Caching alone?

[Mama Fishcacher]

Hello everyone! I’m mama fishcacher. I have questions about caching alone.

Do any of you cache alone? Are there any specific precautions you take when caching alone? Papa fishcacher works weird hours, and baby fishcacher is a student, and I work part-time, giving me some occasional free time to cache ~ but it would be alone. I want to cache more, but waiting for papa fishcachers free time to co-ordinate with mine takes too long!!! 😉 So I feel ok going out and about by myself, but was wondering how others went about personal safety when alone. I know I can sign up below in another folder about meeting up with someone to cache with, but there would be times I might enjoy being alone, or some days I just might drop baby fishcacher off at school and think – ‘what a beautiful day’ and off I go!

Thanks for any input any of you can offer!

~mama fishcacher

[Cathunter]

Welcome mama fishcacher,
I have hunted about 250 of my 253 finds as a solo cacher. But, I’m probably also way bigger and meaner looking than you are. I would follow the same procedures you would any other time you are alone in the city or in the woods. Here’s a few that pop into my head-

• Make sure someone else knows where you are going.
• If you don’t feel safe, don’t go there!
• Carry a cell phone
• Carry a flashlight
• Make sure you know your GPS well enough to find a way out, and always make a waypoint at your car so your can find it later.
• Carry extra batteries for all your gear
• A little pepper spray or mace isn’t a bad idea either, if not for a person, it works on mean dogs too!

[Punk Penguin]

I generally do most of my caching alone. If I am not sure of the area, I will stay in the car and check out the area for a while. There have been a couple times when I just didn’t feel comfortable about an area, but then I just move on to another cache. There are plenty of them out there. I can always drag my husband with at another time.
I tend to stay away from potential sticky situations when alone also. For example I won’t take on the rocks along Lake Michigan, or cross a stream on a log if no one is with me.

Happy Hunting

[Mama Fishcacher]

Thanks Cathunter!

So you think you’re bigger and meaner looking?!?!?!? Hee hee! That gave me a giggle!

Thanks for your feedback!

[Mama Fishcacher]

Thanks Punk Penguin!

Love your screen name!

I do that kinds of stuff too – follow my gut instinct of “does this feel good?” about lots of places!

I’m glad to get a couple feedbacks where gals have said they’ve done this alone and not had a problem! Thanks!!!

[yuppers]

Thanks for posting this question. I also am a female cacher who generally goes alone. My husband has been concerned about my safety (even to the point of giving up a hunting day to go caching with me up in the northwoods) . I’m hoping more experienced lady cachers post here too especially if they’ve encountered problems.

[This message has been edited by yuppers (edited 11-25-2003).]

[Mama Fishcacher]

Thanks Yuppers!

That’s what I’m looking for too – if anyone has encountered any problems. More often than not, I feel quite safe trekking thru the woods. I almost never come across anyone else since I tend to be out caching during the week. And I just WON’T cache at night – seems like extra stress I just don’t need, lolololol!!!!

[RangerBoy]

quote:

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• Make sure someone else knows where you are going.
• If you don’t feel safe, don’t go there!
• Carry a cell phone
• Carry a flashlight
• Make sure you know your GPS well enough to find a way out, and always make a waypoint at your car so your can find it later.
• Carry extra batteries for all your gear
• A little pepper spray or mace isn’t a bad idea either, if not for a person, it works on mean dogs too!

[/B]

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Ditto on this list, in addition I…

Carry a whistle on a lanyard. This can be used to warn animals such as bear, mountain lion, cougar, etc you are coming so as not to startle them. Also to summon a search party should you get lost.

I leave a note in my car window of my name, phone numbers, date and time I left, and intended destination including gps coordinates.

Signal mirror, water, first aid kit, multi-tool, knife, waterproof matches.

Blaze orange, especially on your head, during hunting seasons!

Keep a list or program into your phone emergency numbers, DNR, County Sheriff, or State Patrol for the area you will be in.

No cell phone? How about a FRS, or CB radio with an emergency channel.

If possible let someone (family, ranger station, police)know where you will be hiking and when you expect to be back.

[Team Cachebarr]

I am a momma cacher with two sons. We have a whistle attached to our GPS unit so its right there for instant access, and I always have my cell phone within reach also.

I do definately recommend ORANGE for this time of year. Our scariest venture geocaching so far was last year in December when we literally ran into a hunter with his gun in arm…stopped us dead in our tracks! It was then that we realized you need to dress like a hunter this time of year or you might be mistaken as a animal!!

Some destinations have given me the willies but if that’s the case, I just walk much faster to the point that the kids are telling me to slow down. I don’t want them to know I’m spooked so I tell them I just have to go to the bathroom so hurry up! he, he

[yuppers]

quote:

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Originally posted by RangerBoy:
Ditto on this list, in addition I…

Carry a whistle on a lanyard. This can be used to warn animals such as bear, mountain lion, cougar, etc you are coming so as not to startle them. Also to summon a search party should you get lost.

I leave a note in my car window of my name, phone numbers, date and time I left, and intended destination including gps coordinates.

Signal mirror, water, first aid kit, multi-tool, knife, waterproof matches.

