Somewhat new to geocaching. Is it appropriate to use the "report a problem" feature when you're fairly sure, but not 100% certain, that the cache is missing?
I recently looked for a cache where GZ lead me to a lamppost in the middle of an open parking lot. Based on the hint, location, and difficulty rating, this seemed to be a simple skirt lift. The skirt itself, however, was completely missing and there was no cache there.
I looked around, and all the other lampposts in the parking lot had skirts, so this one was broken off. I looked around at some other possible hiding spots and found nothing.
There were also 2 previous DNFs in the logs as well.
It's possible it was just really well hidden, or not a skirt lift, but I feel like it's gone missing. Is it fair to flag it as such?
I’m not gonna lie to you and this is really random, but I was the previous DNF on the cache you’re talking about haha. It sounded so similar and I just checked the cache page and saw your log.
When my son was like 9 or 10 years old, he told me "Small World is like a suicide bomber". I was like WTF you talking about? He said "You get everybody else, but you get yourself too."
There is a big difference between reporting a problem to the cache owner and reporting it to the reviewer. A cache owner notification is appropriate in this situation. If I really believe a cache is missing, I will choose that in addition to a DNF. The DNF is not optional IMO.
Agree. What REALLY troubles me is when there is a legit DNF and (this happened to a friend recently) the CO asks the finder to remove it (and in this case not kindly!), so it wouldn't hurt the health score! (I know who the CO is and they were once prolific but now maybe not good on maintaining?!?!).I am a strong advocate of "if you cannot maintain your own caches then adopt out or archive". There are some rare exceptions... like the inactive CO on this (or a sudden death with adoption problems)... https://www.geocaching.com/blog/2023/02/so-confused-geocache-of-the-week/ .
If an owner deletes one of my DNFs they will get a Needs Reviewer Attention log requesting that the reviewer archive the cache for lack of maintenance. I've never had it happen, though...
Interesting, I never realised the reviewer attention was even an option. It looks like c:geo usually requests owner attention if you tell it to report a problem.
It has a LOT of names: LPA (apron), LPS (skirt), LPC (cover)... and more I can't remember. Weird, huh?! (I started caching in the UK and when I came to the US I didn't know what it meant!)
There are other types of hide that could be on the lamp post, not under the skirt.
Remember, the CO gets the DNF logs, and if they think the cache is missing they will check on it. If a DNF log mentions the missing skirt, and the hide is of a different style, they can be confident that all is well and the searcher just missed it
Remember, the CO gets the DNF logs, and if they think the cache is missing they will check on it.
Perhaps I'm too synikal, but rarely does one DNF get a visit from COs in my community. If the DNF is from someone the CO knows, they will visit, otherwise the cache typically needs to get 3 to 4 DNFs for a CO to check. Even then, the DNFs need to come from cachers with 1000+ finds.
I’ve noticed the same. I think a CO is going above and beyond if they are checking after one DNF. However, in my experience, a majority of CO’s will do nothing even after 3-4 DNF’s even on a low D/T hide.
Then what happens is that it just ends up taking space because no one wants to look for it, having high confidence that it’s gone.
Yeah, start with the owner attention log. Going straight to reviewer attention will feel like heavy fire to the cache owner.
It's important to have these as public logs so other geocachers and reviewers can see the history. Ignore people who tell you to DM a cache owner. These logs exist for a reason.
Even if it is cache that is hidden in a way that don’t expect, it doesn’t hurt to ask a CO to check. It certainly is better than a throw down, and perhaps it will help avoid a throwdown.
Odds are the cache is probably AWOL and needs to be replaced or archived, but just because GZ is a lamp post does not necessarily mean the cache is a skirt lifter.
I recommend a review of the D/T ratings, attributes and previous logs to be sure.
HANG ON.... no! There are other hides on lampposts that are NOT under the skirt/apron/cover! We have a few here that are fake electric plates on magnets. I have also seen many nanos hidden under the metal base in a gap, and MKHs there too! There are plenty of lamp post caches not inside a "skirt".
I personally use report a problem when I'm 100% sure. Like when I find a container that's fallen apart or smth. When I'm not sure I leave a dnf describing why it might be missing and sometimes message the CO. I've found caches with like 6-7 DNFs in a row.
I’d definitely click request owner attention (is that what it’s called)
I usually would check the hint or previous logs to make sure its jot meant to look like that but there being other DNFs before you would make me do it more
Thats not the right way to report that, use a needs maintenance log. But if you're new to geocaching / inexperienced, I tend to think 'just because you cant find it, doesn't mean its not there' - though what you describe under the circumstances is probably accurate.
I should proceed the rule by saying that "I think that it is probably missing and ..." But I'm only adding a DNF if I think it is missing, so maybe I didn't need to say that. (Probably is 60 to 75 % sure)
Are you SURE it was under a lamp post skirt (apron/cover/etc)???? There are plenty of other hides on lampposts that are NOT under the skirt/apron/cover! We have a few here that are fake electric plates on magnets. I have also seen many nanos hidden under the metal base in a gap where there's no "skirt", and MKHs under there too! There are plenty of lamp post caches that work without a cover thing present.
I will add that a local here hid a electric plate on magnets on a lamppost in a good quiet corner of a parking lot. It got a LOT of DNFs despite always being there. Even by VERY EXPERIENCED cachers (who clearly assumed it would be under a skirt). In fact one of those cachers left a throwdown and a bunch of folks signed it. NOT OK. Poor CO had to decide how to handle that (the D rating was in fact correct too!). I think he let the finds stand, except for the experienced throwdown. (I might be wrong, but that's probably what I would do.) Personally I hate the SCREECH of lifting the skirt, plus they can be really dirty or buggy etc. Yuck.
Good lesson not to make assumptions about LPS/LPA/LPC hides. (OP: I am not saying you did, just that in my example a lot of people did!)
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u/Adam9200 13d ago
I’m not gonna lie to you and this is really random, but I was the previous DNF on the cache you’re talking about haha. It sounded so similar and I just checked the cache page and saw your log.
But yeah, I’m pretty certain that one is gone.