[Az-Geocaching] forwarded forum post about micro/urban caches.. from Daniel J. Karam

[Roping The Wind]

>From: Gale <sonoralovesmommy@yahoo.com>
>Reply-To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
>To: listserv@azgeocaching.com
>Subject: Re: [Az-Geocaching] forwarded forum post about micro/urban 
>caches.. from Daniel J. Karam

>I had to respond to this one.
>I dont have a 4 wheel drive.

I dont either!

>This article was written by someone who wants to return to the days where 
>only physically fit >people have access to caches.

I dont think you read thru Daniels article very closely. As most people do, 
you quickly read it and key elements of it stuck in your mind. Read it 
again... carefully. This guy didnt straight out say that there should be NO 
urban micro's. He just thinks creativity has taken a dive. I cant tell you 
how many urban caches I have done that have been hidden in the filthiest 
city locations. Of course, there are many exceptions.. there are some 
beautiful spots in the city. You yourself, Gale, has the ability to find 
those spots as is demonstrated by some of your past art walk caches and 
garden caches. Looking at a piece of art wouldnt be unusual and no one would 
pay any attention to my looking at the art (when I am really trying to find 
a cache container!). Gale, I remember a couple of caches you hid in a garden 
area that were very pleasant caching experiences and scenic little treasures 
right in the city. A micro is really the only kind of cache you can place in 
an area like that.

Some urban caches can even have an out of town feel as they are hidden in 
large green parks, but not particularly right under the dang swingset where 
kids are playing every minute of the day! For any of you folks that cache as 
a family.... seeking out a micro cache in a neighborhood park kiddy area 
isnt a problem. But for a single guy like myself... well, when I am scoping 
out very closely a park playset trying to find a microscopic cache 
container... well, most people are going to think I am some kind of pervert 
or child molestor or something (and 30 minutes later I am still there 
searching!). Quite frankly, I feel very out of place and not very 
comfortable doing that. There is the very rare case where I can have my 
niece and nephew along (2 and 4 years old) and that helps me to 'blend right 
in' with these kinds of surroundings. But, most often.. this isnt the case. 
There are also many occasions where cachers seem to want to 'test' the 
stealthness of us to see if we can find that micro cache hidden in some 
security patrolled area. I dont particularly enjoy being confronted by 
police and security asking what I am doing, even though I know I am doing 
nothing illegal. I just dont like being in that situation.The nice thing 
about rural caches is that I can find peace and quite and no one around. I 
can have the fun of finding the cache, sitting down and relaxing and taking 
my time signing the logbook and enjoying the views and not have to worry 
about someone watching me or feeling the need to question my being there. 
Again, micro caches can be hidden in locations similar to what I just 
mentioned... even right off the side of a rural road just outside of town. 
Handicap accessible in fact. They dont have to require a long hike or any 
hiking at all!

Again, if you re-read the article closely, I think what Daniel is saying is 
pretty much what I am saying above. There are also MANY very scenic places 
to stick a micro cache (yes, I did say micro cache!) that takes no physical 
ability at all to find. There are lots of caches right on the side of the 
road that only require a short walk or even a 'drive by' to retreive. There 
is one on I-17 south of Flagstaff a ways that comes to mind. Right in a 
little pull off behind a guardrail. Easy to get to and easy to find. Yet, in 
a very scenic location. I can think of many caches that are hidden in this 
fashion. Many of which are micro's and require nothing more than standing on 
the sidewalk and reaching under or over something to grab it. Certainly more 
scenic and pleasant of a caching experience than climbing around behind a 
garbage dump or going thru a hobo's house behind a store!

You really need to read the article again. In NO WAY does it say there 
should be no urban micro caches. He is mearly stating that the scale has 
tipped way to the side of micro urban caches and not enough rural/scenic 
caches and more creativity in them as well as the urban caches.

Again, this is just my opinion... but, I do beleive that the reason there 
are SO many urban micro's hidden under park benches out there is because 
people feel obligated to go out and hide a cache and they dont have the time 
or desire to go out and hide a nice one just outside of town. So, they stick 
one under the park bench near their house. Done deal. I hid one so you can 
stop whining at me to hide more!

Of course, that is not my style of cache hide. I enjoy the scenic viewpoints 
that can only be had from the top of a mountain and I like to test the 
physical ability of a cacher to find my caches. I do apologize to the 
cachers who dont have the physical ability to find my caches. I dont like to 
worry about my caches coming up missing and so I dont care to stick them in 
an urban location. Also, I dont particularly have that raw sense of humor 
that Galdrich has to hide really well camo'd micros. :)

There are other cachers who like to test the mental ability of cachers to 
find little microscopic caches (Galdrich and Tamo caches).... and that is 
fine too. You are right, there are many ways to play this game to fit every 
players ability. The article is just trying to:

'put the emphasis on hiding more creative caches and thoughtful caches that 
will leave a lasting impression on the finder'.

There are so many urban caches I cant remember one from the next. But, there 
are a certain caches that really stick out in my mind and I remember 
everything about that hunt for that cache. Yes, these were mostly rural 
caches, but I can recall some urban caches I really did enjoy. I think 
Galdrich's microscopic caches and Tamo's black light caches are VERY unique 
and creative. The article doesnt refer to these kinds of caches. I think 
Daniel would be rather impressed with these hides. I particularly dont care 
to find those kinds of caches and I dont. I am not complaining about those 
caches though and this discussion isnt about those kinds of caches. I think 
some of Galdrich's micros are very creative. Some are very well thought out 
and camo'd well.

I dont cache for the numbers anymore. Could care less about that. I am just 
picking and choosing caches that I think I will enjoy doing and those are 
the ones I seek out now and that is what every cacher does and should 
continue to do.

Remember, I wouldnt have brought this to the public attention of this list 
had my little comment about it in a private email not gone public in the 
first place! Yall responded... and I answered! :)

Cache on!

Scott
Team Ropingthewind

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