Am I wrong about being upset about the way people hide caches? So many times I come across a cache that is hidden by sticks uniformly stacked in a pile with an ammo box sticking out of it. Don't people step back and say to themselves, "yeup if I was walking by this I wouldn't think that there was an ammo box under there I can kick all over the place."
And another thing since I'm in a venting mood right now.... I understand that a lot of caches are kid oriented, but why is it that most caches I come across have things in there that not even a kid would want? I've been to a few caches recently where (approximately) the last 20 people signed TNLN or TN Left *some garbage I found in the parking lot* As responsible geocachers (especially premium members) Shouldn't we make an effort to not only CITO but to also CITOOfTheCaches?
And another thing that bothers me is people that trade for a good item like a flashlight, or a compass, or a Jeep TB, and leave a marble or a band aid (I've was at a cache last week somebody left an individual stick of chewing gum!)
So anyways... those are the things that bother me for now, what do you think about them?

I think that if these things upset you that bad than maybe caching is not for you. I went through this tangent myself not to long ago. Then I realized that leaving something in the cache was not for me. I simple go to the cache and sign the log. I don't let it bother me anymore. Caching is a great activity that doesn't require trading to be fun, Beleive me I understand your frustration. I left a twenty dollar multitool in a cache once and just took the garbage out. I think that i traded wisely. All to often caches get depleted of good stuff to get replace by geojunk. I leave nothing in caches and take garbage out now.


Please, coming from a guy that posted something very similar to this once before, just roll with it and do the best you can to replace the garbage and hope that the next guy does the same thing. And remember, it's about the journey and the friends. The group of us that do caches togeather alot realize that the friends you meet along the way are worth so much more.

I hope your feeling better
Dave

Yes Dave I do agree with you, don't get me wrong though, I love geocaching mostly for the reason that it takes me to places in Maine that I never knew existed before ( and there are some very nice ones ) The part that bothers me is that other people don't always have the same kind of respect for things, such as the caches that are put in nice spots to attract people to them, but they are also very popular spots full of muggles, and people hide the cache under a leaf in plain site. Maybe I'm just being anal but that kinda stuff is just... well, wrong?

Not only is it wrong but it doesn't make finding the cache that hard either, usually you find it from twenty feet away. It sounds like you might enjoy some of the multis in greater bangor area. EX. dyselexia nitemare, Stacked on Stillwater, Battleship and there are many more, and maybe the best multi if found and most educational Brewer by the Numbers


A few neat hides are Secret fishing hole in old town by petes cabin, old 470 by brdad, Allagash tramway, Some of these are ones that will take you awhile but are worth it. Then you can always Do my cache into Gulf Hagus, That is maybe a two or three cache day but for mine you will walk 4.5 miles just for one.

I'm pretty new to geocaching, (I've found 10 so far) but I quickly learned that the majority of the caches have lots of junk in them. I've made the rules for myself very simple..if it has nothing I think is interesting, I just don't take anything. If it does, then I leave something that I hope is a fair trade. I may be wrong about travel bugs though..I don't feel that they are really "trade" items...I take them if I think I can move them on to reach their goal, but don't necessarily leave something in their place. I also love collecting signature items, and I DO leave my own signature item. I'm not sure what is more fun..the excitement of the find, or the goodies, or just the beautiful places I have seen...probably a combination of all of those things. One thing I know for sure is that this has been more fun than a barrel of monkey's!!!

I'm not a big fan of the "pile of parallel sticks" either, but that is what the difficulty rating (http://www.clayjar.com/gcrs/) is all about. I would expect it to be a relatively easy find if it is a 2 or less, especially if the cache has been in place for a while and there is a path beaten to it. I think the "cache path" effect should be taken into account when placing a cache to protect the local environment and also make it less noticable to muggles. If possible, try locating the cache where a groove won't be worn in the ground getting to it.

I have the same opinion as most on geolitter, and am not overly bothered by it. What bothers me the most is the use of Gladware disposable containers as cache boxes. They just don't work!

I may be wrong about travel bugs though..I don't feel that they are really "trade" items...I take them if I think I can move them on to reach their goal, but don't necessarily leave something in their place.

