Keep finding abandoned caches

[+slyuso]

It happened to me for the third time.

Some time ago, while looking for a place to hide my cache, I found cache that does not seem to be used.

In one instance, I saw the log with the last log entry more than a year ago.

The cache did not have its name on the log. Looking at the coordinates in "Search" I did not found one in about 100' from it.

I assume that it might be one of the not-traditional caches.

 

Recently, I found a plastic container with the "Geocache found disclaimer" message.

It did not contain neither name, nor GC-type ID. The log was empty with the message saying "replaced in 2013".

 

A week ago, I found one more -- regular-sized camo-box. It was name on it, GC ID, and new travel bug.

I was really glad to sign it -- with my first TFT. I thought it was just published and I just happened to be there at that moment.

The, when I was home, I searched for it and did not find it.

When I entered the CG ID, I received a message saying that this cache has not been published yet.

 

Questions.

 

Is there any time frame when a cache is unpublished state or any way to know that a specific cache expected to be published ?

I don't want to make a bad guess but the content of the cache pointed to a retired old guy.

 

What is the best way to handle accidentally found "orphan" caches?

Edited February 5, 2016 by slyuso

[+BCandMsKitty]

I'm not saying this is the cache for the last instance, but I have a friend that will hide a cache (get the GC number and everything) then he'll sit on it for sometimes as much as a month before pulling the trigger and submitting it. Sometimes he hides a container without writing it up and do all that several weeks later. I caught him once because I hid a cache and published it right beside one of his "trial" caches. He told me about it later, cause he had to go out and get his unpublished one.

I've asked him why but never get a good answer.

I think he goes back and verifies if it's a good spot or not.

 

And he is in fact retired, but not an old guy!

Edited February 4, 2016 by BC & MsKitty

[+cerberus1]

Similar to BC & MsKitty, a friend of mine may place a cache when he's hunting or working in an area.

- Just chanced on an awesome spot.

Might sit on it for some time before he decides it's his idea of cool (might even be with the seasons).

He's known for having some of the best views and unusual areas for caches.

I believe it's because he's actually thought it through.

 

In one instance, I saw the log with the last log entry more than a year ago.

Some caches in my area (after the locals found 'em ) may only be visited once a year or so by others passing through.

I have one cache that wasn't visited for almost three years before a group went for it.

Curious why you feel the last visited date has any meaning...

[+hzoi]

You can do a search for archived caches in your area using project-gc.com to see if any of these caches fit the bill. Or figure it out by looking up the usernames of the last few finders, looking at their found caches, and using process of elimination.

 

There's also the possibility that these were never geocaching.com geocaches, but were (or still are) caches listed on another site, or even letterboxes listed on a letterbox site.

 

Certainly, I recommend doing your homework before you remove them. Your local reviewer can also assist you.

 

edit to add: for the one with a GC code, I would definitely contact your reviewer, as this is obviously an unpublished geocaching.com cache.

 

And I'd go ahead and log a find -- after all, the stock geocache note does start out with, "Congratulations! You found it! (Intentionally or not!)

Edited February 4, 2016 by hzoi

[+Manville Possum]

There are other lesser used geocache listing services, so it's not a sure thing that the caches are abandoned.

[+slyuso]

Curious why you feel the last visited date has any meaning...

 

To me it kind of indication that it was abandoned. Especially because it was in very busy place and easy to find.

Agree, only the last visited date means nothing.

[+slyuso]

There are other lesser used geocache listing services, so it's not a sure thing that the caches are abandoned.

Thanks, I did not know that.

[Pup Patrol]

Curious why you feel the last visited date has any meaning...

 

To me it kind of indication that it was abandoned. Especially because it was in very busy place and easy to find.

Agree, only the last visited date means nothing.

 

My caches are in well-travelled areas. If they get found once a year, I'm thrilled. They are in no way "abandoned".

 

One of my favourite things to do is to seek out caches that haven't been logged as "found" in at least 6 months, preferably a year. They aren't abandoned.

 

I hope you rescued that travel bug, no matter what the situation is with the cache. I really wish people would not put trackables in caches before they are published. It sucks when your trackable gets "lost" because the cache violates guidelines and doesn't get published.

 

 

B.

[Pup Patrol]

What is the best way to handle accidentally found "orphan" caches?

 

Until you know definitely what the situation is, then there is nothing for you to do. And if you don't know the situation, then you are assuming it's an "orphan". All kinds of scenarios could explain things.

 

You could contact the Reviewer, and ask for help identifying the cache. If you submit the location for review, then you should get some sort of answer about whether the location is available for a new cache placement.

 

B.

[+Pond Bird]

One cache with a GC code may be one that hasn't been published yet. You can see if a reviewer is in the process of viewing the cache or not and see if you can log it. As for the others, they might not be "geocaches" as others have said they could be a letterboxes.

[+Mn-treker]

All of you have neglected the obvious one here. A stronger possibility that it may be the final to a multi or the answer to a puzzle.

Stage one of the multi may be miles away, I read of one that was 1000 miles apart. However stage one of a puzzle will be within two miles.

Edited February 5, 2016 by Mn-treker

[+hzoi]

All of you have neglected the obvious one here. A stronger possibility that it may be the final to a multi or the answer to a puzzle.

