[Az-Geocaching] decrypted hints

Wed Jan 24 09:33:01 MST 2007

A few thoughts on the topic:

#1 Sure, if every cacher received a geocaching phone book when they signed up there would be no need for hints. We've used the "caching hotline" as it has been called on caches when we've gotten stuck but there are many times when we get stuck and there is no one to call. That's part of the game. If we were meant to find every cache, every time, there wouldn't be a need for the Did Not Find log type.

#2 With those long hikes or drives (or balloon rides) I thought it was more about the journey and not the ending result? Besides, if you find out it's missing it's not like you're going to log a find just because you "found the spot where it was suppose to be". Oh wait, some people* do that. The positive side to a missing cache or DNF is that you get to repeat that fun journey again sometime. (Although I agree, it sucks to go all that way without a smiley. A good hint would of course be well appreciated).

*- I cannot recall a specific cacher who logs a find on a cache when they merely find the spot where it should be (even though I know it's done) and to the best of my knowledge RTW does not do this. I'm not "calling out" him or any specific cacher with this comment.

#3 I like that you quoted the gc.com site on the proper use of Hints/Spoiler info. I especially like the line, "Please keep your hints short, so decoding it on the trail is easier. If you don't have a hint, leave it blank." 
I can't tell you how many times I've seen this hint:
rznvy vs lbh arrq n uvag

Can you guess what it is? Go ahead, decrypt it, I'll wait. it says, "email if you need a hint". Funny, I came all the way out here to find your cache and I forgot my internet access and computer. Not only that but I wasted time manually decrypting a hint that ISN'T A HINT. 

"If you don't have a hint, leave it blank." - Geocaching.com

Obviously with the rise in popularity of paperless caching the ability to decrypt a hint in one click has made this a bit more of a mute point. However, consider the others who are hunched over behind a bush trying to decipher a hint that they're praying will help them find a cache, only to receive a slap in the face by the cache owner. Just adds insult to injury the way I see it.

In summary, I think you're doing a good thing by adding more descriptive hints Scott.

Jared
AZBliss02

----- Original Message ----
From: ShadowAce <shadowace.az at gmail.com>
To: listserv at azgeocaching.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 6:30:34 AM
Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] decrypted hints

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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