No, you are not wrong. Travel bugs do not belong to the cache owner and are just visiting. If a tb's goal is to move and a cache owner's rule is to only take a tb if you leave a tb, then I always honor the wishes of the tb owner.

When 'Today's Cacher' touts the Dollar store and yard sales for the good swag, it only makes sense that stuff in the cache is actually worthless trash. I have put a good deal of effort into a signiture item and spend my time collecting other members signiture items. My current favorite is Brdad's photo marble. I'm trying to find one with a scene of a place I recognise here locally. I also have a bag of stuff for trading when there is actually decent stuff. I keep aware of nice things to trade to keep it stocked. I actually remove advertizing (like business cards) from caches unless there is a genuine free giveaway. I don't need a free tire inspection, thanks. I did play a round of mini golf with my kid at Pirate's Cove.

When 'Today's Cacher' touts the Dollar store and yard sales for the good swag, it only makes sense that stuff in the cache is actually worthless trash. I have put a good deal of effort into a signiture item and spend my time collecting other members signiture items. My current favorite is Brdad's photo marble. I'm trying to find one with a scene of a place I recognise here locally. I also have a bag of stuff for trading when there is actually decent stuff. I keep aware of nice things to trade to keep it stocked. I actually remove advertizing (like business cards) from caches unless there is a genuine free giveaway. I don't need a free tire inspection, thanks. I did play a round of mini golf with my kid at Pirate's Cove.
I like Brdad's photo marble too. I have one showing Paul Bunyan in Bangor :D

We made up snack size baggies with a card and marbles to leave in every cache we visit. The marbles were for the kids, card is just our geocaching avatar and geocache email address. Figured if newer caches want to email to learn more about caching (and get pointed to here) that's great. This isn't a "trade" item but just something extra to leave. If we do trade, we try for something geo related. Our best one was a good quality vinyl sticker for the car window with a geo logo. Unfortunately when we went to reorder, there is no trace of the company and they don't answer phone or email calls. Disappointing but might look for another source such as the main gc site.

Hadn't thought about cleaning out the junk in caches since we figured the cache owner had that responsibility. I do have quite a collection of small rubber amphibians in a dish on my kitchen sink. Try explaining that to visitors!

Anne

I kind of take offense to the fact that stuff from the dollar store or lawn sales is trash. I happen to get most of the stuff that I put in my caches at the dollar store and just because they cost only a dollar doesnt make it junk. It seems when I go to check all my caches after a while all the items are not there anymore. Sure beats spending 50 dollars driving around trying to find one of your caches.....LOL.:):):) I usually leave one of my signature Maine notes in caches when I visit them and others seem to like those as well. I understand your thoughts though about trash. The older established caches seem to have the so-called trash in them most of the time.If I don't take anything I usually don't leave anything either unless it is a new signature item I have yet to get a hold of. Just My 2 cents

Hmmm . . . this post sounds very much like one I posted here a while back.

I've never met you Hiram . . . but I like how you think.

Here's my thoughts . . . again . . . in case some of you folks forgot.

1) Geo-caching is all about the journey and the thrill of the find . . . but sometimes, just sometimes it's nice to find something other than junk in the cache. Now granted, one's man's trash is another person's treasure . . . but when you find broken or dirty items I think most folks can honestly say it's trash and not "treasure."


2) I believe that any change can be made by the actions of just one person who can spread this belief to another and so on and so forth. My personal belief is this . . . I will only trade if a) I really like the location, reason for the cache or b) there is something I would like to trade equally. In some cases I've taken nothing and left something in its place simply because I liked the spot and felt the cache would benefit with some extra swag. More often than not I will leave my signature item since folks seem to enjoy collecting them in which case I will not trade or take anything. In some cases (usually when I'm less than impressed with the container and lack of maintenance on the cache) I will simply record TNLN . . . but sometimes I also write this because I couldn't put my signature item in the cache. Speaking of signature items . . . I like collecting the ones where folks have shown some creativity with items that reflect their geo-caching knicknames or ones that are actually collectible. I passionately dislike signature items that look "cheap" or seem like someone put absolutely no thought into the item. Some of my favorites probably didn't cost a lot to make (most likely less than a buck or two), but they showed that the person took some time to come up with an item (i.e. Brdad's photo marble, Mainely Roses card and flower, Beckett's card and pin, FFFarmer's tractor key chain, Ms. Tea Lee's flower, etc.) My final thought on the trinkets . . . sometimes it's not the value of the item. One of my favorite finds was from Mainedeerhunter . . . it was a glass cat that looked as though it could have come from a yard sale or even from his wife's coffee table when she wasn't looking . . . it probably didn't cost a lot, but I traded for it since it was something I knew my wife would like. One other thing, when I place an item or signature item in a cache I try to either make sure it's in the original packaging or in a nice ziplock bag . . . keeps it clean and makes it look a lot neater.

