Dust-Offs

[Gaddiel]

What are "dust-offs", you ask? They are simply active caches that haven't been found in a long time. Most times this is due to a high terrain rating or to a particularly remote location. Suprisingly, Arkansas doesn't have any really old dust-offs (none are older than one year, at least until January).

Here is a list of the top ten dust-off caches for Arkansas as of today, according to my research:

1) The Blue Hole (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=289bcc64-a04d-4461-9ae9-044971294986) Last found: 1/10/2004
2) Falling Water Falls (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c88b6cb6-4135-4f40-9e77-ac1f462aed8c) Last Found: 1/14/2004
3) Brock Creek Trails (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=192dd1f9-922a-4c14-9c24-1335d2e7b0c6) Last found 1/31/2004
4) Night Eyes (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0613b5fd-9265-47b8-b38f-ad94090deb83) Last Found: 1/31/2004
5) Lost in the Dark (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=9d772d8f-15cc-43d6-b613-ed41f831adad) Last Found 2/4/2004
6) Over the Edge (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=37be62d6-ea4a-476e-bf1e-8b19fedb1225) Last Found 2/15/2004
7) The Battle of Marks Mill (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=37d61d7a-7c28-4cbe-b248-f1a5dcdce032) Last Found 2/26/2004
8 ) Artististic Matters (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=259b4172-e882-497a-a872-4c84502aef8b) Last Found: 3/26/2004
9) Swinging on the Mulberry (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4ca1c38b-e911-4c2c-b0fc-6eed161161c1) Last Found: 3/28/2004
10) Just Add Water (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=576b3873-7eb1-4929-900e-6cae59298fa9) Last Found: 3/28/2004

Anyone up for the challenge of dusting off some of these?

[TeamMGGPS]

Well it looks like my caches have made the top 3 list.
Coming in at first place my cache "The Blue Hole" is in a pretty remote location. It's about a 1.9 mile trek in, one way, and I used an ATV although some have hiked in and others have attempted to drive 4WD vehicles in(ask SANCHO about that). The Blue Hole is listed by the Ozark National Forest as a special interest area and most of the finds have been in the fall and winter due to the foilage and summer critter factor(snakes). Coming in at number three is my "Brock Creek Trails" cache. It's about a half a mile hike in and again best done in the fall and winter. Maybe after deer season someone will Dust Off these two caches and check them out. I recommend the Brock Creek Trails cache for hikers simply because its a much shorter walk in.
Good Hunting,
Team MGGPS

[nonnipoppy]

What are "dust-offs", you ask? They are simply active caches that haven't been found in a long time. Most times this is due to a high terrain rating or to a particularly remote location...... Here is a list of the top ten dust-off caches for Arkansas as of today, according to my research:

1) The Blue Hole (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=289bcc64-a04d-4461-9ae9-044971294986) Last found: 1/10/2004
2) Falling Water Falls (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=c88b6cb6-4135-4f40-9e77-ac1f462aed8c) Last Found: 1/14/2004
3) Brock Creek Trails (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=192dd1f9-922a-4c14-9c24-1335d2e7b0c6) Last found 1/31/2004
4) Night Eyes (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0613b5fd-9265-47b8-b38f-ad94090deb83) Last Found: 1/31/2004
5) Lost in the Dark (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=9d772d8f-15cc-43d6-b613-ed41f831adad) Last Found 2/4/2004
6) Over the Edge (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=37be62d6-ea4a-476e-bf1e-8b19fedb1225) Last Found 2/15/2004
7) The Battle of Marks Mill (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=37d61d7a-7c28-4cbe-b248-f1a5dcdce032) Last Found 2/26/2004
8 ) Artististic Matters (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=259b4172-e882-497a-a872-4c84502aef8b) Last Found: 3/26/2004
9) Swinging on the Mulberry (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4ca1c38b-e911-4c2c-b0fc-6eed161161c1) Last Found: 3/28/2004
10) Just Add Water (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=576b3873-7eb1-4929-900e-6cae59298fa9) Last Found: 3/28/2004
........

As I read this post I wondered how many of these caches we had found. I checked and we have found 4 of these 9. We still need to find

Nignt Eyes
Lost in The Dark
Over The Edge
The Battle of Mark's Mill

Has anyone found them all?

How many have you found?

