Howdy All,
Thanks for the responses to my post. I got a few private responses as well
as publicly on the list. Looks like it is about 50/50%. All the comments so
far have been thoughtful and not negative. Thanks. I just wanted to express
my thoughts on the subject.
As far as urban caches go... no, I dont think they should be done away with.
I never stated that either. I just want to be rest assured they will be
protected and cachers will act in such a away as to protect their
exsistance. I agree, most urban caches are very well hidden. If you didnt
know what you were looking for.. you would probably never find it. I have
seen a couple that were in plain site though. I do indeed think urban caches
are fun. As I said before, I do like that 'stealth mode' feel when going for
one. There is a certain challenge that goes along with finding a particular
urban cache. I personally prefer to go for an urban cache at night only. I
will drive by it in the day and perhaps make a drive or walk past it and get
a good idea of where it is... in that bush over there, or under that tree,
etc. Then, come back at night when no one is around and go for the log!
There is definetly a place for urban caches. Just need to be careful in
placing them and hiding them well. I do agree that the urban caches are
great for the families with children or those that cant hike longer
distances or thru rugged terrain and for the other cachers, they are great
quickies after work or during lunch. They can be had on the way to work or
to run an errand. I think that is great. I do think that there is a right
time of day and a wrong time to go for a particular urban cache. Depending
on several variables of course. How many people around, how close to a major
road, etc. The parkandcache cache, I thought, was a nighttime only find. I
am sure there are those that got that one in the day and it is still
there... so, must have been ok. I drove by it probably 2 or 3 times and
didnt stop as there were way to many people in the park or the fact that it
was right next to a major road. My thoughts were that someone will surely
see me. I would probably look very suspicious at the very least. So, we came
back at night and got that one (and it was VERY well hidden. I walked by it
twice before finding it!). A week ago, I had my nephew in town. So, I
figured having the kids along on an urban cache in a park would certainly
look a lot less 'suspicious'. So, I brought them along and introduced them
to the sport of geocaching! You should see the look on his face when the
container is opened! :) LOL I guess I should get married and have children!
As far as type of container... I agree with Brian Cluffs comments. He brings
up some good points. He is probably right... an ammo box is probably more
likely to be taken than a tupperware container or a paint can. I am just
trying to think like a non-geocacher and what they might think if they
should see a geocache container. Either way, I would hope they would read
what it says and what the container stands for and let it be. I cannot
understand why someone would want to spoil someone elses fun. But, there are
some sick people out there with nothing better to do with their time than to
do just that. I did see a great cache location that I thought was very
creative. The cache container was totally put below ground level (in the
ground) and only the lid exposed. The lid is only an inch high or so and can
be easily hidden and covered up with leaves, etc. I thought that was great.
An ammo can cannot be put in the ground like that as the lid opener is on
the side of the container. So, other containers can work great. I just think
they need to be neat and look clean and professional and not look like
garbage or something. As far as Libby's posting goes... no, your paint cans
do not offend me. If you read my post again, you will see that I stated that
I dont have a problem with them. I am just trying to think like a
non-geocacher and what they may view it as. If you like using paint cans...
go for it. I have no problem with that. I do think there is a more
professional look to an ammo box. However, as stated above and from other
postings... the ammo cans can have their downsides. Sometimes, other
cantainers do work better.
I am a hot air balloon pilot and I deal with landowner relations each and
every time I fly. It is a subject that hits very close to home. I go where
the wind goes and when it is time to land... well, it is time to land.
Wherever that may be. Might be public land, might be private property. I
have never had a negative reaction to one of my landings on private land as
we usually are able to get quick permission before landing. Otherwise, I
carry the proper permits ie: state trust land (which doubles as a geocache
permit!, etc. If not, we just try and leave the land in the same, or better,
condition then it was before we arrived. Usually then, the landowner sees no
problem with our landing there as we didnt dissrupt his property in any way.
This would also include not driving the chase vehicle on grass, rather
carrying the equiptment out to the truck (even though it all weighs over
600lbs!). This would also include not cutting fences to get a truck in.
Simply carry the equiptment up and over and out. We want to keep the
landowners were we fly happy and want them to welcome us with a smile.. not
a shotgun! My team and I will go to great lengths to assure that it remains
that way.
Not to change the subject there. But, I see some similarities with
ballooning and geocaching in terms of landowner situations. Either sport can
be very positively viewed or very negetively, depending on how the
balloonist or cacher plays his game.
These were just some thoughts that I thought I would express here on the
list. That is what this list is for! By us all saying out loud what is on
our minds... will help the sport of geocaching grow. We all will dissagree
with something someones says eventually, but, looks for the positives in it
and then make your suggestions. That is what the list is for. Sometimes, two
'ok' ideas can turn into one 'great' idea!
I thank those that responded so far. There are probably alot more people on
this list that are quite and never post. If no one ever says what is on
their mind.. the sport will never grow.
PS... Brian, nope. Just try and make it more difficult! :) LOL Also, I love
your stats pages. Very well done. I can see there is a lot of time and
effort put into a web page like that. The effort is very much appreciated.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Scott N.
arizcowboy@hotmail.com
Scotts Adventure Flying Web Page
http://www.geocities.com/safwp
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