Blaze orange, especially on your head, during hunting seasons!

Keep a list or program into your phone emergency numbers, DNR, County Sheriff, or State Patrol for the area you will be in.

No cell phone? How about a FRS, or CB radio with an emergency channel.

If possible let someone (family, ranger station, police)know where you will be hiking and when you expect to be back.

---

Wow, I guess I better get my act together since I usually just take the gps, cache sheet and pencil. Looks like I have a few things to add to my Christmas list. I don’t have a cell phone but I wonder if it would even work in some of these northern areas. Thanks for the tips, you may have just saved one of us.

[The Lil Otter]

Well.. now this topic is right up my lil Otter alley (grins)

As most know.. I’m a female soloist in the sport..and have traveled well over 45,ooo miles alone while geocaching..

My top advice is.. never look like a victim.. show your strength in other ways.. a few examples below that I have ran into upon the trails..

1) I was about .75m into a swampy area of a out-of-state park when I ran across a group of younger park volunteers building a walkway. They didn’t seem as ‘friendly’ as I thought they should be.. so I just said a quick ‘hi’. As I was exiting the area and walked through their camp area.. I came upon a wooden (empty) coffin within 75 ft. I didn’t stick around to question but did a power hike straight out of the area and back to my car. I then located a ranger and reported it. Rated: 5 star concern because it was a group

2) While up in the northern area of our state I parked in a lot where two ‘Harley’ hog-types were hanging around. They were very ‘interested’ in me and I realized that I had to take the upper hand. I didn’t shy away from approaching them when I took out my GPS and asked them if I could question them on their health. I said I was there checking the radiation levels of this area and if they had any tingling in their genital area. (this took them totally by surprise and naturally they had a concern). They politely answered my questions and left the area ASAP.
Rated: 2 star concern.. (they always pretend to be ‘bad boys’ when in a group)

3) While in a county park that seemed to be a ‘men’ only hangout.. I was approached by a elderly man that asked if I wasn’t concerned about being attacked out here alone.. Naturally.. this is a warning sign and a odd question for any hiker to ask. I spoke professionally about the sport and brought up my ranking.. people are less likely to harass someone that might be ‘someone’..
rated: 1 star (he was older than dirt)

4) While visiting one of the top 10 haunted graveyards in the world near dusk (out-of-state).. I noticed most hikers were Goths (kids that wear only black, dye their hair black and try to pale their skin).. realizing that I stuck out like a sore thumb I introduced myself to a small group (guy with 2 girls). After explaining the sport I handed over my GPS to the guy and asked if they’d like to enjoy the adventure with me.
rated: 1 (being in a group of the ‘same’ makes anyone fit in even if they stick out)

5) City (out-of-state) after dark.. well if I don’t glow in the dark.. no one will.. I was hunting down a micro around the sidewalk area. I wouldn’t have started this cache if I felt concerned about it (it was historical). A woman was walking by warned me that this was not the safest area of the city (inner city location). Knowing that she was a local, I explained the sport to her and asked her to join me in the hunt.
Rated: 4 (alone) but it went down to 2 once she grouped with me.

These are the only times I have ever felt a worry or concern (except a bear or two upnorth).. but use your own judgements and know your limits/extremes and how well you can assert yourself in vunerable situations.

oops.. I should also say that I have done most of what Rangerboy has recommended.. I own a whistle.. have a cell phone.. leave a note attached to my car with time in and expected time out and lon/lat.. I carry a black pocket knife.. and wear a blaze orange knit hat and vest.. and have a lighter or two. I have a very high pain tolerance and have had broken my arm (3 weeks without a cast) and broke my sternum (no body cast) so I know I could crawl out even with a broken bone or two.. I also always look at the maps to make sure I know which way out is the closest roadway/firelane. and I carry a compass as backup..8 rechargable batteries and a very small flashlight at all times.

~The Lil Otter

[This message has been edited by The Lil Otter (edited 11-26-2003).]

[sbukosky]

I think Otter just about covers it! I have to admire a solo female cacher. I don’t think I’d feel as confident. However, being a fairly big guy, I hunt solo 99% of the time and never felt threatend. The past year I’ve also had my dog with me much of time and he looks like a spooky wolf to many so that helps. If I were a female going solo, I’d feel better if I had a dog with me.

[The Lil Otter]

quote:

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Originally posted by sbukosky:
If I were a female going solo, I’d feel better if I had a dog with me.

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I own a 15 pound maltese that is older than dirt (15yrs) has no teeth (grins).. and that I have to carry because she is spoiled.. she came on exactly 2 caches with me and was a great help (coughs) oh.. and I felt alot better with her around (yah right) But she loves traveling with me and sleeps most of the time in the van.. and welcomes me back with the energy of a puppy.

(smiles)
~The Lil Otter

[sbukosky]

Yeah, when I mentioned a dog, I had visions of something like that. Maybe someone makes dentures for doggies??

[Mama Fishcacher]

Excellent additions Rangerboy. I like the idea of leaving the note in the car about who/what/where. I think I’ll start doing that one. And I always have a whistle with me. My dear like-a-brother cousin gave it to me when I went to college. Darn it’s old… I wonder if it still works, lol!!!

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