I recall a warning coming from GC.com that a 1/1 cache needs to be wheelchair accessible (not too high, no rocks in the way, etc.). That was a while ago, I'm not sure if GC still does this. If so, 1/1 is actually another hint. The "typical Arizona style" or "Tucked amongst rocks - a typical geo- pile!" isn't much help. It's what led me to "we don't need no stinkin' hint!" (which actually IS a hint) and gave me a idea for a kind of slightly bent cache. OTOH, I'd rather put a "gimme" hint on the remote caches instead of disabling it after a couple DNFs and taking the time to find the cache is where it belongs. Jon On Jan 25, 2007, at 7:35 AM, Jared Ross wrote: > I think there have been some really good points brought up on this > topic. I know when we first started caching we didn't know what > "typical arizona style" was until finding a couple. That was just > part of the learning curve for being a cacher in Arizona. Same goes > for terrain rating. While I haven't experienced it first hand I've > heard of big differences between a 2.5 star terrain here in Phoenix > and a 2.5 star terrain in Flagstaff. Different area, different > rules. It's all an adjustment. But, if we want to create a more > welcome environment for new or out of state cachers maybe we need > to elaborate more on our hides (without compromising or giving away > too much information). I wouldn't think you'd be giving away > anything if you informed the cacher that they would be hiking x > amount of miles with x amount of elevation gain, should take x > amount of time, etc. And then of course trying to be more > considerate with the nature of encrypted hints. Not sure about > everyone but I don't really want people thinking that the Arizona > cachers are just an inside group and they only place caches for one > another, attempting to exclude those from out of state (or even > just outside of a particular town). > > On a related note. > I've noticed some cache listings in the past (more in the recent > past) that look similar to this: > > Cache Name: My Crazy Cache > Type: Traditional > Size: Micro > Difficulty: 1 Terrain: 1 > Description: . > Hint: (no additional hints) > > and that's it. Sometimes there is maybe one very brief sentence, > but that is the cache. A blank description, and a 1/1 rating. This > worries me. Mostly because who knows if they filled anything out at > all (especially with a 1/1 rating since that would be displayed by > default). Is there really a place for this kind of cache? (aside > from maybe a mystery cache). > > Jared > > ----- Original Message ---- > From: Team Nine Lives > To: listserv@azgeocaching.com > Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:06:46 PM > Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] decrypted hints > > OK, partly guilty I guess. We've made a bit of camo a part of the > challenge of our caches. (More to come; ideas are in the process > of becoming reality as I type.) And I will admit that the hints > that we've provided have not been very helpful on some of our > hides. We will discuss that and maybe the hints will be simply > removed. There's a bit of pride at creating a clever hide and > watching the DNF's roll in. We don't want people to be too > frustrated--this is supposed to be fun. We do want searchers to > find them and, like Jared, we do our best to be timely in > responding to requests for hints or to DNF's in general. But the > points about out-of-town cachers and return trips are points well > taken. > > In those areas where there is any concern about the immediate cache > environment, we've made the hints much more direct, to avoid > accidental or incidental damage to the area. This seemed the > responsible thing to do. > > And yes, there seems to be a southern AZ "style." How many of us > have seen a natural cluster of rocks within sight of a dirt road > and wondered whether it is concealing anything interesting? ;-) > > Brad, Team Nine Lives > > P.S. In Hawaii there are spots where you would need a heck of a > hint just to find a large pile of rocks! > ____________________________________________________________ > Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com > To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe visit: > http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching > > Arizona's Geocaching Resource > http://www.azgeocaching.com > > > Expecting? Get great news right away with email Auto-Check. > Try the Yahoo! Mail Beta. > ____________________________________________________________ > Az-Geocaching mailing list listserv@azgeocaching.com > To edit your setting, subscribe or unsubscribe visit: > http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching > > Arizona's Geocaching Resource > http://www.azgeocaching.com