....poppy

[RuffRidr]

1) The Blue Hole Last found: 1/10/2004
2) Falling Water Falls Last Found: 1/14/2004
3) Brock Creek Trails Last found 1/31/2004
4) Night Eyes Last Found: 1/31/2004
5) Lost in the Dark Last Found 2/4/2004
6) Over the Edge Last Found 2/15/2004
7) The Battle of Marks Mill Last Found 2/26/2004
8 ) Artististic Matters Last Found: 3/26/2004
9) Swinging on the Mulberry Last Found: 3/28/2004
10) Just Add Water Last Found: 3/28/2004


All but "Lost in the Dark" has been found since this message was originally created. Most within the last two months. Does anyone know what the current Top 10 "dust-offs" are?

--RuffRidr

[southdeltan]

Looks like it's time to run 2 PQ's to get the ARkansas caches then sort by "last found" date.

:wink:

I need to update the MS dust-offs. We even have several that have been active for months and never found.

southdeltan

[RuffRidr]

OK, I just ran some mega-pocketquery(s). This is what I think I'm getting as the Top 10 dust-offs:

1. Lost in the Dark (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=9d772d8f-15cc-43d6-b613-ed41f831adad) Last Found: 2/4/2004
2. R-1 West-T21North-Reference (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=bd0a81e3-b77b-4386-b5e7-3b011404007a) Last Found: 3/6/2004
3. Tri-Falls on Richland Creek Trail (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=62eb4f22-553b-470e-b937-c42bd56eed79) Last Found: 4/3/2004
4. Pack Rat Falls (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0ad8c44e-7e60-45ce-b905-442832fe085f) Last Found: 4/4/2004
5. Pam's Grotto Falls (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=e18e2c1a-43ec-4d37-a4b6-1a067738a4b8) Last Found: 4/10/2004
6. Blow Out Bluff (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=9b20fa53-4062-41f3-8011-72f63ae8c745) Last Found: 4/16/2004
7. OHT # 2 - Railroad Bed (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=3089474f-ebea-495f-b20a-6556c6ca0654) Last Found: 4/2/0/2004
8. Infamous Travel Bug Prison (I.T.B.P.) (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=77aab2f6-538d-4b45-ba3c-01a238f24773&log=y&decrypt=) Last Found: 4/24/2004
9. Forever Falls Cache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0e49f928-660e-4f7a-8ffc-4829256c6378) Last Found: 5/2/2004
10. Moccasin Gap (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=4dbd8973-5f27-4ffe-aa95-c3ec863b6b3c) Last Found: 5/2/2004

Disclaimer: I didn't include caches that are currently disabled.

Looking at this list, it appears that most of the dust-offs are in scenic locations located out in the forest. There are quite a few of them that are waterfall caches. You know, this is getting to be the best time of year for these type of caches. I think we should make an effort to visit some of these caches that haven't been visited in almost a year, while the weather is nice and the water is flowing. Who's with me?

--RuffRidr

[arkansas_stickerdude]

I'm game just say when and where.

[Gaddiel]

We were the last finders of Pack Rat Falls. Looks like the cache may be MIA, but I'd highly recommend it, even if the cache is not there.

[demonicangel]

Out of those:
Lost in the Dark
Tri-Falls on Richland Creek Trail
Pack Rat Falls
Pam's Grotto Falls
OHT # 2 - Railroad Bed
Infamous Travel Bug Prison (I.T.B.P.)
Forever Falls Cache
Are all on my list of must-do caches. So if anyone is interested in going together just let me know!
Moccasin Gap is no longer active. This is what the cache page says:
OUTOE
I picked up the cache this morning. Not much activity lately. The local trend of micro caches that the family sedan can drive to and 'Easter Egg hunt' has killed the sport in my opinion. Hiking and scenery has been replaced with adults searching for a film canister in a parking lot. How sad.
Hiking in the forest is no longer an option.
Saw two deer on the way to the cache.

[demonicangel]

Man, I can't even spell tonight...
I was also going to say that it's really bad cause Moccasin Gap was another of my must-do caches. Those are the ones I have been planning on hitting this spring. I didn't want to do them in the winter... just too cold. And at the same time I didn't want to do them in the heat of the summer either.
Maybe solohiker will reactivate it if there is enough interest.

[RuffRidr]

Out of those:
I picked up the cache this morning. Not much activity lately. The local trend of micro caches that the family sedan can drive to and 'Easter Egg hunt' has killed the sport in my opinion. Hiking and scenery has been replaced with adults searching for a film canister in a parking lot. How sad.
Hiking in the forest is no longer an option.
Saw two deer on the way to the cache.

That is sad indeed. While I do like an intriguing micro, I much prefer caches that include a hike. I hope this doesn't become a trend.

