[Az-Geocaching] thoughts about urban geocaches...

[Scott Nicol]

Howdy,

I went out this afternoon to run some errands and decided to go for a few 
urban caches. I drove by 3 of them today and didnt even stop to do them. I 
think I know right where they are at.. but, didnt stop as there was just way 
to many people around to go for them. They were all in city parks. The ASU 
Research Park one had not only people around, but, there are buildings 
around it with windows that you cant see in.. but, you know they are looking 
out at you!

These 3 caches I drove by are, in my opinion, night time cache finds only 
and will go back at night to find them sometime soon.

I went to the airport to pick someone up on an arrival around 5:45pm today 
and tried for a few around Tempe/Papago Park as well. I did get two in the 
Papago Park area. I drove by A mountain but didnt make the climb. Way to 
many people on the trail. Just to afraid I would get up there and not be 
able to retreive the cache and log in without being seen. There is also 
Sparky's Cache. I drove within 500 feet of that one and it looks like it is 
right in amongst the buildings! That is surely a fun cache to get if you 
like doing 'undercover' type work and the feeling that comes with it! I do. 
But, again.. dont want to chance being seen and chancing someone taking the 
cache. I was looking at the logs of the ones that I drove past but didnt do 
and see they were all had during the day today. Not sure how. I wasnt about 
to. I just didnt want to blow it and have someone see me.

There is way to high of a risk of these urban caches being found by a 
non-geocacher and being taken. I think it is important to return the 
property around the cache to its very original state. In otherwords, dont 
step on bushes for one. I have seen several caches that have alot of bushes 
around them trampled on. That is not only a sure sign of where a cache is 
hidden to another geocacher.. but, is also not a very positive thing for the 
property owners to see. This can surely put geocaching, in that persons 
eyes, as a very negative thing. Also, if you move rocks, I think it is very 
important to put them back exactly as found and not strew them out around 
the area. To keep the place looking exactly like it was before you arrived 
is very important. One example is the 'sign of the past' cache I visited 
this afternoon in Papago Park. Right around the immediate area of the cache, 
there are obvious signs of pedestrian activity. In most desert parks.. it is 
illegal to walk off a trail or path. Some even have signs reading to that 
effect. The area around this particular cache has obvious signs of the area 
being disrupted of its natural state. Again, if a park ranger were to see 
this.. they would greatly frown upon the sport of geocaching.

I propose this... I think that any urban caches should have a limit of say 
30 days perhaps. After that, they archive. That will limit the chance it 
will be found by a non cacher. I think 30 days is plenty of time for anyone 
that wants to go for that cache to get it. When I refer to urban caches.. I 
mean the ones that are in parks and/or surrounded by houses. The makeout mnt 
cache, for instance.. I dont consider a true urban cache. But, I have seen 
caches in very populated parks and right amongst neighborhoods. I dont think 
these caches shouldnt be hid in these spots.. they are great for a quickie 
after work or something and are also good for the youngsters in the 
geocaching families. But, how about limiting the time these caches are 
stashed? Eventually, they will be found by a non-geocacher and will either 
be stolen or damaged. The logs need to be recovered to prove that someone 
actually was there and didnt just log their visit to move them up in ranking 
or just show they have X number of caches. Where they really there? No way 
to tell unless the log is recovered. (I do think we are all honest about 
that though, afterall, this IS just for fun).

Also, I think that all geocaches should use 'official' geocaching cases. 
These appear to be the small green ammo boxes with the official geocaching 
stickers on the side and the paperwork contained within explaining what it 
is. I am starting to see several caches that were contained in pint size 
paint cans and tupperware containers and such. If someone saw this.. it 
could be percieved as trash (litter) and we all want to keep our lands 
clean. The official ammo boxes look much more professional. These ammo cases 
cost very little and can be had at a military surplus store or from a dealer 
of geocache merchandise. If you archive your urban cache after say 30 days.. 
you will be more likely to still have it there to be retrieved and the same 
case used for another cache.

Professionalism is another thing. I dont think the paint cans and such give 
the sport of geocaching a very professional image. People will think we are 
a bunch of litterbugs hiding paint cans and stuff in our national forests 
and city parks, etc. Again, they could very well be percieved as trash in a 
non-geocachers mind. Also, if the cache containers remain consistant (all 
ammo boxes), as the sport becomes more mainstream... non cachers might begin 
to recognize the typical geocache container and perhaps understand what it 
is there for and not disrupt it if they should stumble upon it. I know if I 
saw a paint can in a nice clean local park, I wouldnt think to highly of who 
ever put it there. I know what it is there for as I am a geocacher and see 
no problem with it. I am just trying to put myself in a non cachers shoes 
and considering their thoughts. On the other hand... if I saw a nice clean 
small ammo box with a nice clean 'official geocache' sticker on the side.. I 
would perceive it as something of higher value.

I am not trying to preach anything here. I am sure this is stuff most of us 
have already heard. These are just thoughts from a new member of the 
geocaching family. I now have 15 finds ranging from easy and quick urban 
caches to hard to get to caches like the Lone Pine cache on top of 4 peaks. 
Myself and my teamies are enjoying our new found hobby and want to see the 
sport grow and keep a positive image. I think most will agree with me on 
this. We have been geocaching now since the first week of January and 
greatly enjoying the excercise the sport has brought us! (I really need 
it!). ;)

Thanks for allowing me to express my thoughts on the subject.

Scott
Team Ropingthewind

Scotts Adventure Flying Web Page
http://www.geocities.com/safwp


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