Life and caching

Just to be clear... I have a life.

I do spend a lot of my time geocaching and reviewing, but some days I just need a break. 

Here is my typical day...

12-7am My phone is shut off at night. I don't need it buzzing all night because some goober is waiting for their cache to be listed, or happens to be up complaining.

7-9am  I am getting kids ready for school. I usually read the news, check emails, etc.  I do it from the comfort of my bed.  Usually yelling at my girls telling them to get in the shower (I don't want to get up yet). I read emails, and see if there is anything urgent.

9-5:00 Work.  Yes I do work.  I do check my emails during this time from my phone.  Do not expect a response.

Breaks and lunch.  I am on my computer at work seeing what is up.  Providing that i do not need food.  If I am hungry then you are all screwed for new caches.  I really want to eat.

5-7pm  I usually review a number of caches. Usually the ones without issues.  If I have to type a discourse on how you need to add waypoints, remove commercial aspects, and that you are 4 feet from another cache I might put it off to get the fast ones done.   I might also wait if your caches has something that I want to think about, ask other reviewers opinions, or it makes me feel dirty. 

7-9 Scouts/Family/Movies/Yardwork  who knows what great adventure I may be involved in.

9-12 review, archive, and play with gsak.  I take the time to review in here if there is any.  I usually go through those painful ones that I have put off.  I will archive caches that are horrible, or just need stones thrown at them.  I also play with my GSAK.

Then bed...

Earthcaches

In the middle of those, some nights I do Earthcaches as Geoawareusa2.  This is the most time consuming part of my reviewing list.  Very few people actually read the guidelines on Earthcaches. Where 70-80% of my caches are publishable at first glance, Earthcaches are about 10%.  Most just have simple issues that can be reworked. 

• Remove photo requirement
• Add educational material
• Wrong topics

A few caches can take the evening.

Wrap up

I know sometimes that caches is the most important thing in some peoples lives. However it is not always the case in mine.  When I get ten emails for me to publish their cache when I pointed out a problem at 5pm, and now it is 8pm, I just ignore them. 

If your cache has issues then you fall to the end of my list. I check new caches, then go through my email from oldest to newest. Emailing me ten times will not speed it up.  It is no fair that I delay those that are waiting for review.  Or that I just jump to you now, when there are five people that have fixed their caches also waiting.

Most understand.  A few do not. I have been known to ignore my review queue for a day.  I may want a little vacation, read a book, or just watch a movie.  Please don't freak out.  I plan to be back to it sometime.

Update on 2012-05-08 05:31 by firennice

Mistakes...

Of course, if it has been a few days.. please send me a note, email, facebook note, etc.  I have been known to not follow a page on accident.  So I get no notes. So the reminder after a bit is a good idea.

Camp Hobe' Geocaching Fund

Well I am back again.  Here is a great chance to help others.

Raising some funds to help run geocaching at a camp for kids with cancer and their siblings. 

http://fundrazr.com/campaigns/eJ3N7?psid=b79f22c3fdfa41a58aa85ef36a4a17ae

From Ho'okele

Camp Hobe' is a special summer camp designed for children with cancer and their siblings, who are often forgotten in the cancer experience. Camp Hobe' gives kids the opportunity to participate in camp activities just like healthy children whose families are not affected by cancer.

Throughout their time at camp, Camp Hobe' kids grow in spirit, strength, and understanding. They are allowed to play outside with other children, to discover the joy and freedom of being away from the confines of the hospital, and to temporarily displace the fears that the future holds. This is their chance -- sometimes their only chance -- to "just be kids" and to escape the grown-up realities they face everyday.

Camp Hobe' Geocaching Fund is asking for your donations to help out with our annual Geocaching event at the camp. Each year, during both the children's week and the teen week, awesome Geocachers come together to hold an event for the kids. Geocaches filled with goodies are placed throughout the camp for the young campers to find. It is a hit with the kids every year!

