vb:literal>

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 22

Thread: Additional Hints

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Richmond
    Posts
    410

    Default Additional Hints

    Some caches have hints....others don't. Some hints don't help until after you find the cache.

    How about you? Do you ask for a hint, or additional hints in your log or through contacting the C.O.? Have you had any luck in asking for more?

    I have a list of supposed 1.5s that stump me. I usually visit a cache multiple times before I'll ask for help. And if I visit the cache that many times, it's usually important to me for sure.

    I've had very little luck contacting C.O.s for help, and hesitate to ask for it. I'm not sure if they lose my messages in e-mail along w/all the logs they get, or they chose not to help. I even had one C.O. tell me that it's appropriate to ask for a hint in the form of a "yes/no" reply.

    Others have better luck using the Phone a friend. I hesitate to do that, even when offered. Everyone's busy w/their lives or they'd be out caching all the time. I don't want to bother someone just for a cache....after all... it's just a game.

    It's funny. Some C.O.s love that you'll do All their caches, and ask if you've done certain ones. It's hard to do them when they don't maintain them. It's frustrating when you want to do someone's series cache and can't because there's one or two that need maintenance. Multi-caches fall into that category as well. I would think a series or multi would have top priority in a C.O.s maintenance schedule!?

    So how do you handle it all? Do you just eat it? Do you boycott the C.O.s other caches? Do you discretely rely on the help of the other cachers you know?

    If you don't feel comfy posting to the boards...I do welcome contact back channel. Thank you to all that have done that already. There are so many more that still hold it in...don't. If you have something constructive or experiential....share it. We all can learn from one another, so let's do it.
    I'm just nuts about geocaching!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Bangor, ME
    Posts
    6,343

    Default

    I do not read the hints until after I have searched for a while. I have never and will probably never use phone a friend. I don't generally agree with giving hints on someone else's cache - I believe this matter should be between the cache owner and the hunter. I am not afraid to email the owner for help after I have searched, but I will more likely wait and see if someone else logs a find on it first to make sure it is there. Only the cache owner knows what extra hints he/she would want to give. For example, I generally don't give a hint on my caches until I have the hunter reply to me as to where they were searching, and then I can decide what help they may need.

    It kind of sucks when an owner does not reply, I probably would give them at least a month to reply before I would ask anyone else for hints, but that is me. Some owners don't check their mail every day. You can always check their profile to see if they have visited the site lately - if they have, there's a good chance they got the email.

    I'm not sure I favor my multis first as far as maintenance. I think I maintain Old470 quicker because it is found more often. Most of my multis don't get more than a handful of finds per year, and less and less as the easier caches get placed. I don't pay much attention as to who has hidden caches before I hunt them so I would not boycott them.

    It's just a cache, If it's worth it it will be repaired at some time, if it's not, go on to the next. Don't get caught up in the smileys!

    Also, I am not afraid to post in my log if I think the D/T rating is inaccurate, and I also welcome input from finders on the same. It's sometimes hard as a hider to realize how hard it will be for a finder.
    Last edited by brdad; 08-30-2009 at 09:46 AM.
    DNFTT! DNFTT! DNFTT!

    "The funniest thing about this particular signature is that by the time you realize it doesn't say anything it's to late to stop reading it..."

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Oakland, Maine
    Posts
    532

    Default The situation dictates the hint

    On one of Laughing Terry's infamous caches in Waterville, I used the phone a friend option. I had been to the site 4 times, and we had 3 cachers scouring the area. Finally I gave up and called a friend who found the cache a few weeks earlier. It still took us 20 minutes. As for the hint, yeah, I use it. I'm not a really good puzzle person and sometimes I need the help. I always look for a while first. I have an Oregon, so the hint is just a button away. Kind of like good food, I have a hard time resisting.
    Geocaching Parrotheads

    Why can't we get a government sponsered tick eradication program?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Hampden, ME
    Posts
    911

    Default

    Of course, I made my earlier comments with the fact being I haven't attempted any of LT's caches. I should mention that I may want to change my opinion after attempting LT's.

