Post by TermiteHunter on Apr 29, 2021 22:06:31 GMT -5
When can you hide your first cache?
When are you ready to hide your first cache? When you are ready.
There is no magic number you should find first. There is no required time that must first pass. You can hide one when you think you are ready.
There are those that find a handfull of caches and jump right in. They take a container from the kitchen or an old bottle and stick it under a tree, toss on a few twigs and they have hidden their first cache.
They then go on a listing site (usually GC) and work their way through the submission process then wait for approval. If there is no other cache nearby it is usually approved.
Is it a good hide? Is it in an interesting place? Will the container be durable enough? Will an experienced cacher enjoy finding it? Is the cache page well made? Probably not but there it is.
The cache listing sites have many types of caches that can be hidden among their varied options. The most common is the traditional cache. a single container hidden someplace waiting to be found.
Among the cache types are puzzzles, locationless, moving, multi stage, virtual and more.
Many cacher hidders develop a style or prefered type of cache that they become known for. Others hide a variety of those that interest them.
How do you know what cache type or style you like if you have only found a few? It's all new to you at this point and they all seem great.
While you need not find any caches to start hiding, it's a good idea to explore more of what is out there. Find several types of caches on the different sites to see which ones you like.
Finding a lot of caches first lets you see what worked and what didn't for others.
Among what you will see are the good and poor container types people use. The ones that rusted or leaked, The ones that held up to the elements and lasted a long time with still dry logs.
How they were hidden. In a common often repeated way or somethnig unique and interesting.
I would suggest that you find a good number of caches before you venture out to hide your own. What that number is will depend on you and what you choose to find.
When you decide that it is time for that first cache consider what you need to do.
Selecting your container: Nearly all will need a container of some sort. Pick one that is durable. It has to be outside hopefully for years.
It needs to be as water tight as possible. A log in a baggie will not last long sitting in a pool of water for weeks at a time.
Cachers are rough with containers. If it has a difficult or specific way that it has to be opened it will be forced open in the wrong way damageing the seal and security.
No amount of warning or instructions will thwart their brute force to gain access to the log.
Pick a good place to hide it: Put it someplace interesting. Take them some unique place they wouldn't have found on their own.
Hide it well enough that non-geocachers will not see it too readily. Those are the ones that go missing quickly.
If it is out in the open it needs to blend in to the environment it is in so that it is not noticed. I really like those that are hidden in plain site when it is done well.
Few like to stick their hands in a dark hole they cannot see into. Another creature may take up residence there.
If it is private property you need permission.
In a quasi public area you should be fine.
Some parks have restrictions on caches. be sure to check on that first.
Don't overlook the cache page: Take some time to craft a good cache page. Say something more than here is a cache come find it.
Why is it here? Did you bring them here for a reason. Is there a theme to your cache? Include one. Tell them why you put it here.
Make the page interesting to entice finders. You can include hidden clues to find it in the text.
Don't tell them exactly where to look. " Next to the dark rock at the third pine tree from the picnic table" just ruins the search. (yes I see this too often)
Pick or craft a durable, water tight container.
Place it with a reason.
Be creative in your hide.
Write an attractive cache page.
Remember you are the one responsible for the cache. You will need to maintain it by replacing logs, repairing damage, replacing the container, checking to see if it is missing and more.
Be sure that you can and will do that. Putting it in a location that takes a 30 minute hike to get to will make that difficult. One on the other side of town is just as difficult if you don't go there regularly.
That is one reason many of mine are inspectable by driving past them. (that and I like the in your face style) I can see several of mine from the road without stopping. If i need to stop and check the contents I just have to park.
While I am here...why do so many hiders put camo tape on something that is inside or under something else?
It can't be seen and the leaf camo doesn't blend into the parking lot anyway.
Every year the bomb squad is called out to some shopping center for a suspicious package wrapped in tape that a patron saw someone messing with.
They don't check GC to see if a cache might be there. (I saw that one bomb tech did but that is not the norm)
They just treat it as a bomb and blow it up safely
Don't let that be your cache.
