(update) Organized Littering?

[uchwear]

I went on a geocache hike with a friend and it just seems like organized littering to me. Plus you are blazing your own trail when you are hiding geocaches and that is usually prohibited in state and national parks anyway. Am I wrong about this or is geocaching just legalized littering?
 
I have heard about geological geocaches where you are given the coordinates for a natural structure like an odd rock formation or a rare plant. That sound more geo friendly to me.
 
Please read on through the posts. I've changed my opinion somewhat on this issue.

[GeoCaching Fools]

I am sorry that you feel that geocaching is nothing more than "organized littering".

Geocaching is more than simply using satellites to search for hidden tupperware.

Ask your friend to invite you to the next CITO event in your area.  CITO stands for Cache In - Trash Out (http://www.cacheintrashout.org/).  These events are organized to gather together fellow geocachers to collect garbage and help clean up trails and parks.  I have participated in several of these events and can say that it really makes a difference.

As part of my geocaching gear, I always carry several small plastic bags that I use for garbage.

I do agree with your views regarding trailblazing in order to hide a cache.  Stay on the trails!  Help to protect our forests and parks!

[Dunnfamily4]

I have been geocaching with my kids for a couple of years now.  I have found that the geocachers are a responsible group that seeks park support and encourages cleaning up our state parks.  The site requires a review of the cache before it can be posted.  The reviewers seek permits from park supervisors so that they can insure that the natural environment is not damaged by those seeking the cache.

Also, the program of "Cache In/Trash Out" is a great way of promoting the Leave No Trace program in the general public.

I think folks are expecting the worse and that is just not so with the folks I have come in contact with the sport.  I have enjoyed it tremendously and it is another great outside activity for families.  I suggest you check out the website, //www.geocaching.com, read about the history, the guidelines, and the programs they promote.  

We are heading out for a 10 day camping trip to Colorado and plan to geocache in Colorado and Texas during our time out.  Enjoy the outdoors!

[GeoCaching Fools]

You should have a great time geocaching in Colorado.  I live in the Pueblo area and have been geocaching for several years.  Within the scenic Rocky Mountains you will find an abundance of wildlife, numerous hiking trails, and plenty of peace and quiet.

Have a great trip!

[uchwear]

Okay,  so here's an update.  I've been geocaching four times now and I'm starting to get into it.  I even have a gps on order.  I should get it thursday.  I'm still against blazing your own trail, but It's alot of fun.

[ldgregory]

Okay,  so here's an update.  I've been geocaching four times now and I'm starting to get into it.  I even have a gps on order.  I should get it thursday.  I'm still against blazing your own trail, but It's alot of fun.

Geocaching is the same as any other activity. The majority are responsible and there are the few that do dumb things to give it a bad name. You'll find that in camping (people who play music too loud, don't observe quiet hours, litter etc), four-wheeling (not treading lightly, not staying on established trails).

There are reviewers who check each new cache submission to check that the cache is "legal" and meets a bunch of other criteria for a responsible cache. The problem is that in most cases the reviewers can't go and physically check each cache and some reviewers take their charge more responsibly than others.

All in all, Geocaching is a fairly self-policing activity. I've reported unsafe caches before (like one in the direct line of fire for an outdoor shooting range) etc. Most of us carry trash bags and pick up litter along the way too (even outside CTIO events).

At any rate, I've been caching since 2003 and think most people are responsible cachers.

[AustinBoston]

I've reported unsafe caches before (like one in the direct line of fire for an outdoor shooting range)

Wow!   :yikes: Did the originator ever think of the possibility of being charged with manslaughter?

Austin

[ldgregory]

Wow!   :yikes: Did the originator ever think of the possibility of being charged with manslaughter?

Apparently not. My dad, my wife, youngest daughter, and myself were walking up the hillside to get to the cache when we heard ricochets whizzing by. We got down low and tried to keep dirt between us and them to get back to the truck.

If you have a GC account, here's the cache.
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?wp=GC9AA5

Unfortunately, it'll probably take someone being shot to get it finally removed. My log comment was Oct 10th 2004 (Geo-Bishop).

[slowmo]

I understand where you are coming from, in my neck of the woods (GA) I would say 90% of cache's placed today are litter. But don't get me wrong we love caching, nowdays we only search for what we think is quality. For what we think might be quality, take a look at my profile http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=62d15a31-422e-43f5-978d-d6489e8de412

[AustinBoston]

I understand where you are coming from, in my neck of the woods (GA) I would say 90% of cache's placed today are litter. But don't get me wrong we love caching, nowdays we only search for what we think is quality. For what we think might be quality, take a look at my profile http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=62d15a31-422e-43f5-978d-d6489e8de412

Alas, Login Required.

Austin

[slowmo]

Alas, Login Required.

Austin

Sorry You would think everyone on this board would have a GC account, but I guess not. So I will try to paste it here.

Profile Information:
** Latest News **

**Hobbies - Caching, Letterboxing, Hiking, Hunting, Camping, Cycling**

** Biography **
As of (05-06-07) I promised myself not to log another LPC or log a cache that leads to nothing (Walmart, Publix, Kroger or any business that I have to look at everyday) you get the picture. I HATE LPC's!! So I guess my numbers will never be high, though its never been about numbers. I prefer mountain caching, something that you have to get out of the vehicle and take a little hike, walk whatever you want to call it, as long as you don't have to lift a skirt up for.

Today I'm implementing the Trez* rating system to my caching:

Did it take me to any interesting place?
Did I learn something new?
Did it have a great view?
Did it have a clever hide?
Did it have a creative container?
Did it offer a good hike?
Did it have a trade box?
Did it offer a mental challenge?
Did it show me an interesting object?
Did it have a nice environment?
Did it offer a physical challenge?
Did it have a clever theme?
Did I get a smiley?

System: 1 point for each answer
Scoring:
0-1 Should be archived
1-2 Geo Litter
3-5 Average
6-8 Very enjoyable
9-10 Excellent
10+ One of the best

If your cache scores average or better I will log it, if I never log a find for your cache it could be that it's geo litter, should be archived or I just haven't had a chance to search for it

[sacrawf]

I understand where you are coming from, in my neck of the woods (GA) I would say 90% of cache's placed today are litter. But don't get me wrong we love caching, nowdays we only search for what we think is quality. For what we think might be quality, take a look at my profile http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=62d15a31-422e-43f5-978d-d6489e8de412

I understand your feelings, however, I find that geocachers, like people in general, have a differance in opinion in what is interesting, a good view, challenging, etc.

There is a broad diversity of geocachers, which is far more diverse than the subset of campers who chose to enjoy geocaching.  The physical, mental, and mobility abilities, preference for urban, or rural caches, makes one man's "organized litter" another man's treasure.  The descriptions, difficulty, and size ratings on the geocaching.com site make it easy to avoid the caches that might not meet one's own preferences.  But, to impose any rating on geocaches for anything other than pure personal preference would not recognize the broad diversity of the hobby.

I am discouraged, however, at the exhibition of natural human tendancies of trade items in a cache.  I make it a point to always leave something of twice the value of an item taken. It does not seem that all follow the same idea.  It's a wonder that there are any marbles, fast food toys, and plastic soldiers, and rusty advertising keychains left anywhere except in caches.

[cb]

Geocaching has taken us to marvelous places we would never has seen otherwise, such as a WWI bunker in Slovenia and a boojum forest in Baja.  We would have gone right by, never going these were here.  For us, it's not so much finding the cache as it is seeing the surroundings.  I wouldn't consider a little box hidden under a rock as littering.