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Finding an archived cache


Mol Ecule

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Hello -

 

While out caching in a relatively obscure park recently, I came across a cache located under the hand-railing of a footbridge. The thing is, I didn't see the micro cache container at first and searched instead underneath the bridge, where I found an ammo can (which was NOT the cache i was looking for) with a log that hadn't been signed since 2014. Which seemed odd to me, because the cache i was looking for had been found the previous day.

 

Eventually, after comparing the online logs against the signatures in the ammo can log, I realized that what I had found was a forgotten and archived cache, placed at the same location as the "new" cache I was searching for.

 

I left the ammo can where I found it, though I was tempted to claim it. My question is this - what is the etiquette in such a situation? Ive searched some forums but didn't on the subject. Is the ammo can up for grabs?

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Similar to BST, I'd log the archived hide (if not locked), and attempt contact with the owner about the ammo can.

Rare today it seems, but he may have it listed on another site.

We know of one long-archived, now on another site, that still hasn't been found in years.

You can see on the cache page what may be the reason for archival.

 

We know of a few people who "recycled" ammo cans from long-absent COs. :)

Edited by cerberus1
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You'll get different opinions for sure.

 

Me, one of my guidelines i set for myself is that a cache needs to be currently "active" on this, or another, geocaching site when i log it. However, i'm in the minority and figure most people would log it since they did find a cache. I'd say that this is all up to you.

 

On the container, a couple of things could be going on. If both caches were placed by the same owner, then it's possible he thought the ammocan went missing, archived it, then placed the smaller cache. If this isn't the case, then it's fairly obvious the cache owner is no longer interested in it. I'd probably remove it to keep future confusion down,,, if i lived close to the area. I would certainly try to contact the CO to make sure and if i didn't hear back from them, think about using it for a new hide.

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It's find so log it as found. I would also shoot an e-mail to the CO offering to pick it up for him. He may say yes and tell you to keep it. If you don't hear back from him, he has obviously abandoned it and it should be removed unless it is cross listed on another website (unlikely).

 

+1 on all counts.

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How big is the ammo can? If it's a pretty good sized ammo can that would be cool to use it as a cache and put some really swell swag in it and put it in a really cool hiding spot.

 

Just keep in mind that until the CO says it's OK, that ammo can doesn't belong to you!!!

 

Simply taking it, putting "some really swell swag in it and put it in a really cool hiding spot" is stealing. This is not the only cache-based game.

 

More information is needed before it's moved.

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Take the ammo can. It hasn't been signed in to since 2014. Not likely listed on another site--that's super rare and if it is you would think the CO would note it in the cache container (I did when I listed my letterboxes on GC). What a shame to leave it to rot. It sends a poor message--geocachers litter. If you find the old archived cache listing, leave a note on the page saying you are using it for a hide but if the owner wants the can back they can contact you.

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Firstly with the container: Leave it. For now. Always attempt to contact the owner if you can before doing anything with it. Regardless of websites, you have no idea what its purpose for being there is, so taking it would effectively be stealing, or at worst potentially messing something up. If you're concerned about the litter, then you can certainly return to pick it up after a time you feel implies it should be cleaned up (by owner permission or effective abandonment).

 

Geocaching.com etiquette? Whatever suits you :)

Heck you could log a Needs Archived on the archived listing if you can find and want to be weird :P

 

Just remember that the container isn't yours to do with as you please just because you found it within the arbitrary proximity rule set up by one website. Take the next step based on interaction (or lack) with its owner.

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It's definitely an old geocache - the GC number is on the log but the ink is smeared, making it impossible to determine what the original cache was, even if archived. I have reached out to the CO of the current cache.

 

Not impossible at all. Even if you can't make out the Cache ID on the container or log, if you can read ANY log entries you have a record of who found it. Check the histories of those users around the dates listed in the paper log.

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It's definitely an old geocache - the GC number is on the log but the ink is smeared, making it impossible to determine what the original cache was, even if archived. I have reached out to the CO of the current cache.

 

Not impossible at all. Even if you can't make out the Cache ID on the container or log, if you can read ANY log entries you have a record of who found it. Check the histories of those users around the dates listed in the paper log.

