Maine Cache and Cache Hider Stats

[brdad]

This thread seems like a free-for-all lately, and now this is on my mind...

All caches get easier with time, it's just too bad some get pushed toward the easy line sooner than "was intended", saying that as if I know what was intended, which in case you're wondering, I really don't.

The centums probably would never have been placed if caching had not gotten easier beforehand. I'd guess 90% of the cachers now started at a time when the ease of PQs and notifications, as well as advanced technology (Auto GPS, Mapping GPS, Cachemate, GSAK, etc.) were commonplace and may not ever realize there was a time when this technology was nonexistent in the caching world.

That and with with a larger number of caches and cachers, some originally unique hides are quite commonplace, and even if you have not found a particular hide, you may have heard about it. Heck, even the first GRC and LPC appear a bit tricky the first time. The desire to get the numbers has pushed cachers to hide caches in ways to help promote those numbers.

Online mapping has come a long way too. Color aerials and street view - there are a few caches now you can actually see the cache using street view.

A centum would have been very tough if not impossible if you had to load each cache page and print it out, load each coordinate onto your GPSr, and then travel to each cache (without the aid of Auto navigation) which was probably an average of 20 miles apart or more. Filter out your GSAk caches to only show caches placed in 2003 or earlier and try planning a centum from there and you'll see what I mean. Heck, just try planning the centum in Maine using dates earlier than the placed date of the challenge (14 May 09).

And while everyone knows I don't think all these factors have advanced caching in a positive way, overall caching has improved. I do like having all my caches in GSAK and being able map them out, upload them to my Nuvi, GPSr, Laptop, and PDA, I probably would have thought that was overkill (and possibly cheating!) when I started caching.