3) Per the hide . . . I try to use the terrain or area to hide the cache with items other than the geo-sticks which we're used to seeing . . . but sometimes I like to offer an "easy" cache. A lot of it depends on how likely the cache could be found due to its location or popularity by geo-muggles. In my first few caches I've tried to balance some hides that are a little more challenging with some easy ones. For example, I'm working on two cache sites right now . . . one should be fairly easy to find while the other should take folks a bit more time . . . or at least I hope since I'm putting a lot of work into creating this one.

Finally, OK, almost finally, I periodically check my cache sites and the contents. I for one have no problems in throwing out junk, business cards, religious tracts or items that do not comform with whatever minimal requests I have added (i.e. I tossed a toy eyeball out Thrill cache since it was not a signature item (at least it didn't seem to be one) and it clearly was not worth $5. If this item had been in one of my regular caches with no stipulations I would have kept it in there.

And now a shameless plug if you're looking for good swag and a good view . . . check out I've Found My Thrill . . . I've asked folks to trade items worth $5 or more and so far most folks seem to be following this request . . . and as a result I've planning a second "good swag" cache.

We made up snack size baggies with a card and marbles to leave in every cache we visit. The marbles were for the kids, card is just our geocaching avatar and geocache email address. Figured if newer caches want to email to learn more about caching (and get pointed to here) that's great. This isn't a "trade" item but just something extra to leave.

Anne
This was actually one of my favorite signature items . . . it showed your humor "losing our marbles wherever we go" and I thought reflected your personality. The baggies with the marbles are neat and as you mentioned you can either keep the whole kit n' kaboodle or give the marbles to any children who might be with you. The card accompanying the whole thing also is nice as it personalizes the geo-cacher's SI.

I kind of take offense to the fact that stuff from the dollar store or lawn sales is trash. I happen to get most of the stuff that I put in my caches at the dollar store and just because they cost only a dollar doesnt make it junk.
I've got to agree here . . . another one of my favorite "booty hauls" was a set of oversized corn cob holders that I found right before the summer corn came in. What made this nice though was that the item was obviously new in a package and didn't look like someone had been using them for six years! Also, I should add this item was found near a farm stand which showed me the geo-cacher who placed it there actually thought a bit about the trade.

Here's one for you all. I was talking to a cousin who also caches and he asked a question of me, "What is the most interesting thing you've found in a mini-dumpster?" He, of course, was referring to the cache container. :( I told him what I've previously posted here that my reasons for caching are not the trade items but the hunt. Anyways, thought people may find his sentiment amusing if not concerning.

Happy Caching.

As responsible geocachers (especially premium members) Shouldn't we make an effort to not only CITO but to also CITOOfTheCaches?
And another thing that bothers me is people that trade for a good item like a flashlight, or a compass, or a Jeep TB, and leave a marble or a band aid (I've was at a cache last week somebody left an individual stick of chewing gum!)


I would DEFINITELY leave the cache contents alone, unless you are being helpful and removing wet paper, or putting something in a baggie. The cache contents belong to the owner, and wether we like his/her "style" of caching, it's their cache.

And as for "cache robbers" who take something nice and leave junk, DON'T GET ME STARTED! LOL! But TB's are meant to be moved. I don't believe you ever have to leave anything in exchange for a TB (unless you have one you'd like to exchange).