 

ooooooohhh, I said "users" instead of "cachers" when talking about "log entries". Anybody wanna guess what line I'm in?

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It's definitely an old geocache - the GC number is on the log but the ink is smeared, making it impossible to determine what the original cache was, even if archived. I have reached out to the CO of the current cache.

If you do a map compare on project-gc you could find archived and disabled caches around a centre point. If you have the approximate coordinates this would find all caches that have been located within, say, 1 km of them. It'll be on that list.

 

Not hard to do, but if you give us the coordinates I'm sure someone can sniff it out for you!

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Hello -

 

While out caching in a relatively obscure park recently, I came across a cache located under the hand-railing of a footbridge. The thing is, I didn't see the micro cache container at first and searched instead underneath the bridge, where I found an ammo can (which was NOT the cache i was looking for) with a log that hadn't been signed since 2014. Which seemed odd to me, because the cache i was looking for had been found the previous day.

 

Eventually, after comparing the online logs against the signatures in the ammo can log, I realized that what I had found was a forgotten and archived cache, placed at the same location as the "new" cache I was searching for.

 

I left the ammo can where I found it, though I was tempted to claim it. My question is this - what is the etiquette in such a situation? Ive searched some forums but didn't on the subject. Is the ammo can up for grabs?

 

What geocache were you looking for when you found the Ammo Can instead? There may be something in the description of that cache from the owner about their connection to the area. OFten times if somebody hides a cache in a park where they found one of their first geocaches, they might mention it in the description.

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That's a great idea - hadn't thought of that route - I'll return to the cache site this week and gather the info.

 

It's happened to me a couple times. Once while hunting for a spot to hide a cache and once while hunting a new cache.

 

In the former case, I had to do a little digging in the log history to figure out which cache it was, but got it eventually. I left it in place and never ended up using that spot...but logged the find anyway. Hey...it's a valid find! Some time later I went back by there and noticed it was no longer in place. It had sat there for years untouched until I found it, then within a couple weeks it went missing. Strange...

 

In the latter, I took the container away for two reasons: First, because it was only a magnetic key hide and the CO had been inactive for a couple years. Second, because I found it while searching for a new cache and figured others would as well and it would be confused with the new one. Also, I logged THAT find too...still valid.

 

In a third case, I was at a local park to hide a new cache and realized I'd been there before and a cache I'd found there had been archived by the CO six months earlier. It was an ammo can, so I decided to use it for the new cache. I placed it near the original hiding spot, emailed the CO and asked if he minded. After a week without any response, I went ahead and listed it. Still there and the CO never has contacted me, two years later! I'd be willing to let him have it back and let him know that since I have a couple new ammo cans in my car trunk, but this one truly was abandoned.

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It's definitely an old geocache - the GC number is on the log but the ink is smeared, making it impossible to determine what the original cache was, even if archived. I have reached out to the CO of the current cache.

If you do a map compare on project-gc you could find archived and disabled caches around a centre point. If you have the approximate coordinates this would find all caches that have been located within, say, 1 km of them. It'll be on that list.

 

Not hard to do, but if you give us the coordinates I'm sure someone can sniff it out for you!

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I took pics of the log pages and have combed through the history of caches for various cachers - none of the dates for found seem to match the physical logs, but back in '06 when the cache was placed no one was using cell phones to log finds as they found them. no luck so far.

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GIVE US THE COORDINATES. GIVE THEM TO US NOW. WE MUST KNOW.

 

:anibad:

That is quite a demand. I know the coordinates and have been trying to help figure out what the cache could've been but no luck right now.

Note that the winking Signal indicates a joking tone for hzoi's post. Their "demand" is simply an expression of their excitement for wanting to help solve this puzzle.

 

But seriously, keeping the details of this mystery cache secret just makes it harder for anyone to help solve the mystery. There are lots of resourceful folks here that can use various deductive and technological methods to figure it out based on the coordinates or names/dates from the logbook.

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GIVE US THE COORDINATES. GIVE THEM TO US NOW. WE MUST KNOW.

 

:anibad:

 

That is quite a demand. I know the coordinates and have been trying to help figure out what the cache could've been but no luck right now.

 

So you have them and you're not sharing, either? What, is there an exclusive souvenir in it for you?

 

:anibad: :anibad:

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