By now, you've noticed that there are two kinds of cache logs, the short, sweet, one-word aknowlegement that "someone was here," and the ones that list who was in the party and say a polite thanks or comment on the cache container, if it was especially creative.

Did I say two?  I'm sorry, there is another kind of cache log out there, I guess.  One that spins a little yarn about the weather or comments on the number of "muggles" near the hide.  Oh, and then there are the stories.  The detailed accounts of every bird and deer and mud-puddle along the way.

Now, I know what you are going to say, "but I'm just not creative..." "It takes so long to type a log..." "I found 150 caches today and can't possibly remember them all..."  Well, if you're sticking to those stories, well, such is life.  But if you want a little help on BECOMING creative, read on.  I'm just thinking aloud here on what you can do to make your log entries worth reading, if you are so inclined to have people know you were here.

You don't have to be a novellist to write an interesting cache log.  Start simple at first.  Start with just the facts.  Where you parked, how long it took to find the bugger, what you thought of the container (you don't have to spoil the container to do that), what condition the contents were in, etc.  After you've created a little pattern, then you can expound on little parts of the log.  It took you so long because... It was such a short search because...  Again, don't spoil the hide, just give a little detail about what you thought while you were there.  If you like the container, area, hide, color of the fence,,,why did you like it?  The same if you didn't care that much for the hide.  I had a finder of one of my caches mention that they didn't think the container was quite as cool as the previous ones in the series, cool!  Now I know where to go with the next container!  The effort (or lack thereof) did get noticed!  My next cache container in the series will be a little more involved (perhaps).

As you search for a cache, you might think of something from a movie or book.  Include that in your log.  I keep a notepad in the Jeep for that specific purpose.

Caching paperless?  That does not mean you should cache commentless.  I've had several logs recently that say "sent from my <wireless device>" and nothing else .  I've never been more tempted to delete a log than when I saw that(but I didn't, because I'm not a total jerk).  I know that there are other people logging from their "wireless device," most of them actually leave great comments.

Each cache you go on is an adventure, from the lowly "LPC" to the 14-stage multi that makes you swim across the river twice.  Let the cache owner know about your adventure.  It was, after all, the reason that they put the cache out there in the first place.

When you really start feeling brave, invent a story.  You know you can do it.  Just think about when you were a kid and the aliens abducted your dog while he was eating your homework.  It may have been scarring mentally, but your teacher bought it, didn't she?

Lastly, don't make it tedium.  Don't think you have to come up with something extra special for every cache.  Many caches out there ARE easy finds, put there because the spot was convenient.  The owner knows that.  But there are plenty out there that really do deserve more than TNLNSL-TFTH.

I'm off to go battle some aliens for a tupperware container with something glued to it out in the woods somewhere...Have fun!

By JETSchmidt

A native Nebraskan (grew up in Elkhorn), I live in Bellevue with my
Lovely Wife and Son.  I've been a pilot and flight instructor
since 1988, but work in Information Systems to pay the bills.
I became obsessed with Geocaching in January of 2009, although I had
heard of the sport way back when I bought my first handheld
GPSr, a Garmin ETrex, when they first were introduced.
My favorite caches are the ones that take you somewhere off the beaten
track.  The one's out in the woods, or in hidden parks,
and the one's that someone took a lot of thought into creating.

--
---The sky is not a limit,
It is home.
-Terry Schmidt

Comments(1):

1. Who put that rock there?

   Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Betsy