Wow, quite a popular thread goin here. Glad to see that some other people share my views and concerns. I'm gunna keep this short for tonight because my eyes are hurting from FireFighterJakes speach :) soo... shouldn't somebody write up a caching code of conduct that we could put on the page somewhere, like under "about geocaching" so that those new to the lovely addiction of geocaching can get started off on the right foot, by being educated to not leave trash, pick up the trash, trade fairly, keep the TBs going, ect, ect? I personally think that writing something up and having it approved by the site and it's members and then having it posted on the site would do a good service to the geocaching community. anyone else agree?

Not only is it wrong but it doesn't make finding the cache that hard either, usually you find it from twenty feet away. It sounds like you might enjoy some of the multis in greater bangor area. EX. dyselexia nitemare, Stacked on Stillwater, Battleship and there are many more, and maybe the best multi if found and most educational Brewer by the Numbers


A few neat hides are Secret fishing hole in old town by petes cabin, old 470 by brdad, Allagash tramway, Some of these are ones that will take you awhile but are worth it. Then you can always Do my cache into Gulf Hagus, That is maybe a two or three cache day but for mine you will walk 4.5 miles just for one.
I'll definitely have to keep those in mind, I like a good trek into the woods :)
(and I like puzzling ones even more)

And to make "Battleship" (GCB688) even more tantalizing - we left a white jeep in it!

Anne

Here's one for you all. I was talking to a cousin who also caches and he asked a question of me, "What is the most interesting thing you've found in a mini-dumpster?" He, of course, was referring to the cache container. :( I told him what I've previously posted here that my reasons for caching are not the trade items but the hunt. Anyways, thought people may find his sentiment amusing if not concerning.

Happy Caching.
My wife calls it "geo-trashing."

Wow, quite a popular thread goin here. Glad to see that some other people share my views and concerns. I'm gunna keep this short for tonight because my eyes are hurting from FireFighterJakes speach :)
I can't help it . . . I'm a writer and writers write.

The problem with trying to judge what is in a cache is that mant times what you see as garbage is a treasure to somone else. I was caching and found a usb cable in a cahce, at the time I had no need for it but there has been times when I had thought, I wish I had picked that up. But then I do not trade often, it is not about the trade to me, it is the places that I go that a truely enjoy. When I place a cache the the 1st thing I look at is why would I want to go here. What here do I find interesting and why would I want to go back cause I know I will be going back to check on it. Then I consider the place to hide. I have only once considered a lamp post micro and that was only as a joke for a place holder for a mystery cache. :) I myself would much rather not find a bunch of caches in really cool spots than 1 cache in the wally world parking lot. :) But that is just my 2 cents worth.

Robt

.....:) soo... shouldn't somebody write up a caching code of conduct that we could put on the page somewhere, like under "about geocaching" so that those new to the lovely addiction of geocaching can get started off on the right foot, by being educated to not leave trash, pick up the trash, trade fairly, keep the TBs going, ect, ect? I personally think that writing something up and having it approved by the site and it's members and then having it posted on the site would do a good service to the geocaching community. anyone else agree?

Its hard to write rules/restrictive guidelines that encompass everyones ideas of geocaching. Who would enforce them? There are accepted guidelines (GC.COM) already out there that you and I and most every other geocacher adhere too. To force our ideas, at a local or state level, on others so "we" can conform the sport of geocaching to fit into our ideals is not conducive to promoting geocaching in general. If we did so, then Connecticut may adopt a whole new set of guidelines and Nova Scotia, etc. etc.
The best way to reform the sport is to lead by example. If you and I leave "nice" trade item and remove the "trash" then you have made the biggest contribution to this sport by showing what is expected of new cachers. Unfortunately that leads to another issue, what is a good trade item. Some folks apply a dollar value as a "Nice" item others think interesting signature items are great. Then there is everything in-between. I'm sure some people think TRF signature item is junk while others collect them simply because they are trade items; the latters our mantra.
I brought my daughter to a cache and in the container was an old shotgun shell and a rock. She's 4 y.o. and she found value in those 2 items and concocted stories that she still talks about after 2 months. The shotgun shell came from a robber's gun who stole the rock that has gold in it and the robber hid it in the box so nobody would find it and on and on and on. At another cache she found a plastic fish that had been in the container obviously for months, it was weathered and tattered and a whole bag of these fish at Wal-mart cost a $1. She thought she found the best prize in the world. Like all kids, she completely forgot about the fish in 20 mins and Mom tossed it in the trash. The most valuable thing I got from either of these 2 caches are the stories and the adventure of doing the cache with my daughter. Now, I'm not saying that I like to see old shotgun shells and rocks in a cache and I'm not thanking the person for leaving them behind but what I am saying is lets look at it as my daughter did. Her glass is always half full it's never a rainy, day it's a day to play indoors, all clouds have silver linings etc. etc. As we get older we get more pessimistic and stop seeing the trees through the forest. Take the time to enjoy the sport of geocaching.
Getting back to your point, how could we start telling people how to act or behave, we all take something different away from each cache we do. Its been mentioned in past threads and I will reiterate; if you don't like the way a certain team/person places caches or if you don't like micros, don't do them. Lets not worry how other folks cache or behave rather let us worry how we, personally cache and behave.

