Cache Published, Cache Not Hidden (yet)

[+Grasmere Duo]

I was just so frustrated today. I seldom get an opportunity for a FTF or even second place but thought I had a chance this morning. A newly published cache was a good 20 minutes or more from my house. I don't have a phone with email and am not normally home during the day so when I saw this in my email, I got my husband off the couch and we hit the road. We parked and walked 0.3 into the woods when we met another cacher (with nearly 1800 finds) and together we searched for over an hour. Another prolific cacher had already logged a DNF on it. With all our experience, we just couldn't understand how all of us were missing it. We even expanded our search out 50'.

 

Long story short, the new CO hadn't hidden it yet. He sent it for review on Nov. 25, it was published 5 days later, and over 5 hours after that, he hides it. Grrrr........

 

I doubt this community can do any more to ensure that folks read and understand the rules. The placing a cache guidelines, step 4 should have clued him in. Maybe more time caching and talking to other cachers would have helped. He really is a newbie. With all the woods and shopping centers here in New Hampshire, you can get 18 caches in a day (his current total). My caching friends and I have set personal goals (at least 100 caches found) before placing one. I know, I know, most of you don't agree and there are exceptional CO's with far fewer found caches found but with every hobby or sport, the more time you spend "practicing" or having a mentor, the better you are.

 

I mostly want to vent. I was terribly annoyed, but probably more so because this was all before breakfast and my sugar levels were low!

 

GC389YJ

[+Chrysalides]

It happens, and as you noted, not much we can do about it. You can try to restrict your FTF attempts to those by experienced cachers, but even that is no guarantee - some I've attempted had bad coordinates. Even experienced cachers make mistakes sometimes.

 

I take it as an opportunity to meet other cachers out in the wild.

[+StarBrand]

My first experience with that was back in 2002. I spent over 2 hours searching - only to find it had not been placed yet. Took me just minutes when it was there!!

[+addisonbr]

That's the downside of being an FTF hound for you... I've been bitten by that a couple of times. I try not to let it bother me too much, since 99% of the time the hiding cacher was well-intentioned.

[+badger10]

We ran into that locally. A new cacher placed a cache on a riverbank. After several DNF's the cachers were discussing (on local groups page) if this is another idiot playing games. We have been visited by the cache thieves. The cacher did not have a find yet. A couple of days after it was published he put it out. The cache didn't last long because it was on an eroding riverbank in a city park. The local Park Ranger (cacher) had GS archive it due to where it was placed and the damage to the riverbank.

[+ChileHead]

Every time you go out for a FTF, consider it a beta test. Might work, might not.

[+Harry Dolphin]

It's happened to me a few times. I hope the COs' ears were burning with what I was saying under my breath!

[+LewisClan77]

It has happened to me on a few occasions. The most recent one was about a year ago. I was in a park looking for an ammo can. I had been there for about 20 minutes when another local FTF hunter showed up. We looked for another 20 minutes or so when we see the CO walking up with the can in his hand. I was so irritated that I didn't even log it. All of his caches have went on my ignore list since.

[+L0ne.R]

Long story short, the new CO hadn't hidden it yet. He sent it for review on Nov. 25, it was published 5 days later, and over 5 hours after that, he hides it. Grrrr........

 

I doubt this community can do any more to ensure that folks read and understand the rules. The placing a cache guidelines, step 4 should have clued him in.

 

One of the ideas under consideration in the Feedback site was to use a quiz to test knowledge of the guidelines. Someone can take the quiz as often as they'd like and once they answered a minimum number of questions correctly it's sets a flag which allows them to submit a cache for publishing.

 

I thought that the suggestion was under consideration but I'm not sure. If it is, one of the questions should be....The geocache must be in place before you send in the cache submission form for review. True or False.

 

I just had a look at the current submission form and do not see anything on it about the geocache needing to be in place. I'm pretty sure the form used to say that. It currently has a check box that says "Enable cache listing. It is ready for review. (If the listing is not yet ready to be reviewed, uncheck this box.) Note: Only 'Enabled' cache listings are visible to the reviewer." I'm guessing that lots of people wouldn't assume that "It is ready for review" means that the cache should be in place when you enable the submission form. Hmmmmm.

 

[+Grasmere Duo]

I had sent email to the cache owner letting him know that his sequence of events were off. He replied, quite apologetic. Said he was new to this and that he was in a hurry to get it out because two of the four friends are leaving the state. His closest pal is in the hospital so his mind is elsewhere. What was important to me is that he understands now how to do it.

 

Too bad this is not the only time it has happened. Thanks to all who posted about similar events.

 

I just had dinner so I am feeling kindly now (sugar level is all right!). I will go reassure the CO that he is forgiven.

[+Ambrosia]

It happens, and as you noted, not much we can do about it. You can try to restrict your FTF attempts to those by experienced cachers, but even that is no guarantee - some I've attempted had bad coordinates. Even experienced cachers make mistakes sometimes.

 

I take it as an opportunity to meet other cachers out in the wild.

This is about the only reason I like FTF's. It's fun to meet up with other locals. I haven't done it in a while, but I have some good memories (mostly at night for some reason) of mini events at cache sites.

[+SwineFlew]

Every time you go out for a FTF, consider it a beta test. Might work, might not.

 

Where is the disclaimer?

[+addisonbr]

I'm guessing that lots of people wouldn't assume that "It is ready for review" means that the cache should be in place when you enable the submission form.

I think this is very true.

[+Jumpin' Jack Cache]

It happens. Usually no more than once per new hider. Best to laugh with them about it.

