Placing my first cache.

[TheBalks]

I have read all the cache placing guidelines and understand the high level where you can and cannot place a cache. The permissions you must get, forms you need to fill out, etc. I am excited about placing a cache and maintaining it, but what I can’t figure out is actually where a good place to put a cache would be.

How do you decide were to put a cache, to me the obvious place is near your home or where you travel often so you can do maintenance. Any suggestions on how to find a good spot?

[TyeDyeSkyGuy]

The best place to start is somewhere you know well. I childhood hangout, or even just a favorite place you like to hike in the woods.

As for placement, that’s up to you. Keep in mind that caches last longer, and can be found more easily in winter if you don’t place them on the ground.

Other than that, just pick a place you like, and chance are, so will others.

It’s also not a bad idea to have a bunch of finds under your belt first. Had I found a few more caches before I started hiding them, I could have saved myself a lot of time and trouble! Think about what you have found, and what you liked or disliked about each of them, and how or what you would change to make them “your own”. Then go hide a cache.

[GetMeOutdoors]

My first set of caches was in a park close to my home. This made it easy for maintenance. It was also a park that I had spent alot of time in and knew the trails and nooks and corners pretty well. This helped me space them out in good places, plus I knew of some obvious beacons and neat places in the part that would be neat for others to see.

I guess my advice is to pick a place you like enough to share with other cachers, but, of course, is removed enough so muggles don’t find your cache by accident. And keep in mind that it can be whatever you want. From ammo can to manequin to fake outlet cover, you name it… just ask S|S! The ammo box is a classic great and there’s always room for them in the woods somewhere and are usually an easy hide – low maint. But if you want to think outside the ammo box that’s cool too.

Just let your personality come out in the hide, do what you think is fun, and put as much of yourself into it as you like.

[Team Black-Cat]

Good advice from TyeDyeSkyGuy.
I’ve never been to Cashton (yet), but it looks like Jersey Valley Co. Park is just waiting for a couple more caches. If you hide the cache in the winter, make sure you check it after the snow is gone. It may end up being much easier or more difficult than you had intended.

You know…. if you’re going to place one, you might as well place two. Or three. Just wait a day between each to frustrate Trekin’ and Birdin’. 😈 😉

[sandlanders]

Find a spot that won’t be easily found by passersby, kids goofing off, a dog chasing a ball, etc., but don’t make it too hard so that no cachers can find it!

List where to park unless that would be obvious upon arriving near the cache. It will save driving around a lot and possibly parking in a dangerous spot or having to cross private property for those who may just want to get as close to the cache as possible.

Think about what your cache site will look like in all seasons and in all conditions and at all times of day, etc. If you would be discouraged or uncomfortable looking for your cache, so will others.

Try to think of something unique about where you want to put a cache and mention it in your cache page so that others will take a look at their surroundings and appreciate them just as you do.

Ask for more help in the forums as mcuh as you want. We were all beginners at one time.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Everyone is sharing good advice, and I would echo TBC’s advice to look at Jersey County Park. I haven’t been there since all the flooding, so perhaps it’s not open these days, but if it is…..lots of cool spots there for a cache! We’d be out there looking for it.

We’ve learned to target just a few favorite places and do most of our hiding there. It makes it much easier for maintenance runs, and I agree, if they can be off the ground, great. Some hides don’t lend themselves to that. We have a couple that are ground hides. Just be sure to make note of that fact, either through the attributes (mark it with the ‘no snowflake” icon) or even in the cache writeup. Saves people the frustration of looking for something under three feet of snow!

Looking forward to seeing what you hide!

P.S. TBC! That would not be frustration! It would be heaven! Caches that close to home?

[TheBalks]

@Trekkin’ and Birdin’ wrote:

Everyone is sharing good advice, and I would echo TBC’s advice to look at Jersey County Park. I haven’t been there since all the flooding, so perhaps it’s not open these days, but if it is…..lots of cool spots there for a cache! We’d be out there looking for it.

I had thought about Jersey Valley, but I am concerned of what is going to happen, if it is under major construction for the whole summer that may deter people from going there. I will have to go for a drive and hike this weekend and see what it looks like now, maybe if I keep any I hide above 500 year flood mark they will be ok, it is a flood control dam area made into a park after all 😀

I really liked the offset cache that I did down in PdC, and may do something like that, I plan on being creative and hopefully doing quality fun caches and not quantity.

[Trekkin and Birdin]

There are those hiking trails up in the hills above where the lake used to be. I would think other than being washed down hill, which is always a possibility almost anywhere around here, that might have possibilities.

I know there was a cache up that way, but certainly seemed like there was plenty of space for more. But I also wasn’t sure just what’s going to be happening there with the dam and all the rest of that. It’s a neat area, one I’d never have explored if not for geocaching.

[TheBalks]

And since i hit submit before I should have on my last post. Thanks everyone for the advice and ideas, I really appreciate it.

[Team Hemisphere Dancer]

I would go down Clinton Ridge road until it splits off down the hill. At the bottom of the hill is a bridge and parking area. The south side of the road is the north part of Jersey Valley CO park. Great little spot in there that could use a cache.

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