The soapbox is now ready for the next person.:o

More often than not I just sign the log if I'm by myself. When Piglet comes along for a hunt, we always bring good stuff to trade. As always I try to hide the cache better than the way I found it.

For me cachin' is not about the numbers, cache contents, or the way the container is hidden, its about getting out and enjoying everything the outdoors has to offer.

I used to try to keep my caches well stocked but the cache raders :mad: always seem to clean them out in no time. A log and a few trinkits from the $ store is all I stock them with now.



Now Robt- Please dont throw the pooh!:D

LOL, I fogot that I still had that as my signature. Was one of thoose days at work when I put it there.. :)




More often than not I just sign the log if I'm by myself. When Piglet comes along for a hunt, we always bring good stuff to trade. As always I try to hide the cache better than the way I found it.

For me cachin' is not about the numbers, cache contents, or the way the container is hidden, its about getting out and enjoying everything the outdoors has to offer.

I used to try to keep my caches well stocked but the cache raders :mad: always seem to clean them out in no time. A log and a few trinkits from the $ store is all I stock them with now.



Now Robt- Please dont throw the pooh!:D

If you and I leave "nice" trade item and remove the "trash" then you have made the biggest contribution to this sport by showing what is expected of new cachers.



I STRONGLY object to this! I do not believe you have the right to "clean up" somone elses cache because you don't like what's in it. It is the cache owner's responsibility to maintain it and determine what they want in the cache. The old saying still holds: one man's trash is another man's treasure.

True, a lot of cache owners don't do the maintenance they should be doing, but it is not up to us to decide what should be in their cache.

Having said that (and as I've said before) there is nothing wrong with being helpful and drying out a wet cache, or removing soaked paper items, or putting the log book in a new plastic bag if the current one is torn.

IMHO...

I STRONGLY object to this! I do not believe you have the right to "clean up" somone elses cache because you don't like what's in it. It is the cache owner's responsibility to maintain it and determine what they want in the cache. The old saying still holds: one man's trash is another man's treasure.

True, a lot of cache owners don't do the maintenance they should be doing, but it is not up to us to decide what should be in their cache.

Having said that (and as I've said before) there is nothing wrong with being helpful and drying out a wet cache, or removing soaked paper items, or putting the log book in a new plastic bag if the current one is torn.

IMHO...

Object all you want!!!!,,,,who said clean out the cache? I said trash. Trash is distinguishable from a swag, i.e. sticks, stone, cigerette butts, old shotgun shells, dog droppings, etc. etc. Besides CITO is suppose to be a geocaching ethos. You've gone way out on a limb here to argue.
If your trying to make a point about the cache owners responsibility, then I agree with you to a certain point but if your telling me to leave the dog sh@# behind because its the cache owners responsibility, then I think your going a little to far.

Sorry, but I disagree with you on that.;)

Happy Caching!!!

I know most of you and enjoy caching and seeing you at events. I can say with a great amount of certainty, that we are all responsible cachers. I don't think anyone is cleaning out caches. But I do think we are looking at the contents, and making the right decisions. The Team has made it a rule to clean and maintenance caches whenever it is warranted. We have seen some very neglected caches and notified the owners. Thats how we came to adopt Hinckley Park in South Portland. Again being responsible cachers and doing the right thing. Maine is a wonderful place to cache and WE ALL are the reason why. When visiting your next find. " Do the right thing ". Thanks for listening, and making Maine the place to find.

