There are some geocaches hidden in high traffic areas. By nature of the area (chiefly to avoid detection), these are nearly always "micro caches". Could be a a 35mm film canister, Altoids tin, Listerine pocket pak, or similar tiny container. Hardly something that could hold a "bomb" that can cause any serious damage.
Nobody is going to hide an ammo box on a park bench, but the park bench you are sitting on, may well have a micro cache attached to the underside.
While parks rangers are alwas trying to get people to the parks it ahs to be the right tyoe of people.
What do you consider to be the "right tyoe (sic) of people?"
The ranks of geocachers include hikers, birders, backpackers, forest rangers, outdoorsmen, police officers, naturalists, trail maintainers, professional guides, search and rescue personnel and even at least one LNT instructor. In general, geocachers are simply people who love the outdoors.
The picture a lot of people have of thousands of clueless, couch potatos suddenly tramling through the woods, GPS in hand, is not accurate. Most geocachers are long time outdoors enthusiasts who find geocaching to be just another way to enjoy the outdoors. And if it gets a few couch potatos out from behind their PC or TV, then all the better.
Just because it's an orderly disposition doesn't make it less than some junk on the ground that the park rangers don't want.
A lot of geocachers are also park rangers (I happen to be the trails supervisor of a state forest) and many parks actively promote the sport because they find it to be an appropriate use of park land.
Also, geocaches aren't abandoned either. Abandoned is defined as "to give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest in" and "to leave without intending to return". A geocache is exactly the opposite.
Bombs are hidden in items that won't arouse suspicion. Shopping bags, breif cases, purses, etc... My brother has bomb squad training and ammo boxes weren't even mentioned as possible recepticles for a bomb.
Bombs are also usually hidden in high traffic areas where they will do the most damage, not in the remote, rarely visited parts of parks where geocaches are hidden.
I've found well over a hundered geocaches and have found that this isn't the case. First off, most caches in the forest do not receive enough visits to create trails. Most of my caches average less than a visitor a month after the first week of their existence.
Second, if the cache is far enough off the trail, it's unlikely that any two geocachers will take the exact route to the cache, which spreads out impact and prevents herd path development.
Third, even in the few instances a herd path develops, the impact is similar to game trails created by deer and I don't see anybody looking to ban deer.
Finally if a geocache is causing "severe" impact, or is in a sensitive area, all it takes is a note to the website to get it removed.
Main Entry: litter
Pronunciation: 'li-t&r
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French litiere, from lit bed, from Latin lectus -- more at LIE
Date: 14th century
4 a : trash, wastepaper, or garbage lying scattered about b : an untidy accumulation of objects
Since a geocache is a box of neatly packaged items, carefully hidden from the view of passersby
it would seem to be the exact opposite of litter.
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Geocaches placed near railroads and bridges will not be approved by the website.
Nobody is going to hide an ammo box on a park bench, but the park bench you are sitting on, may well have a micro cache attached to the underside.
What do you consider to be the "right tyoe (sic) of people?" The ranks of geocachers include hikers, birders, backpackers, forest rangers, outdoorsmen, police officers, naturalists, trail maintainers, professional guides, search and rescue personnel and even at least one LNT instructor. In general, geocachers are simply people who love the outdoors.
The picture a lot of people have of thousands of clueless, couch potatos suddenly tramling through the woods, GPS in hand, is not accurate. Most geocachers are long time outdoors enthusiasts who find geocaching to be just another way to enjoy the outdoors. And if it gets a few couch potatos out from behind their PC or TV, then all the better.
Some geocachers ARE park rangers.
A lot of geocachers are also park rangers (I happen to be the trails supervisor of a state forest) and many parks actively promote the sport because they find it to be an appropriate use of park land.
Also, geocaches aren't abandoned either. Abandoned is defined as "to give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest in" and "to leave without intending to return". A geocache is exactly the opposite.
If you can't see it, how can it be an "eyesore"?
Bombs are also usually hidden in high traffic areas where they will do the most damage, not in the remote, rarely visited parts of parks where geocaches are hidden.
Second, if the cache is far enough off the trail, it's unlikely that any two geocachers will take the exact route to the cache, which spreads out impact and prevents herd path development.
Third, even in the few instances a herd path develops, the impact is similar to game trails created by deer and I don't see anybody looking to ban deer.
Finally if a geocache is causing "severe" impact, or is in a sensitive area, all it takes is a note to the website to get it removed.
Main Entry: litter Pronunciation: 'li-t&r Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French litiere, from lit bed, from Latin lectus -- more at LIE Date: 14th century 4 a : trash, wastepaper, or garbage lying scattered about b : an untidy accumulation of objects Since a geocache is a box of neatly packaged items, carefully hidden from the view of passersby it would seem to be the exact opposite of litter.