Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day!!!

Caching Heaven would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy Canada Day and a safe and fun long weekend! May your weekend be filled with perfect geocaching weather with a minimum of insects to deal with.

Latest Political Map

This year marks Canada’s 145^th birthday and we have lots of reasons to celebrate. We live in the best country in the world. From a geocaching point of view, we are one of the best with so much geocaching real estate at our fingertips.

Here are some facts about Canada you may not know:

• The name Canada comes from the Iroquois word for “village” which was kanata
• Canada Day was officially known as Dominion Day until October 27, 1982.
• Cross-country television transmission began on July 1, 1958 by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
• Color television was introduced nine years later on Canada Day in 1967.
• Canadians created such great inventions as: acrylics, basketball, CanadARM, electric range, electron microscope, five pin bowling, garbage bag, gingerale, IMAX, insulin, kerosene, MacPherson gas mask, newsprint, pacemaker, panoramic camera, radio compass, rollerskate, snowblower, snowmobile, Standard time, Superman, telephone, Walkie-Talkie, washing machine, zipper, and a whole lot more.

As you can see, we have a great country filled with great people!

This Canada Day, please make time to take in some of the festivities as well as some geocaching. I have included two Canada Day caches that are located in the St. John’s area as well as a surprise cache.

• Canada Day Micro! (GC2Z91W)
• Happy Canada Day! (GC2Z4Z9)

Geocaching in Canada!

As a special Canada Day treat, I have hidden a Canada Day cache in the Paradise area. It isn’t scheduled to be released until July 1, 2012 but I am giving all of my blog readers the chance to be the first to find this cache before it is released. So here are the details. The cache is called Oh Canada! (GC3PBDV).The cache is a cylindrical container containing Canadian swag, logbook and a pencil. The hint is waving in the wind. The coordinates of the cache are as follows:

N 47^o 32.457
W 052^o 51.265

Once again, I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Canada Day and a great long weekend! Please remember that it is also Memorial Day for Newfoundland. Please remember our soldiers that have sacrificed so we may be free, even free to geocache!

Happy Caching!!!

Putting the “Un” in Trackables

Before I even begin this week’s blog post, today is my 21st wedding anniversary. I want to wish my wife a very Happy Anniversary! I love you, dear (or should I say Gem)!

Now, this week’s blog post.

The travel bug symbol. (click to enlarge)

Whether you are a new or veteran geocacher, you can relate when I say that there is a certain excitement experienced when you find a cache. It doesn’t matter what type of cache, the excitement lies in the fact that you found it. What more excitement could there be aside from that and the fact that the location might be spectacular or somewhere you have never been or seen? How about when you discover a trackable inside? Does that add just that much more excitement? It does for us! We love to find trackables in caches and look up where they have been and where they want to go. We even try to find a way to get them there. It doesn’t matter what type of trackable it is. It could be a geocoin or a travel bug. They are all the same to us. We love finding them! We have even sent some of our own on their way to travel the world. They make geocaching much more fun that it already is.

A travel bug. (click to enlarge)

While trackables may add a bit more fun to geocaching, “un”trackables work to detract from geocaching. What are untrackables, you might ask? They are those trackables that are suppose to be in a cache but seem to have fallen into the great abyss. Nobody knows where they are. They were there in one log entry and gone in the next log entry. They are comparable to socks in the washing machine that seem to go in the washer but never come out. How often have you looked at a cache that says there is a trackable inside only to find it missing when you get there? The result is extreme disappointment and sometimes even anger. Often you wait for it to be logged as perhaps someone got there just before you and retrieved it. You wait weeks and sometimes months and still no sign of it. It is gone.

The travel bug was left in plain site onboard the ISS. (click to enlarge)

It is extremely hard not to get upset over this. People spend money on buying trackables and set them in motion for the sole purpose of tracking their whereabouts and reading about where they have been. Some cachers want it to travel as far as possible and rack up the miles, especially if they are part of a travel bug race. Just recently, I read about the trackable that travelled on the International Space Station (GC1BE91). It traveled over 350 million miles and made it safely back to earth. Nobody decided to take it or throw it out the airlock, even though it was left out in plain site. Ethics won out! Why can’t the same work for all of the earthly caches out there?