I am kinda slacking in my posting here lately, I'd just like to have Hiram and others that might not have read my Setting an Example (http://www.geocachingmaine.org/forum/showthread.php?t=575) thread to do so and consider that option.

stone

I have left stones of some sort. I put slate from Slate in one of my own caches.

I have left stones of some sort. I put slate from Slate in one of my own caches.
I wouldn't object to slate from Slate in Slate's cache.:D

I need to find that cache someday just because it shares my username.

I don't think your wrong Hiram, I feel the same. I have been to so many unmaintained caches that it's starting to be a joke. But when you look at the profiles of some of the persons placing them you can understand why they go to pot. Who on earth is going to take care of theire cache when they only have a couple finds, or worse yet no finds. That's why I like minis or micros so much, they are much more challenging to find and if your only signing logs anyway you don't have to sort through junk. Just my thoughts, John

I like all of them. Big, small, micro. There have been a few that I have just refused to look for because of their location. And that's my perogative. I don't chastize the cache owner since others are enjoying them. I just don't choose to myself. As the old saying goes...Opinions are like A**holes, everybody has one. Thanks for listening to mine. :cool:

I wouldn't object to slate from Slate in Slate's cache.:D

I need to find that cache someday just because it shares my username.

It's been in Celestial Navigation for a long time, but I'll move it if you really want! :)

Its hard to write rules/restrictive guidelines that encompass everyones ideas of geocaching. Who would enforce them? There are accepted guidelines (GC.COM) already out there that you and I and most every other geocacher adhere too. To force our ideas, at a local or state level, on others so "we" can conform the sport of geocaching to fit into our ideals is not conducive to promoting geocaching in general. If we did so, then Connecticut may adopt a whole new set of guidelines and Nova Scotia, etc. etc.
The best way to reform the sport is to lead by example. If you and I leave "nice" trade item and remove the "trash" then you have made the biggest contribution to this sport by showing what is expected of new cachers. Unfortunately that leads to another issue, what is a good trade item. Some folks apply a dollar value as a "Nice" item others think interesting signature items are great. Then there is everything in-between. I'm sure some people think TRF signature item is junk while others collect them simply because they are trade items; the latters our mantra.
I brought my daughter to a cache and in the container was an old shotgun shell and a rock. She's 4 y.o. and she found value in those 2 items and concocted stories that she still talks about after 2 months. The shotgun shell came from a robber's gun who stole the rock that has gold in it and the robber hid it in the box so nobody would find it and on and on and on. At another cache she found a plastic fish that had been in the container obviously for months, it was weathered and tattered and a whole bag of these fish at Wal-mart cost a $1. She thought she found the best prize in the world. Like all kids, she completely forgot about the fish in 20 mins and Mom tossed it in the trash. The most valuable thing I got from either of these 2 caches are the stories and the adventure of doing the cache with my daughter. Now, I'm not saying that I like to see old shotgun shells and rocks in a cache and I'm not thanking the person for leaving them behind but what I am saying is lets look at it as my daughter did. Her glass is always half full it's never a rainy, day it's a day to play indoors, all clouds have silver linings etc. etc. As we get older we get more pessimistic and stop seeing the trees through the forest. Take the time to enjoy the sport of geocaching.
Getting back to your point, how could we start telling people how to act or behave, we all take something different away from each cache we do. Its been mentioned in past threads and I will reiterate; if you don't like the way a certain team/person places caches or if you don't like micros, don't do them. Lets not worry how other folks cache or behave rather let us worry how we, personally cache and behave.

