Status of STATE PARKS geocache placement's?

I was snowshoeing Peaks-Kenny State Park this weekend and noticed that there is no Geocaches hidden in the park. I remember a thread ( not able to find it to update my memory) talking about getting permission to place Caches in State Parks. I know several people were looking to talk to the State folks about getting a set policy, has this happened and if so what is it?:confused: if not is it a matter of talking to each park Ranger or manager on a park by park basis? and can anyone who has Caches hidden in State Parks give any advice on what the Rangers/managers of the parks they are in had issues with. I have noticed most are very easy finds in areas that while not on the main path's/trails they are where very little damage can be done to the local fauna. i.e. huge white containers that stand out, ammo cans just sitting out in the open on tree limb's and such. I camp at Peaks-Kenny a couple of times each year and would like to place a cache or two in the park if it will be allowed, however if anyone is in the middle of setting up a state policy I would like to wait and see the policy the State comes up with first.

As far as I know, no one is openly having discussions on this matter. I think it is an issue which will need to be addressed at some point in time, hopefully before it hurts the way the game is played here. If you can get your foot in the door or any feedback talking to a ranger or two, that would be great in my opinion. I have one lead I need to check out as well.

Be sure to report back with any findings!

thanks I will in the spring when they are present up there. I know mt. blue has several and rangley has at least one and so does Lily bay. I just did not want to muddy up any waters if talks were already on going is all.

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Originally Posted by surfacewarrior

I was snowshoeing Peaks-Kenny State Park this weekend and noticed that there is no Geocaches hidden in the park. I remember a thread ( not able to find it to update my memory) talking about getting permission to place Caches in State Parks. I know several people were looking to talk to the State folks about getting a set policy, has this happened and if so what is it?:confused: if not is it a matter of talking to each park Ranger or manager on a park by park basis? and can anyone who has Caches hidden in State Parks give any advice on what the Rangers/managers of the parks they are in had issues with. I have noticed most are very easy finds in areas that while not on the main path's/trails they are where very little damage can be done to the local fauna. i.e. huge white containers that stand out, ammo cans just sitting out in the open on tree limb's and such. I camp at Peaks-Kenny a couple of times each year and would like to place a cache or two in the park if it will be allowed, however if anyone is in the middle of setting up a state policy I would like to wait and see the policy the State comes up with first.

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I know I'm not in the loop up in Maine but sure wish that members of GCMaine would try to take the reigns and do something pro active in working with the state parks and try to get something going with them. There are many states who have started things to encourage caching within their parks and I think that Maine cachers should also be willing to try and do something as well.

haffy, I am from GA and whenplanning to go visit relitives I looked at the state park closest to my home andsaw 18 caches hidden around the park. a full day's worth. wish we were like that up here.

I think part of the issue is a percentage of the people would like to keep geocaching low-key and stay under the radar like letterboxing is. Deep down I would prefer it, but geocaching has been mainstreamed so much that is not really a viable option now. I would like to see something done, I think it would improve the quality of caches even if the quantity remained the same.

I still feel like a newby, even with over 150 finds. I happen to be one of those folks who want to do things the correct way so I have spent the past year and a half learning the different ways that hides are done and also do not want to over populate areas with to many non-quality caches. This year I do plan to hide several in areas that I see a need for. that is the biggest reason for bringing up the state park issue because we like to camp in them around the state along with a few trips up into the North woods each year and I would like to bring more attention to these areas.

JustPJ66 and I like seeing quality caches being published. We by-pass many GRCs because they're just placed somewhere that there's a guardrail with no other significant reason for the cache. We've done some of those but we'd much rather go somewhere that there's more than just a film cannister in a guardrail.

The GRC's or micro's I like the best are the one's that tend to help find the parking area another geocache further along a hiking trail. yes they give you an extra find but the best thing is it show's you where the trail head is. a couple of the trail systems in Belgrade have these. they actually seem to have more of a porpose than to like you said have you stop at each guard rail along a streach of road.
I might as well tell anyone who is working on their delorme challenge do it quick, My two part challenge to myself is (1) either find or hide a geocache on every page in the Gazetteer I was told by the cacheowner that this has never been done WHAT I CAN BE THE FIRST- THAT'S A SUPER CHALLENGE. And (2) to increase the geocaches on each page so that we might be able to do away with any exempt pages in the future. ( maintenance runs will be great weekend camping trip's into the Maine North Woods.) the first ir primary but the more I have thought about it the 2cd seem doable also. last winter I planned my assault on Harrow mountain fault (5/5 earthcache) and this winter it is the assault on the MNW's. area's with few if no geocaches in them. to see how HMF earthcache went check out the logbook at GC1GDJZ. man that was a fun day.

