Difference between revisions of "Hiding a cache"

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==Defining your objective==
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==Voluntary Cache Maintainers==
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[[Voluntary Remote Maintainers]]
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The list of people who will be happy to undertake maintenance for you should you prepare them in advance. This list is especially useful for when you wish to place a [[cache]] that is far from your home, but close to theirs. This is also called a holiday cache.
  
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Before placing a [[cache]] , it's often useful to define your objective.
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==What does undertaking maintenance entail?==
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For example, your objective could be to:
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It is very unlikely that your [[cache]] will be hidden by you and never require you to revisit the location again.
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* Share a stunning place or view with your fellow [[geocacher]]s
 
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* Boggle their minds with a diabolical puzzle
 
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* Make them search for a [[cache]] in an extremely public place
 
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* Give them a nice hour or so out of the house
 
  
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There are many other objectives, all equally valid!
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Sometimes things happen:
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* Animals find and destroy the cache.
 +
* Bushfires go through and melt your [[cache]] into insignificance.
 +
* A tree falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it, displacing your cache.
 +
* A river rises, washing away the hiding place and the [[cache]] with it.
 +
* The container succumbs to the ravanges of time, heat and / cold and perishes.
 +
* A previous finder does not replace the lid properly and the contents get wet / damaged.
 +
* The container is damaged in some other way.
 +
* Someone pees on your [[cache]] (yes, this has happened, ewww, nasty).
  
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[[Hiding a cache]] does mean taking into account some [[Guidelines]].
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A well maintained [[cache]] is a [[cache]] that is worth doing. Often you will see logs that indicate that the [[cache]] requires maintenance. As a good cacher, you should be prepared to visit your [[cache]] as needs be to:
 +
* Check the integrity of the container.
 +
* Remove broken / soiled items.
 +
* Replace a log book or non-functioning pen.
 +
* Restock the [[cache]] with [[swaps]].
 +
* Check whether the [[cache]] has been placed back in just the right area under the shrub / bush / bridge.
 +
* Are the magnets holding up.
 +
* Has the bush grown so much since you left it that the terrain or difficulty rating need changing.
  
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Geocaching is not just like real estate - location, location, location. It also takes into account the fun of deciphering a puzzle, finding a [[cache]] in a extremely public location, taking a trek through 10 kilometers of virgin bushland or anything else that really takes your fancy.
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==How often should I maintain my cache?==
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Maintenance does not mean every week, every month or once a year. It should mean that you visit often enough to keep the [[cache]] in good condition.
  
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==Where do I hide the cache?==
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==How do I know when to maintain my cache?==
 +
Sometimes you will get a Did Not Find (DNF) log on your cache. Does this mean you drop everything immediately and rush out to the location and see if it's still there? Probably not. Sometimes people and satellites have bad days. An easy find for one [[cache]] may take another cacher multiple visites (personal experience here). If your [[cache]] is rated accordingly it could also mean that you are just rather tricky and a DNF could be what you intend to receive more often than not.
  
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When thinking about where to place a cache, try to keep some of these things in mind:
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A run of DNF's, however may mean that your [[cache]] has been compromised. How many is a run? Oh, say 3 or 4. Again, this does not mean that you immediately drop and run to the [[cache]] location, especially if it's a tricky hide. Still, you should keep in mind the relative experience of the cachers who are logging the DNF's. Someone new to the game may not be as thorough as someone who has found hundreds of caches. Someone who has more experience may just be having a bad hair day. On the other hand, your [[cache]] may indeed be missing.
  
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*Will it be easy to get to ?
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This is probably going to be the case if your [[cache]] was hidden near a trail or in a public / exposed location. Especially if there is only one tree within 50 meters of GZ and the log indicates that the tree was searched thoroughly.
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If it is only a hundred meters from a road or path, there's a good possibility that someone (not a cacher) may find and either take or plunder your cache. Try to find a place that will take a bit of time to get to, preferably on foot. Remember, not everyone who caches will have hiking equipment or 4WD access so consider that there are also people who [[cache]] with their kids and would appreciate something not too hard. On the other hand there are die hard cachers who would walk 30 kilometers (each way) to get to a beautiful view and wonderful virgin bush.
 
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*Will it be easy to find ?
 
