Hiding a geocache can be a very enjoyable experience or it can be an experience that will increase your blood pressure and make you angry enough to quit geocaching altogether.  The type of experience you have will be based on whether you follow the guidelines found on the geocaching website and the suggestions of veteran cachers or you try to go it alone and reinvent the wheel.

Take some time to learn

Many new geocachers want to start hiding  geocaches right away.  Although it is not a requirement, I recommend finding at least 50 geocaches before hiding a geocache.  Just like any other new task, it takes time and experience to learn how to do it right!  Finding 50 caches allow you to see the different ways to hide a geocache, the different containers and the different types of geocaches.  It will give you time to experience several difficulties and terrains so you will know how to rate yours when the time comes.

LPC Geocache hide

Find the perfect spot for hiding a geocache

You will find a lot of geocaches hidden under  a light pole skirt(LPC) or on a guard rail(GRC), which make for a quick hide and an easy find. We are all guilty of these hides and they are great for getting your stats up quickly, but you might want to put a little more thought into it.  It has been said, “When you go to hide a geocache, think of the reason you are bringing people to that spot. If the only reason is for the geocache, then find a better spot.” – briansnat.

Do a little research!  Does the location that you have chosen meet all of the guidelines posted on the geocaching website?  Just to name a few:

• Do you have permission for hiding a geocache on the property you have chosen? If the geocache will be hidden on private land you must have permission.  If it is to be placed on public lands, you must obtain and understand the rules and regulations provided by the land manager.  Did you know it is against Federal regulations to hide a geocache in a National Park!
• How visible will the cache be to muggles?  If it is too close to the road or path, someone may stumble upon it and mistake it for litter.  Will it become more visible when the seasons change.  I have seen many great hiding places during the Summer months that are terrible during the Winter months!
• Will the placement and activity around the location of the hide cause undue concern by muggles?If you have been geocaching for long, I’m sure you have at least one story to tell of the time you had to explain to a police officer what you were doing. Could that have been prevented by using a little more thought by the hider of the cache?

Get the Numbers Right

Once you have found the perfect spot for hiding a geocache, you must make sure that you get accurate coordinates for the location.  Use your GPSr to get the coordinates for the location.  It is best to take at least three readings and average the numbers.  If you don’t have a GPSr, most smart phones are capable of getting this information with the right app installed.

After getting what you feel is the best coordinates, try to let your GPSr lead you back to the location from several different directions to insure their correctness.  Sometimes you may have to make slight changes and try again.  It is very important to get the coordinates as accurate as possible.

Submit Your Geocache for Review

You have done your best to fins a great spot for hiding a geocache and have gotten the best coordinates possible, now its time to get it publish for the world to find.

Write an enticing description and add pictures if possible to make the post more interesting.  Now submit it for review.  Sometimes this is all you will have to do, but most of the time the volunteer reviewer will have more questions.  It is best to provide as much information possible in the notes to the reviewer to save time and get your cache published as quickly as possible.  Sometimes the reviewer will see a mistake that has been made and ask that it be corrected.  Just remember, they are helping you have a successful geocache!

Crazy Dave at Dingle Berry

Keep working with the reviewer and you will have a very good experience with your geocache hide.

After Hiding a Geocache, Maintain!

If you have chosen to hide a cache, you are agreeing to take care of the geocache and the area surrounding it.  This means that you periodically check that the container is in good shape and that they contents are safe.  Also, make sure that the area is not being damaged by the extra foot traffic created by your geocache. If it becomes a concern you may have to remove the geocache.

Hiding a geocache can be a great experience done correctly.  It can be a terrible experience for everyone involved it done incorrectly.

Follow these tips for hiding a geocache and you will get to enjoy reading other cachers’ logs and receiving favorite points.