When are you ready to hide your first cache? When you are ready.
There is no magic number you should find first. There is no required time that must first pass. You can hide one when you think you are ready.
There are those that find a handfull of caches and jump right in. They take a container from the kitchen or an old bottle and stick it under a tree, toss on a few twigs and they have hidden their first cache.
They then go on a listing site (usually GC) and work their way through the submission process then wait for approval. If there is no other cache nearby it is usually approved.
Is it a good hide? Is it in an interesting place? Will the container be durable enough? Will an experienced cacher enjoy finding it? Is the cache page well made? Probably not but there it is.
The cache listing sites have many types of caches that can be hidden among their varied options. The most common is the traditional cache. a single container hidden someplace waiting to be found.
Among the cache types are puzzzles, locationless, moving, multi stage, virtual and more.
Many cacher hidders develop a style or prefered type of cache that they become known for. Others hide a variety of those that interest them.
How do you know what cache type or style you like if you have only found a few? It's all new to you at this point and they all seem great.
While you need not find any caches to start hiding, it's a good idea to explore more of what is out there. Find several types of caches on the different sites to see which ones you like.
Finding a lot of caches first lets you see what worked and what didn't for others.
Among what you will see are the good and poor container types people use. The ones that rusted or leaked, The ones that held up to the elements and lasted a long time with still dry logs.
How they were hidden. In a common often repeated way or somethnig unique and interesting.
I would suggest that you find a good number of caches before you venture out to hide your own. What that number is will depend on you and what you choose to find.
When you decide that it is time for that first cache consider what you need to do.
Selecting your container: Nearly all will need a container of some sort. Pick one that is durable. It has to be outside hopefully for years.
It needs to be as water tight as possible. A log in a baggie will not last long sitting in a pool of water for weeks at a time.
Cachers are rough with containers. If it has a difficult or specific way that it has to be opened it will be forced open in the wrong way damageing the seal and security.
No amount of warning or instructions will thwart their brute force to gain access to the log.
Pick a good place to hide it: Put it someplace interesting. Take them some unique place they wouldn't have found on their own.
Hide it well enough that non-geocachers will not see it too readily. Those are the ones that go missing quickly.
If it is out in the open it needs to blend in to the environment it is in so that it is not noticed. I really like those that are hidden in plain site when it is done well.
Few like to stick their hands in a dark hole they cannot see into. Another creature may take up residence there.
If it is private property you need permission.
In a quasi public area you should be fine.
Some parks have restrictions on caches. be sure to check on that first.
Don't overlook the cache page: Take some time to craft a good cache page. Say something more than here is a cache come find it.
Why is it here? Did you bring them here for a reason. Is there a theme to your cache? Include one. Tell them why you put it here.
Make the page interesting to entice finders. You can include hidden clues to find it in the text.
Don't tell them exactly where to look. " Next to the dark rock at the third pine tree from the picnic table" just ruins the search. (yes I see this too often)
Pick or craft a durable, water tight container.
Place it with a reason.
Be creative in your hide.
Write an attractive cache page.
Remember you are the one responsible for the cache. You will need to maintain it by replacing logs, repairing damage, replacing the container, checking to see if it is missing and more.
Be sure that you can and will do that. Putting it in a location that takes a 30 minute hike to get to will make that difficult. One on the other side of town is just as difficult if you don't go there regularly.
That is one reason many of mine are inspectable by driving past them. (that and I like the in your face style) I can see several of mine from the road without stopping. If i need to stop and check the contents I just have to park.
While I am here...why do so many hiders put camo tape on something that is inside or under something else?
It can't be seen and the leaf camo doesn't blend into the parking lot anyway.
Every year the bomb squad is called out to some shopping center for a suspicious package wrapped in tape that a patron saw someone messing with.
They don't check GC to see if a cache might be there. (I saw that one bomb tech did but that is not the norm)
They just treat it as a bomb and blow it up safely
Don't let that be your cache.