Stealth or no stealth?

[Trekkin and Birdin]

Gee, while we were roaming around cemeteries in Allouez on Sunday, it looks like we missed an opportunity to be part of a something big! 😉

Which leads to this question….when you’re out and about in more public locations such as these, do you do the “stealth” thing, or do you try and educate onlookers? Our approach has always been to be forthright, and many times, this results in some help trying to find the cache. Maybe I’m just too old to try and be sneaky, but we’re far more comfortable with being open about what we’re doing. If the situation looks like our searching could lead to later tampering, we’ll quit. However, since Trekkin’s day job involves working with just the kind of kid that might mess with something like this, he seems to be able to engage those types and encourage the fun of the hunt rather than the fun of destruction and theft. He’s a pretty good judge of which kids can be trusted with our secret society handshakes!

[TheBalks]

I prefer to chat it up with anyone watching, I don’t have the energy to be sneaky and stealthy.

[-cheeto-]

When I was a rookie, I was taught by one of the best there is when it comes to interacting with others while geocaching. If you are 100% upfront and social with others it will always turn out better than trying to hide what you are doing.

If you are on public property you have every right to be there. If a neighbor thinks otherwise, be upfront with them and educate them on public use of our parks. Tell them that they should expect more visitors in the future and what their activity will “look like”. They may not get the game but they should feel more comfortable with what’s happening. You can never predict what another person out there will do. However, if you are respectful perhaps they will be to!

If a cache owner places a cache in a very visible spot and asks you to “use stealth so the cache is not muggled” than it’s up to you whether you help keep the hide a secret from others around you or not. I personally do not feel guilty if I am the last to find on caches like this. If it was in that visible of a spot in the first place, it’s bound to be muggled anyway. Or worse, exploded.

[Mister Greenthumb]

We always enjoy meeting anyone on the trail, geocachers and non-geacachers. We share info on geocaching when it seems appropriate. We also stop at cemeteries whenever we see someone standing in one with their hand held out in front of them holding something smaller than a Bible. We have met several geocachers this way. Last Saturday while running errands in Sussex before geocaching I saw two such charactors at one of my cemetery hides. It turned out to be Justin and Marc, small world. I helped them with the puzzle hide since our conversation was interefering with the solve and we parted ways until the event that night. The social aspect of the game is becoming more and more important to us as we continue to meet and make new friends.

Bill and Vicki

[gotta run]

We do the “no stealth” approach. Not that we make a big scene (well, unless the kids are along), but acting like you are allowed to be there, which you should be if the rules are followed, is the way to stay out of trouble. If it’s impossible to do that–think “single guy looking under playground equipment”–I come back with the family in tow.

On the Left Side of the Road...

[marc_54140]

[furfool]

I guess for me it depends on the situation.

If I pull into a parking lot and the cache is in close proximity to where somebody is watching, I may be stealthy or go back later. Say if something isn’t quite ordinary. For example, 2 or 3 guys sitting in a vehicle way back in the corner of the lot. Especially if the windows are up and there is a lot of smoke inside. Whenever I pull into a lot, one of the first things I do, especially if I’m alone, is scan all the vehicles as I go to park, for anything that strikes me as strange or unusual.

If it is around 11:00-1:00 and someone is eating or reading, I usually don’t pay anymore attention to them, other than keeping my guard up.

If there are a lot of muggles around, I will try to be stealthy. If two women are in a vehicle and are parked near a playground where little kids are playing, I try to do both. First, I want the “moms”(?) to see me so they don’t think that I am a threat to the kids. Second, kids are curious and depending on the type of cache, I might want to be stealthy so that the cache and its contents remain in place. When I leave, I will walk somewhat near the “mom’s” vehicle to give them an opportunity to question me if they want to.

I just try to use common sense about it.

[seldom|seen]

That looks suspicious. A tryst behind the bushes or Marc relieving himself. Hmmm… I wonder which?

[gotta run]

@seldom|seen wrote:

That looks suspicious. A tryst behind the bushes or Marc relieving himself. Hmmm… I wonder which?

I only see one set of legs, so unless the tryst is with the shrub, I’d go with number 2.

On the Left Side of the Road...

[gotta run]

@gotta run wrote:

@seldom|seen wrote:

That looks suspicious. A tryst behind the bushes or Marc relieving himself. Hmmm… I wonder which?

I only see one set of legs, so unless the tryst is with the shrub, I’d go with number 2 (so to speak).

On the Left Side of the Road...

[EnergySaver]

@gotta run wrote:

I only see one set of legs, so unless the tryst is with the shrub, I’d go with number 2.

Since the legs are standing … I don’t think it’s #2 … maybe the second choice, but not #2.

[greyhounder]

@EnergySaver wrote:

@gotta run wrote:

I only see one set of legs, so unless the tryst is with the shrub, I’d go with number 2.

Since the legs are standing … I don’t think it’s #2 … maybe the second choice, but not #2.

😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆
That just made my day!

(I’m of the “no stealth” group myself. I like to pretend I am the geocaching ambassador and involve those who question my antics.)

Bec

[EnergySaver]

Glad you enjoyed.

Back to the subject … I’ve discovered by semi-accident, that the best way to NOT raise alarm, is to walking around with a clipboard. On two occassions at my local state park (while planning hides for a event a couple years back), I was walking around with a couple ammo cans and a clipboard to make my notes. Between those two days of doing this, I think I had about 5 people/families come up to me and ask me park related questions. Who else but some “authority” would be out in the woods with a clipboard.

[JimandLinda]

I went out to rescue a cache today that was placed in a protected area. I had to walk past signs that said “Absolutely No Trespassing, Protected Waterfowl Area”. The sign was posted by the DNR.
I chose the middle of the day, in bright sunlight, to pick up the geo-litter. Why sneak in/out! It will raise more suspicion if someone sees you. I also waited in the car, doing the USA Today puzzles, for 25 minutes after the retrieval, just in case someone ventured out to inquire my motives.
“Be prepared to be questioned” is our advice. If I’m in a cemetery, I’m doing geneology or getting ideas for a family members headstone(why else would I be taking pictures in a cemetery!). Half the time we are honest, too. Each encounter is unique and might have to be played differently.
It’s part of the sport!

[jenhen1]

Jen and I are incessantly uncomfortable with stealth, and to some degree caches that require them. So, for those we use the “acting like we belong there approach”, if our actions will not create suspicion. Of course it depends on the situation.

If kids are around, or a cache is placed near a school, grocery store, or other overly public area… I admit, I make a list and search those caches in the Winter, night or seasons when generally noone will be around, or occasionally they get onto the dreaded ignore list. In a wooded area and poeple are around I generally just pretend I’m counting caterpillars, inspecting root systems etc, etc…

If someone asks what I’m looking for, generally a straightforward answer gets a favorable response.

[Author]

Posts