No donation is too small. Every little bit helps!

This year, Jan & Ken Morales will be hosting the event.

Thank you to all the angels who have made this event possible!

If you can support this great cause with a few dollars.  More money means better swag for the caches and the kids.

 

Here is a link to last years.

http://firennice.squarespace.com/journal/2011/5/26/camp-hobe-and-geocaching.html#

and info on the year before that (2010)

http://camphobegeocachers.chipin.com/mypages/view/id/eebd843b697d6b76

Cache Submission Update, and Guidelines Update

Well we have another rollout of new things at groundspeak this week.  There are a few changes this week and a few things that might interest some people. 

Cache Submission Process

Well, we have a new process to submit caches. As of now this is in Beta and people can try it out as an option. 

As a reviewer we see a lot of dumb submissions.  Some that are simple errors and some that repeat over and over. So the new process is a step to help clear up some issues that seem to repeat on a regular basis.  There has been a lot of internal testing to get this going, and to get the Beta out to everyone.

There are a few things that it can help clear up.  When you enter your coords you have to "see it on a map" before continuing. Many people place caches and are off by a few hundred feet to thousands of miles. I get a handful in the middle of the ocean a few times a year.

It also will also help with additional waypoints, and getting it submitted.  If you are listing a new cache.. try it out.

Guidelines Update

There are a number of new updates, to the guidelines.  Nothing huge, but wording corrected, and things to help us solve problems.   Here is an overview of a few of the changes that may effect people.

Logging of All Physical Geocaches

Other than documenting a Challenge Cache, physical caches cannot require geocachers to contact anyone.

Listing guidelines that apply to all geocaches

Cache pages cannot require, and should not strongly encourage, the placement of new caches.

and about vacation or distant caches.

Document your maintenance plan in a Note to Reviewer on your cache listing. This should include contact information of the maintainer.

Additional Listing Guidelines that Apply to Specific Geocache Types:

A traditional cache consists of at least a container and logbook and is located at the posted coordinates. For all caches types that have multiple stages, physical elements (tags, containers, or any physical additional to the location) must be added to the listing as Additional Waypoints.

Enjoy all.

Update on 2012-04-24 19:43 by firennice

Oh.. I almost forgot.  You can tie groundspeak into facebook now, and use facebook as your login.  For those that are interested.

Update on 2012-04-24 22:25 by firennice

This is a compliled list of guideline changes from Sandy at Groundspeak.

Fundamental Placement Guidelines

 1: Local laws (no significant changes).

2: Permission (Cache owner's assurance).

3: Buried caches (succinct explanation of what is not permitted).

4: Property (added 'damage').

5: Wildlife (included natural environment).

6: Schools/Military installations (updated language, cache owner liability).

7: Proximity (removed 'generally').

8: Caches in Space (clarified).



Other Placement Considerations

· Updated text about cache owner liability. Linked to disclaimer with regards to location and container.

· Added 'include GC code' on outside of container.



Inappropriate or Non-publishable Placements

· Re-organized text.

· Clarified that land owner/manager wishes will be respected by Groundspeak.

· Added note about some cemeteries allowing cache placement.

· Updated text about cache proximity to railroads.

· Clarified text about public structures.

· Added links to article about working with the reviewer (updated KB articles).



Listing Guidelines that Apply to All Geocaches

· Updated text terminology.

· Updated process for cache owner responsibilities for cache listing and the cache placement.

· Updated requirements for cache maintenance plans (caches far from home location).

· Added "or logbook" to cache container contents.

· Updated text for cache contents.

· Updated "Solicitation" and "Commercial" guidelines to clarify scope of what is publishable.

• Specifying that requiring/encouraging cache placement is not publishable.

· Updated process for requesting a scheduled publication.

· Updated process for communicating with reviewer.



Additional Guidelines that Apply to Specific Geocache Types

· Added definition of Traditional Cache to introduction.