A geocoin.

In the case of trackables gone missing, obviously, some cacher took the trackable and decided to keep it or forgot to log taking it. A small percentage disappear due to being in a cache that has been muggled and destroyed. The majority are simply taken by cachers or never logged. This is, both, an unethical and unacceptable practice. Geocachers need to be more respectful of other people’s property. Trackables belong to someone other than yourself and should be treated that way. I have compiled a list of guidelines, per se, that should be followed when removing trackables from caches.

• Do not remove a trackable unless you have the intention of moving it. Simply write down the number and leave it for the next person.
• If you do take a trackable, log it as taken as soon as possible. With today’s smartphones, you can now do that in the field.
• Never hang on to trackables for long periods of time. Personally, I wouldn’t hang on to them for longer than two weeks.
• If you must hang on to them for extended periods of time (to bring to an upcoming event perhaps), write a note on the trackable’s page that indicates this.
• If a trackable’s goal is to travel the world, never place it in a remote cache that hardly gets visited. Instead, log it as visited. Dropping trackables in remote places causes them to lie dormant for long periods of time.
• Never place trackables in caches that are in high muggle areas. These caches have a high risk of being muggled and the trackable being lost forever.
• If you have a trackable that needs to go by air or you are flying somewhere, try placing or retrieving trackables from a cache located near an airport. In St. John’s, you could use our cache called YYT-TB St. John’s Travel Bug Departure Lounge (GC2X6C9). It is meant as an Arrival/Departure area for caches that need to fly.

With over 5 million geocachers worldwide enjoying this great treasure hunt, the number of trackables that are traversing the globe must be astonishing. With a bit of ethics and common sense, we can all enjoy discovering trackables and sending our own on their way, worry-free. Through being a geocacher in the truest sense of the word, we can keep the “un” out of trackables.

How about you? Have you lost any of your trackables? If so, how many so far? Let us know!

The Atlantic Charter

To date, we have been geocaching for little over a year. In that time, we have seen some great caches and some great places. Occasionally we have had the pleasure of seeing great caches hidden in great places. But never before have we experienced retrieving a cache from a beautiful place, recording a DNF while being brought to another great place, and getting a history lesson, all on the same day.

Waiting for Diego to disembark from the Atlantic Vision. (click to enlarge)

This past Saturday, my wife (Gem) and I accompanied our geocaching neighbor to Argentia to pick up her husband, who works on the ferry. Of course, we couldn’t let a road trip be wasted. We had to do some caching along the way. The ferry wasn’t arriving until 9:30AM so we hit the road early, with 9 caches entered into our GPS devices. We were excited.

On the way, we had no problems finding the caches and, even when we reached Placentia, we found the first two easily. The third cache in Placentia is where part of this story develops. The cache we were heading for is called Out From St. Leonards (GC1XXJ0)

The beautiful vantage point over Placentia. (click to enlarge)

We had finally found the cemetery that the description lists as the way to approach ground zero. The women wanted me to check it out so I jumped out of the vehicle and started running down the trail. I rounded a corner and had to come to a quick stop. I don’t know if seeing the wonderful view of Placentia made me stop or the fact that, if I had kept running, I would have gone off a cliff. I think it was both. I immediately ran back to get my camera and the women followed this time. The area provided a wonderful vantage point to see Placentia. It would also make a nice thinking spot. Nonetheless, this was the wrong trail. In fact, we couldn’t find the right trail so this proved to be one of the best DNFs (Did Not Find) we have had.

The town of Ship Harbour. (click to enlarge)

After being treated to such a beautiful view of Placentia and a short chat with the cemetery custodian, it was time to meet the ferry, pick up our passenger, and head home. Sadly, we were finished caching for the day. On the way out, however, we seen a sign announcing the Atlantic Charter. I mentioned to everyone that there was one cache down there called Kelly’s Meridian (GC5D29). Our passenger was now the driver and asked if we wanted to check it out. Obviously, my answer was yes! The cache, and the monument dedicated to a very important piece of history, is about 25km down Fox Harbour Road in the very small community of Ship Harbour.