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If it is too visible, or too close to busy roads, trails, etc. there's a good chance someone may stumble upon it. Don't make it too difficult or rate it accordingly. There's nothing quite as annoying as heading out to a terrain 1 / difficulty 1 [[cache]] and finding that you need to bushwack for 250 meters. Or getting to a pile of rocks spread over hundreds of meters and trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. If you hide it well, give enough hints so that the finder has a reasonable attempt to locate it.
 
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* Will it be on private or public land ?
 
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If you place it on private land, please ask permission before putting it there and make sure your [[cache]] description says that access is available and permission has been sought and obtained. Some parks and gardens will not appreciate cachers coming into and destroying the vegetation. If in doubt, ask permission. You are ultimately responsible for the [[cache]] so make sure you know the rules for the area where your [[cache]] is being placed.
 
  
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You should consider a [[cache]] in a place that is unique in some way. The big reward for geocachers, other than finding the [[cache]] itself, is the location. A prime camping spot, a good picnic area, great viewpoint, unusual location, etc. are all good places to hide a cache.
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==So my [[cache]] is gone / broken / missing, what do I do?==
 +
Be prepared to visit your [[cache]] as needs dictate to ensure that the [[cache]] is all well. If you find that you can't get there immediately and you suspect that the [[cache]] has been compromised, temporarily disbale the cache. This gives future hunters and indication that something may be astray with that [[cache]] so they don't waste their time trying to find something that is not there.
  
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==Preparing your cache==
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On the other hand (there are lots of hands here), don't leave your [[cache]] in a temporarily unavailable situation for too long either. People would prefer not to have their lists blocked up with hundreds of temporarily disabled caches. A decent rule of thumb would be 30 days to get out there and check on the cache.
  
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You need a container. Anything water resistant, snow resistant, sun resistant, etc (depending on your climate), will do. Geocachers have had good success with plastic buckets, tupperware, lock'n'lock, sistema containers, ammo boxes, plastic pipes, etc. You'll also want to invest in some zip-loc bags to put the items into in case your container leaks. This is probably a good idea for your log book, even if you think the container is water proof. The next finder may not reseal the container as well as you hope.
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If you do get to the [[cache]] location and find that the [[cache]] is missing, you can replace it (prepare in advance and take along a replacement container) or you can archive it. Archiving means that the [[cache]] is gone and will not be replaced. Avoid archiving a [[cache]] without going to see if it's missing. It's preferable to avoid leaving plastic boxes out in the wild. Be responsible and remove the remnants of the [[cache]] if you are going to archive it.
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Whatever the container, make sure to mark your [[cache]] so that someone who comes across it can work out what it is. Mark the container with http://www.geocaching.com.au, the name of the cache, and any contact information they feel is necessary. More info is better than less. That way if someone finds it they can contact the hider, especially if the [[cache]] looks suspicious or is on private property.
 
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A logbook and a pen. A small spiral notebook is often the best. Avoid loose leaf sheets as they won't remain in good condition. Put a pen in the [[cache]] as well. Not everyone will bring a pen, so if you want a log left, leave a pen.
 
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You should also include a stash note. It's a piece of paper that tells the finder (especially if they're not yet a geocacher) what it is all about. http://wiki.geocaching.com.au/wiki/Stash_note
 
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Lastly, you can put goodies / [[swaps]] / trade items / trinkets in the cache. It's recommended, but not necessary.
 
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It's up to you what you want to put in your cache, budget permitting. Try and avoid 2nd hand items or things that the kids or dogs have chewed on. Nasty! Do not put food in a cache! Critters have better noses than we do, and will bite, nibble or swallow your [[cache]] in an attempt to get to the goodies.
 
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==Placing your cache==
 
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When you have determined where you are going to put your cache, go put it there.
 
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When you reach the location to place your cache, the hardest part is getting exact coordinates from your GPS unit so you can use these on the http://www.geocaching.com.au website.
 
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Some GPS units have the ability to do averaging, but if yours can't, the best suggestion is to take a waypoint, walk away from the location, then return and take another waypoint. Do this around 7-10 times, then pick the best waypoint.
 
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==Letting everyone know about your cache==
 
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Fill out the online form found on the http://www.geocaching.com.au website here http://geocaching.com.au/my/cache/new.
 
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==Maintenance==
 
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Once you place the cache, it is your responsibility to maintain the [[cache]] and ensure the area around it is not suffering. There are potentially many people who will seek and find your cache. If you notice severe trails being made to your [[cache]] location, then you may consider temporarily making the [[cache]] unavailable so the area can recover.
 
