Geocache Challenges VS Challenge Caches
Challenges
Since the release of geocaching “challenges”, I have been hearing talk of what they are, what they are supposed to do, and quite frankly, how most cachers I know think of them as being pretty lame and having “nothing to do with geocaching”. I have however heard the odd person make mention of how the new challenges are actually interesting. For this post, I’m taking a long hard look at the new challenges and how they could in fact be molded to replaced challenge caches and why I think that is actually a good idea.
For now, let’s take a look at challenge caches. These have been around in one form or another really since the original Delorme Challenge. These types of caches have similar conditions to the old ALR caches in that in order to log a “find” on them, you need to do something special. Now, ALR caches (ALR = additional logging requirement) were discontinued awhile back as many felt that the “need” to do something other than sign a log seemed to defeat the point of geocaching. However, challenge caches were an exception to this rule because it was thought they brought a whole new element to this game.
The basic premise of a challenge cache is that the cache owner issues a “challenge” to finders. This challenge can be many different things but it’s all tied to geocaching itself. The original Delorme Challenge was that you had to find a cache on every page of a specific map created by Delorme. If you found a cache on each page, and could prove you had, you could then log a find online for the actual challenge cache itself. Many others have created similar challenges to finds caches in all of the provinces/states, consecutive day caches, the 81 terrain/difficulty grid challenge, X amount of finds challenge, and countless more.
The caches are listed as puzzle/unknown caches but they are actually hidden at the coordinates given. Anyone can go out and find the container easily enough, but doing the challenge is a whole other story. This is what inspired me to write about this today.
The whole point of a challenge cache is not to find the container at all. The point is whether or not you can complete the issued challenge. The only reason a physical container exists at all is because until a couple of months ago, there was no way to “list” or “issue” a challenge to fellow cachers through geocaching.com without providing a cache listing. And as we all know, you can’t have a cache listing without a cache. So challenge caches quickly evolved into some pretty BIG challenges that people are working on, but the actual container itself is typically quite ordinary and uninspired. It’s really all about doing the actual challenge, not the cache.
What’s the appeal? Well, many will give their opinions on what the appeal is but I think it ultimately comes down to two things: pride & the smiley.
When a challenge is issued, it’s kind of like someone placing a bet. “I bet you $20 you can’t find a cache every day for 100 days”. People naturally want to try and win the bet so they go for it. With challenge caches, there’s no money to be won but the idea is still the same. Someone is “challenging” you to do something they think you can’t do and naturally, people want to prove them wrong. They want to pride themselves on the fact that they were able to beat the odds and do it.
The second reason is really about the “find”. Knowing that the container is out there, but they can’t log the find until they complete the challenge, will inspire many to work at it just so they can claim that one smiley. It may be only one find, but for many all that work pays off by having that “count” in their totals.
The biggest issue I have with challenge caches is that at their very heart, they are actually somewhat ANTI-geocaching. At the very heart of the hobby we all love and enjoy, what is it we do? We go out and find a container and sign our name. That’s what geocaching is. In fact, of all the types of geocaches that exist, all of them, even ones without a physical container, still require you to go to a specific location. For physical & event caches, you sign your name, and for virtuals/earthcaches, you perform some other task but you still need to go to a specific location.
Challenge caches are the only exception to that. Going to a specific location to find the cache and sign your name is not the point at all. In fact, you are not allowed to log your find online until you have done whatever the challenge is. But how is it that I can find the container, sign my name, but it’s not considered a “find”? I found the container didn’t I?
The success of challenge caches shows that geocachers definitely want to be challenged in ways typical geocaching can’t provide. The problem is, the “container” in a challenge cache really serves no purpose other than a means for a cacher to learn about a challenge. Previous to a few months ago, there was no way to issue a challenge to someone else without listing a cache. But now… things are different.
This is where I think the “geocaching challenges” have actual merit.
Challenges were pegged as the replacement for virtual caches. Without getting into a long debate about it, I think it is safe to say that most feel this is not the case at all. It does however have great potential to replace challenge caches. Here’s how and why I think it would work.
For starters, challenges do not require you to find a container. The current premise is “go somewhere, do something”. They have an Action challenge and a Photo challenge. Neither of these seems to have really taken off in a way that makes sense, or comes close to replacing virtuals but actual “Geocache” challenges have great potential.
A new “type” of challenge could be created called a “Geocache Challenge”. These challenges would effectively be exactly the same as a challenge cache, but without the physical container. So for the 100 day streak challenge, you would create a new “Geocache” challenge that requires you to find a cache every day for 100 days. The challenge is issued and like other challenges now, anyone could accept it. Once completed, they could post their completion the same way you do now. The biggest condition on these “challenges” would be that it has to have something to do with hiding or finding caches. Nothing else.