The dedication plaque located about 600 meters from the cache site. (click to enlarge)

For those of you who have never heard of the Atlantic Charter, you are not the only one. Apparently, either I was never taught this important piece of history or I simply had forgotten about it. The Atlantic Charter was an agreement signed by the United States of America (Franklin Roosevelt) and Great Britain (Winston Churchill) to establish a vision of what a post-WWII world would look like. It was established on August 14, 1941 aboard the HMS Prince of Wales and the U.S.S. Augusta in Placentia Bay, just off the coast of the Kelly’s Meridian cache site. The interesting fact here is that it was a very bold move, especially on the part of the United States. At that point in time, the US had not entered the war but Roosevelt felt very strong about what the world should be like. During these offshore meetings, they agreed to the following eight principles:

• The United States And Great Britain agreed to seek no territorial gains as a result of the outcome of World War II.
• Any territorial adjustments would be made with the wishes of the affected people taken into consideration.
• Self-determination was a right of all people.
• A concerted effort would be made to lower trade barriers.
• The importance of the advancement of social welfare and global economic cooperation were recognized as important.
• They would work to establish freedom from fear and want.
• The importance of freedom of the seas was stated.
• They would work towards postwar disarmament and the mutual disarmament of aggressor nations.

The complete memorial wall. (click to enlarge)

Although no actual charter was signed in Placentia Bay, all of the groundwork for the Charter was discussed and agreed upon. The actual Charter would be signed later on in the year and the Atlantic Charter, itself, would go on to become the starting principles of the United Nations. That is a pretty big deal! Essentially, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland-Labrador is the birthplace of the United Nations!

This lawnmower was just sitting there with no one else around. (Click to enlarge)

Upon arriving in Ship Harbour, you must drive into the site on a dirt road about 2km. The road is in good shape for all types of vehicles. When we first arrived, our astonishment of the area and its view had to be put on hold for a few minutes as we noticed a lawnmower sitting by itself in the grassy field. Since we were all alone here and there were no other vehicles around, it looked out of place.

A beautiful place to have a picnic. (click to enlarge)

The area itself is beautiful. The road ends at the plaque site which has a beautiful picnic area, suitable for making this area your lunch break. From the plaque site, there is a short trail (less than 100m) leading down to a flat, wide open area that leads to the rocky beach and to a curved peninsula that juts out in Placentia Bay. From here, we could see the Atlantic Vision off in the distance as well as some picturesque landscape. Our detour to this place was definitely worth it it and the trip was made even sweeter by the Atlantic Charter monument and the chance to find another cache.

Retrieving the cache. (click to enlarge)

Kelly’s Meridian (GC5D29) happens to be the only cache down in this area, which is a shame. I feel that there would be more cachers attempting this if there were more caches to find. The cache, itself, gets its name from the fact that it is extremely close to one of the meridian lines (lines of longitude). The cache owner wanted to place it on the line but it would have been too far out to sea. The cache is placed about 500 meters out on the curved peninsula in the open, but covered up. Due to the fact that most tourists will only make it as far as the monument site, the cache should remain safe. After I retrieved the cache and signed the log, I stood there and gazed out over the water. I tried to put myself back to 1941 and tried to picture seeing all those warships anchored offshore. For someone who likes history, it was surreal.

The view out Placentia Bay

The geocaching map on Geocaching.com reveals another cache just across the harbour. To access it, you must trek several kilometers along a trail and then along the coast out to the point. The cache is called Issic Bunkers and is placed near some WWII bunkers. Due to time constraints, we were not able to make the trek for this one but will on the next trip down here. The entire area is relatively untouched by caches and has plenty of space for some great cache placements. Perhaps the hosting of an event down here is what is needed or just for some geocachers to start placing some more caches. With that type of investment, this place could become a great geocaching destination.

