A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

placing geocaches

Trying to have some fun in placing new geocaches

I’ve been in a geocaching placing mood lately.

I’m a believer that most geocaches run their course in time. That’s not so with every one (especially historical ones, ones with a lot of favorite points or some others), but many do. When that times, archive them and search for new spots.

A few of my hides fall under that category. Reasons I’ll archive a cache include:

  • Finding a better spot in the same area
  • Wanting to make a different size hide nearby
  • The cache has been out there for a few years and doesn’t get many hides anymore

There are other reasons, of course, but those are the main ones.

See, I’ve been re-thinking my geocaching philosophy lately. Though I don’t mind the occasional micro, I do like seeing bigger caches. It’s not that I trade items (it’s rare, unless there are signature items), but it’s still nice to find a regular-sized cache with a decent log book in it and all.

I have a lot of caches I want to hide!

So, I’m attempting to make it so most of my caches are at least small in size. That’s going to mean I will be archiving a few of my caches. In turn, that will open up areas for new caches. Though parks in my area aren’t huge, it’s nice to do different spots. That way, it’s not the same thing over an over.

About the only cache I don’t plan to archive is the first one I ever placed. I’ve had to replace it once or twice and will continue to do so if needed. I placed that one on on April 26, 2008. If I had realized it was the fifth year of this cache, I likely would have posted something about it.

Instead, I’ll just mention a few things.

First, it’s a nano. It went a few days before being found when I first placed it. I know there were several DNFs that weren’t logged before it was found. It has 58 finds and 24DNFs. So, it’s a pesky little bugger. But I love it.

And it shall stay!

Those numbers also show something else — not a lot of people travel through this area geocaching. There can be so many caches, but there’s no interstate highways or anything like that. So there are a few winding roads and such. That isn’t fun to some people. So I like to try and put out decent caches so when people do come, they enjoy them.

I’m taking extra special care lately.

Whether it just be a good-sized cache or a cool spot or a tough puzzle, I want people to enjoy the find. I recently placed an order at a place to get some swag to put into caches. I’ve found 5-7 places for new caches and am hoping to have them all placed by the time an event I am hosting in town happens over Memorial Day Weekend.

That also means some caches that have been out there are going to have to be archived. Eventually, these caches I’m placing will likely follow in the same fate. They all run their course. And in the end, it’s about trying to keep things fresh.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Placing geocaches can be just as fun as finding them

I know I wrote a little about geocaching the other day in my Notes from my noodle post, but I’ve been on a bit of a binge lately.

I also have two other posts in the works about geocaching — one which will follow this weekend’s trip and another that deals with — yes — cheating in the game. Seriously, people cheat. In a game where numbers don’t matter. Hopefully regular readers, as well we geocachers, will enjoy reading that wacky story.

Anyway, on with this one.

I’ve been on a bit of a hiding spree lately.

If you’ll recall, I’m a bit of a believer that caches have a lifespan. Basically, if a cache is basic, doesn’t have a heap of favorite points and isn’t historic of sorts, it’s not a bad thing to archive them every few years. You can place a new one in the same area — just change it a bit — and make it a place for people to discover again.

I’ve been working on placing some caches recently…

My area is quite rural. To get here, you have to go through some winding/hilly roads. Some people don’t like that, which is a shame because this area is really nice. Alas, to each their own.

Recently, I looked at many of my geocaches and some of them go a lot of time without getting hits. So, despite being attached to some of them, I decided I would archive a few to open up space for some others to be placed.

Not too long ago, I purchased a box of lock-n-lock type containers at BJ’s when they were on sale. I let them sit for a while. This seemed like the perfect time. I dug out some camo duck tape I had got a while back and started to get some containers ready to place.

See, I was all about getting things done.

I went out one night and started scouting spots. I hiked some trails. I looked at small parks. I checked places where caches used to be and I came up with a bunch of spots that I thought would make for some good caches.

I found a few of my caches and archived them. It was hard on a couple of them because they were from when I first started caching, so they had a bit of a sentimental value. Alas, for the good of the game, it was time for them to go and I hope those who found them over the years enjoyed them.

In their place went several new caches. Not in the same spots, mind you, but in the area or park. Over the course of a few days, I placed seven new caches in the area. Of those, one was a regular, three were smalls and three were micros. A nice little mix.

I firmly believe it can be just as fun placing these caches as it is finding them, especially if people seem to like them when they look for ’em.

As expected, however, the caches haven’t been hit as much as I’d hope — especially for new caches. But, they are there and there are still many days of good weather ahead, so I hope these caches will be hit up soon enough.

I also plan on placing a couple more. Possibly tonight. One is a cache I’ve wanted to do for a long time — a letterbox hybrid. It’s going to be straight forward, but it will have a stamp for people to use and stamp their books. I hope finders enjoy it! I tried to place it last night, but there were people at the spot I wanted to put it… so I’ll try again tonight!

In the end, this has helped me enjoy caching again. Ever since I posted about the game passing me by, I’ve come out of that funk and have had a good time with it. I’ve especially found fun in placing caches again, so hopefully I can come up with some new places to hide ’em and have some fun with these, too!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!