Tom and I are sitting here thinking about how there is so many micro/nanos popping up in Maine.

We need statistics, anyone know how many micros there are in Maine?
What is the ratio of micros to good 'ole fashioned geocaches with loot?
How many micros a year have popped up in recent years?

Just wondering...............

Never mind we found it

http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum/showthread.php?t=2328

I've put out both. Some of the micro's I've found have been really creative and fun. (AJAY EPAY XXXVII (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=8eb74226-29fc-47e1-bbe0-bad24f1233b1) by Lexmano (GC1HJNJ))
To balance the 5 micro's I put out this week I have 3 .30 cal Ammo cans marked, loaded and ready to go. Now for the spring meltoff.....

Just for kicks I ran the stats using only micros. Here are noteworthy results:
Please excuse the formatting errors - the forum does not allow pasting tables.


Basic Stats
Number of caches published: 1435
Number of cachers that have hidden those caches: 287
Number of caches available: 1189
Number of caches archived: 246
Number of caches archived by their owner: 181
Number of caches archived by TPTB: 65
Average age of all caches: 476 days
Average age of available caches: 489 days
Average age of archived caches: 414 days
*Geocaching events are excluded from age calculations.

Extremes
Northernmost: Insp Gadget's First American Cache (GCJ56T) by Insp Gadget
Southernmost: Captain McGregore's Island (GCZ3GT) by Atsah
Easternmost: Ribbit, Ribbit (GC1FV16) by Mipster
Westernmost: Route 2 Tour-State Line (GCYGGA) by mainiac1957 with Quilting Mom and Mike

Milestone Hides
#1: wang0r (GCAEB) by c^chE n}nJA
#100: X Marks the Spot (GCTWJG) by LaughingTerry
#200: 101 Dalmations #58 - SPELUNKY (GCW7GM) by LaughingTerry
#300: TOWN WHARF (GCXNM6) by Gob-ler
#400: Petrified Enchanted Black Rain (GCZ6R9) by Rumblebees
#500: Ace of Hearts (GC11YBJ) by hollora
#600: Baseball Anyone??? Boston Red Sox (GC13X1E) by g-o paddling/bikers
#700: Who is Larry Bolatinsky, v5/8? (GC15FMP) by lexmano
#800: Pratts Brook Branch Micro (GC1765J) by mainbones & mainewanderer
#900: Fisherman's Park (GC1BAA2) by mainiac1957
#1000: A RHINO IN MAINE ??? (GC1D22P) by HD


Future Milestone Date Predictions
#2000: 5/9/10
#3000: 7/13/12
#4000: 9/17/14
#5000: 11/21/16
#6000: 1/26/19
#7000: 4/1/21
#8000: 6/6/23
#9000: 8/9/25
#10000: 10/14/27

Number of Caches Placed by Day of Week
Monday: 215 (15%)
Tuesday: 151 (11%)
Wednesday: 152 (11%)
Thursday: 152 (11%)
Friday: 192 (13%)
Saturday: 254 (18%)
Sunday: 319 (22%)


Number of Caches Placed by Month
January: 61 (4%)
February: 48 (3%)
March: 49 (3%)
April: 167 (12%)
May: 165 (11%)
June: 119 (8%)
July: 178 (12%)
August: 173 (12%)
September: 175 (12%)
October: 139 (10%)
November: 98 (7%)
December: 63 (4%)

Number of Caches Placed by Year
2001: 1 (0%)
2002: 5 (0%)
2003: 7 (0%)
2004: 18 (1%)
2005: 51 (4%)
2006: 358 (25%)
2007: 391 (27%)
2008: 559 (39%)
2009: 45 (3%)

Busiest Hiding Times
Most caches hidden in one day:
9/15/07 - 27 caches were placed by 4 unique cache hiders.
Most caches hidden in one day by unique hiders:
4/30/06 - 7 caches were placed by 7 unique cache hiders.
Most caches hidden in one month:
August, 2008 - 78 caches were placed by 35 unique cache hiders.
Most caches hidden in one month by the most unique hiders:
May, 2006 - 69 caches were placed by 43 unique cache hiders.