Stage one of the multi may be miles away, I read of one that was 1000 miles apart. However stage one of a puzzle will be within two miles.

How did any of the above suggestions exclude that possibility?

[+Mn-treker]

(1) slyuso starts out with thinking this is an abandoned cache.

(2) BC & MsKitty points tword this being an unpublished cache.

(3) cerberus 1 also points that way.

(4) hzoi (you) point to it is possible archived.

(5) Manville Possum points to possible another geocaching site.

 

I have read in these forums that the other site (competitor) has closed down.

So yes nobody thought to mention a possible muti or puzzle.

 

(7) Pup Patrol came close to mentioning the multi or puzzle posibility.

 

But in my experience the reviewer will not give identity of the cache

in the area unless CO says they can.

Trying to place one will get you info as to something too close though.

That happened to me, I was able to force find stage one to a 10 part puzzle multi.

About 300 miles of driving to find the final, which was 50 miles from stage one.

I also have found unpublished ones though. It was too close to another that I had found.

The CO failed to come retrieve it, 6 months later I found it while on a cache hunt.

It sat there as geotrash for six months, the log book was dated. I thought it was a piece of trash.

A Duff beer can game can, it is now a geocache someplace else.

[+K13]

(1) slyuso starts out with thinking this is an abandoned cache.

(2) BC & MsKitty points tword this being an unpublished cache.

(3) cerberus 1 also points that way.

(4) hzoi (you) point to it is possible archived.

(5) Manville Possum points to possible another geocaching site.

 

I have read in these forums that the other site (competitor) has closed down.

So yes nobody thought to mention a possible muti or puzzle.

 

(7) Pup Patrol came close to mentioning the multi or puzzle posibility.

 

But in my experience the reviewer will not give identity of the cache

in the area unless CO says they can.

Trying to place one will get you info as to something too close though.

That happened to me, I was able to force find stage one to a 10 part puzzle multi.

About 300 miles of driving to find the final, which was 50 miles from stage one.

I also have found unpublished ones though. It was too close to another that I had found.

The CO failed to come retrieve it, 6 months later I found it while on a cache hunt.

It sat there as geotrash for six months, the log book was dated. I thought it was a piece of trash.

A Duff beer can game can, it is now a geocache someplace else.

 

 

Nope. There are several other sites out there. One site owned by a GPS company has folded, but there are others....one had the most listings in a(n) European country until just recently.

[+noncentric]

All of you have neglected the obvious one here. A stronger possibility that it may be the final to a multi or the answer to a puzzle.

Stage one of the multi may be miles away, I read of one that was 1000 miles apart. However stage one of a puzzle will be within two miles.

Maybe nobody mentioned them (multis, puzzles) to the OP because s/he seemed to already be aware of that possibility.

 

I assume that it might be one of the not-traditional caches.

[Pup Patrol]

 

(5) Manville Possum points to possible another geocaching site.

 

I have read in these forums that the other site (competitor) has closed down.

So yes nobody thought to mention a possible muti or puzzle.

 

One other geocaching site folded. Still active are TerraCaching and NaviCache

 

(7) Pup Patrol came close to mentioning the multi or puzzle possibility.

 

I originally did specifically mention multis and puzzles, but then realized that a Reviewer would not tell you outright that you found the final of one of those. So I changed my post.

 

B.

[+cerberus1]

One other geocaching site folded. Still active are TerraCaching and NaviCache

Also, IIRC, there's still a few active with the same name as the (now done) site, but with different domain Registers.

[+K13]

One other geocaching site folded. Still active are TerraCaching and NaviCache

Also, IIRC, there's still a few active with the same name as the (now done) site, but with different domain Registers.

 

Opencaching North America is another active one, to add to PupPatrol's list.

Edited February 9, 2016 by K13

[+niraD]

I fixed the link...

 

Opencaching North America is another active one, to add to PupPatrol's list.

[+K13]

I fixed the link...

 

Opencaching North America is another active one, to add to PupPatrol's list.

 

Thanks.

 

I edited my post also.

[+Manville Possum]

 

(5) Manville Possum points to possible another geocaching site.

 

I have read in these forums that the other site (competitor) has closed down.

 

Garmin's OpenCaching site which was never part of the OpenCaching network that predates and exists in North America and Europe closed down after about five years. Garmin only used the OpenCaching name in an attempt to compete with Groundspeak. The site was a complete failure.

[Keystone]

Let's return to addressing the OP's questions, and strive to avoid having the thread turn into a registry of competing listing sites. (There's a few that haven't been mentioned yet!) Suffice it to say that there's a theoretical possibility that the caches in question are listed at some site other than Geocaching.com, or are cross-listed. Thanks.

[+Mn-treker]

Let's return to addressing the OP's questions, and strive to avoid having the thread turn into a registry of competing listing sites. (There's a few that haven't been mentioned yet!) Suffice it to say that there's a theoretical possibility that the caches in question are listed at some site other than Geocaching.com, or are cross-listed. Thanks.

 

One thing that the OP could try is to take a picture of the log sheet.

Then compare that to some nearby cache pages. To see if that sheet coincides with it. When you find one, there is a darn good chance that you have found it. SL and make a claim to the find. I have seen this work before.

Edited February 9, 2016 by Mn-treker