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Thread: My first cache

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Bangor, ME
    Posts
    6,343

    Default

    Looks great, it has been a long time since I was there, look forward to going back.

    The only question I would have is on rating. A 5 terrain would usually indicate special equipment required or an overnight stay and 10+ miles of hiking one way. Check out http://clayjar.com/gcrs/ to see if you should re-evaluate. Since it's been so long since I have been there I can't say what it should be.

  2. #12
    d’76 Guest

    Thumbs up

    Hey all,

    I'm stuck. I did the test to see if the cache was in fact 5 in terrian. It came up as a 3.5, In my experiance it was more than a 3.5 in fact I've done some caches that where rated a 5 and I thought they where easy compared to this. So let me give you some details about this and you guys help me.

    1. You have to ford a river. Right now the water is only 12 inches deep but in the spring it will be 3 to 4 feet deep.

    2. At some [points the roots on the ground are 5 to 6 inches above the ground.

    3. There are several places that require 3 points of contact to make it. (ex. one hand two feet or two hands and foot to get you up to the next level.)

    4. The hike for some one from Portland would take over night or & hours hikings and 9 hours of driving. For us in the local Bangor area 10 hours round trip.

    5. In the fall there will be hunters in the area so that means bullets flying. THat in itself should make it a five.

    6. It's going to be an all day hike to do the loop.

    These are the types of constructive critism I need (Brdad) for this cache to be a success. Thanks a bunch.

    Dave

    5.

  3. #13
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Gainesville, Georgia
    Posts
    3,893

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    Sounds like a 4 1/2 maybe? You don't need a boat and don't need any technical climbing apparatus like ropes or caribiners etc. But from what you described Dave I wouldn't worry about it being either a 4 or 5. Let's just say the darn thing is hard enough....lol. And from what Parmacheenee says the difficulty rating is prob a 3 cause once you get there it is not hard to find
    Just smile it won't crack your face

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  4. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Auburn
    Posts
    2,134

    Default West trail head...

    There is also a west trail head with an even longer trip to the cache. The reason I mention this is that when I went it was nearly imposible to cross the way you went in, Dave. So, depending on when you go, it can be real hard.

    Still, overall, I'd wouldn't rate it higher than 4. But, I would try to put into words exactly what the cacher can expect. Sometimes a number just doesn't explain enough.

    This is very similar to my West Mt. Kenebago cache.

  5. #15
    d’76 Guest

    Default

    Alright, I bumped it down to a 3 and 4. I think that will work.

  6. #16
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Bangor, ME
    Posts
    6,343

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    Using what you stated, I come up with a 3.5 or a 4.

    You can't factor in someone coming from Portland or living next tot he parking area. Otherwise, all Maine caches would be a 5 since someone from Australia would have to use a boat to get to it. An overnight stay means on the trail heading to the cache. I suppose a long drive down a woods road could factor in a half a point as well.

    Many caches are under or over rated, it's not always easy to judge. I've adjuasted the difficulty rating on Old470 3 or 4 times because I misjudged how easy I thought it was going to be.

    IMO, terrain is a little more straighforward. 5 is left for special equipment which would include scuba gear, climbing gear, and boats. While I don't fully agree that a boat is special equipment since nearly anyone can use one in fair waters, that is the way the system was designed. scuba and climbing gear require additional training which I would agree was special equipment.

    If I had to guess without going, and including the stream crossings and rugged trail, I'd still say a 4. You could also wait and adjust the numbers by the logs you get on it.

  7. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Central, Maine
    Posts
    604

    Smile Having been there recently...

    I would rate the terrain about a 4.5. To SAFELY do the hike, a good pair of hiking shoes is necessary. You can cross the streams in your bare feet but it's very risky due to the sharp and slippery rocks. We wore our kayaking wet shoes which were ideal. We saw many hikers double-poling across the streams. We only used one because that's all we had but found it sufficient with the wet shoes. Many parts of the Rim Trail are very slippery when wet which can happen quickly as I found out on my first visit there when a lightening storm blew through out of nowhere. As Dave mentioned, there are some places where hand stabilization is necessary...not rock climbing, but more of a descent or ascent than just walking up or downhill. A hiking stick is very helpful and we didn't meet many people without them. The trail is well-marked but very rough in places...primitive, as it should be. If you take your time and watch where you are going, you will be ok. One of the trickiest spots was just before arriving at the cache site. I found the coords to be as accurate as you can get...and that's using my Garmin 60cs, which has proven to be quite reliable in all 9 caches I've used it for. It only has 513 more to prove it's as good as my Vista. Regardless of how you rate it Dave...it's still a 10!!

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Litchfield, Maine
    Posts
    3,592

    Default

    wbdent I agree with parmachenee. I know the area very well and the crossing should be rated high. Even at low water the fotting going through those rocks you could very easly turn adn ankle and get hurt. So 4 or 4.5 is what I would rate it and make a note of it in the description.
    Blazing Troll

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