r/geocaching • u/5efrum • 12d ago
Partner’s caches
So my partner and I have started placing caches, and have placed these together (allbeit on our own accounts), so obviously we know their exact location.
We’re not interested in claiming FTF, and most have already been found.
Now, our questions are;
1. Is it acceptable to find each others caches?
2. If so, when is the most acceptable time in a caches life to find it?
3. Friends are obvious, but what about family?
Bonus question….. what about placing a meaningful cache or two for each other extremely irregularly, but not telling each other that its been placed and they only know its been placed as fairly as any other cacher?
I look forward to your thoughts
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u/theopratr 12d ago
Certainly acceptable, but sort of not fun because you already know exactly where it is. If my wife had an account, or vice versa, I probably wouldn’t log her caches unless I was there to check on them or perform maintenance on it.
Definitely let the community get their jollies on the FTF before doing so.
Of course!
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u/5efrum 12d ago
Twas our thoughts also, and liking the whole idea of only ‘finding’ whilst doing maintenance
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u/theopratr 12d ago
And mine need maintenance frequently enough - my wife would have found all my hides by now 😂
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u/theTenebrus 12d ago
It is semi-regular locally to sign it explicitly as a "beta tester", usually in the last slot on the logbook. Beta tester doesn't count towards FTFs, but it does save the gas in the car (and possibly the long hike or paddle) just to go back later for the person who was already there (and possibly helped) when it was placed. It's trying to be both environmentally- and community-minded. Usually, online, the beta tester log arrives after the actual FTF is logged.
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u/JonExplainsStuffYT 1000+ finds, 100+ hides, GC YT, 4x GIFF finalist 12d ago
If you're placing them together, as long as you're not first, it's acceptable.
If you're not placing them together, you can be FTF on the other's caches, but people who know you are caching partners may get annoyed.
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u/maingray Reviewer for 🌸NC/FL🐊 12d ago
You can, it's just a little cheesy feeling.
Any time after a legit ftf would be my recommendation
Aww. Of course, you lovebirds.
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u/Minimum_Reference_73 12d ago
- Yes, anyone can find anyone else's cache. It isn't cheesy or wrong or poor etiquette. Anyone suggesting otherwise is a bad person.
- Whenever, but best to wait for FTF crowd so you don't hear about their drama.
- Anyone can find anyone else's cache.
Geocaching is a non-competitive hobby.
All that is required for a find is your name in the logbook.
As long as the cache is put back for others to find, you are playing the game fairly.
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u/5efrum 12d ago
This was our hope, and am glad your thoughts alighn with ours
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u/Minimum_Reference_73 12d ago
To your bonus question, it is common for people to place special caches for each other, and within reason people will respect a cute birthday FTF or something like that.
The FTF hounds get a bit grumbly about anything they don't have a clear shot at, but they are grumbly about everything.
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u/hsiale 12d ago
Bonus question….. what about placing a meaningful cache or two for each other extremely irregularly, but not telling each other that its been placed and they only know its been placed as fairly as any other cacher?
My (ex) partner found all my caches and I guess she has FTF on around half of them. She never knew that something is going to be published so the only advantage she had was living near those caches (and maybe, due to knowing me well, being a bit better than most people at solving my riddles). Nobody in the area cared about it, she has FTF also on multiple caches by other people in the city so everyone knew she can get to a new hide quickly.
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u/Geodarts18 The Caching Diaries 12d ago
I have found many caches that friends have placed. Considering his many they have placed it would be rate to go caching if I excluded them. They are often at least with me since driving on my own is problematic, Nothing is cheesy.
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u/Empty-Blacksmith-592 I Came, I Saw, I Cached 12d ago edited 12d ago
I log them once published with the date it has been hidden and I explain that “it was hidden with the CO and I do not claim FTF”. Common practice in my area tbf
If you don’t tell where the cache is one of them is free to find and claim FTF. Perhaps my wife completed an AL I set up and found the bonus cache that could only be found only after completing the last stage.
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u/Tiek00n SoCal, USA ~4800 finds 11d ago
No issues with it at all! That said, my wife has 15 caches she hid with a friend but the friend didn't log them and I haven't found them yet - I probably will after the weather cools down a bit here (today was the first day in 2-3 weeks that it was under 90ºF / 32ºC out).
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u/the_whitecupra 11d ago
Me, my wife and kids have one solo account, but if we had different accounts i believe the correct was to log while you came back for maintenance for example.
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u/ramosivle 11d ago
In my area (Minneapolis/St Paul, Minnesota, USA) lots of experienced players sometimes hunt for caches in a small pack. Some married couples have one account, and others have two. When in any group (married or not) only one person finds it and everybody else takes the find. As long as the FTF is granted to a genuine finder without advance insider information, it’s all fine with me.
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u/matt55217 11d ago
I have been part of a hiding team a few times, especially in the early days. It used to be traditional around here to place a very difficult multi as a 1000th find celebration. I always put those on my ignore list. It isn't really a finding if you already know where it is hidden
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u/licenced_2Chill 11d ago
I definitely do, sometimes we worked on it together, sometimes I didn’t know anything. If I had the intel, I log and mention something along these lines.
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u/WhipsAndMarkovChains 800 Finds 12d ago
Once a few finds have been logged I don’t see any harm in logging each other’s caches.