve done it on a few such occasions.

I will say that approximately 95% of the proximity issues are caches too close to the listed coordinates of other caches. All you have to do is create the cache page and then list the nearest caches to see this problem, but we get 20 to 30 of these a week. Many but not all are from first time hiders. The other 5% (those too close to multicache waypoints, mystery finals, and unlisted caches still in development) are no problem for us to work with the owners. The worst case I have seen involved a cache placement in Sanders Park in Racine, which took 4 tries. The first three tries were too close to three different mystery cache finals. But even then, the owner eventually found his spot.

@nohandsgps wrote:

What do the reviewers use to calculate distance from point A to point B? Does google earth or google maps allow for this?

Google Earth works well, but it’s not faultless. (Right Dave 😉 ). I use it before placing any cache, to get an idea of what is open, but it’s not perfect.

The first thing about GE you have to remember is that when a cache Icon pops up, it’s never in the right spot. So, first, find an area you want to place a cache, and put that WP into GE. The, click on all of the surrounding area caches, and copy their coords from the cache page, and paste them into the GE browser. Then take your measurements from there.

Also remember that there may be puzzle caches and stages of multi-caches nearby that you must also avoid. Solving those puzzles, and doing the multi’s are the best way, but in some case, you can contact the owner of those caches and see if they’ll provide their coords.

The best advice I’ve seen is what Team Deejay wrote. Write up your cache page, then click the link that lists all the other area caches. If you’re good there, you should be ok, except once again, for the puzzles and multi’s.

What would be fantastic is a database that you could type in coords and give you a yes or no result, using all the info from GC.com including puzzle actuals, and stages of multis’ . This would have to work like the Evince coord system though, where you only get one shot every 10 minutes. Otherwise you’d have people triangulating to find puzzles.

First, what Ken says is correct. Creating an UNRELEASED cache page is a good way to do a check. Before you send it to the reviewers, just go to the cache page and list the caches nearest to yours. The system will give you the distances for each. Anything under 0.1 miles is likely to be a problem, unless it is a mystery cache.

Reviewers can also get this distance for hidden waypoints, so if you think there is a puzzle cache or multi close by, you can ask us to check for you.

If you are just want a program to calculate distance between points, projections, conversions between formats, and other useful stuff, try the free program FizzyCalc. I use it regularly when working through things, and highly recommend it. I believe this will also work on a PC emulator on a Mac, but I have not tested this.

@sandlanders wrote:

What about virtuals? Didn’t I read somewhere that the 528-foot rule didn’t apply to being near those, as opposed to other caches or waypoints, when looking to place a new cache?

And if we need to contact a reviewer, do we go through their reviewer name or their geocaching name (we know who you are, Oh Great Ones!). Just click on the name to send a note?–This is for questions before writing up a cache and submitting it.

You are right, virtuals and virtual stages of multi/mystery caches do not count for the proximity requirement. Neither do earthcaches, webcams, events, parking coordinates, questions to answer, or reference points.

And you can email me any way you like (just don’t call me late for dinner).