While on the surface, geocaching down in Placentia didn’t appear to offer anything but the chance to merely find some caches. The trip, however, proved to be anything but lack lustre. Besides the seven of ten caches we found, we were blessed with two great experiences and a history lesson. The thrill of the hunt was made ever so special by the surprises that we experienced that day. It was truly an awesome day!

Happy Caching!

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day!

Being a father to three wonderful boys, one of whom geocaches, I thought I would take this time to wish all the fathers out there a very Happy Father’s Day. I hope you all have a great day with your family and I hope part of your day is spent caching.

As a Father’s Day gift, I would like to present you with the five best reasons to either introduce your Dad to geocaching or take him Geocaching.

1. Guys like gadgets. A handheld GPS is the ultimate useful electronic device, a great starting point for geocaching and easy to put a bow around.
2. Guys like to adventure. Geocaching will bring out the Boy Scout in him.
3. Guys need to be walked. Geocaching is a great way to get off the couch and out into nature. The best part is geocaching doesn’t feel like exercise.
4. Guys love to be with their family. Geocaching brings families together, no matter the ages, to go on a quest and strive toward a common goal.
5. Guys like to get things done. Finding a cache or list of caches satisfies the need for completion and strengthens a sense of self or group accomplishment. Simply put, geocaching makes a guy feel good.

View from King of the Hill. It will be totally worth it for your Dad! (click to enlarge)
Photo courtesy of Allan Johnson of Treasure Island Caching.

So make sure you get your Dad out for a cache or two. Or, perhaps, try hiding a cache together. I am sure that both of you would really enjoy that time together. In order to assist you in getting that special time with your Dad, or Dad getting that special time with his family, I have compiled 7 caches in Newfoundland that have Father, Dad, or King in the title. Why King, you might ask? Because Dad’s deserve to be treated like a King on Father’s Day. Check out these caches, if you haven’t already done so:

• GC2YA1X – Happy Father’s Day
• GCYV1R – Father Duffy’s Park Troll
• GC17GR0 – Last Father
• GC29TY9 – A Tribute To Dad
• GC3F6KV – King William I – The Conqueror
• GC377NM – King of the Hill
• GCQ42R – King’s Cove Lighthouse Cache

My final words to you is this. Some people no longer have fathers anymore, myself being one. Consider it a great blessing to still have your Dad around. Make sure you let him know just how much he means to you. Do it now! Don’t wait!

Happy Father’s Day! Happy Caching!

Cache Attributes: Do You Use Them?

Attributes are shown in the red box (click to enlarge).

This morning turned out to be a rare day for me – a sick day. I only get sick twice a year and this is one of those times. With nothing to do on a sick day but rest (it wouldn’t be right to go geocaching), I kicked my feet up and began the process of cleaning up my cache descriptions. Some of my descriptions alert the geocacher that there is an FTF prize in it. Obviously, that prize has long been collected so there is no need to keep that tidbit of information in the cache description. As I was performing this maintenance, I noticed that only some of my caches contain cache attributes. I, then, decided to try and add attributes to all of my caches. What about you? Do you use cache attributes when submitting caches? Do you look for cache attributes when checking out potential caches to hunt for? Cache attributes can offer a wealth of valuable information about a cache.

This is actually an attributes geocoin. (click to enlarge)

Some of you might be asking just what are cache attributes? Cache attributes communicate what to expect at a cache location. They look similar to road hazard signs and give a geocacher a visual synopsis of the cache area. For instance, a few days ago, I went to get an FTF on a new cache that involved climbing a tree. Even though the cache owner basically said that in her cache description, having a cache attribute that showed a tree would have allowed me to know without reading the description.

