Event Logs

[Stooper and B]

I have been watching a topic on GC.com talking about (among other things) how people log their events. We have only been to one event before and we logged a smiley for each temp find at the event. It seems some people in other regions claim that’s “not right” you should only log the event once. All the temp caches are just for fun…no credit.

And I know “It’s not about the numbers” but it sure is fun watching your tally increase! So, being still a relative newbie (and to clarify for the other newbies) what are the guidlines for our corner of the world?

[jthorson]

Speaking of the picnic specifically and other Wisconsin gatherings generally, just because the hides are temporary i.e. for the event, does not make them any less difficult or challenging. In fact, the temporary hides can be much more interesting because techniques may be used that couldn’t be used on long term hides.

You’ll note that on the 2004 picnic page, a cache hiding day was held (other events do/did this too) where the hides are planned and coordinated. The hides are not tossed into bushes the morning of the event. I would consider these caches as loggable (read ‘as well done as’) any permanent cache.

[This message has been edited by jthorson (edited 08-14-2004).]

[GrouseTales]

Jeremy Irish has always said he couldn’t care less how people log event caches.

I’ve heard some rumbling from some people that a cache event should only be logged once, with no additional logs for temp caches. To me this speaks loudly about the quality of their caches. If the temps are so blah that they cant be logged as a find, then so be it.

Now on the other hand, the WGA has always allowed each temp to be logged as a find. If you’ve attended a WGA event in the past you know that each temp cache usually exceeds the quality of most regular caches. Each one is very worthy of being logged as a find. Because of these caches are temporary they cannot receive their own cache page. They can however be logged on the event cache page.

So, being still a relative newbie (and to clarify for the other newbies) what are the guidlines for our corner of the world?

Our event caches each contain a self inking stamp. You stamp you log book to verify you found the cache. After that you can log each cache you found. You log them by making multiple “found” entries on the event page. People are asked to keep the log short since there will be hundreds of logs. A simple log such as “Bat in the cave – Found by Nick. Cool cache.”

You only get credit for coming to the event if you make it in the group photo. In you log for the actual cache event, you can include a longer narrative to tell about your day’s adventures.

The Geocaching.com forums are not geocaching. what do they know

[This message has been edited by GrouseTales (edited 08-14-2004).]

[Cathunter]

As with all things, there are varied thoughts on the topic. Want to log finds/ no finds? Go ahead! Don’t want to? Dont! Logging temp caches? Go ahead! Don’t want to? Don’t! There are a number of cachers that don’t log online at all. Nothing wrong with that either.

My point is that there are no rules. Each cacher can do whatever they feel is ok.

Just remember…on your journey, please don’t do anything that may make the rest of us or our sport look bad, and do the world a favor by taking some trash out on your way.

[Ray]

quote:

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Originally posted by Stooper and B:
I have been watching a topic on GC.com talking about (among other things) how people log their events. We have only been to one event before and we logged a smiley for each temp find at the event. It seems some people in other regions claim that’s “not right” you should only log the event once. All the temp caches are just for fun…no credit.

And I know “It’s not about the numbers” but it sure is fun watching your tally increase! So, being still a relative newbie (and to clarify for the other newbies) what are the guidlines for our corner of the world?

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There are a couple of things in your post that we have all come to realize over time.

First: don’t pay any attention to what you read on the gc.com boards. They are for amusement only. Many are written by cachers who do the majority of their caching at their keyboards. Few have cached Wisconsin and know the real fun that can be had on the trails. Some are intent on sucking the fun out of the game for others.

The second thing I would like to point out, is that it IS about the numbers. If numbers didn’t matter, then what is the point of this thread? Why log your finds at all? Why not post a note rather than a found it? It may be true that your numbers cannot be compared to mine. You have’nt been playing as long. Some of us don’t play as hard. We don’t have a level playing field. Some cachers bring far greater levels of technical expertise, physical abilities, liesure or caching time, or cash to buy the gas or equipment to ease the quest. But, the numbers are important in they provide a measure of our own achievement against the goals we make for ourselves. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not about the numbers. That’s just being hipocritical (unless his name is Socko ). Actually, I have a suspicion that even Socko keeps a private tally.

jthorson says that the quality of our caches makes them countable. Grousetales says Accepted practice among our peers makes them countable. Cathunter says do what you are comfortable with. Sage advice, every bit of it. It doesn’t make sense to add a burden of guilt to your geocaching backpack.

Live, Laugh, Love and keep on caching,
tb

[EnergySaver]

quote:

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Originally posted by Trudy & the beast:
It doesn’t make sense to add a burden of guilt to your geocaching backpack.

Live, Laugh, Love and keep on caching,

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Everyone has good comments, especially about the great caches in Wisconsin. But really like the part I quoted above for T & B. No matter what you do with the numbers, this should always be about having fun … find caches, don’t worry about how the next person counts something.

Maybe just a suggestion, just to keep non-readers of this forum, that might be attending the picnic … posting something at the sign up table (or on the cache’s web page) indicating how to log each find (or maybe the multiple choices that are ok) … this might avoid others from scream foul, vs. the organizations “flexible” viewpoint. Personally, I think it makes sense to log each find (with a short entry, I agree with that too), since each one has the full effort of a non-picnic cache.

[Astro_D]

My thought is to post a find for each cache found at an event. I say this because, the cache placements are well thought out(not haphazardly thrown into a bush), and whats the difference if I choose to spend time at an event finding caches vs going to another city to find caches? I’m still getting out, still geocaching and finding them. The only thing different is that an event brings geocachers together in one place to do what we all love doing.

I am still taking the time to find a cache, its just in a different setting that is a lot more fun.

