+Mr Puzzle Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Hi there, I'm quite new to geocaching but already love it. I would like to create some caches. I will travel to Venice in few days, and I see that there is no cache on burano island, which is sad. So, I would like to add a cache on it. BUT I know that rules seem to forbid that, because I can't really do maintenance on it. I was thinking that a simple traditionnal cache would not need a lot of maintenance. But maybe, experienced users can share their thoughts. If I can't hide it for these reasons, I would like to contact a local geocacher that could maintain it to prove the reviewer this cache can exist. So, what's the best way to do that ? Is there some kinds of forums where I can find a geocacher of Venice ? Or do you think such a cache can be accepted by reviewer because it's a simply one and it will don't need lot of maintenance. Moreover, if the cache need maintenance 6 months after being hidden, it's not a real problem if it is archived, it would have lived 6 months and enjoy people during its short live, isn't it ? This question leverages this topic : why we really need a maintenance owner ? As I say, if a cache lives 6 months and finally archived for whatever reason, well it's already 6 months of a potentially nice cache in a lovelly place ? I don't want to prepare a cache and put some travel bugs on it if experienced users definitively say me that the reviewer will not accept such a cache. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ragged Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Moreover, if the cache need maintenance 6 months after being hidden, it's not a real problem if it is archived, it would have lived 6 months and enjoy people during its short live, isn't it ? This question leverages this topic : why we really need a maintenance owner ? As I say, if a cache lives 6 months and finally archived for whatever reason, well it's already 6 months of a potentially nice cache in a lovely place ? Is it going to stay a lovely place, with broken plastic boxes left everywhere, because someone can't be bothered to remove it, and thinks Archiving it is all you need to do? You say 6 months. May only be 1 month before it gets a Needs Maintenance log... Could be a reason that local cachers haven't placed a cache there. Quote Link to comment
+Bear and Ragged Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) Geocache Ownership: A Long-Term Relationship Geocache Maintenance Owner is responsible for visits to the physical location. You are responsible for occasional visits to your cache to ensure it is in proper working order, especially when someone reports a problem with the cache (missing, damaged, wet, etc.), or posts a Needs Maintenance log. Temporarily disable your cache to let others know not to search for it until you have addressed the problem. You are permitted a reasonable amount of time – generally up to 4 weeks – in which to check on your cache. If a cache is not being maintained, or has been temporarily disabled for an unreasonable length of time, we may archive the listing. My Geocache Needs to be Archived Once your geocache has been archived, please be sure to remove the physical container from its hiding spot ASAP. Edited August 31, 2014 by Bear and Ragged Quote Link to comment
+St.Matthew Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 I wouldn't even consider the idea. It almost never works out well. I do, however, own an Earthcache in Scotland because there is no container to maintain. Perhaps you could learn some geology and place an Earthcache? Quote Link to comment
+Pinkpiggy7 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Our first needs maintenance on one of our caches was only about 2 weeks after listing, as it had been muggled. So dont assume it will last for six months. If you cant maintain it don't place it. Quote Link to comment
+Touchstone Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Link for reference: Creating an Earthcache Have a great trip! Quote Link to comment
+Lieblweb Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Never hide a cache that you can't access on a regular basis. NEVER EVER assume a cache doesn't need maintenance... Why do you think they call it maintenance? Even if your caches don't appear to need maintenance (from the logs)....you should visit them once in a while just to check to make sure they're still in good condition. Do you like to find caches that aren't in good condition? Most people don't.... Don't let your hides become one of those caches everyone hates to find. Quote Link to comment
+The_Incredibles_ Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) I agree, an Earthcache may be your best bet if you REALLY want to 'hide' something. Or you could do Waymarking. Or just enjoy your holiday and hope there's a cache to find next time you return. The trouble with traditional caches is not just that they go missing, but that the container might get broken or moldy or there's damage to the environment or needs to be moved. You need to be local to check on these things. As for getting someone else to maintain it for you, unless you know this person well, it's not likely to work. And you have to ask yourself why they haven't placed a cache there themselves. Perhaps it's not allowed in the area. Edited August 31, 2014 by The_Incredibles_ Quote Link to comment