Screenshot of creating a pocket query. (click to enlarge)

On the surface, cache attributes might appear to be a fancy addition to your caches but offer no real benefit to the geocacher. Not so. Without giving it too much thought, two benefits immediately come to mind. First, our geocaching friends who must use a wheelchair to get around now have an instant way of knowing if they should continue reading the description of a cache. If the cache doesn’t have the wheelchair accessible attribute or it has the attribute that specifies no wheelchair access, then the person can skip over that cache. Second, premium members have a tool called Pocket Queries at their disposal. Pocket Queries allows a premium member to do a database search of all geocaches based on certain parameters. One of the parameters that can be given to a pocket query is a cache attribute. Let’s say, for example, that you are a premium member and that you are only interested in geocaches that are park and grabs and within 25km of your home. You can create a pocket query and select just those two parameters – park and grab attribute and within 25km. The result would be a list of geocaches within 25km that have the park and grab attribute selected. If a park and grab cache has no attributes set, it would not show up in the list. This illustrates the importance of selecting some cache attributes when submitting caches for publication.

Now that I have established the need for setting cache attributes on your cache submissions, I will show you just how that process is done. Before I get into the process there are two things you need to know. First, attributes don’t have to be selected when you submit your cache for review. They can be selected at anytime before or after your cache is published. The only exception is when you’ve specified a date for your cache to be published. In that case, the cache reviewer usually approves your cache and locks it from any more changes until the date of publication. Second, you are only allowed to select up to 15 attributes per cache.

Screenshot of the edit attributes page. (click to enlarge)

Setting up cache attributes on your caches is pretty simple. Navigate to the viewing page of your cache and, in the right margin, click on "Edit Attributes". You will then be brought to a screen which shows all of the attributes with radio (selection) buttons by them. The attributes are grouped into categories such as permissions, equipment, conditions, hazards and facilities.
When selecting attributes, most have three options: yes, no, or N/R (not required). Let’s take the Stroller Accessible attribute, for example. Selecting yes will show a stroller icon indicating that cachers can take a stroller to the cache. Selecting no will show the stroller icon with a red line through it, indicating that the terrain is not suitable for strollers. Selecting N/R will not show any stroller icon and is the default selection for all attributes. When you have finished, simply click on the Update Attributes link. Please note that it is not always necessary to select no on an attribute if it doesn’t apply. For example, if a cache is not a park and grab, there is no need to select no on that attribute. Simply leave it at it’s default of N/R. The only two that I select no on frequently are the wheelchair and stroller accessible attributes which actually convey useful information. That is the last point I would like to make about cache attributes. Make sure that each selection conveys useful information. Do not simply use attributes just for the sake of using attributes.

I would strongly encourage everyone to ensure that you take the extra 5 minutes it takes to add some cache attributes to your caches. If you have caches that are much older, it is still not too late. Simply go add them now. You will be doing geocaching a huge favour.

WWFM IX: A St. John’s Time

The 9^th Annual World Wide Flash Mob event was held earlier today on the shore of Quidi Vidi Lake, St. John’s with approximately 40+ geocachers in attendance. There was a few friendly muggles there as well. This was only our second flash mob event and kudos go out to Gilligan and Maryjane and Pip n Tif for putting off a fabulous event.

WWFM IX Attendees (click to enlarge)

For those of you who do not know what a flash mob event is, it is a quick meeting of geocachers that happens at the same moment in time all around the world. For Newfoundland, the meeting took place at 2:30PM while in Sydney, Australia, the event took place at 3:00AM. I sometimes wish I lived in Australia as my wife and I love night caching. The event, itself, lasts for only about 15 minutes, with everyone immediately leaving the area. Cachers then agree to meet somewhere else or do some caching together.

Gilligan collects all of the cache logs. (click to enlarge)

The event started with the traditional placing of the cache container by Gilligan. Everyone in attendance was given a log sheet to sign and the log sheets were placed in the cache. Next, prizes were handed out for FTF (first to find) and the cacher who has travelled the farthest. The Trailwalkers won FTF rights for the event while HannaMar travelled here all the way from Gander, NL and received that prize.

