Maybe everyone ought to read the description and
not take the rating for =
static.
-T.
[General Bracket]
You bring up an interesting point. I seldom even _look_ at the 'star' ratings
for a cache. I read the description and the logs to determine if _I_ feel
I can and should attempt it, within the framework of the time I have, the
vehicle I'm in, who else is with me and any other activities I might have
planned (besides geocaching.) The ratings, as far as I'm concerned, don't
mean a thing. Most times I've found them to be innacurate, anyway. Some
people who think they are really clever tend to (difficult) rate their caches
higher than they really warrant. Others who are very agile and are in peak
physical condition tend to set their terrain ratings lower than ordinary
human beings would agree with. Those who get winded walking to the mailbox
go overboard with their terrain ratings for a simple extended walk in the
park (literally.) About the only time I even look at the ratings is if I've
been unable to find a cache in a reasonable period of time, I might look
at the difficulty rating to give me an idea of how hard it was 'supposed'
to be. Or, if I've just completed a particularly grueling hike up a steep
slope with lots of loose rock and plenty of cat-claws, I might check the
terrain rating to see if it's really what I think it should have been.
I never look at a rating before-hand and say to myself, " Oooh! I can't
(or shouldn't) do this because it's a big scary 3.5." In the end, the ratings
are usually a figment of someone elses imagination. 
-- Sprocket