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Post by oleruns on Nov 12, 2006 16:17:06 GMT -9
Does anyone know what the average lifespan of a cache is? I guess I could use my caches that I have found in and come up with a guess but it would be nice if there was an answer.
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Post by oleruns on Nov 12, 2006 17:10:36 GMT -9
Okay - I've done a little checking on my finds and caches to find in GSAK, exported the data to Excel. A total of 966 caches checked. Event caches, earth caches and others that could not be muggled or removed like location-less caches were not used. Of the caches that were muggled (67) had a lifespan of 1 year seven months. The average age of a cache in my area is 7 1/2 months -
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Post by knappling on Nov 12, 2006 18:29:43 GMT -9
I guess the caches in the APU area are middle-aged then. They have been there for almost a year and a month now, except for Pencil Cache, which was stolen again and I had to archive it. I think cache life is a good measure of the qualityn of the hide, or the muggle traffic in the area. For some reason I don't think my cache in Talkeetna will get muggled soon because of the second point.
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powmia
Silver Cacher
Caches Found/Hidden xxxx/x
Posts: 208
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Post by powmia on Nov 12, 2006 18:50:37 GMT -9
The original cache that started the whole geocaching idea in May 2000 is still in existence.
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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 12, 2006 20:57:18 GMT -9
Okay - I've done a little checking on my finds and caches to find in GSAK, exported the data to Excel. A total of 966 caches checked. Event caches, earth caches and others that could not be muggled or removed like location-less caches were not used. Of the caches that were muggled (67) had a lifespan of 1 year seven months. The average age of a cache in my area is 7 1/2 months - Note that the number of caches in Alaska has gone from just under 500 to more than 1200 in just the past 27 months. That's going to skew the data significantly. Unfortunately, we don't have access to all the prior records of the older caches that were placed and are now archived to get the full historical picture. I think what generally happens is that a cache has either a very short life or lasts a long time and that depends a lot on the hider. For instance, 46 of 47 caches the Laydbug Kids have placed are still active. 44 of 45 caches placed by Scobey and 37 of 39 caches placed by Northwes are still active. PedalPushin tops even those percentages with 86 out of 86 placed still active. I think longevity is based on initial quality of the hide and dedication by the cacher to replace his/her cache even after it goes missing a time or two.
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Post by oleruns on Nov 12, 2006 22:13:19 GMT -9
Ah, but how many have had to be replaced and how often? Let's remove the remote caches like MTBoy's because they will last a long time, that's a given. A micro in the woods will last a long time, that is a given as well. What about a cache like my Central cache, Knappling's Pencil or maybe even LBK's Susitna cache? How long before it has to be replaced or maintained on average? I bet it could expressed something like: (D*(N*D2))/M=L or even N to the power of D D-Difficulty of hide N- Number of looks before noticed/muggled M-Muggle traffic L-Longevity If you put an ammo can down in New York City on the side walk level 1 difficulty a couple thousand people may go by and not take it but it would only last minutes. A level 5 would last years if left alone. The next part of the question - If you are noticed replacing a cache and are noticed by a muggle, what are the odds of that muggle taking the cache? That variable is totally out of the control of the hider. Also, how often will the cacher be noticed re-hiding the cache should be in the formula some place. I think there is a way to estimate how often you'll have to do maintenance on a cache. Maybe we could apply for a grant? Just having fun here - Ole ;D
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Post by ladybugkids on Nov 13, 2006 12:44:46 GMT -9
Most of our caches have not required maintenance beyond replacing a full log book. Exceptions include: 1. The aforementioned "Seeking Susitna." The original container was accidentally sent to China (most likely by a cacher) and had to be replaced. Got it back in place within days of the orignial "Needs Maintenance" note. 2. "Posted on the Bike Path" went missing, I replaced it with a better container, then the original container reappeared with a note from construction workers who thought their boss kept sending people to spy on them. 3. "Span for the Bike Path" has gone missing twice most likely due to my cluelessness. Seems the local teenagers use jumping off the bridge into the Chena River as a right of passage. My first two attempts of hiding a cache at that location probably put the cache too close to the jumping point. I have since moved the cache to a place less likely to be seen by bridge jumpers. 4. "Berthed Along A Bike Path" has gone missing twice. I suspect the first disappearance was due to a cacher not properly rehiding the ammo can because on an earlier visit, I saw the can from fifty feet away. So, I downsized to a decon container that made it thorugh the summer. Now, I figure the hiding spot has been compromised by local kids, so I'm working up a smaller container for very close to the same location. 5. "Seward's Folly" in New York State went missing for a second time after work was done on the Seward Family crypt. The original local cacher who was going to maintain the cache for us has dropped out of sight. Now I know why "vacation caches" fell out of favor. 6. "Port of View" in Valdez has been replaced once. So, that's nine cache replacements out of 47 hidden over a two-year period. It's sometimes a hassle to replace a missing cache, but I recognize I shouldn't hide a cache if I'm not committed to keeping it active.
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Post by New Yorker on Nov 13, 2006 16:57:19 GMT -9
The original cache that started the whole geocaching idea in May 2000 is still in existence. yeah, now there's a plaque placed on that spot with a cache box hidden about 2 feet from it. View Icenrye's Geocaching Videozine -- Episode 15 featuring a cacher finding it as his 500th find![glow=red,2,300][/glow]
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Post by oleruns on Nov 13, 2006 21:23:44 GMT -9
Thanks for the link to the caching show! I have started watching it looks okay - Ole
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AKDogMom
Silver Cacher
Kopper & Katie
Posts: 102
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Post by AKDogMom on Nov 13, 2006 22:11:07 GMT -9
The caching show is pretty funny. I only intended to watch a quick clip, and here I am 34 minutes later. Cool seeing the original site plaque. Thanks for the link.
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Post by New Yorker on Nov 14, 2006 3:38:35 GMT -9
Thanks for the link to the caching show! I have started watching it looks okay - Ole There's always some good info Icenrye puts out in the show. One feature I like is it's also a video podcast. Check out the frapper maps he mentions... Eagle618 & I were shown in two earlier separate episodes in his shoutouts segment. Need more Alaskans shouting out! Maybe Geocache Alaska can do a shoutout for the show.
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Post by New Yorker on Nov 14, 2006 3:44:57 GMT -9
The caching show is pretty funny. I only intended to watch a quick clip, and here I am 34 minutes later. Cool seeing the original site plaque. Thanks for the link. I watched it since the guy started Episode 1. There's not many other caching shows out there like that, well at least in video. I just got to catch up I believe I'm still at episode 15...
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