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Originally Posted by JustKev

JustPJ66 and I like seeing quality caches being published. We by-pass many GRCs because they're just placed somewhere that there's a guardrail with no other significant reason for the cache. We've done some of those but we'd much rather go somewhere that there's more than just a film cannister in a guardrail.

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Even though I have a couple of GRC's myself, I don't make a habbit of stoping for them. I have been trying to come up with caches that are a little more interesting and fun for people to find like my "Annie Sturgis Sanctuary" caches or my "Patience" cache. I have 3 more caches ready to go as soon as I find a place to put them that I hope people will enjoy finding. While I'm on the subject of nice caches, alot of us put a lot of time and effort into making these caches for people to find and enjoy. If you like the cache please put more than a "TFTC" in the log. We cache owners look forward to read your comments about our caches we work so hard to make and place. And if you REALLY like it don't forget to give them a "Favorites" point to show them.

Ah, the Great Debate GRC's vs everything else. :) When I plan a geo-trip to a town or area, I admit, I try and grab a few GRC's along the way. It gives me something to look forward to on the drive. The only time I've every been overtly laughed at while trying to find a cache is on Mapachi's G.R.C. in Belgrade. No hint's but it's very tricky (like most of his caches) and the neighbors will come out and enjoy the show/give you subtle hints. I took so long they grabbed lawn chairs. Let's ask another question: Does anyone else find "Favorite" points to be odd?

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Originally Posted by fins2right

Let's ask another question: Does anyone else find "Favorite" points to be odd?

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I like "Favorite" points! They let you know what other cachers have found to be worth going to see.

I find favorite points to be a good tool. Like any feedback, you have to consider the details. For example, the first cache of the Alien Highway series has a lot of favorite points. That does not mean the cache itself is anything special, it's just favorited because those people liked getting the numbers doing the series. Many of the older 'historical' caches like the first placed in every state also get favorited more often than they might get otherwise.

But favorites are still a good indication. On our recent trip to Kansas, every cache on our list had at least 6 favorites, most had more than 10. There was not one cache we did where we had a "WTF were they thinking?" moment. We even found the best street sign nano that could ever be placed.

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Originally Posted by brdad

I find favorite points to be a good tool. Like any feedback, you have to consider the details. For example, the first cache of the Alien Highway series has a lot of favorite points. That does not mean the cache itself is anything special, it's just favorited because those people liked getting the numbers doing the series. Many of the older 'historical' caches like the first placed in every state also get favorited more often than they might get otherwise.

But favorites are still a good indication. On our recent trip to Kansas, every cache on our list had at least 6 favorites, most had more than 10. There was not one cache we did where we had a "WTF were they thinking?" moment. We even found the best street sign nano that could ever be placed.

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I have to admit, that is Brilliant!

Of course, I Hijacked the thread. Back to the State Park issue. My suspicion is that even when you ask the park ranger, another park ranger will come along and take the cache. I seem to remember something like that happening at Two Lights or thereabouts a few years back. I know of a few long term caches at Moose Point and Reid State Park. I think that the State is missing an opportunity here. But we do live in Maine: The way life should be.

I'd think one approach in that case would be to get in with the ranger, and see how the ranger can help in making it public to the other rangers. They must have some sort of a bulletin board in the ranger office, maybe a map of the park and the current caches placed in it would help?

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Originally Posted by fins2right

Ah, the Great Debate GRC's vs everything else. :) When I plan a geo-trip to a town or area, I admit, I try and grab a few GRC's along the way. It gives me something to look forward to on the drive. The only time I've every been overtly laughed at while trying to find a cache is on Mapachi's G.R.C. in Belgrade. No hint's but it's very tricky (like most of his caches) and the neighbors will come out and enjoy the show/give you subtle hints. I took so long they grabbed lawn chairs. Let's ask another question: Does anyone else find "Favorite" points to be odd?

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We also enjoyed that cache, G.R.C. by Mapachi, and had the neighbor come over and chat while we looked. He didn't give us any hints, subtle or otherwise. One of my absolute favorite logs is on that cache and it's by Mapachi's daughter, Bobbi.