[kbraband]

quote:

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Originally posted by Trudy & the beast:
Don’t let anyone tell you it’s not about the numbers. That’s just being hipocritical

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I agree with the sentiments of each of the above posts. The only clarification I’d like to make is that for some who like to geocache, it truly is NOT about the numbers. If you say that each geocacher can enjoy the sport in his or her own way, then it’s not fair to say that someone is being hypocritical when they say they’re not into the numbers. When I find a geocache, I post it as a “find” instead of posting a note because that’s what you’re supposed to do. The system is set up so you can then easily eliminate those found caches from your pocket queries. The “find” also serves as feedback to the cache owner to let him/her know that the geocache is still there and everything is A-OK. I’ve said it before and I have a right to express it again without being called a hypocrite — To me, it’s not about the numbers. To quote Robert Service from his poem “The Spell of the Yukon”,

“It’s the great, big, broad land way up yonder,
It’s the forests where silence has lease;
It’s the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It’s the stillness that fills me with peace.”

That’s why I geocache.

[This message has been edited by kbraband (edited 08-15-2004).]

[EnergySaver]

Shoot me in the head, if I’ve gone too far off the subject … aside from the “do what you feels is right” concept … what is the average professional cachers opinion of multi-caches, with seperate containers … one find, or multi finds?

I just found “Linda Fawn’s Runt” last night. It’s a 3 parter that really stretches the limits … by the time you are done, you’ve driven 2.2 miles as the crow flys. Each step is a very very small container and each was hard to find (even with 2 teams / 7 people looking). I know I can do what I want … but I feel I “deserve credit” for 3 finds, considering the time and effort … but I don’t see others counting it as 3, so I don’t want to be the “odd ball” (at least not in this regard).

[This message has been edited by EnergySaver (edited 08-16-2004).]

[Ootek]

EnergySaver asks an interesting question – if they’re called multi-caches, wouldn’t that imply multi-finds? A little-bitty tag with coords on it stapled to a tree is usually a lot tougher to find than a 50-cal. ammo box in the only suitable stump in a 50-foot radius.

Three Bad Ribs is a three-part multi that has a logbook in each of the intermediate caches. Is that why it’s acceptable to log that one, for example, as three separate finds?

[This message has been edited by Ootek (edited 08-16-2004).]

[Cathunter]

If each cache has a logbook & the cache owner wants each waypoint to be logged seperately, so be it. Otherwise, log only for completing the multi.

A multi is historically several waypoints leading to a final cache. When designing a multi, hopfully distance between waypoints is taken into consideration. Unless of course there are some awfully nice prizes in the final.

[EnergySaver]

quote:

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Originally posted by Cathunter:
If each cache has a logbook & the cache owner wants each waypoint to be logged seperately, so be it. Otherwise, log only for completing the multi.

A multi is historically several waypoints leading to a final cache. When designing a multi, hopfully distance between waypoints is taken into consideration. Unless of course there are some awfully nice prizes in the final.

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Ah, no logbook at each stage … that makes it a single entry … I can agree with that logic. Regarding “nice prize” … this one was a real bummer … hunted for the first stages for 1.5 hours, drove around, to find that the cache was no longer in it’s original identified container, but just a zip lock bag, sticking out half from under a log … big downer after all that effort.

[Linus4Cache]

A couple of months ago Tishman and I went to a Chicagoland caching event. A breakfast. The only cache there was the event itself, the rest was simply for the fellowship aspect (and the door prizes…yippee!). They did however hand out lists of area caches which were released by Groundspeak that morning as permanents (to give those at the breakfast the chance for the first to find). There were also other are caches on the list. Now, that is how they chose to set up their event. One event log…the rest permanents.

As people started heading out for the day we began talking to one person about joining up…before we knew it, there were four cars gathered around ours and we had a team of cachers.

One of those people came to the event at New Glarus last month (along w/ another we met after that). One had been to an event like that…The Mother Of All Breakfasts…the other had not. Both were equally impressed by the cache hunts for the event. I had to explain to both of them how to log their cache finds. They were very happy to get the #’s.

So while we may do things differently than others at events, they are our events, right? As with any cache it is to the owners discretion how the cache may be logged.

My question is this: If after an event, a temporary cache is made permanent and is given it’s own page do we log it again if we return and sign the logbook? (Just a little something else to ponder…)

[GeoPink]

My question is this: If after an event, a temporary cache is made permanent and is given it’s own page do we log it again if we return and sign the logbook? (Just a little something else to ponder…)

I think I read somewhere in the gc.com forums once awhile ago that you can only log that cache again within the first month after re-release if you verify the find with a picture of your dog (or other caching partner) holding the secret code word contained in the lid of the final container. This, of course is only allowed if the name of the cache has remained the same or similar to the event cache with an asterick or other character noting any changes on the cache page. Any changes beyond this, of course, should be indicated by changing the cache type to Puzzle/Mystery.
Any FTF dance can only be done if the FTF cacher has not previously found this cache; unless of course they were the First First to find the first time. Hooty-Hoo’s will still be allowed if the finder finds the cache a second time but has not Hooty-Hoo’d the first time. Multiple Hooty-Hoo’s will not be allowed unless first agreed upon by both the cache owner and event organizer. Any further questions should be directed to the approver.

Or you could just do your own thing…

[on topic]
I agaonzied over this one to for awhile and have come to the conclusion that:
1) I could care less what other folks do in other parts of the world.
2) I plan to log each of my event finds.
3) I could care less what other people think in other parts of the world.
4) I like seeing the numbers get bigger.
5) The gc.com forums are not geocaching.

my two thoughts

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later,
Team GeoPink
Co-conspirators to make the world a better place…

[Ray]

Arcangl7;

Very well put.
tb

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