Newbie needs more help

[+prospectb2b]

Ugh! Couldn't find anything today. There must be some other "typical" finds that I don't know about. My problem is that I don't know any experienced GCs to go with. Maybe a couple of good advisors could help. Here are a couple of things I need to know. How accurate are the coords? I've been going to GZ and expanding about 20 feet or more. Also, twice the coords took me to fire hydrants that stood alone and there was nothing else around. The comments were always "easy c&d" so there must be something I'm missing. I've looked for funny bubble gum, bolts, under lamp posts, odd rocks, etc... what am I missing?? Yesterday I found ones that were listed as harder so I must be over analyzing something. HELP!!

[+cerberus1]

20' isn't that bad. At that distance, put the gps away and start looking.

A nano would be small enough for a hydrant.

I personally don't care for hydrant hides and thought they were no longer published.

If one of these things catch on, or clog up equipment during a fire, we're gonna hear about it...

[+niraD]

My problem is that I don't know any experienced GCs to go with.

Have you tried attending some of the local events? They can be a great way to get to know local geocachers. Or perhaps there is a local geocaching forum or Facebook group.

 

Yesterday I found ones that were listed as harder so I must be over analyzing something.

That's not unheard of. I've been known to find a D4 custom camouflage cache in 10 minutes, and to (literally) trip over a D1 regular-size container that was sitting out in the open.

 

Anyway, here are some beginners tips that I've posted before. They may help.

 

A common recommendation for beginners is to stick with small size, regular size, and large size caches. Until you're more experienced, avoid micro size caches, some of which are smaller than most beginners can imagine (sometimes called "nanos"). Save those for later, after you have some experience.

 

Also, stick with caches that have a difficulty rating of no more than 2 stars . Save the more difficult ones for later. You may also want to choose caches with easy terrain ratings. (The difficulty rating tells you how hard it is to find the cache once you get there. The terrain rating tells you how hard it is to get there.) And it is often best to start with traditional caches, which will be at the published coordinates. Multi-caches or mystery/puzzle caches or other cache types can require more work just to figure out where the container is located.

 

Under ideal conditions, a consumer GPSr will be accurate to about 3m (10ft). That applies both to your device, and to the cache owner’s device, so you may find the container 5-6m (16-20ft) from ground zero under ideal conditions. Under less than ideal conditions, both GPSr readings can be much less accurate. Once you get within that distance of ground zero, put your device away and look around for places where a container could be hidden.

 

Where would you hide something? Do you notice anything unusual? Is anything too new, too old, too organized (e.g., UPS: an Unnatural Pile of Sticks/Stones), too symmetrical, not quite the right color or shape, etc.? Don’t look only on the ground; the cache may be knee-level, waist-level, eye-level, or overhead. How might the container be secured in place? With magnets? With a hook? With string? With fishing line? With something else? Does anything move when you touch it? (Be careful when touching things though.)

 

Go ahead and read the cache's additional hints (if provided), and read the past logs and look at any photos in the cache's image gallery. They may help you understand what you're looking for, and how/where it may be hidden. It may also help to look at some of the cache containers available online. For example, check out the cache containers sold by Groundspeak. Also, take a look at the Pictures - Cool Cache Containers (CCC's) thread in the forums.

[+Chief301]

Also, twice the coords took me to fire hydrants that stood alone and there was nothing else around. The comments were always "easy c&d" so there must be something I'm missing.

 

Remember, some cache containers can be MAGNETIC....also, the type of micro commonly referred to as a Nano can be extremely tiny...like the size of a pencil eraser. So you're probably looking for something that size, attached magnetically to the hydrant. You'll want to not only LOOK with your eyes but FEEL with your hands...feel around under the flanges and outlets of the hydrant....really grope that thing ?. I'll bet you'll encounter a little tiny cylindrical piece that will move ?

 

Also, does the NAME of the cache or anything in the description refer to fire, or water, or anything like that? That would be a clue that the hydrant is probably the correct focus of your search.

 

Finally, check the RECENT LOGS...if the last few logs are DNF's following a string of "easy" finds, the cache may actually be missing.

Edited August 18, 2014 by Chief301

[+wmpastor]

The comment about "typical hides" is correct. There are some often-repeated types of hides. Anyone who listed them for you would be spoiling part of your fun of discovering them. One involves lampposts, & I'll say no more. I found one of those at a convenience store parking lot. The cache write-up said "in the usual spot." One cacher posted a DNF and told of the dozen places he looked, all of which would have been tough hides. He had never seen "the usual spot," obviously.

[+prospectb2b]

Thanks for all the help! I've been finding the itsy busty ones pretty easily now!!