Rapid Fire Commentary
Here’s something a bit different than our typical news pieces. Below you’ll find a short list of items to comment on. Shoot back your own thoughts and opinions on one or all of them.
- Claiming an FTF before a cache is published
- A legitimate reason to leave a throwdown
- The longest time you have ever spent finding a single cache
- What’s your favorite 5/5 rated cache?
- The strangest geocaches container you have ever encountered
And GO!
“Claiming an FTF before a cache is published”. I don’t think someone who was with the cache hider should be able to claim FTF. But we did have a issue earlier this year where a number of us attended the first Ides of March event in St. Stephen and there was a delay in the caches not being published in time for the event; many teams were able to claim FTFs on caches that were not published until days later. We had permission from the cache owner to claim FTFs, and indeed, that was her intention, clearly stated to us, and provided to us by having us start at different caches at race time. I guess it all depends upon the situation.
“A legitimate reason to leave a throwdown”. I’ve heard a lot of stories about throwdowns, where someone doesn’t take the time to search, or thinking they are such good cachers that if they don’t find the cache in 5min it clearly must be missing, and then others come to the site and find multiple caches at the location. To me, throwdowns are just poor form. If the cache is in bad shape or is missing, and you have permission from the owner to replace, then go ahead. Otherwise, I don’t think it is right. Certainly not my cup of tea and not something I practice.
“The longest time you have ever spent finding a single cache”. I know I’ve spend more than 30min a time or two looking for a cache. The reward of finding it is almost sweeter when that happens, much like going back and erasing that pesky DNF.
— wouldn’t do it
— none that I can think of, just because I can’t find it doesn’t mean it’s missing
— including repeat visits? Probably 4 or 5 hours.
— a couple on Oromocto Island
— a small coffin
Well, if we are adding up times and visits, I will admit that I have gone back to two separate caches in the Fredericton area a total of 4 times each to get them. No clue how long it took it me each time, but a lot, I can assure you.
1) Lame but I can’t care less about FTF
2)throwdown is as low as you can get! Replacing when finding cache remains ie major repair is ok, but throwdown cause you don’t find it is cheating yourself. How stupid is that!
3) multiple visits, some where 1hour+… “All up hill” it was, by Mud in The Face. Simple cache, but I will always remember the fun.
4) not even sure I have a 5/5. But better in my book than lamppost caches.
5) a funky margarine tub. (just a joke, no offence)
Throwdowns? Not my style. If a CO needs a container replaced, I’ll be glad to help though.
I’ve spent a little over an hour several times. I need a drink after that. Whether I find it or not.
How about “The most original container that you’ve ever found?”
How about “As the CO?” when would you find it acceptable to delete a finder’s log?”
1 I haven’t claimed a FTF in years, even if first.
2 I hate throwdowns unless you find the destroyed container but then it is more like maintenance.
3 Womb-o-the-woods, probably 3 hours+
4 I have five 5/5s but only remember one so it must be Mountain trilogy third GCWPZ6 I don’t believe in the 5 rating just because it is on an island that a 10 year old could paddle to in 5 minutes, IMO.
5 Pringles can, about a one month lifespan.
Rev, I’ve been wanting to do the first true 5/5 in NB for years as it is near my in-laws, just haven’t had the guts or friends to tackle it as of yet.
Claiming a FTF before a cache is published:
Have not done that. I did find I think 2 of the Jim52 puzzle series as they came out over a week period. Sent an e-mail to Jim and asked if they were his as part of the series not published yet. He confirmed the coords and asked if I would wait until they got published and someone solved the puzzle. I did wait and did solved the puzzles before returning to the cache to sign the log. It wasn’t that big a deal to do that.
A legitimate reason to leave a throwdown:
Have only sore of done that once when I first started caching. Remember that multi Zor?
Learned my lesson and will not do that again.
The longest time you have ever spent finding a single cache:
Womb O’ the Woods – GC3JQHE . Three tries and probably close to three hours looking.
What’s your favorite 5/5 rated cache?
I only have 4 of the 5/5 rated caches. From Evil Island in Oromocto. Was there with critter431 and Q.B. The cache was Evil Islands Giant Stump – GC2YT5Z . It was probably the trip there and the company that I remember the most.
The strangest geocaches container you have ever encountered:
Can’t think of anything really strange for a container at the moment. Like everyone I did find some really great ones.
I can only think of finding something strange on the way to a container. A certain type of “plant” a few weeks ago. And no. I didn’t pick it. So don’t ask me to share.
5×5 for me is “Pie in the Sky” I solved and found it. I can’t retrieve it due to its location. If I could it would be my favorite cache of all time. Very cool puzzle and a very difficult cache to log.