A beautiful day on the shores of Quidi Vidi Lake. (click to enlarge)

Afterwards, most cachers dispersed and left. Some went off to find some more caches. A few of us stuck around and chatted awile. It was great to talk to some veteran cachers as well as some of the newer cachers in the area. We often see their logs on our caches but never have a face to match with the username. Geocaching events are a great way for cachers to meet and, sometimes, great frienships are born.

It was a great turnout with veteran and new geocachers in attendance. (click to enlarge)

After talking to a few fellow cachers and trading stories, we met up with a fellow cacher named Dalmation. Together with them, tinyseeker (our son), and Diego and Dora (our neighbor cachers), we went on the hunt for six new caches that were placed in the area. Overall, it was a great event and the day turned out to be a great day. Once again, kudos go out to Gilligan and Maryjane and Pip n Tif for hosting another great one. We can’t wait for the next event which, right now, is the Cache the River #6 scheduled for July 8, 2012 near Manuals River, Manuals, CBS. We hope to see everyone then, unless we see you on the trails. Until then, Happy Caching!!!

Geocaching and Coyotes: Simply Part of the Game???

The Eastern Coyote, now native to Newfoundland-Labrador.

Coyotes have recently dominated the news around Newfoundland-Labrador and are even starting to strike fear in some of the general population, more particularly on the Island portion of this great province. It seems as if this very adaptive predator simply crossed the ice a few weeks ago and, voila, have begun to dominate the landscape. Not so. Coyotes have been here awhile and are likely to be a permanent part of life in our province. But what does that mean for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and geocaching? Should we just consider them a natural part of the game?

According to the Newfoundland Wildlife division, coyotes first came to the island around 1985. The first confirmed coyote on the island was a pup hit by a car in 1987 near Deer Lake. By the mid-1990s, coyotes were firmly entrenched here. They are now considered to be a native species of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Difference between the three most common tracks you might see on the trails.

The coyote is one of seven members of the Canidae family along with dogs, foxes and wolves. The Eastern coyote is slimmer and smaller than a wolf. They have a long, pointed muzzle that forms a continuous line to its forehead. Their tracks are larger than a fox track and more oval than a dog’s tracks.

Photo courtesy of Jim Robertson.

But just how concerned should we be with their presence on the island? Should we avoid geocaching on the trails and only stick to quick park and grabs? Should we start wearing more fire-power than an American soldier in Iraq? Certainly not! According to the Newfoundland-Labrador Wildlife division, our forests are home to many animals, some of them predators. We can go a lifetime and never run into them. The main thing to remember is that, like most animals, coyotes have a natural fear of people. With that said, they also possess great intelligence and can quickly adapt to residential neighbourhoods if there is an adequate food supply around that is free for the taking (ie. garbage).

There are, however, steps that you can take to limit your exposure to coyotes. First, in order to keep coyotes away from your homes and cabins, do the following:

• Do not feed them.
• Never leave pet food or edible garbage outside.
• Limit use of birdseed and pick up fallen fruit.
• Keep pets indoors or under supervision when outside.
• Have pets spayed or neutered.
• Never leave infants and small children unattended outside.

Secondly, if you are walking in the woods, stay alert and practice the following:

• Watch for signs of a coyote such as tracks or scat.
• Make your presence known; make noise as you walk by talking, singing, and blowing a whistle.
• Keep dogs leashed. A dog running loose can lead a coyote back to you and provoke an attack.

Thirdly, if you see a coyote or one approaches you, adhere to the following:

• Stop, remain calm and assess your situation.
• Never approach or crowd the coyote – give it an escape route.
• If the coyote seems unaware of you, move away quietly when it is not looking in your direction.
• If the coyote is aware of you, respond aggressively: wave your arms, shout, and maintain eye contact. Carry a whistle and blow it to startle the animal.
• Throw rocks or sticks at the coyote.
• Carry a walking stick with you for protection.
• If the coyote continues to approach, back away slowly and move towards buildings or human activity. Do not turn away or run.
• If the coyote attacks you, fight back.

Photo courtesy of Jim Robertson.