Unlike the current challenges, “Geocache” challenges would have to be reviewed in some capacity (method to be determined later) and the owner of a challenge would have the ability to edit/delete logs the same way they do with a regular cache listing. If you successfully complete a “Geocache” challenge, your challenge count is incremented by one (as it is now for other challenges), and any “Geocache” challenges you complete or list are shown on your profile page (under the Geocaches tab) so folks can see geocaching related challenges on your profile.
To me, this would solve several issues. For starters, you would now have “challenges” that are specific to geocaching that actual geocachers would care about. If you’re not interested in the many “lame, non-geocaching” related challenged that exist now, you could focus entirely on these types of challenges. If they were reviewed in some way, geocache challenges that are not geocaching related could be removed quite easily. Having the geocache specific challenge information included as part of the geocaching stats would allow folks to see geocaching related challenges you have done quite easily. Even right now there’s no way for someone to see what challenge caches you have done unless they sift through your ? caches.
Lastly, you separate the “challenge” itself from the container. The idea of actually finding a container and signing the log means you can log it online. You don’t have to jump through 1000 hoops just to log it, despite the fact that you actually found the container. To me, if I find a container, I should be able to log it. End of discussion.
The only other piece that I would say you could be considered is to have the completed geocache challenges added to your total find count (which becomes found/completed). Doing this is debatable since challenges don’t involve a specific location or container, but they would be geocaching related so maybe. That’s one point I’m not too sure on.
One thing I am sure about is that if this new “type” of challenge existed, it could be specific to geocaching, and thus cachers would be more likely to become involved and do more. Whereas now, it seems many cachers are not all that interested in challenges because of the lack of having anything to do with caching.
But alas, this is merely one man’s opinion, and although I think it’s a decent idea, many others may not.
What’s your take?
Challenge caches.No matter what we do regarding geocaching there will always be a debate. As for geocaching “challenges” I am at this time not interested. If other people like to do them, great for you.Good luck and have fun doing them.
Challenge geocaches. If I meet the requirement to log it I will find the cache and do so. If I don’t, then maybe sometime down the road I will then. If I never meet the requirements then I will not let it bother me.
Some people are fussing over the consecutive days geocaching I think. I will probably never get this type of cache because of the burnout it can cause. Then caching isn’t fun anymore. But I will not complain about the cache or the people who place these caches. It is their cache and their idea, and I, nor any other cacher has the right to govern caches that are placed. Not that I am saying anyone is trying to.
Remember, geocaching is supposed to get us outside and going to different places, even meeting other people along the way. I have been to some places I would have not seen if I wasn’t caching. If anyone wants to try the different types of challenge caches, do it. Just think ahead about what you are getting yourself into. Also I think people need to remember that the challenge cache is designed to challenge you, not as a competition against other cachers.It isn’t a see what I can do contest.
No matter if it is a challenge cache or a puzzle/mystery cache, there will be some we will never get, no matter how close to home it is.I think the happiest cachers are those that can ignore them, although I am not saying to do this.Find the caches you like, go to the places you want to go and enjoy it the whole way because that is what the game is about.
I am currently working on a Puzzle Geocache that you need to do 3 “Challenges” to get the coordinates, my way of trying to tie the two together and make the “Challenge” geocaching related, although I can’t force someone to accept or complete the challenges, they can still get the needed info by going there. After talking to you last night around the campfire and hearing your idea, I completely agree with you, there needs to be some change if they really want the “challenges” to catch on. I have done most of the challenges but there are still a couple I will probably not get and that is fine, I will leave those to the really competitive people as I am only a little competitive, it is ok to lose, really it is….lol
The sucess of challenge caches only happened because someone (I think MA&PA) put out a challenge cache and few other cachers jumped on the bandwagon and put out other challenge puzzle caches and one cacher in particular went berserk and basically covered all that was left of challenge caches.
Now what? What other challenge geocaching related can there be? And really what is the point of it? Just to show that you have been caching for so long that you actually have everyday of the year covered?
Have people become so desperate for some kind of bragging rights that this is all they have?
This is not why I do geocaching. Im not about the numbers, Im not about the one that has all the calendar days, or the have the whole NB covered, Im not about having 200 consecutive days of caching.
Im about going outside, enjoy the areas that geocaching takes me, enjoy the social aspect of the hobby just like EBEE said.
The only thing I would like to ask future cachers that are planning to put out these kind of challenge caches, please put it on some back roads.
I had to put a bunch of them on my ignore list because they are put besides the highway and roads that I use frequently and its supper annoying having them showing up everyday on my GPS.
Thanks.
I’m relatively new to this compared to most of you, at 267 cache finds and counting (and 19 of the new “geocaching challenges” completed), but I’m all about different people from different backgrounds sharing their opinions, so here goes.
Challenge caches – I think they should at the very least be separated from the rest as their own cache type, not be mixed in with puzzle caches or other miscellaneous types. That way, those that don’t want to do them could more easily filter them out rather than have to individually ignore each one.
