NorthWest Arkansas Cachers

As a newbie I'm probably not telling anyone what they don't already know but I gotta vent. This looked like a good spot to air my frustration regarding wet logs in micro caches. The 35 mm cannisters and some of the metal screw lid containers are the worst for allowing water to enter. I regulary find the metal screw lids which are missing the O ring which is vital in keeping a log dry. Granted it's not possible to keep them all dry but when several people in a row log that the paper is wet, why doesn't the owner go fix it? Why put out a cache if you can't be responsible for it? I also find micro caches that are not only wet but also so tightly crammed with paper that you can't hardly remove it without tearing it all up. Shouldn't the older entries be removed from the container? I have also learned to take 1 inch strips of paper with me because many times the log is entirely full with no room to log the visit. Again, I think the owner of the cache should be watching this. Ok I feel better now...

I had a boss one time that told us employees that he didn't want to hear any complaints unless the complainer had a solution to the problem. Well I guess I should put out some ideas on possible solutions. Carry O rings with you that fit the various sized bison tubes. If an O ring is missing replace it. I have started doing this. O Rings are pretty cheap. You can get them at Lowes. Carry small baggies to put logs in where needed. You could even put the 35 mm cannisters themselves inside of a baggie if it is hidden away well enough. I always carry extra paper logs in case they are so wet you can't write on them or in case they are full. Just my 2 cents...

I keep all kinds of caching supplies in my car including but, not limited to: baggies in various sizes, log sheets in various sizes, film cans, prescription bottles, bison tubes, nanos, other various cache containers, pens and golf sized pencils, camo tape, etc.

It's quite possible that some of the caches that arkienana was referring to were ours. Part of the problem is that we have over 50 active caches all in different directions from where we live. We also like to find caches when new ones come out (although these days, new caches mean road trips), so unless driving nearby one of the possibly offensive caches, we don't usually go out of our way to go by it just for a wet log. If we suspect a cache might be missing, its a different story. Next time we go caching we'll check/replace the container.

If we run across a cache with a wet log, we're more likely to put in a new log/baggie if we have one than write wet log in our comments. We'll then email the CO and ask if he wants the old log (same situation applies to a full log). We've never had a CO ask for the old log.

Bottom line, if you find a cache of ours that needs attention, fix it if you can (we don't want the old log). Otherwise email us or make a comment in your on-line log. We'll eventually get by to fix it.

You'll also find that as many as 10% of the caches you find (there are multitudes of these in NWA) are owned by someone who doesn't cache anymore. Unlikely they're going to fix a cache.

Most important of all, HAVE FUN!

TNT thanks for the comments. It was my understanding from the first that we should help maintain the caches that we find, replace logs if wet or full, replace busted containers if possible, rehide caches that were left out in the open. I have 35 active caches now and if one needs maintance I will get by it but maybe not right that moment. I have also had a posting of needs maintance because they thought more swag needed to be added to the can. I will fix or replace a cache anytime I can to keep the fun going.

I didn't kow that we were allowed to replace a log. I'd be happy to do that but I don't want anyone to get offended. As far as I know TNT I don't remember any of them being yours.

If I replace a log, I always hold onto the old one and offer to send it to the cache owner. I've never had a CO ask for the log, but you never know... The one thing I would never do is replace a container. With the exception that I'd previously found the cache (so I knew where it was supposed to be) and the CO asked me to do it for him.