· Clarified requirements for multi-staged caches to add additional waypoints to the listing.

· Mystery/Puzzle: Clarified cache type name, updated process for adding additional waypoints, post reviewer note with puzzle solution).

· Letterbox Hybrid: clarified cache type.

· Wherigo: Updated text.

· Event caches: Updated text, clarified non-publishable events, clarified how to meet commercial guideline.

· Mega-Events: Added pricing guideline, added exclusivity guideline.

· CITO: Clarified types of CITO events, and how external events can be publishable.

· EarthCaches: Added link to Knowledge Book articles.

· Virtual and Webcam caches: Clarified cache owner responsibilities.


Logging Physical Caches

· Updated text about Challenge Cache logging.

· Added text about cache owners requiring contact for logging (not permitted).



Logging Non-physical Caches

· EarthCaches: Highlighted that photographic requirements must be optional, added link to EarthCache.org guidelines.

· Virtual caches: Clarified logging requirements.

· Webcam caches: Clarified that the photo must be from the webcam associated with the cache.

· Event caches: Added.

· Mega-Event caches: Added.

Update on 2012-04-25 04:10 by firennice

Posthow the cache is solved

I have had a few ask why.  There are a few reasons.The guidelines state

The information needed to solve a this type cache must be available to the general community and the puzzle should be solvable from the information provided on the cache page.

I have seen puzzles that are solvable from things that are not available to the public. As it is not "available to the general community" it would not be listable.

A cache that uses something prohibited, a flash drive logbook for example.

Is it possible to even solve? 

Is a photo on the page?  Is the only clue "find where the I took the picture" (not allowed).  Or is there metadata in the photo, or other data on the cache page (allowed).

The other reason that I can think of is to determine if it is still findable.  We have all seen caches that used graphics from a location that goes away.  The page is unsolvable.  If the reviewer knew how to solve the cache he would know if it was still findable, or not.

Most are obvious, Sudoku, codes, etc. It would be the others.

Crappy Swag, Stolen Geocoins, and the Micro Spew

Working in the forums I have seen two threads repeated over and over.  In every local geocaching group they pop up, and in discussions at times.

The older (I mean pre-2004) cachers sit down and start yearning for the old days.  Back in the days when all the containers were clean ammo cans or five gallon buckets.  The geocoins and trackables were lovingly cared for, followed, tracked, and hunted for.  And they were all filled with golden magical items, $20 bills, at the end of rainbows.

The Golden Age of Geocaching 2000-2004 (the first five years)

I was not around, but have talked to enough people, and followed enough threads to put a few things together.  Remember that GPS units in the first few years of geocaching were expensive.  The crappy ones that we take for granted now were expensive.  Few people had them, and maps were another expensive addition to the models sold.  Also, why did you have them?  Avid hunters, backwoods explorers, would get them to help them out.

So caching was in the hands of the well off, well to do (for the most part).  Few caches were out.  When they were placed they were planned out, well stocked and people traveled to them on purpose. When you arrived you brought something to trade, you knew how many caches you wanted to go to.  Each cache had to be put in by hand, usually off of a printout that you carried with you.  Downloading a Pocket Query into a GPS was unheard of. 

Trackables were carefully monitored.  There were not many caches at that point so it was rather simple.

Caches themselves were placed with care.  I want to take someone to a cool out of the way location. In fact I have heard from caches that tried to place micros, or caches in cities that were mocked and ridiculed by other cachers saying "that is not geocaching"

The Silver Age of Geocaching 2005-2009

you started to see a huge shift.  Low priced gps units started to appear.  And the flow of caches started to migrate to the cities.  Cachers could start to load multiple caches into their GPS units.  Paperless caching became the buzzword.  GPS units that could carry all of a cache page were being pushed by retailers, and others carried old Palm Pilots, or other handheld devices where they could load the Pocket Queries into.

