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I think you are going the wrong direction on the issue of litter-
(inserting tounge in cheek here)
Perhaps new rules should mandate that all cache containers and their contents must be biodegradable. That way if they are not properly maintained, they just harmlessly dissolve and seep into the ground.I think the bigger problem is that we continue to support the use of plastic containers and materials that will not be consumed by the earth anytime in the next million years.
I challenge you to come up with some proven facts regarding how many geocaches have been forgotten and are now litter. We do a much better job of policing our sport than most.
Mr Paddler, reading your posts makes me wonder if you are not more or less against geocaching in general? I’m pretty much led to believe that you would rather not have us in the forest at all. God forbid we might make a new animal trail or somehow affect the environment in some way.
In the case of the IL and MI DNR rulings- they didn’t ask us to change our containers.
They didn’t ask us for advice on how to bring more geocachers to their parks to perform volunteer work or develop new programs.
What they did do is mandate regulations that have absolutelty no basis!
You did get one thing right- we need to work together with government agencies. If someone does not make sure they understand the truth about geocaching, we will end up getting the proverbial shaft, just as those other places already have.
Mr. Cathunter –
With 150 cache finds, I would be quite the hypocrite if I was against caching. No my friend, this isn’t simply a black and white issue. There are always areas of a hobby that can be improved.
I have no hard data on “lost” caches. However, I can honestly say that I have cached from one end of this country to the other. I’ve seen many things over the years. Some very good, some very bad. The “data” I would be able to provide would be simple anecdotal notes. Probably not very concrete, but perhaps some trends would be identified?
I get concerned when we dismiss the request of a government agency as being overly “PC.” We are not on their side of the fence, nor do we know the issues they face on a daily basis from a variety of groups that use the same woods that we do.
Cache-in, Trash-out programs are a wonderful thing. In addition, the user fees we pay to visit these beautiful areas do aid the preservation of these lands. I have no problem with adding an occasional “animal trail” through the woods. However, I’ve seen some heavily visited caches that have been in place for too many years. The result? A lot of damage/erosion to the ecosystem. Some of which will never grow back. There is nothing wrong with taking a “green” look at our hobby.
I love caching, I truly do. However, it’s never a bad thing to play the devil’s advocate from time to time. It forces us to examine our sport from an outsider’s point-of-view. I am also a strong supporter of our approvers and WGA administration. These folks put in long hours to make this a better hobby for all of us.
There is a common ground for all of us versus the “you’re either with us or against us” mentality. There will always be extremists…it would be a boring world if there weren’t. However, we do need to find that common ground and work together.
One question:
How much of our eco-system was displaced where your driveway now stands?That didn’t take long. Oh well, it could have been a good debate. I’ll catch you guys on the next issue…
This is a two-fold problem.
It is clear that small percentage of geocachers have made poor decisions in cache placement and maintenance. Compare this to the fishermen who are leaving their bait containers behind or damaging shoreline. Perhaps the hunters who leave their spent shells wherever they happen to land? Any effect geocaching might have on the environment is miniscule in comparison.
This is really all about education, wouldn’t you agree? The majority of people would never purposely do any of these things.
If the governmental agencies spent more of their budgets educating instead of regulating, we would all be much better off.
Ummm . . .OK. And the logo? Yikes.
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