I’ve been pondering an curious question recently – should Geocachers be allowed to read the logs for caches that they have not found? The reason for the question comes from looking at the logs for our Oracle Microcache, which is now reactivated after the hassle last month.

The most recent logs clearly show the issue. First take a look at this log.

Found it, first one ever.
Easy to find without GPS if you read all the logs and know the area, though getting my bike to the location was… tricky.

It’s from somebody who knows the area and has carefully gone through all the previous online logs (which include pictures taken by people near the cache) and worked out where the cache is located and found it without a GPS. Quite impressive in some ways, but missing the point. In comparison, take a look at this not found log.

gutted, as kept getting bad signal on my GPS. Was looking forward to doing this before late night shopping

Then this log that follows it.

Found at about 19:00. Really really enjoyed this one. You urban cachers don’t know what a change urban caching is compared to rural caching!! …

Also, the co-ordinates are very very accurate.

Very many thanks. Great fun. Instead of just thinking about X & Y, also having to think about Z makes a change!

There are a great variety of caches. Sometimes they take you to a new or unique place that you’d otherwise have never seen, other times it is a puzzle, or teaches you something new. In terms of the Oracle Microcache there is nothing unique about the location, and it’s actually just a straight hide – no puzzle involved, however what it does do is teach you something about your GPS. As the not found cacher, and also the person who found it after them discovered, the GPS is lousy at ground level in an urban environment. More than that it is downright misleading at times because thanks to signals reflecting off buildings some units quite often maintain that they have a much more accurate fix than they actually do. Over the years I have had quite experienced cachers tell me that the Oracle Microcache is impossible because of problems with the signal, but as those who find it discover it is really quite straightforward at the location because the co-ordinates are spot on.

I guess it really depends what you get out of caching. In my case I’m not about finding as many caches as I possibly can – I’d much rather do one cache that I enjoy, than a whole load of repetitive caches. Indeed we tend to only cache when we are on holiday now, using it as a way to find new places to visit. If you’re after as many caches as possible, having the logs gives you loads of clues as to a location, and allows you to find a cache really quickly, but in the case of the Oracle Microcache I really think you miss out on part of the fun.