GeoCachingEdmonton.com

Bush Creatures · Geo-D Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 1178

OK, let's see if we can start a flame war. Twisted Evil

I have noticed that the average quality of hides and finds is way dumbing down over the last couple of years.

No, I have no particular credentials as a cacher but been at it for a while.

Caches used to be pretty much clever hides in nice spots that required a nice walk and now the world is filled with drive-by micros, often pitched into a ditch or spruce tree from a moving vehicle. Bison tubes, film cans, match containers, magnetic key holders and cracked sour cream containers seem to have taken over from ammo boxes and nicely camoed lock 'n locks. Cache placement is moving from secluded and muggle free spots in parks and natural areas to back alleys and road-side turn-out garbage cans. Anyone count how many magnetic key holders are fastened to the base of garbage cans at highway rest stops? Rolling Eyes

The plusses of the throw away caches has gotta be cheap and easy and zero maintenance. Sad to see some new cache with a "This is our first cache, hope you like it" and it is a film can in a tree. Can't blame the new cacher. That's probably the same as they have found since starting out.

Then there's the finders. A cache 200 m from parking is like Everest and if they do find the cache, it's a way polite "Found it" or "#30 of 32 found today." Come on, people, you are politer to the kid who sold you your Timmy's coffee (after finding the obligatory nano which is hidden at every Timmy's) than you are to the people who tried to make a good hide.

And the finders just feed the hiders by doing the bad caches. Tough luck that the hide is attached to some senior's fence and the senior gets all paranoid about back-alley drug deals going down while people look for a number or the cache is in a park where people's kids play.

I am increasingly using my ignore list and making my own caches low maintenance by placing them nicely away from nearby parking.

Caching is a cool sport and has a limited rule set so we can all enjoy it our own way but some quality and common sense should be maintained.

G & E · Geo-centric Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 214

BC what are you suggesting? As the city gets more and more caches, it becomes harder to find good places to put them. When there are events, people are encouraged to hide as many as possible and that is hard to do at the same time as trying to make them meaningful and far from a road. There are only so many ravines in the city.

I hear what you are saying though. I have a nice and unique cache container I picked up at a garage sale. I would like to put it someplace special but haven't come up with any ideas. No creative juices are flowing.
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Bush Creatures · Geo-D Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 1178

Ah ha, a nibble! Razz

As a south sider, I can get out to some natural areas and rec areas east of town in far less time and road rage than a drive to the evil north side. The northsiders can get to some great open spaces just out of the city far quicker than coming down here. I'm under an hour to the Blackfoot, Ministik or Miquelon.

We do not fall off the edge of the earth past the city limits.

Cache proximity should not be an issue unless it is arguing about who gets which lamp post skirt in a Wall Mart parking lot. Mad

G & E · Geo-centric Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 214

bonkers · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject:

I have to generally agree. Part of the issue is the number of new cachers who are finding caches by the buckets and haven't had to work very hard for them as the new GPSr's are a whole lot better and they don't bother to try the cache without the hint. I have had a cache rated as pretty hard a couple of years ago that one recent log was "nice easy cache" (which it is with the hint). I hope that doesn't put off those of us in the game for a while and keep up the good hides. And you don't have to go way outside the city to to hide good caches. With the number of poor caches taking up spots, it just get a bit more interesting and a bit more intriguing to find a good spot to hide a regular cache.

Bush Creatures · Geo-D Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 1178

[quote="G & E"]

Viajero Perdido · Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:04 pm Post subject:

I'll have what he's having.

Very Happy

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Torran and Tatterhood · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:46 am Post subject:

Quality over quantity or vice versa.... this will be an ongoing dispute probably till the end of time Shocked

Eating at a good Restaurant vs Fast Food is another way to look at it. A good Restaurant takes some time but gets the best enjoyment and satisfication. Fast Food is quick, easy and suits busy lives.
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Bht cache finders · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject:

I think if we are having a issue with not being able to find a suitable caching spot, then maybe we as a geocaching community should do a little geocache CITO. Why don't we clean up some of the "crappy" caches, or BC's favorite: micro in spruce trees. If we clean up the old and seldom visited caches, wouldn't this free up some more spaces for future caches. I will look at my caches and see if I can clean some up. Make way for the new!

I will also agree with BC that caches in view of peoples residences should be avoided, Unless the cache is on the property of the owner and the owner has let his neighbors know what to expect.

Keep it fun!
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Bush Creatures · Geo-D Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 1178

Torran and Tatterhood · Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:29 pm Post subject:

Are there maps of public lands out there? Mostly why I put caches in the city is cause I don't know what is considered public outside of city boundaries.

Many micros can have a purpose such as u say in the public eye. but also if the micro is entertaining or unique... micros in spruce trees aren't that fun
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Bush Creatures · Geo-D Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 1178

G & E · Geo-centric Joined: 15 Mar 2006 Posts: 214

Good job Torran and Tatterhood, now that you gave BC an excuse to post the Parks web site he should be okay for a week or so. Quick thinking!! Very Happy

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Torran and Tatterhood · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 2:47 pm Post subject:

LOL

Seriously though, this is good cause a lot of people I think are unsure of lands outside their neighbourhood

Thanx BC
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Bush Creatures · Geo-D Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 1178

Interesting. I came down to Three Hills country for their event (good job, Three Hillers!). Spending a few days as country caching down weird trails is my thing.

Observation. Three Hills has high visibility micros in trees and stop signs and keyholders under garbage cans too. It is also under 30 klicks to some awesome country caches on way cool back roads that do lead you over the edge of the world to ammo cans. No concern with cache proximity there. County of Keephills must be short of gravel as they have "Fair Weather" roads. Good luck. The geo-fe looks like it fought with the Afrika Corps.

Some people like the challenge of high muggle micros and I like my ignore list. Something for everyone.

Off to Dinosaur Provincial Park tomorrow. We have a rattlesnake tracking project down there. Poke before you reach kinda caching