[+Team Hugs]

I'll confess ... this happened to me on my first hide. Frankly, I didn't realize how quickly caches could be reviewed, and I certainly didn't realize how serious the FTF hounds are.

 

I had posted the cache description at 11pm one night, and planned on placing the cache on my way to work the next morning. As of 7am the next morning, no action had been taken. By the time I got to the cache site at 7:30am, the cache had been published and the first DNF was entered. Luckily, I sent the cacher a quick note, letting him know it was now in place, and he dashed back to get his well-earned FTF.

 

Oh, well ... lesson learned. I just submitted my second cache description tonight ... after making sure the cache was in place first. See, some of us do learn eventually how this stuff works ...

Edited December 1, 2011 by Team Hugs

[+JeepFreak81]

I have over 50 finds now and have been caching for about 3 months. I now have 3 hides. I just placed one today and submitted it for review, it was reviewed within 1.5 hours. I think many people don't realize that sometimes the reviewers are right on top of things. I'm a prolific reader of anything that has to do with the hobby I'm entering so I had a good understanding of things before I placed my first hide.

 

Also to the OP - I'm also in NH, although further away from any shopping centers.

[+jellis]

We had one like that. I saw that the first cacher posted a dnf with a question on if it was there. I sent a message to the owner with the same question. Then I went over to check it out. Turns out this was a new cacher who didn't know if the location was available so they submitting it not knowing anyone would try to go for it.

By the time I got there which was about 6 mile away, the owner had been there and placed the cache. I was surprised thinking the previous cacher maybe missed the spot.

You might say the that previous cacher was not happy to find out the cache was not there when he tried.

[+Ambrosia]

I have over 50 finds now and have been caching for about 3 months. I now have 3 hides. I just placed one today and submitted it for review, it was reviewed within 1.5 hours. I think many people don't realize that sometimes the reviewers are right on top of things. I'm a prolific reader of anything that has to do with the hobby I'm entering so I had a good understanding of things before I placed my first hide.

 

Also to the OP - I'm also in NH, although further away from any shopping centers.

Caches can be reviewed within minutes. It all depends on how many caches are waiting to be reviewed, and if the reviewer happens to be right there when the cache pops up.

 

One of my most recent cache hides was published a few minutes after I submitted it.

[+WarNinjas]

I hid one cache not to long ago and I sent it in for review and was going to add the pics and all after. I was instantly locked! I couldn't add all the stuff I wanted to it. For some reason it was not published until the next morning but the reviewer was right on in within a min or so. It was my fault for submitting it for review before I had set it up the way I wanted and would rather it go that way then waiting days for it to get reviewed. I was glad they were on it so quick. As for not actually hiding it first I guess that could be a newbie mistake. Would be mad maybe if it was someone with experience. When ever I go to find a cache I know I might not find it so that is just a part of the game you have to be ready for I guess.

-WarNinjas

[+jellis]

Best way is first get the coords to location you want, contact your local reviewer to see if the spot is available, place the cache, start a cache page with the coords, and send it to get published. Simple as that.

Problem we have been seeing is the newbies here (in our area) are not reading forums, guidelines or the knowledge books.

Edited December 1, 2011 by jellis

[+JeepFreak81]

Best way is first get the coords to location you want, contact your local reviewer to see if the spot is available, place the cache, start a cache page with the coords, and send it to get published. Simple as that.

Problem we have been seeing is the newbies here (in our area) are not reading forums, guidelines or the knowledge books.

 

I've been creating the cache page first and just not enabling. I'll put rough coordinates in, sometimes I simply use google earth to get close to where I have interest in placing the cache. Then of course when I go out to physically place that cache I take a few waypoints and average the coordinates. I like to make the page first though to sort of put a place holder for that spot. It could be days before I get out and take hard coordinates.

[+wimseyguy]

I doubt this community can do any more to ensure that folks read and understand the rules.

Agreed-and the chances that a new hider will see threads like this are less than 1%.

[+addisonbr]

I doubt this community can do any more to ensure that folks read and understand the rules.

Agreed-and the chances that a new hider will see threads like this are less than 1%.

Agreed as well. The best solutions involve adjusting the UI for the cache submission form, I think.

[+Legochugglers]

As someone that enjoys a good FTF race I'm afraid it comes with the territory. I have been out on many occasions where co-ordinates are wrong, caches haven't been placed, Puzzle co-ordinates are incorrect and stages of a multi are in the wrong place. Add to this that you might be the first one to encounter a 'bad' hide (dangerous, private property, spoof, very dificult but D/T one star, etc) then you need to be prepared for anything. Some will moan but I take it as part of the fun and excitement of being first out there.

[+addisonbr]

As someone that enjoys a good FTF race I'm afraid it comes with the territory.

FTF hounds are the beta testers of the hiking world.

[+popokiiti]

Things like that happen - I bet the new cache hider has learned a lesson. I had a red face once...we put out a new cache, and I forgot to place a log sheet in it. Ouch!!

[+WarNinjas]

I had a red face once...we put out a new cache, and I forgot to place a log sheet in it. Ouch!!

That is funny as we did the same thing! We decided last min we wanted to place one in a certain spot. Picked out a container and PinkNinja wanted to put a little notebook in as the log and it almost fit but not quite. So we filled it with swagg and thought we had put in a smaller one but didn't!

Another mistake we made was I was reading off the cords to PinkNinja and she mixed up 2 of the numbers. We made the listing off of what she had written. The next day at work I got a email saying it was in someones yard? Then someone sent me a pic of where it was on google maps! :blink:

-WarNinjas