To get back on topic I figured i would post a link to the Georgia state parks caching site.......................http://www.gastateparks.org/Geocaching

Hi Gang! I logged in here for the first time in about a year to respond to some questions as to what Di and I have been doing. This was the first thread I saw and ironically the very issue why I got off the board a while ago. Seems to be the same issue: Go to the Department of Conservation, meet with the folks that call the shots. I found they were receptive to adopting a user friendly approach to geocaches. As far as we go, we're dealing with cancer in our lives as many of you have and many of you regrettably will. It's Di's youngest and he's stage 4 melanoma, lives in Florida, is getting great care but we're focused on Adam and not much more. We have a lot of frequent flyer miles logged to Florida but few caches. I still have 100 caches out that I have been maintaining prudently. More importantly, we still have a lot of caching friends and expect to return to the caching game in more aggressive way this summer. The kind thoughts have been appreciated! We haven't quit the caching game, we're just focused on something different to which we have little control.

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Originally Posted by dubord207

Hi Gang! I logged in here for the first time in about a year to respond to some questions as to what Di and I have been doing. This was the first thread I saw and ironically the very issue why I got off the board a while ago. Seems to be the same issue: Go to the Department of Conservation, meet with the folks that call the shots. I found they were receptive to adopting a user friendly approach to geocaches. As far as we go, we're dealing with cancer in our lives as many of you have and many of you regrettably will. It's Di's youngest and he's stage 4 melanoma, lives in Florida, is getting great care but we're focused on Adam and not much more. We have a lot of frequent flyer miles logged to Florida but few caches. I still have 100 caches out that I have been maintaining prudently. More importantly, we still have a lot of caching friends and expect to return to the caching game in more aggressive way this summer. The kind thoughts have been appreciated! We haven't quit the caching game, we're just focused on something different to which we have little control.

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Good to see you Dan! I've just jumped back on as well. 2011 was not my greatest caching year, to many outside distractions. Hope to change that this year and will see you out on the trail. I emailed the Dept. of Conservation last week just to get some thoughts. Evidently they are working on a park by park policy and like the idea of caches as long as they are well hidden, trash free and maintained. There has been some thought of putting caches out that the Rangers would maintain. At the very least, Augusta seemed to be supportive.

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Originally Posted by fins2right

Good to see you Dan! I've just jumped back on as well. 2011 was not my greatest caching year, to many outside distractions. Hope to change that this year and will see you out on the trail. I emailed the Dept. of Conservation last week just to get some thoughts. Evidently they are working on a park by park policy and like the idea of caches as long as they are well hidden, trash free and maintained. There has been some thought of putting caches out that the Rangers would maintain. At the very least, Augusta seemed to be supportive.

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I like hearing that kind of news. Maybe going forward there will be some policy to get caching accepted in all of the state parks.:D

Has anything changed concerning the Dept of Conservation and also The Nature Conservancy? Wasn't Mike(Ekidokai) in talks with higher ups concerning the DOC? Did anything ever come of that?

I found them to be too independent to work with. Tried to work with Maine Trails Advisory committee and had the same results.

I gave up.

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Originally Posted by Ekidokai

I found them to be too independent to work with. Tried to work with Maine Trails Advisory committee and had the same results.

I gave up.

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Just point them to the Georgia State park systems and you can see how they have opened caching up to all of their parks and historic sites. They even have series for both where you can earn geocoins for finding them. I know of many more states that do the same. With all the tourists that Maine has I'm sure there are many geocachers amongst those who visit all the parks.

http://www.gastateparks.org/GeoCacheParks

Maine State parks are enthusiastic supporters of Geocaching! There are some places that have limited Geocaching, such as Baxter Park, which by law cannot allow physical containers (they do support EarthCaching) and where cachers have not obtained permission.

My understanding is The Nature Conservancy does not have the resources to manage physical cache containers, but they do allow EarthCaches and even physical containers if the cacher gets permission and can show they are committed to The Nature Conservancy goals and will honor the commitments to the owners of the land they manage.

If anyone needs help contacting a land manager or owner, please let me know or send a note to MainePublisher using the Geocaching.com website.

Maine State Parks GeoTrail goes live tomorrow at 8am:


http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/...v=article-2011

Lots of great prizes!!

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Originally Posted by tat

Maine State Parks GeoTrail goes live tomorrow at 8am:


http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/...v=article-2011

Lots of great prizes!!

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So who will be the 1st to fill their passport?

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Originally Posted by tat

Maine State Parks GeoTrail goes live tomorrow at 8am:


http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/...v=article-2011

Lots of great prizes!!

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Yeah!

NJ has a "passport" program, but geocaches aren't part of it... probably because we had some early cachers who introduced the game "way back when", before the Passports program began.

Any time you get land managers into the game, geocachers win.

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Originally Posted by Haffy

So who will be the 1st to fill their passport?

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Just read this.

http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/park_...eocaching.html