    Quote Originally Posted by fins2right View Post
    On one of Laughing Terry's infamous caches in Waterville, I used the phone a friend option. I had been to the site 4 times, and we had 3 cachers scouring the area. Finally I gave up and called a friend who found the cache a few weeks earlier. It still took us 20 minutes.
    Everyone has the right to be an idiot at times. Just don't abuse the privilege.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Gainesville, Georgia
    Posts
    3,893

    Default

    I like to think of hints as something to help the cache finder find the caches or else they wouldn't include the hint to begin with. I use the hints all the time,I hate DNF's especially if I am on the road and not going to be in the area again for some time.My one biggest complaint are the hints where they say it is near a fallen log. Heck you are in the forest and there are literally hindreds of fallen logs. Kind of redundant wouldn't you say? I've used a phone-a-friend on a few occasions if I don't have the cache placers number and I am again in an area I know I won't get back to again. Each cacher has their own way of caching and this is just how I like to do it,right or wrong,each to his own.
    Just smile it won't crack your face

    The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four persons is
    suffering from some sort of mental illness. Think of your three best
    friends -- if they're okay, then it's you.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Bangor, ME
    Posts
    6,343

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Haffy View Post
    I like to think of hints as something to help the cache finder find the caches or else they wouldn't include the hint to begin with.
    You could argue that, but if they were just there to use immediately, there would be no reason for them to be encrypted!

    However, I agree as far as hints on the cache page - use them as you wish - before, during, or not at all. I actually tend to use them quicker on a cache that I don't feel is worth spending much time on, or at the end of the day, when I am too tired to spend much time looking.
    Last edited by brdad; 08-30-2009 at 09:15 PM.
    DNFTT! DNFTT! DNFTT!

    "The funniest thing about this particular signature is that by the time you realize it doesn't say anything it's to late to stop reading it..."

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    America
    Posts
    2,578

    Default

    I will give a hint every time I see a DNF. The problem is I may give out too much information. I don't know how much help they want. I tend to tell people right where the things are. I placed them to be found. The few times I have asked, help it has come right away. When I have asked for help I have spent hours looking and I want a very good hint, like exactly where it is. These things are placed to be found and I get as much enjoyment finding it on my own or with help. The ones that I need help on are probably more fun because of why it stumped me.

    I can only think of one that I had to get help with that is really a disappointment. The hide doesn't follow the game plan and the coordinates are off and the CO wont listen or follow up on it.
    I have no enemies, but I'm intensely disliked by my friends.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Bangor, ME
    Posts
    6,343

    Default

    My thinking is it depends on the difficulty level. A 1 difficulty is placed to be found, but a 5 difficulty is placed to be hunted. Of course, I have fairly easily found plenty of 5 difficulty caches and have unsuccessfully hunted some 1 terrain caches!
    DNFTT! DNFTT! DNFTT!

    "The funniest thing about this particular signature is that by the time you realize it doesn't say anything it's to late to stop reading it..."

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    Hampden, ME
    Posts
    911

    Default

    Generally speaking, I use Cache Berry to cache paperless. The hint is there, but I generally will look for the cache first and then turn to the hint, if there is one, if I cannot find it initially. If I do not find the cache, I usually do not log a DNF but instead choose to 1) Go thru the logs to look for info that will assist me and 2) Return to look again. I have on occasion logged a DNF when I truly thought that the cache was missing. One most recent was a LPC that was obviously missing. After logging the DNF, the cache owner immediately disabled it, checked on it in a day or so and replaced it. Needless to say, I was impressed.

    If a cache is so difficult that it cannot be found at first, I would much rather try again at a later time. I just don't feel that I need to phone someone for directions to find the cache.....kind of defeats the style of caching I do. However, if you choose to cache in a different style, go for it. At the risk of being redundant, it's all in how you choose to participate in this activity.

    Interestingly, you mention some 1.5's that have stumped you. I have been stumped by 1's. So it makes me think that I'm having a really bad day or the cache placer doesn't know the difference between a 1 and their elbow.

    Again, great to see topics in the forums like this, thanks.
    Everyone has the right to be an idiot at times. Just don't abuse the privilege.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Brewer, Maine
    Posts
    1,832

    Default

    My only hints gripe is when I finally look at the hint after a half hour of searching, and it says "Take exit 23 off the highway to get to the cache"!
    If I need the hint, I should be within 50' of the cache. If you are putting parking information or street directions in the hint, I won't see it until past the point where it's relevant. A hint should be for that close-in, can't find it situation.
    If you feel that directions to the trailhead or parking are important for the finder to know, put it in the description of your cache.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •