Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
Perhaps a system glitch or maybe a phone filed log issue, but surely something technology related. I had six identical “found it” logs on Across the River Styx by the same cacher yesterday as well. They aren’t there anymore, but they certainly were yesterday when I got six separate but identical notifications that the cache was found.
While I’m usually the one being cited as the author of a conflicting puzzle location, I have been on your side of the fence and know the feeling. I have learned to precede any new puzzle creation by first asking the reviewers if my target Final locations are clear and I usually submit two or three options at once, knowing there may be a conflict.
Fortunately, in almost every case, am I able to determine who owns the conflict cache either through the reviewer discretion or just by local knowledge of what others have placed in the area. Then I have to decide if it’s worth the effort of contacting the CO to request a move or just look for an alternate location for mine, which I have to do more often than not.
The frustrating thing you are running into is the fact that you can’t simply find out where those other puzzle caches are so you can work around them. You may be given the CO’s name by the reviewer in which case you can contact them and ask for the cords or ask for a general area to stay away from. As a puzzle owner, I respect the trust the reviewers are given and their duty to protect final puzzle locations.
As far as distance conflicts, there isn’t much anyone can do about strict adherence to the 528′ rule for final caches nor the fact that there are many hidden puzzle finals out there that we cache creators will stumble on and have to deal with. I think a little bit more flexibility with the distance rule – applied specifically to puzzle finals – would help, but also appreciate the slippery slope it would create.
I have almost always been able to work around the issue by working with cache owners or tweaking mine. Try not to get discouraged because of this one incident, though I know after 3 days of tacking and set-up, the frustration must be substantial. I’ve been there too.
One potential solution would be to run the tack course to a “clear” point where you could place an intermediate waypoint with final coordinates to a final cache some distance away, but also in a clear zone. There is no guideline for firetacks conflicting with caches, so run the course anywhere you want without regard of the 2 placed caches that are in conflict. Ask the reviewer to check on a couple potential new final locations and see what comes of it.
A 10-day bug will tend to ruin your week… and then some. On top of it, Dave got the bug right amidst the best spat of fall weather we will see, which may soon disappear. I feel for the guy and know he’s eying up a few, and I do hope he gets out to enjoy a couple nice days yet before the flakes come down.
What remains to be seen is whether he’ll let me get close enough to the carrot to take a bite or if he will just dangle it there inches in front of my nose just long enough for a certain polar bipedal to come and snatch it away for good…
(pulls foot out of mouth)
Well, it wouldn’t be the first time I wrongly characterized the efforts of others. Perhaps it was just a poor choice of words. Replace “courtesy” with “foresight” and maybe the whole thing reads a little different and less critical of your efforts.
I am no stranger to public apologies either, so you have mine, pirate monkeys, for all the steps you outlined above. As you can see, you caught me on a bad week. It’s tough when you are made aware that a cache is in jeopardy, but can’t get to it yourself to maintain in a timely fashion.
As far as proximity to maintain, as anyone who solves this puzzle knows, that cache could not be placed anywhere else in the state without some significant re-tooling. I did what I could to get the final solve as close to home base as possible, and knowing I could get it no closer, had to rely on a trail-boss.
On the other hand, if I were out caching and came across an ammo can sitting anywhere a muggle could spot it, I would absolutely do may best to camo it where I found it or move it to make it safe. I would not just let it sit out in the open for a non-cacher to discover. I get your point about moving someone’s caches, but far better to protect a cache and upset a cache owner than leave it exposed and not, only to have it disappear. Which do you think will upset a cache owner more?
On a side note. EVERYONE should learn to take some of what is written in this virtual world with a grain of salt. These are one-way conversations in a mirror and will never come across the same as they would in a person-to-person conversation. I am quite sure if I ran into the pirate monkeys in person and we had a conversation about this cache, I would have had a different experience and impression of them and they would probably not think of me the way they do now. Unfortunately, whenever you take a strong, opinionated or passionate stance in these forums, others are quick to label, despite intent or poor choice of words.
