[Az-Geocaching] Re: Special Equipment (and cache ratings)

> 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