A NB Covered Bridge Challenge / Virtual
We were thinking of making a series to find all the covered bridges in NB. We were thinking virtuals to subtract the “in field” maintenance requirement to the Standard cache. At first we were thinking having all the waypoints on one multi cache like the central park cache we found (GC17MX1), which then requires you to take down some sort of information and solve a mathematical question to a final location where you go and retrieve a specially designed geocoin for said series.
I was thinking making separate virtual’s which will allow all cacher’s to find it with an option to take down the extra information to solve the final puzzle and get the satisfaction of discovering all the bridges and a geocoin to show it. Now I was not sure if I should order a lump sum that way say the only first 50 or so would get the coin. I was also going to look into having a souvenir for the completion of the series but I’m not sure how that works, just an idea I had. (cheaper then coins but still something special).
We are just putting this up to get feedback on what the local caching community would enjoy most. As well as how virtual’s work as to my understanding one can not have it as “required” to take a photo at the location.
Ok, so to address a few things here right off the bat:
1) You can’t list virtuals anymore. They were retired several years ago and new ones can no longer be listed. You can do a “challenge” which is separate from a geocache and kind of like a virtual but many cachers are not fond of them.
2) You cannot create a souvenir. These are created exclusively by Groundspeak for very specific locations and events. I’m not aware of any souvenirs being created as a reward item for doing a cache(s)
3) It’s very nice of you to want to do the geocoin as a reward item but be aware of the cost. Expect to be paying $500+ for your coins, and in your case, you are literally just giving them away so there’s no return on that. You could do a Pathtag which is far cheaper, smaller, and not trackable on geocaching.com, but it is similar. I had Pathtags made as a signature item and it ran me around $150, maybe a bit less.
My opinion, if you are trying to avoid the standard maintenance issue, create a regular multi but have something natural that exists at each of the bridge locations that people need to find and plug into your math/puzzle in order to derive the final location. If it’s something that’s already there (a sign, natural landmark, etc) then there’s no concern about maintenance except for the final.
Those are just my thoughts.
to use the GC Hovers on this website, just type in the GC CODE with a space before and after the code like this: GC17MX1 .
the site will automagically add the link and the hover.
Zor is right and that would take a lot of work! There are 61 covered bridges in Nb, check it out http://www.gnb.ca/0113/coveredbridges/coveredbridges-e.asp
I would guess there is a bookmark list made somewhere but it might not have all of them. It would have to be a multi of some sort and would be cool to do, plenty of driving as well.
A multi with 61 locations accross the province! Whoa! It would be awesome and I bet would fast become a geocaching HolyGrail! I am not sure I would personally be up to the challenge, but I think it’s one awesome idea that a lot of geocachers would love. Lots of work in front of you if you plan this! For your geocoin idea, I think that whoever would find that multi would not mind paying for the geocoin, where only the ones who find the multi are allowed to buy. Just a though.
1. Virtuals are no longer allowed by Groundspeak, as Zor mentioned. Were you thinking stages of a mystery puzzle? That would require a person to visit the location and find something out about the bridge, for example, the date, without the need to place a physical cache at the location.
2. Why not a pathtag instead of geocoin? The detail is amazing, what they can do on a such a small surface. And it would it be a fraction of the cost of a geocoin-something in the range of $150 for 50. It is worth looking into.
I will add one thing about Pathtags. I noticed within a few months that many of the ones I had started to have the paint peel off. The one I have on my keychain has very little blue left on it. I’m not sure if it was a bad batch or just the quality of them in general.
we were thinking to have it set up like gc17mx1 which is one cache with all the bridges and arches as waypoints. I was just wondering if you could label it as a puzzle and have them acting as 61 different caches, that way you dont have to complete all of them to claim it as a find, it can then appeal to everyone. I thought about designing a coin and having it at the final cache container, Would people buy the coin? Its just an idea but we are planning on making something happen from this idea. We just thought it would help to get feedback from cachers to see what they would like to see. What about earthcaches? I think it only qualifies for natural wonders.
gc 17mx1
GC CODE gc17mx1 GC CODE
haha was trying to figure out the hovers thing, well its up there anyway 🙂
I’ll save you some of the searching as my Scouts had a cache at one of the covered bridges in Queens County. It’s archived now but it was GC29VK9.
