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My cage and aquarium cache is “close” to being this and was probably accused of such by one of our faithful reviewers. I added enough clues and hints to make it not a “guess what I am thinking” cache but it could have been one. Same deal with my clocktower cache in Neenah. It could have been this but it has just the right mix of hints to make it solveable without having to get inside my (the owner’s) head.

Here’s a “hypothecial example” (sorry if I ruined “your” next great puzzle idea, it’s not original anyway): How about posting a cache with only a picture on it. The coordinates (last 3 digits) are the X & Y axis measurements in pixels of the picture. If you had not seen or heard of this before, most would not be able to “guess what the owner is thinking”. Just a simple example.

Essentially, any cache where you are not given anything but a set of seemingly random numbers or a set of random words or just a picture and no hints can be construed or viewed as a “guess what the owner was thinking” “puzzle/mystery” cache.

Now throw a hint on there regarding a starting point for researching or whatever and it is now no longer a “guess what I am thinking” type cache. Remember, cache owners can be clever about their hints. Sometimes the cache name itself is that hint. Sometimes an attribute can be a hint. Terrain, difficulty, more hints (I am starting to sound like marc at one of his puzzle education events…) So what you THINK is a “guess what I am thinking” cache, actually has enough hints to come up with the solution without having to do so.

Also, part of the fun for some is coming up with the idea that pulls it all together. Again, this might be viewed as “guessing” but in actuality, is more like solving a riddle or solving a puzzle. And at the end of the day, is it all that bad if someone “guesses” the solution to a problem? People do that all day (and get credit for doing so!)

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I collected silver beads in a series of caches in Georgia when I first started geocaching. These are the neatest thing I have found so far.

The first Geocoin was also a cool experience as it was a “caching with kids” coin that I brought back to wisconsin with me and helped it meet it’s goal by placing it in a cache while caching with all of my kids.

I like the “trade a coin” type cache as I also collect coins.

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the “Walk on the Wild Side” series / Ryan’s Rebus Final may need to wait for the next trip if you are time limited (and the mosquitoes may be pretty bad too. :>-

I seem to avoid these each time I am in the area… they scare me for some reason 🙂

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Friends?

Seriously, I have cached with a few others.

The first “other cacher” I met was Sagasu. He taught me the finer art of caching with paper and going by current coordinates alone.

The 2nd was seldom|seen and our caching relationship is of the hiding variety as opposed to the finding though we have found a few and I fell through the ice on black otter lake while looking for one with him once.

I ran into marc54140 and k0rpl in a cemetery once and did a string of caches with them. I can’t keep up with them.

I saw Team Hemi at a walmart once.

Mostly, I am all alone or with my son. Occasionally my wife and daughters (cheetah girls) find one with me.

I too enjoy the events that bring everyone together to meet and exchange stories.

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The logs speak for themselves. Ask anyone of the hundred people who’ve done “Eagles Ballroom” if they remember the hide and how unique and challenging it was. You answer will look like the log for that cache, about 3 words.

Actually I remember finding Eagles Ballroom and the fun we had as this was in my early caching days (within the first dozen of my finds). I have lived in Appleton for many years and my wife even longer and we have probably driven by that place many times and we never noticed the interesting statues or the larger than life tether ball. Snapped a picture of these items and it shows up now and again on the ole photo screensaver and I enjoy the picture every time I see it.

I remember the container and the hide as well.

This goes to show you that even a “boring cache” or “low quality cache” (as defined by the owner) can be of interest to someone and be remembered long after.

Now a pure dead-ender with nothing spectacular about it. Yeah I have forgotten my share of those. However, as I have said there’s a fan for all types and a time and place for all types.

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The wife does not condone my geocaching and I therefore have to sneak them in

Just make sure that the “lonely cache game” does not turn into the “lonely cacher game” 🙂

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and on a Delorme Challenge. Nice work Zuma 🙂

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I was “one of those three beggars“

I don’t recall saying I “wanted it cleared off my list”. (Note: I will never say this because I do not believe geocaching is about clearing off a to-do list)

And I quote myself:

It’s a great cache idea (atleast what I saw of it) but you should make less cryptic puzzles 🙂 Archive it!

I was actually adding my opinion which was to archive it. You asked for the input and whether it should be archived and I gave you a response. What more do you want from us????

I had that opinion at the time for the exact same reason you are asking this question now (you even state it in your question). The reasoning for my response: It was an old cache that is hardly ever found. Why leave it out there if you, yourself is wondering if you should archive it or not?

A cache you place should be regarded the way you want and maintained the way you want. If you feel a cache has run “it’s course” then give proper notice (I love the idea of an expiration date) and get rid of it. If you want a particular cache to last forever, then maintain it that long. You are the owner, not the general community.

Simple simon.

I would personally, not use # of logs as a reason to archive any of my caches. Now what’s in those logs, now that’s another story.

I love the comments/thoughts some of these threads bring out. Sure we all love to find those historical caches with years of logging. Hopefully they are maintained as such because we all enjoy this kind of find. However, I am one who thinks the game should continually evolve and a majority of the caches should come and go. Will I maintain some of mine for as long as possible? Sure. However, I will also archive some in the hopes that something else will come along.

Remember, not only are there new cachers that start all the time, many of those “newbies” also want to hide a couple as well.

As far as the rants and raves regarding “puzzles”, this is geocaching. There are other places to find what you deem to be “puzzles”. I would put a majority of the “puzzles/mystery” caches that I have done into the category of a “mystery”. You find clues to solve that mystery to lead you to the cache. Is this a bad thing or a waste of my time? Nope. Some would feel that solving these true “puzzles” you speak of a waste of their time. Geocaching in fact is a waste of time according to many wives out there.

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I’ve thought about this same question myself. Another thing to ponder is, do I turn some of my puzzles into traditionals with the same,similar, or altogether different theme, opening up the cache to be “re-discovered” by those who solved the puzzle and found by those who ignore puzzles?

For instance, my original Where’s Dave cache has pretty much died off in terms of “activity”. However, as others have pointed out time and again on mine, as soon as you go and archive one they let you know vocally that they had it solved and were waiting for the right opportunity to log the find.

Regardless, I have found posting notes regarding upcoming archiving helps out a lot.

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I would have dnf’ed this based on the description of the hide. Probably would take me about 10 trips to find it. I am persistent that way though on hides that get me. I have been known to visit the same tank more times than I can disclose in public.

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A special thanks to WisKid for disabling my most recent cache creations. No really. This has allowed me to meet some really great people in the process of working on these caches and gaining proper land owner/manager permission. It’s so much nicer when they actually know where the caches are hidden and have input into the process. I don’t know how these reviewers know all this (where property lines lie and such) but they have their magic ways and it really helps out in catching issues before they become worse!

Thanks again guys for keeping an eye out for us 🙂

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congrats on finding your first 100 and hopefully many more milestones to come!

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Sounds like a great hide with a lot of effort put in. It’s too bad folks choose to do things like this.

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Thanks for all of those temporarily disabled notes! 🙂

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Con|grats! – You Gotzit!

How to celebrate? Arm wrestle with the reviewers and the “lackeys”? 🙂

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