[Az-Geocaching] Geocaching Etiquette

[Brian Cluff]

This sounds like the best and most reasonable guideline for logging caches
that I have seen. There is no shame in not finding a cache.  Team snaptek
has gotten fairly famous for hiding our caches very well (although we have
never completely burried one).  When people log that they couldn't find it
they might also leave clues that will help other people find it... Like
where not to look.  There is also the fact that after a few not founds
people tend to gang up on a cache and have a bunch of teams find it at
once.  That also doesn't happen when nobody logs their not founds caches.

Brian Cluff
Team Snaptek

> I've noticed something about geocaching etiquette that irks me.  People
> aren't considerate enough to log on the website when they couldn't find a
> cache.
>
> Example:  Rancho in Gilbert.  I was the last to find it on 11/24.  Atlas
> tried to find it on 12/26 and couldn't find it so he logged a "can't find"
> log.  His was the first log entered since my find on 11/24.  There's no way
> he's been the first person to attempt to find this cache since 11/24 as it's
> an easy access urban park cache.  It seems obvious that other geocachers
> have looked for it, not found it, and not been considerate enough to post a
> "can't find" log.
>
> It's my belief that the "can't find" logs are there to be useful to people.
> It notifies other geocachers that perhaps the cache isn't there.  It also
> notifies the person who placed the cache that he/she should probably go
> check on it.  Geocachers should be considerate to others and post a "can't
> find" or "note" log when they don't find the cache.  It helps us all.
>
> I'm wondering if people have egos and don't want anyone seeing a "can't
> find" by their name.
>
> My practice is as follows:  If I make an attempt and am not able to get to
> the cache site, I post the experience as a "note."  If I get to the location
> and just can't find the cache, then I post the experience as a "can't find"
> log.  If I go back later and find the cache, I'll change my previous "can't
> find" log to a "note" log (copy/delete/paste as new log).  And, if I can't
> find a cache and the owner confirms that it's been liberated and archives
> it, I'll delete my "can't find" log.  (Although the Snaptek statistics don't
> properly work in this instance.)
>
> In San Diego this past weekend, I found the same experience with the lack of
> "can't find" logs.  There were 5 caches I looked for and couldn't find, yet
> they were in very easy accessible places with the most recent log being 2
> months ago.
>
> srdrake