Personally, I am not fearful of coyotes. A couple of months ago, I went in the woods to check on one of my own caches. I had to pass a gravel pit that had a high cutout bank. As I passed, I noticed a coyote sitting on top of the bank, about 250 meters away, watching me. I proceeded to my cache and left. As I passed the gravel pit on the way out, he was still there. I have seen coyotes on two other unrelated occasions, one being on my front lawn. In that case, he just looked at me for awhile and left. Now don’t get me wrong. Whenever I travel in the deep woods, I always carry a small tomahawk axe, in case I get stranded and need to stay awhile. The axe also doubles as a weapon, should the extremely rare attack occur.

The question I first posed in the title of this post was whether they are part of the game. Are they something we have to deal with as geocachers? Although we may never run into one, the answer is yes. Just like geocachers, coyotes are now part of the Newfoundland-Labrador landscape. As long as we show respect for all animals and follow the guidelines mentioned, coyotes can remain part of the game and not ruin the fun.

Happy Caching!

Cache Longevity

There is no doubt that searching for caches provides some sort of thrill to the avid geocacher. If you doubt this, try searching for a cache for 30 minutes or try making multiple attempts to find that elusive hide. The thrill you feel when you finally get to yell the words “FOUND IT” can be exhilarating. The same can be said for hiding caches. This time, however, the thrill comes in three parts. First, there is excitement in finding that perfect spot. Next, anticipation builds until you see the cache actually published. Finally, there is joy in reading the logs of fellow geocachers as they find, or not find, your cache. This is especially true for the log indicating the first to find (FTF). A geocacher’s own hides can provide him/her with lots of enjoyment for years providing the cache survives the development phase.

Proposed Team Gushue extension. Affected cache is in red area.

When I talk of a cache surviving, I am not talking about the container. Containers can be replaced. I am talking about the actual cache location. And when I talk about development, I am referring to all of the land developments, subdivisions, business parks, golf courses, etc. that seem to be threatening to take out some really good cache spots. Take the Team Gushue Highway extension, for example. The current construction is threatening to remove two or three of the caches near George’s Pond Road in St. John’s. According to the logs, Fogust Foursome 2 (GC32A5T) is most likely gone. The following nearby caches were in danger but seems to have survived, but barely.

• Fogust Foursome 1 (GC32A5B)
• NJM (GCXPFB)
• Kitty Cache – Remembering Tippy (GC20QCH)
• YoshiCJ – Boulder Cache (GC38RF0)

This is just one example of how economic progress can be the detriment of caches. I am sure that the future construction of Dannyville out towards Cochrane Pond will further destroy more cache sites.

There are, however, steps you can take to minimize the chances of your caches going the way of the dinosaurs. When placing your caches, consider the following five potentially safe areas:

1. Pole Lines – pole lines are extremely safe areas for placing caches. Regulations prohibit building too close to pole lines and it is really expensive to move a pole line.
2. Storm Drainage Basins – storm drainage basins look like long ditches that run from a road down to a pond. They are used for water runoff to avoid residential flooding. There is usually a little bit of tree line around them to separate the houses from the basin. This makes a perfect spot for a hide.
3. Around Ponds – regulations prohibit land owners from owning property close to the water. They can put their wharves there but at their own risk. Therefore, most developers are putting walking trails around ponds, creating the perfect spaces for placing caches.
4. Along Highways – let’s face it. How often does a highway get moved? Not very! Therefore, highways make perfect areas for placing caches. You must always ensure that there is a place suitable enough to pull your vehicle over and Geocaching.com will not approve caches placed along divided highways, except near exits where a vehicle can get off the highway.
5. Urban Caches – while urban caches (caches placed in busy downtown-like places) are more susceptible to being muggled, the location itself remains intact. Buildings, parks, intersections, etc. do not change very often. Therefore, muggles are the only thing you have to worry about.

While none of these recommended places are fool-proof in ensuring cache longevity, they should give you a better peace of mind when placing that special find. For added peace of mind, you could always place your cache so far out there that it wouldn’t be touched for a thousand years.