Archiving caches to rework them? Who’s done this?

[Trekkin and Birdin]

mama kat archived most of the Bjornson caches, placing a whole mess of new ones out there. We look forward to doing the new ones this fall, our day spent chasing them last November was a treat.

This brings up a subject: How often do any of you archive older caches, allowing them to be reincarnated in similar form in the same area? Part of me hates to do that, but another part says, everyone who’s going to look for these already has. I’d thought about archiving our first three and changing them into letterbox hybrids, placing one in particular in a spot a little easier to reach in the bushwhacking months.

So take part in my scientific poll! Thanks.

[zuma]

@Trekkin’ and Birdin’ wrote:

mama kat archived most of the Bjornson caches, placing a whole mess of new ones out there. We look forward to doing the new ones this fall, our day spent chasing them last November was a treat.

This brings up a subject: How often do any of you archive older caches, allowing them to be reincarnated in similar form in the same area? Part of me hates to do that, but another part says, everyone who’s going to look for these already has. I’d thought about archiving our first three and changing them into letterbox hybrids, placing one in particular in a spot a little easier to reach in the bushwhacking months.

So take part in my scientific poll! Thanks.

Generally, I like to keep a cache as is, unless there is a problem with it, to maintain the history of those who have visited. For example, the first cache that I placed 4 years ago is still active, and is still exactly as I first left it.

On the other hand, caches that I have had problems with, you may see listed as 2.0 or even 3.0 as I try to find a hide that works.

If I have a cache that has a problem and I replace it, then I have to make a decision as to archiving it and resubmitting a new one based on if I had to move it quite aways, or had to change the difficulty of the find for any reason. If it is the same place, then I think it is best to keep the same GC number. If I moved it substantially or change the hide substantially, then I think it is reasonable to make it a new GC number.

Getting people to return to the same place that I like, does not factor in the decision, at least not for me.

That is just my opinion on how I like to manage the caches that I place, and your mileage may differ. I dont think there is a hard and fast rule on this, and I think this is another area that folks are free to play the game the way they want.

zuma

[shrek and fiona]

I have archived caches that have gone missing and replaced them a few feet away or in about the same area with a nano
and if anyone that looked for the original wants to look for the replacement can .

[jenhen1]

I think it sort of violates the “permanancy” aspect of placing a geocache so I prefer not to do that unless problems arise or cache needs to be moved a fairly “long” distance from original placement.

But, each cache owner has their own reasons for doing what they do, so who am I to argue? 😉

[Team Deejay]

I have to say no, but I have a rework on one of mine in the works. On the last maintenance visit, Julie and I both thought we could make the cache do a better job of highlighting its surroundings. (Do you hear the approach of another “field puzzle”?) Plus, we think the area can support a bigger container and we want to make the find easier (again, to better highlight the surroundings.)

[seldom|seen]

Yes, on adopted caches that I fealt didn’t do justice to the area or coule be better. 2 examples.

1. Stevens Point Micros – Pfiffner/Pioneer Park. Nano on a bench. The previous owner said the intent was to get people to go to the park which is good, but when I found it I went straight to the nano, logged it and left.

I spent 6 years at the University in Point and even organized concert events at this park called “Jamnesty” for Amnesty International. Yet, despite all that, I had never read the Historical markers or Informational plaques (although I think those were not here when I went to school) and was amazed at what I missed. I archived the nano and created a puzzle that necessitates a reading of most of the markers in the park, “On Point | The Whole Point”

2. Bridgemaster’s Quarters in Menasha. A muggle-prone cache although a good hide. Here again is another case of so much good bridge related history in the area that was getting passed up. The hide was the right spot and also needed to be moved to prevent muggling. Archived the old one and created the new puzzle, “Laughing Waters | Bridge Tender Quarters”

I don’t do it often, but when I do it is to make more of an area than the existing cache did, just as Team Deejay alluded to. If my caches don’t have any recurring issues, they will stay as they are or get slight modifications to improve them, but rarely will I archive just to put out a new one. There’s a billion good locations around here despite the saturation, you just have to know where to look and get creative on your hides…

[EnergySaver]

I answered “No”, based on what I think you mean by the question in it’s purest form.

I have on two occasions retired a cache and placed one somewhat similar in a nearby area … in one case it was about 400 feet away, with a different approach to the same point of interest, in another case I shut down a series of caches and replaced it with a single cache more or less in the middle of where the group sent you. But I think this is different enough to make my answer “no”.

In the first case, I couldn’t keep the cache working in it’s original location, it always went missing. In the second case, the cache had a great 2+ year run, but was a bit involved for the average cacher, so I switched to a single cache to free up space for others to hide caches, yet still attract people to one of my favorite places.

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

I answered no but i have archived 2 Traditionals and replaced them with a Multi in the same park. Why? Prolly because I was just sick of the old ones and wanted to place a multi. Nothing more than that.

[Ry and Ny]

I didn’t vote because I haven’t hidden a cache, but I do admin for a couple message boards. Interestingly enough, I find this poll to be interesting as a result of that. One of the boards I admin for doesn’t allow polls to be presented by the general membership. I don’t mean to carry the impression that I’m “dissing” this poll, but I do sit here now and want more statistical info than is presented by the poll, particularly due to the variety of the responses.

[-cheeto-]

but I do sit here now and want more statistical info

then submit a followup poll to get your statistical info! 😀

I have seen that if you throw a poll out here, folks will answer. This board is like a magnet for opinions and polls make it possible for people to vent, er’ give there opinions. People will always post “responses” above and beyond the given poll question simplicity.

on the subject of this poll – When I archive, I archive. except for that one…

-cheeto-

[zuma]

@Ry and Ny wrote:

I didn’t vote because I haven’t hidden a cache, but I do admin for a couple message boards. Interestingly enough, I find this poll to be interesting as a result of that. One of the boards I admin for doesn’t allow polls to be presented by the general membership. I don’t mean to carry the impression that I’m “dissing” this poll, but I do sit here now and want more statistical info than is presented by the poll, particularly due to the variety of the responses.

I kind of like the ability of any member being able to post a poll. That way both the questions, and the answers are democratic.

And I agree that the WGA forum is more free form that a lot of forums and without a lot of restrictions or moderating. Personally, I like it like that, and I would not expect that to change, unless problems were to develop.

zuma

[Ry and Ny]

I think my post came across a bit more negative than I intended. Sorry.

Someday, I’d like to see someone do up a longer, complete survey on archiving caches, reasoning for it, etc. It’s a topic that interests me, particularly getting the viewpoints of more experienced members. Unfortunately, getting to answer questions one-off as forum polls would never get that sort of a result.

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