{"id":67391,"date":"2019-06-14T11:20:03","date_gmt":"2019-06-14T18:20:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/?p=67391"},"modified":"2019-06-25T09:29:56","modified_gmt":"2019-06-25T16:29:56","slug":"geocaching-etiquette-201-finding-and-logging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/geocaching-etiquette-201-finding-and-logging\/","title":{"rendered":"Geocaching Etiquette 201: Finding and Logging"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most geocachers would say that our game is pretty simple. Find the cache, sign the log, log the cache online. But when a game is played by millions of people in more than 190 countries, there will inevitably be some debate about game play. Geocaching HQ and community volunteer reviewers are often asked to provide guidance or help mediate disputes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We have developed a pair of blog posts to more widely share the guidance we provide on some of the most common issues. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ll start with the heart of geocaching: finding and logging caches.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p><b>Caches can be logged online as &#8220;Found&#8221; after the geocacher has visited the coordinates and signed the logbook.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This comes straight from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/play\/guidelines\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geocaching guidelines<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. To be clear, this means you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">should not<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> log a cache as \u201cFound\u201d if:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You did not visit the coordinates. (Example: a group of cachers splits up to find caches on their own, signs a team name to the logs, and then each person logs them all as \u201cFound,\u201d even if they did not personally visit all of the caches.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You see a cache, but did not obtain it and sign the logbook.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You find what may be an attachment for the cache, but the container and logbook are gone. In this case, post a \u201cNeeds Maintenance\u201d log, not a \u201cFound It.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You couldn\u2019t find anything, so you <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/help\/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&amp;id=38&amp;pgid=427\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">install a new container<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and logbook <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">without the owner\u2019s permission<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and then log your find. In this case, log a DNF, or if you\u2019re certain the cache is missing, log a \u201cNeeds Maintenance.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This guidance also applies to non-physical caches. You should not log an EarthCache, Virtual cache, Event Cache, or Adventure Lab cache if you did not visit the coordinates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We should mention challenge caches, since they\u2019re somewhat different. Cachers can sign a challenge cache\u2019s physical log any time, but the cache may be logged as found online only after the log is signed and the challenge tasks have been met and documented.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Appropriate logging when you can\u2019t find a cache<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In our recent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/results-of-2018-cache-quality-survey\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cache Quality Survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we asked about steps geocache finders could take to improve geocache quality. The most popular answer was <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLog \u2018Did Not Find\u2019, \u2018Needs Maintenance\u2019, and \u2018Needs Archived\u2019 whenever necessary.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t feel bad about using these logs. They serve a valuable purpose. As the survey showed, your fellow geocachers want you to use them!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be sure you\u2019re using the correct log type. For example, when you can\u2019t find a cache, DNF is usually most appropriate. Just because you can\u2019t find the cache doesn\u2019t necessarily mean the cache \u201cNeeds Maintenance.\u201d The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/help\/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&amp;id=107&amp;pgid=434\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geocaching Help Center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has a lot more guidance on this.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t post a \u2018Needs Archived\u2019 log if you did not visit the coordinates.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Preserve the cache experience for others to enjoy<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cache owners work hard to create fun, high quality caches. Respect their efforts and the spirit of the game.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t share answers to puzzles, Adventure Labs, Virtual Caches, or EarthCaches in spoiler groups. By doing so without the owner\u2019s permission, you are ruining their efforts. You also risk losing your access to Geocaching.com. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do not spoil a cache hide by posting spoiler photos or videos without the owner\u2019s permission.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Be a great representative of the geocaching community<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The continued vitality of our game depends on good relationships with land managers, governmental agencies, and property owners.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t damage the environment when seeking a cache. (Example: bushwhacking to a cache when going off trail is not permitted.)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t trespass to find a cache. If you find that a cache is on private property without permission, then post a \u201cNeeds Archived\u201d log.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t violate local laws to find a cache. (Example: searching for a cache when the park is closed.)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Trackables<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While they are a fun part of finding a cache, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/track\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trackables<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also be one of the more confusing aspects of geocaching. Here are a few tips to keep in mind about trackables.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before retrieving a trackable from a cache, be sure to confirm that you can help with its mission\/destination. This information is available <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/help\/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&amp;id=42&amp;pgid=148\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">on the trackable page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try not to hold a trackable longer than necessary. In most cases, trackables want to travel.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do your best to place trackables in caches that are least prone to muggles. This is often more art than science.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you find a trackable that has just recently been dropped into the cache, you might find that it has not been logged into the cache just yet. Give the last person a day or two to properly log it into the cache before \u201cgrabbing\u201d it from them. Or message that person to remind them to log the trackable.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t share trackable codes without the trackable owner\u2019s permission. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Other things to remember when finding and logging caches<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When caching with a group, the original finder should replace the cache, since they know exactly where the cache was located.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you damage or lose a cache, contact the cache owner and let them know. Accidents happen!<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When logging a cache online, use the date you attempted the cache. This helps to provide a more accurate view of the cache\u2019s current condition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When attempting a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/help\/index.php?pg=kb.chapter&amp;id=127&amp;pgid=821\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Webcam cache<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, only logs with a screenshot from the webcam feed are acceptable. The log type is \u201cWebcam Photo Taken,\u201d not \u201cSelfie Photo Taken!\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A cache page is not a discussion forum. If you need to have a conversation about the cache, then email, Message Center, or the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/forums.geocaching.com\/GC\/index.php?act=idx\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Geocaching Forums<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are among several options.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the next post, we\u2019ll share the guidance we provide when asked about cache owner etiquette.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most geocachers would say that our game is pretty simple. Find the cache, sign the log, log the cache online. But when a game is played by millions of people in more than 190 countries, there will inevitably be some debate about game play. Geocaching HQ and community volunteer reviewers are often asked to provide&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":67393,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[134,137],"tags":[158],"series":[],"class_list":["post-67391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-news","tag-weekly-newsletter"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/d3mo08i005h0zn.cloudfront.net\/blog\/uploads\/2019\/06\/Mailer_Suite_061819_Geocaching_Etiquette_Part_1_vFINAL_Mailer_Blog-800x450.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/feed\/podcast\/inside-geocaching-hq-podcast","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"32TxUWInsU\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/geocaching-etiquette-201-finding-and-logging\/\">Geocaching Etiquette 201: Finding and Logging<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/geocaching-etiquette-201-finding-and-logging\/embed\/#?secret=32TxUWInsU\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Geocaching Etiquette 201: Finding and Logging&#8221; &#8212; Official Blog\" data-secret=\"32TxUWInsU\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! 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