The point I wanted to make its that for some a cache that is at the bottom of a lake might be a 5×5 for others it might be a cache that is on an island. I don’t have any of the island caches and likely will never get them. For me they are 5×5, for some they are just routine.
I don’t care about FTF, but have raced to get a few in the past and likely would if I was very close when one came out. But I don’t know how many I have. If there was a stat for it, I would likely be all over it.
Throw down? I had to think about that to know what it was. I have in the past replaced a couple of caches that I was absolutely certain were missing. In one case I was WRONG and in the other, I offended the cache owner, even though that cache was missing. I was thinking I was being helpful but as it turned out, I was not. I have pledged to not do that again as it is impossible to say if the cache is missing or just well hidden.
I think it is bad practice and new comers, like I was, should be told about the pit falls of doing it. That is what is great about this kind of forum.
Claiming an FTF before a cache is published
We dont care about FTF
The longest time you have ever spent finding a single cache
Not sure of this question means looking on one occasion or more than one occasion and dows it mean a successful search? I think our total time on Brain Drain might be our longest
What’s your favorite 5/5 rated cache?
We have two 5/5 caches found but not sure which ones they are although I could check our finds on GSAK, but I wont.
The strangest geocaches container you have ever encountered
Many years ago we found a cache in fake doggie doo doo.
A legitimate reason to leave a throwdown
HMMM. OK time for honesty. We have placed throw downs on a two or three occasions. They were micro caches that were easy 1.5/1.5 and had lots of finds before all of a sudden having some DNF’s. We looked a long time and found evidence of where the cache should be. We informed the owner and gave them the option of deleting our finds. The owners thanked us.
It may sound phony but these were in out of the way places and it could be a hastle for the owner to go and fix it. We also felt that this would be helpful for other cachers looking for the cache.
On one occasion we planned on doing a large series of caches during one of our caching trips. The caches were in out of the way locations and our advance planning indicated that many were in trouble. With prior permission from the owner (and thanks) we did maintenance (new logs, baggies, hooks, wires, etc.). With permisssion, we also replaced two caches that had gone missing (based on a number of DNF and our long search).
i have fun with ftf’s when they’re close to home. only because it gives me something to do.
claiming one before it’s published seems bizarre. it’s not like there’s a prize at the end never mind that it’s not even tracked 😉
throwdowns are situational too i guess.
if you can’t find it fine but i’ll laugh if someone else does.
longest time spent searching for a cache: GC1E6GW its disabled now
i was there at least 8 times. it was en route to the in-laws.
i logged 3 dnf’s.
i must have spent 3 or more hours looking for that thing.
i’ll find a 5/5 someday!
strangest container for me is more about the camo: GC1ER7K
bigbear from PEI chiming in.
– FTF..nope not before a cache is published. I DO love FTF’s but love the thrill of getting em more. Watching the notification come up, then getting to the cache and hoping the log is blank is a bigger deal.
– throwdowns…. ONLY if the i actually find the container and it’s destroyed. and even then i email the cache owner with a pic of the wrecked container and the new one and ask for permission to log.
– longest time. about an hour. in two 30 min sessions. and i still haven’t found it. *shakes fist at Critter* 🙂 🙂 two DNF’s for me so far. Will look again
– i haven’t got a 5/5 yet!
– strangest? or best! 🙂 I’d say that Some of Olewaif’s “Funky Flea Market” hides here on the Island are fun containers. Over on the Mainland I’d give kudos to Critter and Chatelaine as having some neat cache containers.
FTF for me is if I get it cool if I don’t get it whatever.
Never placed a throwdown have found one though, it was reall lame. Baggie with a log sheet.
Longest time spent looking for a cache is without a doubt GC14PEQ.
5/5 is gilberts cove,, walked up through the woods, crossed the ice, that critter said was not advisable to do and found the cache in 20min.
Strangest container would have to be a plastic muskrat.Also lots of critter caches are included in there.
FTF prior to publish –
I have not had the opportunity to find a cache pre-publish but I would not claim it as an FTF. I have found containers first post-publish and had others claim the FTF as they found it prior.Not cool.
Throwdown-
On a couple of occasions, I have replaced a container that just had a baggie and log sheet or just the remains of what used to be a container but its not a practice that I do often.
Longest time searching –
GC1EGTH is one that took me many visits and I really don’t want to know how much time was spent at the location. Turns out that the original was missing and milosheart replaced the container. Was happy to have that smiley!!
Strangest container –
Has to be White Trash from critter (GC33103), although was a great hide !