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You'll need to return as often as you find necessary to ensure that your [[cache]] is not impacting the area, and ensure that the [[cache]] is in good repair.
 
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When you receive information that the [[cache]] has been compromised (ie trashed, washed away, cracked in the sun or snow, etc), please arrange to do some maintenance. If you feel that the area is not longer worthy of a cache, don't just archive the [[cache]] and leave it to be rubbish. Retrieve the [[cache]] and dispose of it accordingly.
 
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It's enouraged that you should replace the container, clean up the contents, check the log book for useability, check the pen, etc. There will always be more people who will want to find your [[cache]] and if it's in good condition it encourages other to follow in their footsteps.
 
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Nasty caches that haven't been maintained aren't any fun to find.
 

Revision as of 16:24, 19 December 2005

Voluntary Cache Maintainers

Voluntary Remote Maintainers The list of people who will be happy to undertake maintenance for you should you prepare them in advance. This list is especially useful for when you wish to place a cache that is far from your home, but close to theirs. This is also called a holiday cache.

What does undertaking maintenance entail?

It is very unlikely that your cache will be hidden by you and never require you to revisit the location again.

Sometimes things happen:

  • Animals find and destroy the cache.
  • Bushfires go through and melt your cache into insignificance.
  • A tree falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it, displacing your cache.
  • A river rises, washing away the hiding place and the cache with it.
  • The container succumbs to the ravanges of time, heat and / cold and perishes.
  • A previous finder does not replace the lid properly and the contents get wet / damaged.
  • The container is damaged in some other way.
  • Someone pees on your cache (yes, this has happened, ewww, nasty).

A well maintained cache is a cache that is worth doing. Often you will see logs that indicate that the cache requires maintenance. As a good cacher, you should be prepared to visit your cache as needs be to:

  • Check the integrity of the container.
  • Remove broken / soiled items.
  • Replace a log book or non-functioning pen.
  • Restock the cache with swaps.
  • Check whether the cache has been placed back in just the right area under the shrub / bush / bridge.
  • Are the magnets holding up.
  • Has the bush grown so much since you left it that the terrain or difficulty rating need changing.

How often should I maintain my cache?

Maintenance does not mean every week, every month or once a year. It should mean that you visit often enough to keep the cache in good condition.

How do I know when to maintain my cache?

Sometimes you will get a Did Not Find (DNF) log on your cache. Does this mean you drop everything immediately and rush out to the location and see if it's still there? Probably not. Sometimes people and satellites have bad days. An easy find for one cache may take another cacher multiple visites (personal experience here). If your cache is rated accordingly it could also mean that you are just rather tricky and a DNF could be what you intend to receive more often than not.

A run of DNF's, however may mean that your cache has been compromised. How many is a run? Oh, say 3 or 4. Again, this does not mean that you immediately drop and run to the cache location, especially if it's a tricky hide. Still, you should keep in mind the relative experience of the cachers who are logging the DNF's. Someone new to the game may not be as thorough as someone who has found hundreds of caches. Someone who has more experience may just be having a bad hair day. On the other hand, your cache may indeed be missing.

This is probably going to be the case if your cache was hidden near a trail or in a public / exposed location. Especially if there is only one tree within 50 meters of GZ and the log indicates that the tree was searched thoroughly.

So my cache is gone / broken / missing, what do I do?

Be prepared to visit your cache as needs dictate to ensure that the cache is all well. If you find that you can't get there immediately and you suspect that the cache has been compromised, temporarily disbale the cache. This gives future hunters and indication that something may be astray with that cache so they don't waste their time trying to find something that is not there.

On the other hand (there are lots of hands here), don't leave your cache in a temporarily unavailable situation for too long either. People would prefer not to have their lists blocked up with hundreds of temporarily disabled caches. A decent rule of thumb would be 30 days to get out there and check on the cache.

If you do get to the cache location and find that the cache is missing, you can replace it (prepare in advance and take along a replacement container) or you can archive it. Archiving means that the cache is gone and will not be replaced. Avoid archiving a cache without going to see if it's missing. It's preferable to avoid leaving plastic boxes out in the wild. Be responsible and remove the remnants of the cache if you are going to archive it.

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