Totals by County
County Total Archived Available
Cumberland 461 77 384
Kennebec 178 23 155
Androscoggin 144 24 120
York 130 35 95
Penobscot 114 23 91
Aroostook 81 24 57
Oxford 53 8 45
Somerset 48 7 41
Hancock 45 4 41
Franklin 40 6 34
Waldo 39 1 38
Sagadahoc 31 3 28
Washington 20 4 16
Knox 17 3 14
Lincoln 17 1 16
Piscataquis 17 3 14

County Stats

County Available Density Avg D/T Top Hider First Cache
Androscoggin 120 2.61 1.75/1.5 MARTES (39) 8/21/05 - James B. Longley Bridge - West (GCQ81E) by Gob-ler
Aroostook 57 0.09 2.25/1.52 Northwoods Explorer (23) 4/10/04 - Insp Gadget's First American Cache (GCJ56T) by Insp Gadget
Cumberland 384 4.5 1.85/1.6 TeamHorwich (118) 1/19/02 - Ski 'n Cache (GC33AA) by SamDeG
Franklin 34 0.19 1.75/1.66 hickory45&ponchie (15) 7/5/03 - Michigan In Maine II (GCGDTH) by AA Team & tflight
Hancock 41 0.27 1.68/1.8 becket (18) 7/5/04 - Mill Pond Park Cache (GCJXAY) by mainepod
Kennebec 155 1.76 1.77/1.61 Mapachi (42) 4/2/05 - A Sporting Chance (GCNAXE) by Tunicate
Knox 14 0.37 1.93/1.46 Mapachi (3) 8/24/02 - One mile light (GC8433) by morrillite
Lincoln 16 0.35 1.53/1.63 hide_from_the_kids (3) 6/30/06 - 101 DALMATIANS #41 -- SHERMAN (GCWWX1) by MacFriends
Oxford 45 0.22 1.69/1.59 Katadin Goddess (7) 4/13/02 - Jockey Cap Cache Version 2.0 (GC20F0) by Sam, Mom, Dad and B
Penobscot 91 0.28 1.71/1.51 hollora (19) 5/28/01 - wang0r (GCAEB) by c^chE n}nJA
Piscataquis 14 0.04 1.68/1.79 vicbiker (9) 5/5/06 - Arc de Brook (GCVWG6) by vicbiker
Sagadahoc 28 1.12 1.77/1.46 Circles (6) 10/26/05 - Spirit of the Sea (GCR401) by Circles assisted by FunnyNose
Somerset 41 0.11 1.78/1.78 LaughingTerry (20) 6/12/04 - D. D. (GCJP4T) by AbbysGrammy
Waldo 38 0.52 1.58/1.54 shuman road searchers (16) 3/21/06 - Country Rest Cache (GCV0KC) by cropmeister
Washington 16 0.06 1.78/1.5 EMSDanel (5) 5/1/06 - Hobo's Companion (GCVT6G) by RubiconJW
York 95 0.96 1.74/1.57 teamdozer12 (16) 10/19/02 - Norge Troll (GC9DB8) by Doug26

And I thought this list would have started with Grittys, and Sea Dogs! :p

Brdad, those results may be a bit off due to nanos being listed as "other" and "micro"

There are less than 150 active caches listed as other which have container, so I don't think the "other" category. However, there are almost 1000 caches listed as "small", which many of us old timers might consider a micro.

Micros just seem to take the (not sure what word to use) out of geocaching. Just our opinion and everyone has a right to thier opinion. ;)
Micros and nanos are a challenge for sure but there is just something about a good 'ole ammo box hidden in the woods. :D

So for the chart challenged, how many micros/nanos were placed in 2008? 2007? There are many series out there that are micros. How many series are there now? Dalmations, counties, baseball teams???? I know there are many more.

You are not alone in your thinking. While it's nice to have a few easier ones to do, the growth of micros has been overwhelming. It was predicted a few years back that when gc.com stopped allowing virtual caches that there would be an explosion of micros, many of which would be lamer, for lack of a better term. and that's just what happened. And while many micros are very good and can be challenging, many of them are IMO of lesser quality and less entertaining than many of the virtuals I would have frowned about in the past.

You do have the option of ignoring them - but then you stand a chance on missing out on a good one. And it is nice to have an easy one to do now and then, but I'd rather do 2 easy but quality micros 10 miles apart than 27 caches with no noticeable purpose in 3 miles.

You get out of something what you put into it. I can't wait to get 50 states by bicycle!! But your own personal gain does not need to be physical; learn to look at things a different way (http://digital-photography-school.com/urban-landscape-photography-tips). I never met a place in Maine I didn't like! :)

You get out of something what you put into it. I can't wait to get 50 states by bicycle!! But your own personal gain does not need to be physical; learn to look at things a different way (http://digital-photography-school.com/urban-landscape-photography-tips). I never met a place in Maine I didn't like! :)

Take a good deep breath before you ride to Hawaii!!

You get out of something what you put into it. I can't wait to get 50 states by bicycle!! But your own personal gain does not need to be physical; learn to look at things a different way (http://digital-photography-school.com/urban-landscape-photography-tips). I never met a place in Maine I didn't like! :)

Make sure you take a video of you going to Hawaii by bicycle. :D

Edit: Dang, missed it by || that much!