But, I have thick skin, and I am certainly not in this for the communal nature of it nor I am out to make friends. Perhaps that’s where some of the vehemence comes in, since I don’t fit the mold. So be it. Judge me how you will, but try to judge the intent of what I say and the intent of the caches I place and not the occasional rantings of a worked up cache owner.
For EVERYONE who steps up to help out other cache owners, for whatever reason, THANK YOU.
(sticks foot back in mouth)
I second that motion!
I can certainly empathize as well. I’ve been there. On occasion, a proximity alert will spoil a location or it will lead someone who is seeking to place one nearby to scour for mine till they come up with it.
About all you can do in this case is offer the cacher trying to get a new one published to help find a different spit and kindly ask that they keep the location of your quite. If that doesn’t work you have to modify yours such that a proximity warning will not pop up, also something I’ve had to do many times.
I used to get very worked up over everything relating to caches that were intentionally or unintentionally bush-whacked, short-cut, group-toured and the like. I went through a cathartic period at the beginning of the year where I had to choose between accepting this as part of the sport or loosing days from my life because of the stress it caused me.
Now I just laugh or reciprocate in my own sarcastic way, like publishing tributee caches for those who somehow think I am out to do anything but add value and enjoyment to the sport.
This week alone, I had a couple false “found it logs” from newbies who didn’t know better, I had a very difficult tributee cache go MIA because another cacher didn’t have the courtesy to make sure a final of mine was hidden again or pull it until it could be remedied, I had an adopted cache get archived even though I offered to adopt it back to fix it twice… the list goes on.
I have just accepted this as part of the territory now, even though going to found caches that are never hidden as well as they should be drives me nuts!!!!… and all I can do is roll my eyes and fix it.
Stick with it Peach, you are one of the significant ones out there who brings more to this game than many get out of it.
@GrannyGoesAlong wrote:
BTW… Anyone know that 10-10-10 is also International Earth Cache Day:
http://www.earthcache.org/Looks like there’s still a little time to get an Earthcache published, so I better get crakin.
I just visited the International Earthcache day page to discover a list of the Top 10 worldwide earthcaches culled from a list of over 6000 around the glove. Imagine my surprise to discover that 4, yes 4, of the top 10 were by the same cacher. 4 out of 10, worldwide? Seriously?
I’m not arguing that they are not great Earthcaches, but to represent the vast talent and variety of Erthcaches placed in the continental US with four caches from a single cacher just boggles my mind! There are many, many great Earthcaches out there just as good or better than those four, in fact I could list 10 in Wisconsin with just as much information and level of presentation as those.
I, as well as every other Earthcache developer in the US, should be more than a bit dismayed by this Top 10 list.
Having said that, I will continue to develop educational Earthcaches and celebrate the event on 10-10-10!
Having just completed this series and having been intent to get the FTF when it first came out, so long ago, I can attest to the difficulty and intent of the cache. The first few weeks of tracking down the Keys in various caches around the state and then trying to haggle to get numbers by swapping with other holders had more than a few cachers scrambin to come up with cords. Seriously, it was almost like playing Survivor, trying to strategize with members on your side of the state to get enough numbers to make the find.
As far as getting ALL of the slugs, I don’t know if anyone ever did that. Physically put their hands on each and every one. That’s just not how it played out. And believe me, it did play out.
After the FTF was gone, I let it sit for a long time. Then it hit the LCG list and I tried to get the series by swimming out there, only I didn’t have my GPS along so the field puzzle wouldn’t have done me any good, even if I had taken the time to solve them. Fortunately I didn’t find them, nor did anyone else for a year, which led to an impromptu LCG trip with 2 of my favorite cachers , bone fidé puzzle solves in the field and some great double point scores.
It is a fantastic series and I do hope that the Bandits manage to revamp the slugs so they are all available again. I know how hard it is to keep trackables alive and kicking. They should know that those who’ve completed these caches would probably step in to keep it alive, I know I will.
@JimandLinda wrote:
Ile du Diable… 4 year old cache rescue in NW Wisconsin. Probably isn’t there according to what is read into the logs.
