What Makes A "Quality" Geocache?

[cachemates]

I agree with the others, A cache that takes you to a scenic place that you would never went to except for the cache. A place that might not be scenic, but something interesting there, or something historical. We enjoyed your Black Fox Cache. We learned something there.
Quality usually takes some effort and a little thought. We have found many quality caches. Some no more than a film can, or a bison tube that was very well camoed. I think Arkansas has some very talented cachers and I don't think a lack of quality caches will be a problem.
I vote for Location, unique design, and camo.

[TheAlabamaRambler]

Hooboy - quality being in the mind of the finder, it's a tough question, so here's my nebulous and ill-defined answer to what may even be an impossible question for a group to answer -

To me a quality cache is one that makes me laugh (as in DOH! I can't believe that - now THAT's a cool (container / location / hide method)), one that makes me glad to have found it, that I remember years later, that is discussed and admired by geocachers sitting around a campfire.

I know that doesn't help, but there it is!
Ed

[Geezer_Veazey]

Well, ORR, the 5 points you listed as having been mentioned are all good. The only thing that would absolutely disqualify a cache from being a quality cache for me would be bad coordinates. Indeed, the guidelines stress getting good coordinates. Other than that, any thing about the cache that makes it memorable in a pleasant way contributes to it's quality. I can say that a scenic area or a creative container will probably add to the experience but I still can't say that's what makes a quality cache. It's a subjective thing on a cache by cache basis.

There's no way I can answer the question without philosophizing. Please don't ask me to nail Jello to the wall again.

Geezer

[The_Griswolds]

1. Located in a scenic or interesting area (3)
2. Has unique or creative camo or container (3)
3. Hidden in a clever way (1)
4. Contains good swag (1)
5. Has accurate coordinates (1)

I agree with all of the above with the possible exception of #4. Without constant maintenance, it is nearly impossible for the cache owner to control the contents of the cache. We've just about given up on trading swag unless it's a new cache.

Another one I think is important is a place to park. Please don't make me park with two wheels on the road to grab a cache at a busy intersection.

[nonnipoppy]

Somehow we missed this topic when it was first posted. But better late than never here we go.

A quality cache make me say WOW!. That could be for many reasons:

wow! what a great location
wow! this cache was a learning experience
wow! what great execution on the part of the cache hider
wow! what ingenuity this cache entailed
wow! what an interesting container
wow! this is an interesting place
wow! I'm glad we saw that
wow! we never knew this was here
wow! what a great hike
wow! wish we had thought of that
wow! what a great idea
wow! what a great view from here
wow! this cache made me think


With a bit more thought we could possibly add some others. But we are easy, hit any one or more of these and we like the cache and consider it quality.......poppy

[OldRiverRunner]

Bumping this one up. We have a lot of people who have started geocaching since this one was first discussed, and I would love to see what the current thinking is.

[pshelto]

Since the very beginning, caching was about going places you never knew were there and/or seeing things you didn't know about. I will admit that many of my caches aren't anything special to see, but I do hope that someone had fun hunting for the sake of hunting.

I went and cached in Vicksburg, and loved it because we saw all sorts of sights in town that otherwise we would have missed. The coords weren't that important because we did see neat stuff with or without the cache.

I have been chastised a few times for poor coordinates, but I think that is part of the challenge. I want everyone to find my caches, but I also don't want them to go straight to them with their GPSr. Use your brain, think a little bit and accept that sometimes you won't find the cache.

I think it goes without saying that the above comments are my own opinion.

[HikerRon]

How about hints that are actually hints to the location of the cache...
Not:
Good Luck
Never
Not needed
No way
email me
etc.

or maybe this should be listed under 'pet peeves'

[jclaudii]

Wow, talk about bringing a thread back from the grave! But glad you did so we can chime in.

I have to agree with most everyone opinions here on what a quality cache is. We generally shy away from planting park n grabs and try and put ours in places your normally would not go. Pretty much any cache in the woods, on trails, or in parks so it takes you from a paved surface to nature.

We also love some of the creative hides, camo, and containers we have seen through the years. It's hard to forget a telephone on a tree, a nano inside some bamboo, ammo can in a log,...and the list goes on.

I think if a cache gets you out to a unique vista or somewhere unique, then the memory sticks with you. Also, any cache that you talk about around a campfire or at geo-events is a quality cache

[mikey1959]

Hello

I my self like a Geocache that has a bit of challenge to it . One of my toughest finds was one by H-R , " Riverfront Park Reduex" GCQFZX . I looked for this to the point that I was drawing attention to myself , stalking a field piece "105mm Howitzer" after logging two DNF and being chased off by some very annoyed Yellow Jackets . I found it with some help from H-R . That's just my take on Geocaching . I just joined the Terrecaching web site and I'm getting ready to put my first Terrecache out in my neck of the woods .

Mikey