Finding all of the covered bridges in NB would be such a difficult task that you probably would only have 1-2 cachers qualify for it annually. The distances are just so much bigger than in the Central Park multi. Why not make a challenge for each county? Kings County alone has 16 covered bridges. Albert County has 9. Westmorland has 7. You could make the coin available to anyone who completes the _______ County Covered Bridge Multi, or who completes more than one.
Thats an idea that we discussed as well actually and we have this site that lables all the bridges with there corresponding counties and routes.
http://www.gnb.ca/0113/coveredbridges/coveredbridges-e.asp
That is also why I would like to make 61 separate cache’s or 12 different multi’s for each county they can be found in, but only those who complete the entire series of bridges would get the coin or pathtag or whatever it is we come up with. The bridges are more located on the Southside and there are a few up the North West side. Originally I was thinking 61 separate caches that would ultimately, when all 61 have been completed allow the cacher to solve the final puzzle from information taken at each bridge to an actual container in the woods. (which will be semi close to home as we will place the coins or tags in said cache).
sorry army.of.two
i forgot to mention the gc codes have to be in capital letters 🙂
gcbba doesn’t work GCBBA does
Having cachers visit 61 different bridges to collect information over such a vast area would be a daunting task, even for the hardcore cachers. Not to mention the financial expense of soring gas prices and day trips that would be needed to complete this, even if seeking other caches in the area as well. While it would be something to have been to every covered bridge in New Brunswick, the reality and logistics of it would be too great for most cachers.
Of course, there would be information shared between some cachers in the different parts of the province, giving them the advantage of not having to actually go to every bridge. And I assume you are award of the fact that you yourself would have to visit each bridge to collect the information needed, a task that will take time to do.
It’s a great idea you have and I am not trying to be negative about it, but there are a lot of park and grab cachers and cachers on limited income that would not be up to such a big challenge. I think Heathtree has an idea, break it down to smaller numbers so instead of having to travel the entire province, only sections would need to be completed. Although for cachers in the north there are fewer bridges in their area. You could just limit the area to the south part of the province where the concentration of bridges is greater. Of course this also limits the cache to the people in this area, sounding selfish, but you can’t please everyone.
There is one thing I’d like to mention. In one of your post you stated ” I thought about designing a coin and having it at the final cache container. ” I don’t know if you really seriously considered doing this, but it’s not a good idea. If a cacher decides to take more than one or the cache is found by non-cachers it will be a problem.
Sorry I can’t offer you any ideas, but hopefully others can. As I said it is a great idea you have. I know Snake9 and myself always like to find caches at or near covered bridges, just to explore it. Well Snake9 just likes to try and climb it. Keep thinking, you’ll come up with something.
End of sermon.
I think a puzzle cache is already out there for the Covered Bridges.
15 Historic Covered Bridges Challenge GC33ZHH By K57
I also think there is a cache at most covered bridges.
K57 has at least 12 of them himself.
Thanks all, We shall think of something [:)] we shall post with our final thoughts. You helped us a bunch.
Yup, K57 has done something similar as far as covered bridges go, and I think that Coopsquared has made a file of caches at covered bridges.
Actually, I’ve a list of the waterfalls.
Personally, I really like the idea. Nobody said it has to be done quickly, after all. I know k57’s plan is to (eventually) visit all of the waterfalls in the province. He’s not rushing out the door to do it today, but he’ll work on it over time.
Likewise, the Fizzy Challenge (completing your D/T chart) isn’t something many would consider doing, but some do – myself included.
Covered bridges are a part of our provincial heritage. I think this sounds like a wonderful challenge cache, requiring the finder to find a cache at all of the covered bridges in the province. (Or rather, near to, since we’re not *techinically* to have caches on bridges… 😉 So what if it isn’t something most cachers would do? It’s something that *some* cachers would work on, over time.
You wouldn’t even have to provide a code in each cache to help determine the final’s location. Have it listed as a challenge cache, and require finders to provide a list of the caches they found to proof their visitation. A pathtag or geocoin as a prize would be cool, but sometimes, it’s a matter of personal pride to finish something this large. Just being one of the few people who has finished something of such size would be enough of a prize. If such a cache existed, it would be one of those things where, if we were in the area, we’d choose to get the required nearby cache over any other cache in the area.
Definitely a cool idea, army of two. Well done!
We plan to make something happen, not entirely sure what or when but it is definitely in the making.
Thank you coop 🙂