Marsh Master would be a good Rescue for a previous finder! pm’d Digital Dan a few monthes ago for info.I too noticed the dwindling supply of rescues listed. This is a good thing!
Rescue missions can only be posted by cache owners (contrary to what some others think and have done) and it’s up to delinquent and absent owners to post needed missions which is why the list is small, considering the number of caches that need help.
Personally, I think the reviewers should add a boilerplate to the “We’re about to archive your cache” posts when they inform owners of troublesome or missing caches. Those who no longer care about their caches wouldn’t bother, but those who do, BUT DON”T REALIZE THIS TOOL IS AT THEIR DISPOSAL, might be inclined to use it instead of throwing their hands up and archiving a cache they can’t get to or maintain in a timely fashion.
I’ve seen a lot of great caches get archived this past year where this is the case – active cachers with good maintenance records, simply opt to shut down a cache because they can’t find the time or have gotten tired of maintaining them.
One thing is certain, there are always options to keep good caches alive and we need to be reminded that ADOPTION and RESCUE MISSION options are out there for responsible players with good caches in need of a little community TLC.
09/22/2010 at 1:37 pm in reply to: CodeJunkie Uses Code to Find #800 and Keep His Icon Streak #1936100@geolivestrong wrote:
Congratulations to Ed as he found #800 while attending the WGA Picnic at Roche-A-Cri State Park. His newest unique milestone icon was a Wherigo as he completed the Roche-A-Cri State Park and Natural Area (GC2EM23) cartridge. Now the wait to see what icon he chooses to milestone with next……
Congrats again CodeJunkie!
What’s left on your icons to get list?
@smashing ground wrote:
while out with Woodlandnomad yesterday he mentioned arranging caches in a picture and pointed this one out to me.GC29A92 its a kokopelli.
Im impressed considering that they are not mystery caches and can put the ? anywhere so this took some thought.
and I bet this guys name is LUE GC1KNXD.
I know there are more of them out there but are hard to find.WOW, that is impressive! Especially the archs. Just creating a simple “Z” for the Zeroes to Heroes caches took a little noodling. I can’t imagine getting all the cords worked out for this one. Must have used some kind of grid. I have couple others like that. A wave pattern for the Laughing Water series, an “A” for Artisans of Appleton (when I get enough of those published) and a “Horns Up” when I get around to publishing my Mosters of Rock series.
What I like even more is not just the symbol and magnitude but the names of the caches in the series.
@smashing ground wrote:
…and I bet this guys name is LUE GC1KNXD.
I know there are more of them out there but are hard to find.Looks like it spells “No Clue” when you zoom out far enough.
I think you guys ran right past Appleton too, from what I can tell.
Congrats on your milestone, one I was fretting over for weeks thinking it was going to be a little closer to the East side of the state, not in another state altogether 🙄
Oh well, there’s an ammo can with your name on it when you get another K under your belt. Not sure how many of the birds in close proximity to GZ will still be there when you get there, but it’s a great view during any season and who knows, you may even spot some juvenile eagles on the way…
Count me confused on what was removed as well. Were the repellents you removed in pressurized containers or were they tubes of repellent in cream form? This issue here is with aerosol leaks, if I read and understand the issue correctly?
In any case the relatively negative FTF log, and still the only Found it log, on a new cache by a placer with only 3 hides will not do much to endure them to the sport. They are new and deserve a little learning-curve brevity. I think that’s the point GR was making.
I think it’s save to say the Puffins got another month in the bag. A respectable score that once stood as a high water mark until this same team blew the lid off that ceiling! Nice to see you guys at it hard again and getting to experience some more great caches that few take the time to discover.
That goes for the other players as well!
I feel like there are a couple little dudes on my shoulders. One saying “don’t do it, don’t look, you got so much other stuff to deal with right now… ” And the other little guy is saying, “take a look, what will it hurt?”… “but the weather and the tall grass and the insects… just wait another couple months…” “but there’s some good ones this cycle, you should really just take a day and grab some, c’mon…”
Ahhhhhhhaaaaallllllrrrright I will…
-
AuthorPosts