Ah, but isn't his kayak pedal power? But I fear, it is way to far, in way to big an ocean..........but hey, it's our man TAT! Who knows?

As for AK - he will just take a side trip into Canada along the way.

Make sure you take a video of you going to Hawaii by bicycle. :D

Good idea! I just may do that. Hmmm, Hawaii (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5848fb94-1e58-4c0e-9f77-d6f558424680) sounds like a rather nice right micro right now.

Good idea! I just may do that. Hmmm, Hawaii (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=5848fb94-1e58-4c0e-9f77-d6f558424680) sounds like a rather nice right micro right now.

RULOST2? and I are going to Hawaii in October - the one where you have to get there in a plane or ship. We'll send you a post card! :p:p

You get out of something what you put into it. I can't wait to get 50 states by bicycle!! But your own personal gain does not need to be physical; learn to look at things a different way (http://digital-photography-school.com/urban-landscape-photography-tips). I never met a place in Maine I didn't like! :)

Or maybe he will just get the 50 State Series by Shuman Road Cachers by bike.:rolleyes::cool:;):p

I don't think he planned on peddling to Hawaii. Although knowing Tom as I do it isn't all that far fetched.:eek:

Or maybe he will just get the 50 State Series by Shuman Road Cachers by bike.:rolleyes::cool:;):p

I don't think he planned on peddling to Hawaii. Although knowing Tom as I do it isn't all that far fetched.:eek:

Don't laugh, but I have left these caches alone because tat and I have talked about getting them by bike! Ah, and you think you jest! ;)

Don't laugh, but I have left these caches alone because tat and I have talked about getting them by bike! Ah, and you think you jest! ;)

Having visited some of these 50 State caches, I cab say, if you are someone who enjoys riding a bike ~ that would be a super way to visit these caches. Great idea! Cache on ~ cache happy!

I am honored to be mentioned here!! I did a bunch of reading of logs (1000's) before I would publish a cache and I came up with that hunting season friendly caches,winter friendly caches and caches in general were needed in these areas. Most of the first ones are quite simple but the longer I cached the more I learned! Some of the later caches(Wisconsin) are more clever( right Dan and Patrick)! The intent of this series was to allow for some easy grabs to boost numbers and for the caching fix during hunting season and the long Maine winters. There are only ten states left to put out and I have decided to do something a little different for Maine. I hope all have fun with these and enjoy!

Okay, I own a mountain bike hybrid and a road bike. Keep those caches bike friendly and I'm a happy girl. Oh hey, I can bike to a spot, hide my bike in the woods and hike to the cache. I've done that a couple of times, for sure!

And as a cacher that is still a "newbie" I like them all and I go after them all. While the most memorable have been the ones you hike to with a great view at the end, every single cache, nanos, mircros, simple, hard... they all make Dianne and I smile and that's enough for us. There's not a cache out there that I'm too proud to go after. Should I ever feel I'm "too good" to do a type of cache that another has placed, I'll stop playing!:):)

And as a cacher that is still a "newbie" I like them all and I go after them all. While the most memorable have been the ones you hike to with a great view at the end, every single cache, nanos, mircros, simple, hard... they all make Dianne and I smile and that's enough for us. There's not a cache out there that I'm too proud to go after. Should I ever feel I'm "too good" to do a type of cache that another has placed, I'll stop playing!:):)


At first, I was actually intimidated by micros, thinking that they were so hard I could not find them. They are now my winter priority. I find that micros are usually winter friendly, and I have seen a few recently that have blown me away with thier creativity. My kids love regular caches, and I cannot wait to find/hide a few "The Tell-Tale Heart" is by far my favorite cache, but I still get a rise out of micros. They are part of my game.:)

Newbie? At 1709? You're a Gob-ler in training! :D



And as a cacher that is still a "newbie" I like them all and I go after them all. While the most memorable have been the ones you hike to with a great view at the end, every single cache, nanos, mircros, simple, hard... they all make Dianne and I smile and that's enough for us. There's not a cache out there that I'm too proud to go after. Should I ever feel I'm "too good" to do a type of cache that another has placed, I'll stop playing!:):)

Have to agree on this one. While micros/nanos don't top my list of preferences, the most challenging have been micros/nanos. And, they help get thru the winter until warmer and drier hiking season arrives.



At first, I was actually intimidated by micros, thinking that they were so hard I could not find them. They are now my winter priority. I find that micros are usually winter friendly, and I have seen a few recently that have blown me away with thier creativity. My kids love regular caches, and I cannot wait to find/hide a few "The Tell-Tale Heart" is by far my favorite cache, but I still get a rise out of micros. They are part of my game.:)