--RuffRidr

[rock_hound]

The local trend of micro caches that the family sedan can drive to and 'Easter Egg hunt' has killed the sport in my opinion. Hiking and scenery has been replaced with adults searching for a film canister in a parking lot. How sad.
Hiking in the forest is no longer an option.
Saw two deer on the way to the cache.


I am going to have to disagree with you on that one. I really enjoy a challengeing or creatively hidden micro. It seems to me like there are plenty of caches in hiking areas. I would place more of these type, but it would be difficult for me to do maintenance, since the forest land is so far away. I suspect that is the reason there are not more hiking type caches.

[demonicangel]

The local trend of micro caches that the family sedan can drive to and 'Easter Egg hunt' has killed the sport in my opinion. Hiking and scenery has been replaced with adults searching for a film canister in a parking lot. How sad.
Hiking in the forest is no longer an option.
Saw two deer on the way to the cache.


I am going to have to disagree with you on that one. I really enjoy a challengeing or creatively hidden micro. It seems to me like there are plenty of caches in hiking areas. I would place more of these type, but it would be difficult for me to do maintenance, since the forest land is so far away. I suspect that is the reason there are not more hiking type caches.

Oh, that's NOT my point of view... that's just what was written in the log by a cache owner who disabled one of his caches that was pretty far out because this is how he felt.

Personally, I like them both. There are times I enjoy hitting as many "town" caches as I can possibly get in a day, and then there are other days I want to get out in the woods and I may only score one find. But that's ok too cause I'm out there because I want to be. It just depends on my mood.

But apparently some people see it differently. And I'm sad to say that that seems to be the opinion of the owner of Moccasin Gap.

[demonicangel]

Out of those:
I picked up the cache this morning. Not much activity lately. The local trend of micro caches that the family sedan can drive to and 'Easter Egg hunt' has killed the sport in my opinion. Hiking and scenery has been replaced with adults searching for a film canister in a parking lot. How sad.
Hiking in the forest is no longer an option.
Saw two deer on the way to the cache.

That is sad indeed. While I do like an intriguing micro, I much prefer caches that include a hike. I hope this doesn't become a trend.

--RuffRidr

I enjoy seeing both types... so I would hate to see either of them become extinct.

[thenaturenurd]

When y'all head to the infamous travel bug prison let me know. Thats 4 miles from my house. I have been meaning to go but would rather go with more than just myself.

Craig

[rock_hound]

Oh, that's NOT my point of view... that's just what was written in the log by a cache owner who disabled one of his caches that was pretty far out because this is how he felt.


I see that now, when I read your post again :oops:

[RuffRidr]

OK, I just reran this query again. Arkansas now requires 3 pocket queries to get every cache in the state. Wow! Keep those caches coming.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 dust-offs:

1. Lost in the Dark (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=9d772d8f-15cc-43d6-b613-ed41f831adad) Last Found: 2/4/2004
2. Pack Rat Falls (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0ad8c44e-7e60-45ce-b905-442832fe085f) Last Found: 4/4/2004
3. Pam's Grotto Falls (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=e18e2c1a-43ec-4d37-a4b6-1a067738a4b8) Last Found: 4/10/2004
4. Blow Out Bluff (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=9b20fa53-4062-41f3-8011-72f63ae8c745) Last Found: 4/16/2004
5. OHT # 2 - Railroad Bed (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=3089474f-ebea-495f-b20a-6556c6ca0654) Last Found: 4/20/2004
6. Forever Falls Cache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=0e49f928-660e-4f7a-8ffc-4829256c6378) Last Found: 5/2/2004
7. George at the Lake (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=de8e79d5-7bf0-40d2-8bb0-d65ac8502a22) Last Found: 5/9/2004
8. Big Black Bertha (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=27145d11-4da3-40a7-a503-2aecf2a2a47f) Last Found: 5/29/2004
9. Arkansas River Tall Oak Cache (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=f53dcd67-ab02-4974-9fca-88806cf57a19) Last Found: 6/12/2004
10. White Oak Mountain Overlook (http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=71a4648a-6ad6-4332-b239-9bfd176f3536) Last Found: 6/20/2004

Disclaimer: I didn't include caches that are currently disabled.

Out of the previous top 10, 1 dropped because it is currently disabled. 1 dropped because it was archived (removed due to lack of visits). And 2 dropped because they were recently found. Let's see if we can get some more of these caches off of the list. I'd hate to see any more caches go away due to lack of interest.

--RuffRidr