Also, I agree there isn’t really a point to having a physical container for cache-related challenges. What if the container gets muggled and the cache owner is either unaware or not actively in the hobby (or out of town)? I might work really hard to achieve a particular challenge (ie 100 consecutive days) only to get there, not find the container and walk away with a DNF.. When essentially I did what was required for the challenge.
As a side note, I really enjoyed finding Canada’s 1st cache and thus completing the “10-year challenge” cache in Dieppe. I’m now working on consecutive days, just to see how long I can keep it up. I’m on day 36 today and expect to make it to at least 100. I think the first snow storm will kill my chances of ever making it to 200 or what’s the biggest one, 366?
Moving on to the new “Geocaching Challenges” that they recently introduced… I understand completely why many people see them as “pointless” since they really don’t have anything to do with Geocaching. Having said that, I like the idea of “Go somewhere and do something” and have been actively completing the local and worldwide ones. I treat it as something completely separate from geocaching. My brother and I stopped in Peggy’s Cove just to do a hand stand in front of the light house to log that particular challenge. In doing so, we also found a few traditional caches along the way and experienced something we wouldn’t otherwise have, since we were going to Nova Scotia mainly to log our first cache there, find Canada’s 1st and bring back some Robert’s Donairs.
Anyway, having said all that, I do think the new challenges are fun, and am not about to boycott them because they have nothing to do with geocaching, which they don’t… I just like to go places and do things, and both traditional geocaching and these new challenges provide that experience for me…
Cheers.
I’ve been pretty vocal about my distaste with using the current challenges as a replacement for virtuals. They can create rules up the ying-yang for an event listing, cache placement, etc., but they can’t come up with a decent set of rules for placing a virtual? It is a cop-out in my opinion. A virtual is no different in placement and review than an earthcache.
As for the challenges, I’ve been doing some (12 so far, 1 created), and I am finding them fun, adding something new to my geocaching experience. But I don’t have the same enjoyment that I do from an actual find. I have to admit, Zor’s comments make a lot of sense. The challenges are a perfect venue for the type of challenge hides that are cropping up in the province lately.
I so agree with Zor. I will only add one thing that is perhaps a bit outside the topic, but related in a way as the challenge caches certainly added to my recent “blasé-ness”. I think Zonker may experience it a bit that way too.
Lately I was a bit disappointed on how I was now seeing geocaching evolve/change: All these new challenge caches; the area filled/saturated with micros in just random meaningless parking lots or places (and yes I’m guilty myself of putting some of those out). Essentially I feel like it is changing more to a numbers game with less focus on quality caches and locations. It’s as if the hiding has become more focused on the need of locals to keep finding “local” caches; keep up with their challenges; playing contests. I was finding myself getting “bored” or way less attracted to geocahing compared to when we started in 2008. Today, I think I reached the point that my better half reached approximately one year after we started geocaching: almost completely uninterested (one cache container/find turns into the next). In a way, this new fad about the challenge caches might be the drop that spilled the glass.
BUT, after discussing with Didi, I am now reshaping my perception. I just have to ignore what I find lame (especially those challenge cache), and go back to what we originally liked about caching.
Once my son is born and Di is back in shape, we will hit the trail again; we will go out GEOCACHING. NOT with a goal for numbers, NOT for a challenge, NOT to get out and find 250 35mm canisters each 161m; but to get out and discover areas where we never set foot before or just for the sake of a great hike in the outdoors. We will look at the map, target an area that may have a cache or two worth of interest, and have a fun family or friend group outing. Taking the time to smell the roses and enjoy the moment.
Tks to the type of cachers that I mentioned in my last thread, there will still be nice caches out there for me to enjoy.
To hell with the challenges!
Last week, we took a short vacation to Québec City and Montréal. We were lucky enough that there was an event the day we were in Québec City so we had a chance to meet cachers from that area. I brought up the topic of the new Challenges and was told that they have not caught on there (same story in Montréal). In fact, one challenge that was created required you have your picture taken while you were standing barefoot in one of the city’s fountains (it happens to be against the law to do so). With limited review processes in place, this can be a problem.
As far as the actual geocaching challenge caches, I enjoy most types of these. The ones that I am not interested in are the consecutive days caching since doing this type becomes more of a chore than simply going out when you feel like it.
O.k. We all have beaten this a little. Some will do the challenge caches and some will not. Remember, do the caches you like and learn to ignore those you don’t. There will always be the next cache close to home, no matter how far you zoom the map out. And there are over one million all over the world. So there will always be lots you will NEVER get.
And if you read this Jim, don’t think we are all picking on you. We’re not. It’s just opinions. It’s just what we think of different caches. You like the Leafs, I think the Habs are far better. It’s just opinion. Well, o.k, that one may be a fact.