[Az-Geocaching] decrypted hints

[ShadowAce]

*Hints/Spoiler Info*
Enter any hints or spoiler information below. This information will be
encrypted on the site until a geocacher clicks on a link to unencrypt it, or
decodes it on the trail. Text within brackets [like this] will not be
encrypted. *Please keep your hints short, so decoding it on the trail is
easier*. If you don't have a hint, leave it blank.

 Why put a hint? Most cachers either find it, or call the last person who
did or the owner anyways. It is very funny to get a DNF and read the last
logs saying :
'After talking to the owner we found it.
Called the owner and they told us where to look.
Thanks for the information on where it was.
Found this after a phone a friend
etc etc.'

 Dont get me wrong, we like to find them as much as anyone, but it is funny
to see who gets told where it is most often. :)


On 1/23/07, Roping The Wind <arizcowboy at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Well, lately I am getting back to the way geocaching used to be and
> searching for caches in rural areas. by hiking, off roading, horseback
> riding, hot air balloon, helicopter, whatever... just getting out into the
> great outdoors to find full size containers in a scenic wilderness
> setting.
> With that, I have noticed something that has sometimes annoyed me in the
> past and has caused me to have a change of heart! :) Have you ever hiked
> several miles out into the desert or forest or down into a canyon only to
> come out without a find? After 30 minutes of searching you consulted the
> cache page for the decrypted hint, only to find there is no hint!? I did
> just that today. Actually, there was a decrypted hint, but it didnt elude
> any to where the actual cache was hidden, just the general location of the
> cache (which I already knew, the coordinates took me there!). It turns out
> this cache is indeed missing, after an email with the cache owner.
>
> I also got an email from a cacher today asking me where another cache that
> I
> had recently found was hidden, as I was the last finder of that cache. He
> had hiked up to the top of one of the inner city mountain peaks yesterday,
> only to not find the cache.
>
> I feel that if you are going to send someone on a hike into the desert or
> a
> long climb to the top of a mountain (or even a 15 mile off road vehicle
> turture test into a canyon)... that there should be a hint included that
> gives some definition to where the cache is actually hidden. The game of
> geocaching has always been about the location. Location, location,
> location.
> A cache needs to be decently hidden so muggles cant find it. But a cache
> in
> the wilderness doesnt have to be hidden so hard that a cacher cant find
> it.
> Afterall, you did bring them to that location to enjoy the location, didnt
> you? This is especially true if you are going to hide a micro in a
> wilderness type setting. Or maybe in a canyon with steep walls around it
> that might cause the GPS to not get a good signal or in a dense forest. If
> after 30 minutes of searching and you cant find it... you look at the
> hint... you can then be more confident that you are looking in the correct
> spot or if maybe the cache is perhaps gone. I spent over 1 hour searching
> for a cache today that I ended up not finding (it is indeed gone missing).
> Even though there was a suspect item that I beleived was holding the
> cache.
> There were lots of rocks and hiding spots in the area... so I did continue
> to search. Afterall, I hiked 2 miles in to find the cache, I have to give
> it
> a good effort to try and find it.
>
> Anyways, I am not picking on the one cache I didnt find today... just
> using
> it as an example. It just made me think about my caches and geocaching
> etiquette in general. My first cache RTW-1 requires a rather tough climb
> to
> the top of a mountain. I would sure feel bad if someone made a hike/climb
> all the way up there only to not be able to find the cache. I also firmly
> beleive in the 'no log, no find' rule (unless it is a virtual of course!).
> So, with that... I have had a change of heart! :) I have gone back and
> edited both of my caches to provide a decrypted hint on each of them!
> Prior,
> RTW-1 just had a smart a** hint that simply said "hint?!".  Now, there is
> a
> hint to give some direction to where the cache is hidden. I also mention
> in
> the log, as I always have, what kind of container the seeker is looking
> for
> (an ammo box). There are alot of rocks up there and alot of hiding spots.
> I
> dont beleive the hint has to straight up tell the seeker where the cache
> is,
> but it should provide some honest clue that will help someone narrow down
> the potential hiding spots. This way, they at least can be confident they
> are looking in the correct spot and that they didnt maybe input the wrong
> coords into their GPS.
>
> Scott
> Team Ropingthewind
>
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