It is during this period that caching really exploded.  The lower cost units started to bring in many cachers that before could not afford a GPS.  Better/cheap/free maps began to appear to allow people to track and follow their movements.  Groundspeak significantly improved its site and offerings. 

What happened?  Well micros boomed.  they were scattered hither and yon as times went on.  You could now find a cache during your lunch break, family visits, at a church or shopping mall near you.  More people were interested, and things literally exploded.

Trackables were starting to be carried to every horrible cache by people.   People would find a cache under a park bush and drop a trackable.  A cache that kids would easily find and steal.  So many travel bugs ended up in some kids dresser on in the trash.   Some coins were stolen, there are a number of cachers out there that started to hoard coins.  Stolen coins that were traveling that found their way into a collection.

The swag quality dropped.  Rather than trading nice things, you began to see the average cacher carry less, or cheap toys. People would take, and never replace.  So older caches began to be filled with poorer and poorer quality stuff. Basically if they were unmaintained, they were trash heaps.

Modern Age 2010-

Where are we now? Cell phones and free programs mean that just about everyone can cache.  Everyone that wants to try out this new thing can find a few.  That also means that people that have no idea what is going on, or what is considered polite, are out there finding caches. 

I have seen parents take kids to a cache and drain it of everything.  Take the trackables off chains and drop the chains back in the cache. Carry off coins not knowing what to do.  Things have changed.

Power trails have appeared in the last few years.  ET highway is the most notable.  People have started to travel great distances to accomplish challenges, trails, etc.  Geotourism is popular in some ares.  I see (in Utah) a large number that travel to accomplish their caching goals.  I have met a number of people coming to visit to grab all the caches they can.

Final Thoughts

Is it better? worse? In many ways both.  There are problems.  Some detest caching for what it has become, yet there is always something around.  I have found and walked away from others that were in trash heaps, and found some of the most creative caches.

There is no way to fix what is there.  Too many cachers that will go a few times and never again. It has always been that way.  Find a few caches and then move on.  Families, boy/girl scouts, people on vacation, people on business trips, that just raid something then move on.  Inconsiderate people will always be out there.

I would ask people to please take the time to think.  I still love it, and enjoy it.  There are problems, but I enjoy what is out there.  Some are challenges, others are not. Some can be grabbed as I drive by, and others with a ton of work.   I have been thinking about it more as I approach #3000.  I am looking for something special.  I don't know where/when but I will find something that I want to do.  I am guessing this month, so I do not have much time to hunt.

Update on 2012-04-11 17:01 by firennice

I forgot to Add

I think many of the things that I mentioned in the title are myths.  All couched in half truths.

Swag:  some never placed good stuff, or traded materials. 

Coin theft: Most vanish by new cachers that are not paying attention.

Micros:  They are out there.  Some love them.  At times I do, other times I dont.  I go in cycles.

In the end if you are playing the game for one of these reasons your foolish.  Geocaching has changed.  The dynamics and the groups playing have changed.  Pick what interests you. If you love the powertrail, then do the powertrail.  If you love the mountaintop, and have the physcial ability, then hike to the mountaintop. 

Update on 2013-03-05 19:34 by firennice

A few notes from 2013

As I have recived a few emails and a few notes, I thought I would post a few notes.

There were differences years ago.  We all know that.  There are a different crowd that hunt now.  Those that think that I am attacking families, I am not.  They have changed the game, of course.  Instead of the outdoorsman, we see families.  There are caches all around. 

Years ago most planned things out, now we have more casual people. That makes a difference.

I had someone mock me for eras.  How did I come up with them? 

The early time period were the years that there were few cache placments.  They were not all better.  In fact many of the rules were developed because of problems in that time period.   I called it the golden age because people like to talk about the "old days"

The next time period was in that explosion of caching, up to the point where phones came on the scene. 

The last was where phones took over.  Most of the cachers I know that used to cache regularly with their GPS, and never let it leave their side.  Now they use their phones, except if they go into the back country, or trips.