A question for CO’s – GZ Change w/ Missing Container

[CodeJunkie]

I’m curious as to how other CO’s handle the following scenario. I’ve been both on the CO side and the finders side and have some mixed opinions.

Situation – A cacher reaches GZ and the hide spot has changed drastically for some reason (i.e. mother nature, over zealous tree trimmers, etc.) and it’s obvious the cache has disappeared. The cacher PM’s you with details of the situation and offers to send detailed photos to confirm the container is most like MIA and that GZ has had a drastic change.

Question – Do you allow the cacher to claim the find or do you ask them to re-visit after the cache is replaced? What do you base your decision on?

[Mister Greenthumb]

If the area has changed you don’t know for sure if they would have found it. I don’t allow a found it log for that scenario. If it is simply a missing container and an easy hide I may let them log a find, but in most cases I stick with you must sign the log to claim a find. I have had some cachers replace the cache without permission and claim the find on easy hides. This annoys me because in several of these instances when I checked the cache was still there. They do move around especially with all of the new cachers out there.

[cheezehead]

No cache, no log, no smiley. Ask them to revisit. I was winter caching last year and we found a container that was frozen in place and could not open it. The friend I was with asked me how we log it. I said as a note. sayinh we where there, but could not retrive the log. GC rulse sate a find is when you sign the log.

[Grandma & Grandpa]

One winter, I found a cemetary matchbox in the crotch of a tree. I could clearly see it – frozen in the middle of a large block of ice. It was very cold, and I did not have an ice pick along. I emailed the owner, explaining that time was tight and we needed that find to lead up to a major milestone. He allowed it with the caveat that we return in the spring and sign. That we did, and I appreciated his willingness to say OK. Another winter attempt a couple of years ago we found an ammo box stuck under a boulder due to frost heave. We posted a note, and still haven’t been back to get the find!

We were recently chastised by a new cacher who posted a find on a cache of ours that he said was obviously gone, we need to replace or archive it, remove the webpage, etc, etc. Of course, the cache was still there. I sent a gentle note asking him to try again or delete his log, he did find it, and we both ended up happy.

So I guess common sense needs to prevail, but in general we go along with no signature, no credit – on our caches as well as the ones we try to find.

cYa, Jim

[JimandLinda]

I have allowed DNFers to log a ‘Smilie” if they explain GZ and their attempt to find it. Some cachers feel like they just caught “the plague” if they mark a DNF! So I don’t mind rewarding them for doing the right thing.
Some do, others return later and SL. I’ve done both myself.

[Cheesehead Dave]

If the cache isn’t there, then it’s a DNF; whether the cacher chooses to log it as such is up to them. I’d thank them politely for the info that the cache is gone, and maybe return the favor by emailing them with a heads up that the cache has been replaced so they can get first crack at it before I re-enable it, but I wouldn’t tell them they can log the DNF as a Find.

[gotta run]

It depends on the cache. Some hides are there just to be a spot for the final. Others are there because the hide’s the thing.

I use the rescue mission rule. If I’d be willing to file a rescue mission for maintenance to replace the container, they can sign the log of what they put out. The rules say cachers need to sign the log and owners need to maintain caches, but are silent on the issue of owner maintenance by proxy.

On the Left Side of the Road...

[TeamCabana]

If you don’t sign the log you don’t get the find.

[CodeJunkie]

Here’s an example of what I stumbled on early tonight. Did I “Find It”?

[BigJim]

@CodeJunkie wrote:

Here’s an example of what I stumbled on early tonight. Did I “Find It”?

Did you sign the log ❓ 😆 🙄

All opinions, comments, and useless drivel I post are mine alone and do not reflect the opinions of the WGA BOD.

[CodeJunkie]

@BigJim60 wrote:

@CodeJunkie wrote:

Here’s an example of what I stumbled on early tonight. Did I “Find It”?

Did you sign the log ❓ 😆 🙄

I signed the replacement log that I put in a new container that I notified the CO about. Does this count? 😉 🙄 😆

[Cheesehead Dave]

In that case, I’d say yes, you did find (what was left of) the cache. That’s a big difference from not finding anything at all and just assuming that the cache was gone.

I’d sign whatever scrap of log I could find to make it “official”, gather up the geo-litter, then post a Needs Maintenance log along explaining the situation along with my Found It log. I would leave it up to the CO whether they want to put out a replacement container or not, though.

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