The soapbox is now ready for the next person.:o
I'm not saying to make a set of laws for all geocachers to abide by, I'm just saying to write up a nice little paragraph or two explaining that caches are not trash cans and so on, so that people new to the sport get an idea of what caching is like (take the thread posted "Marooned Travel Bug" this guy from ohio took a trip down the alagash and dropped off someone else's travel bug off in a plastic bag on the islands!) perhaps if somebody would have told him that was a stupid idea and he was killing someones travel bug, he would have thought twice. just like if we were to tell people, "hey don't put your chewing gum in a cache" we could help to prevent nice caches from become geo-trashes

I like all of them. Big, small, micro. There have been a few that I have just refused to look for because of their location. And that's my perogative. I don't chastize the cache owner since others are enjoying them. I just don't choose to myself. As the old saying goes...Opinions are like A**holes, everybody has one. Thanks for listening to mine. :cool:
I'LL DRINK TO THAT!! (heck, I'll drink a few times to that)

I'm not saying to make a set of laws for all geocachers to abide by, I'm just saying to write up a nice little paragraph or two explaining that caches are not trash cans and so on, so that people new to the sport get an idea of what caching is like (take the thread posted "Marooned Travel Bug" this guy from ohio took a trip down the alagash and dropped off someone else's travel bug off in a plastic bag on the islands!) perhaps if somebody would have told him that was a stupid idea and he was killing someones travel bug, he would have thought twice. just like if we were to tell people, "hey don't put your chewing gum in a cache" we could help to prevent nice caches from become geo-trashes
I honestly think that if you have to tell a person not to leave their chewed chewing gum in a cache, chances are that person would do it anyways.
The individual who left the TB in the Allagash has chastised himself for having done this, he admitted his mistake openly in our forums and chances are he won't make it again. As you said, he's from Ohio, if Mainegeocaching had a section explaining the can and can't do's it stands to reason he may not have read it before his excursion into the Allagash seeing how he is from away.
Its not that I don't understand your frustration or that you don't have a valid point but most geocachers hold themselves to a certain standard when geocaching and that is what makes the overall experience great. Unfortunately, there are always those that don't care and create the frustration we all face when opening up a cache and finding cigarette butts. This brings me back to my original point that maybe we could remove the cigarette butts (Sorry WhereRWe?) and make the cache a little better for the next cacher.

Happy Caching!!!:)

I have left stones of some sort. I put slate from Slate in one of my own caches.

Hehe, I meant grab a rock that was lying beside the cache and toss it in for the next cacher. As matter of fact I got a polished stone used as a signature item and a piece of crystal Quartz out of caches that I thought were really cool. ;)

I honestly think that if you have to tell a person not to leave their chewed chewing gum in a cache, chances are that person would do it anyways.
The individual who left the TB in the Allagash has chastised himself for having done this, he admitted his mistake openly in our forums and chances are he won't make it again. As you said, he's from Ohio, if Mainegeocaching had a section explaining the can and can't do's it stands to reason he may not have read it before his excursion into the Allagash seeing how he is from away.
Its not that I don't understand your frustration or that you don't have a valid point but most geocachers hold themselves to a certain standard when geocaching and that is what makes the overall experience great. Unfortunately, there are always those that don't care and create the frustration we all face when opening up a cache and finding cigarette butts. This brings me back to my original point that maybe we could remove the cigarette butts (Sorry WhereRWe?) and make the cache a little better for the next cacher.

Happy Caching!!!:)
::nodding head in agreement:::cool:

As the old saying goes...Opinions are like A**holes, everybody has one. Thanks for listening to mine. :cool:
I assume when you say "listening to mine" you mean your opinion . . . and not a-hole? ;)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mainiac1957
As the old saying goes...Opinions are like A**holes, everybody has one. Thanks for listening to mine. :cool:




I assume when you say "listening to mine" you mean your opinion . . . and not a-hole? ;)
that would make a pretty (insert own word here) conversation :p

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mainiac1957
As the old saying goes...Opinions are like A**holes, everybody has one. Thanks for listening to mine. :cool:




that would make a pretty (insert own word here) conversation :p
Guess it depends on what I had for the night before . . . now how did we bring this topic into the gutter like this . . . my apologies M for bringing us to this new low . . . I also trust you realize I was not poking fun at you or anyone else for that matter . . . I just have a "thing" for grammar . . . please note that I said "gammar" and not "grandma". :)

what was this thread about? Jake I didn't know you had a thing for grandmothers. :eek: