Cache of the Month nomination

[rcflyer2242]

I noticed that this cache Wet Maze GCB9A8 has been put on the list this month for cache of the month. I also noticed that 18 Appleton cachers got together as a group and went and found it. I’m sure that they all had a great time and it was a memorable time finding a cache that is over 5 years old. However I do not believe that it should be on the list since the owner has not logged on in close to 2 years. It would be a shame to bestow the honor of cache of the month to a non active cacher.

[Team Black-Cat]

It isn’t Cacher of the Month…

[marc_54140]

Since The Gauntlet is gone, this cache appears to have taken over as ‘the cache to do’. It will not be archived, even though the owner is MIA. Someone will adopt it, and keep it going.

So, yes, Cache of the Month.

[Natloh2]

The owner is not MIA, He lives in the area and watches the cache.

[-cheeto-]

Thanks for bringing this nomination to my attention.

[gotta run]

I nominated this cache for Cache of the Month.

I am not an Appleton Cacher and live north of highway 29.

I was not part of the big group that went to hunt this cache.

As a matter of fact, I did not even find this cache.

So why did I nominate it? This cache epitomizes several great aspects of geocaching. It requires strategy. I picked the wrong strategy and attempted it in the height of wet weather. The cache had me for breakfast, chewed me up, and spit me out. Not to toot my own horn, but that does not happen too darn often. I was humbled.

It a “legacy” cache. It is also a cache “In the Middle of Nowhere.” It’s a place nobody in their right minds (well, except hunters) would go to other than to find this geocache. And, it’s a cache that clearly lends itself to the enjoyment of a group outing, and that has developed a bit of mythology.

Since I had not personally found this cache, I did not want to nominate it unless I knew it was well cared for and in good condition. The experience of the finders since our DNF confirms that.

I also noted that this cache has been found 58 times since being placed.

Now, there are no doubt other worthy caches on the current nomination list and this is in no way to diminish them. But I felt this cache deserved consideration as COTM if for no other reason than to be on the bookmark list by being nominated.

On the Left Side of the Road...

[Mister Greenthumb]

Our cache “Eight Tiny Reindeer” won the December ’09 COTM which is an honor we are proud of and don’t take lighty. It is a fun series, however we have two other series that we are more proud of and are more deserving. The right cache doesn’t always win the honor. After reading all of the tales of preparation and the journey for Wet Maze in my mind it meets all of the criteria to be a COTM. If we don’t give credit to the truly classic and fundamental caches that geocaching was originally intended to be we’ll end up honoring “Magnet in the Guardrail” as COTM someday.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Although life prevented us from joining the Wet Maze outing as planned, we’ll be there someday. Also up for this month is another cache which we *have* done, Eagle Source. It has all the same elements as Wet Maze that gotta run mentioned. To this day, it remains one of our Top Ten favorites. With as many finds as we have, and the kinds of crazy caches we seek, it takes a lot to make it to our Top Ten. As cachers who love getting “out there” more than anything else, we were thrilled to see a couple nominations of this nature.

The COTM is never going to be perfect. It does, however, bring attention to many worthy caches, whether they “win” or not, because they get on the bookmark list. It’s a treat to see some nominations from beyond the big population centers.

[One Paddle Short]

No doubt Wet Maze deserves COTM. I wish it had been nominated a week later for February though as it’s now up against Eagle Source. Having done both caches in the last month my wife and I both agree that it pales in comparison to Eagle Source in the very areas that are its strength. Eagle Source is in a far a more beautiful area, a longer and much more difficult trek, a more unique and memorable container, and provides a unique feeling of remote isolation that Wet Maze cannot compete with.

In my perfect world Eagle Source would win for January and Wet Maze for February. But, at least they’ll both be on the nomination bookmark no matter what happens. Note that I fully support Wet Maze as a COTM, I just wish it was nominated next month so I could vote for it. 🙁

[benny7210]

@One Paddle Short wrote:

No doubt Wet Maze deserves COTM. I wish it had been nominated a week later for February though as it’s now up against Eagle Source. Having done both caches in the last month my wife and I both agree that it pales in comparison to Eagle Source in the very areas that are its strength. Eagle Source is in a far a more beautiful area, a longer and much more difficult trek, a more unique and memorable container, and provides a unique feeling of remote isolation that Wet Maze cannot compete with.

In my perfect world Eagle Source would win for January and Wet Maze for February. But, at least they’ll both be on the nomination bookmark no matter what happens. Note that I fully support Wet Maze as a COTM, I just wish it was nominated next month so I could vote for it. 🙁

I totally agree…very well put. I couldn’t have said it any better!!

[gotta run]

@One Paddle Short wrote:

In my perfect world Eagle Source would win for January and Wet Maze for February. But, at least they’ll both be on the nomination bookmark no matter what happens. Note that I fully support Wet Maze as a COTM, I just wish it was nominated next month so I could vote for it. 🙁

Maybe neither will win. There’s also nothing to stop caches that do not win from being nominated again in a subsequent month.

On the Left Side of the Road...

[kansas64]

I wanted to be part of the so called Appleton Group (& I live in Milwaukee go figure) but it was my niece and nephews Bday party that weekend.

COTM, no matter how it is done, will always be flawed in some fashion. The caches in big population centers will always stand a better chance, regardless if they are a better cache or not.

I haven’t for quite a while nominated caches in the Milwaukee area because the will get the nomination with or without me. I have started nominating those gems that I have done in areas outside of Milwaukee. Page 104 of the Delorme, Kewauskum, and Barron County were the last ones I nominated. The reason I nominate these gems is so that they dont become forgotten and people will hopefully seek them out

As for doing a cache like this in a group, I think it adds to the experience. Some of the best friends I have made caching have been while in a group format.

[One Paddle Short]

@gotta run wrote:

Maybe neither will win.

I agree, putting them both up for the same month makes this quite likely.

[gotta run]

@One Paddle Short wrote:

@gotta run wrote:

Maybe neither will win.

I agree, putting them both up for the same month makes this quite likely.

So then nominate them another month! Geesh.

On the Left Side of the Road...

[gotta run]

Congratulations to Eagle Source on being named cache of the month and to the four other honorable mentions that are now on the bookmark list of recommended caches.

On the Left Side of the Road...

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