+Mr Puzzle Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 Ok, I understand what you are saying. Thanks for your answers and to pointing me in the right direction I will follow your advices and will not put a cache in a place where i can't maintain it. Earth cache is a bit too complex for now, i was thinking of a virtual one but I've seen it has been deprecated. No matter, i will visit the lovely place and put a great comment on tripadvisor I will focus on building a great giant puzzle one in my city to compensate ! Quote Link to comment
+steben6 Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) You can do a "cache exchange" with a cacher who is local to the area where you would like to hide a cache. We have hidden one in Ireland GC21G8R and it's been going a long time. We live in California and visit Ireland every few years, but there are a couple of local cachers in Ireland that have been helpful in maintaining it for us. Look around on the other caches in the area where you wish to hide and find some really active cachers/hiders in that area. Then send them an email to see if they will help. Make sure you acknowledge their help on the cache page. Good luck! Edited August 31, 2014 by steben6 Quote Link to comment
+niraD Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Could be a reason that local cachers haven't placed a cache there.Yep. In addition to all the other reasons not to leave a vacation cache that you can't maintain, there is the issue that you really don't know the area, or this issues involved in getting adequate permission to hide a geocache in the area. For the record, my first cache was a traditional cache. It lasted less than a month before I had to replace it the first time. Within 6 months, I had performed several maintenance visits. Don't underestimate the maintenance requirements of even "a simple traditional cache". Quote Link to comment
+Mr Puzzle Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 That's ok. I've understand and I will not create a cache far away from my home I'm creating a complex puzzle cache in my city with some mechanisms or special caches. I think I will have some maintenance about 1 week after hiding it, seeing your comments I will share my experience once created for other geocachers like me that was thinking about it. I hesitate to reserve it to premium member to reduce the risk of damage... but it is another topic, already well discussed in the forums ! Quote Link to comment
+Oxford Stone Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 There doesn't seem to be a rule absolutely forbidding a CO living far from their cache(s)? I recently found a cache in Spain - CO from Switzerland. I'll let you guess the rest... I put out a cache a whole 32 miles from home - but 1 mile from my office - and was sure to put in the reviewer notes that if I change job, I'm in touch with enough local COs to get the cache adopted during my notice period (or failing that just archive it) Quote Link to comment
+NYPaddleCacher Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 There doesn't seem to be a rule absolutely forbidding a CO living far from their cache(s)? I recently found a cache in Spain - CO from Switzerland. I'll let you guess the rest... I put out a cache a whole 32 miles from home - but 1 mile from my office - and was sure to put in the reviewer notes that if I change job, I'm in touch with enough local COs to get the cache adopted during my notice period (or failing that just archive it) There are lot of caches that preceded the vacation guideline and thus are grandfathered in. I've found a couple of caches by the same CO hidden on two different continents (one in Zambia, the other in China) and he's still got active caches in many other countries all over the world. Quote Link to comment
Mr.Yuck Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) There doesn't seem to be a rule absolutely forbidding a CO living far from their cache(s)? I recently found a cache in Spain - CO from Switzerland. I'll let you guess the rest... I put out a cache a whole 32 miles from home - but 1 mile from my office - and was sure to put in the reviewer notes that if I change job, I'm in touch with enough local COs to get the cache adopted during my notice period (or failing that just archive it) There are lot of caches that preceded the vacation guideline and thus are grandfathered in. I've found a couple of caches by the same CO hidden on two different continents (one in Zambia, the other in China) and he's still got active caches in many other countries all over the world. Yeah, there was no rule against "vacaction caches" in the old days. And they slip through the cracks all the time. I could point you to a regular placed in Niagara Falls, Ontario by a cacher from the Czech Republic with like 15 finds (long after the restriction on vacation caches), that went on to be found over 1,000 times. That's probably the case with the cache in Spain with the CO from Switzerland. Although I might add, if you tell the reviewer you have a "maintenance plan", with a local maintainer, even if they're not a Geocacher, they often seem to publish those. Edited September 1, 2014 by Mr.Yuck Quote Link to comment
+captnemo Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Many years ago I went out within 2 days of it being hid to get a FTF on a cache and it was gone. So I got to make the only log a DNF Quote Link to comment
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