[The Crippler]

Just a question of clarification. I have a cache that I listed under a GC account I set up for my dog (Its a cute idea). I hid the cache but it is not officially listed under my account. It would be really wrong if I nominated that cache for cache of the month, correct?

[The Crippler]

Just about all the trails at Bong

[The Crippler]

For the longest time I collected carabiners. One day I discovered that I had about 200 of them hanging in a closet. My wife told me that she thought I had plenty. So, I took them all and put them in an ammo can and called it “A tribute to Gurnee Glen”, a well-known cacher who has personalized carabiner swag. Within 2 weeks, the ammo can and all of the swag were gone. The hide was impossible to just stumble across.

Now I just take pathtags or move trackables.

[The Crippler]

I met an individual at Midwest GeoBash from Michigan who does just that. He has a challenge cache, something about lucky 7s, that he mails a pathtag to if the cacher completes his challenge. Even though I did not do his challenge, he was kind enough to give me a tag which was pretty cool.

[The Crippler]

<

---

Here is my original

[The Crippler]

@CodeJunkie wrote:

@rcflyer2242 wrote:

I belive that if there is a container with cords in it, a piece of tape with cords, or numbers written on a pipe with given cords to the next Wp then it would be a multi. If you have to answer a question or do any sort of math then it’s a puzzle.

I concur 100%.

Once again, this is not necessarily true. In the series I published there where field solve puzzles at just about every stage, but because it was essential that you do the stages in order it had to be listed as a multi. I disagreed but did not win the battle.

[The Crippler]

I had the same issue with a cache series I placed. What it came down to was this: Can the geocacher visit any of the stages in random order? If they can, then it can be listed as a puzzle. If the cacher has to visit each stage in order then it must be a multi. I appealled that all the way to GS headquarters to no avail.

[The Crippler]

All in all this was a good event. Here are a few of my thoughts:
1. We did find several local, non-event caches that where not in the best of shape.
2. Making this less of a competition will mean that next year I will not be doing the outer caches. I will stick to a more concentrated effort and look for more traditional caches in the local area.
3. I am less likely to look for the newly placed caches because if my raffle ticket is for the chance at a bag I already have or a pencil then it really is not worth getting a certain number of caches on the card for tickets.
4. I realize that the water caches had non-payment options, but they were not very practical. If you really wanted to challenge yourself to find them all in the two days you needed to pay.
5. Why are there not more local businesses involved? I spent about $15 total in town because I was not there caching for very long compared to all the outer caches on the card. Why were there not any door prizes from the local businesses? This is hosted by the Chamber after all.
6. Perhaps some of the less maintained local caches need to be archived so that next year’s caches can be closer to the venue and perhaps more at businesses. Isn’t this what the chamber wants to highlight?
7. As for other daytime activities, a poker run stopping at local businesses for “cards” would assist the chamber in their mission too.

[The Crippler]

I am sure we all appreciate the reviewer’s comments to clarify the efforts made on their part. What gets me is that despite all of this the amount of caches placed put this in the category of not being able to maintain. I know this subject has been discussed ad nauseum but the saving of an area that will never get maintained properly is the added insult.

I understand that non-local cachers have placed caches outside of their general area. I have some over 3 hours North and South, but I make sure that I will visit enough or that a friend/relative will get to it as soon as it needs help. In this particular case, the placer insists that the locals assist them in maintainence and get quite upset when refused.

Honestly, I do not object to assisting cachers that may have one or two in my local area and are from out of town. I will gladly help, but when the placement of certain types of caches becomes an obsession relying on others to fuel it I become resentful and will not assit. I suppose this is the wrong attitude but it reflects badly on the area which does keep cachers away.

[The Crippler]

This same cacher has saved multiple spots in larger cemeteries because “that cemetery deserves a multiple”. So not only are they saving spots for long periods, months if not longer, they are dictating what type of cache they feel is required. Worst part is that once a cache is finally published, there are now so many that maintanence is shoddy if at all and if caches go missing it takes months for any action to occur. I have been past the same cemetery on 4 occasions that has not had a potentially missing cache addressed. This practice needs to be STRONGLY discouraged.

[The Crippler]

I no longer activate geocoins. I am using them as entry fees in the poker tourneys and they have to be unactivated for that. I decided against activation for three reasons:
1. When I release them they go missing, sometimes right from the cache I put them in. (Yes, it must be a local thief)
2. I forget to bring the few activated ones to events for others to discover anyway and I see mostly all the same cachers at these events.
3. I like playing poker at these big events.

[The Crippler]

I call those “TLPs” -Typical Log Pile

[The Crippler]

Puzzle caches that require me to spend a great deal of time at a computer to try and solve. Puzzle solves in the field are just fine. Rock piles come in a close 2nd.

[The Crippler]

Welcome aboard! Many great adventures await.

[The Crippler]

And I would echo the Winona trip except that most of the roadside caches along the way are missing but the bike ride around the lake is really nice and scenic.

[Author]

Posts