Logging Road Dumping and a BIG clean Up!

Some time ago I started a Facebook Page/Group called Shame The Logging Road Dumpers.  This group is to expose dumping on Logging Roads, etc in YOUR backyard, in YOUR outdoor playground, in YOUR parks..
The group started out small, a few friends here and there.  We started posting some pictures of  backroad dumping and where they where.  A new member to the group started to map the sites on Google.  Although cleanup was discussed nothing got organized but some awareness was happening.  A blurb in the Comox Valley newspaper last year garnered some attention. 
Then this spring just as I returned from my holidays at the end of May, my sister sent me a link to a YouTube video about the garbage on a certain section of Duncan Bay Logging Road. Illegal Dumping On The Duncan Bay Logging Rd, Campbell River BC  I watched it and realized that what I was doing was the tip of the iceberg.  After contacting the owner of the video he proceeded to join the FB group and from there the exposure snowballed.  As of now June 18, 2013 the group has grown to 168 members, including members of the media.  These media members have put us on CHEK TV and The River radio station.  There is going to be an article in the local paper this week. 
This past weekend a clean up was organized on the portion of road from the original video.  On June 15 & 16, 2013 numerous people came out and gave it their all.  Over 17 TONS of garbage was collected and cleaned up.  Our Regional District waived the tipping fees, containers were donated as well as tools, garbage bags, gloves, tools, etc. 
The people that organized this clean up and donated their time and equipment are an amazing group and I am proud to have met them all.

Here are some photos of the cleanup:

Duncan Bay Logging Road Cleanup

However, we will not stop at this one cleanup.  The section of road still has some sites that need to be cleaned and that will continue through next weekend, June 22, 2013.  After that some other sites will be chosen for future clean ups.
You can get involved.  Be proactive.  Keep you eyes out for illegal dumping and that includes yard waste.  Take pictures and report to RAPP 

 

Join the FB group and help us stop dumping and clean up what is out there. When you are out and about pick up some garbage and drop it off at the dump.  

Here are some links:

Campbell River Recycles

Mid Island Recycling Directory 

When a Hint isn't a Hint

When a hint isn't a hint.

Groundspeak lists hints as "A hint is meant to be decrypted at the cache site, after a search has failed and a further clue is needed. It should give additional information about the cache or its location"
So how many of us get upset when we see..."not now" maybe later"?
There is a lot of chatter on the forums and elsewhere about this subject.
For me a hint is a statement conveying information in an indirect fashion; a clue.
Yes as a newbie I have put stupid hints but I hope that I  have fixed them to better reflect  the need.
Because I live and cache in the great outdoors, I do not want to see an area getting thoroughly thrashed. I don't want to see moss pulled off of stumps and trees. I do not want to see our fragile ecosystem destroyed in the name of geocaching. I do not want to see our game banned.

Encrypting Cache Logs

I imagine that this topic will get a lot of views because I am well aware that there are a lot of cachers viewing my blogs but not bothering to comment online. 

Back to the topic at hand.   Encrypting cache logs.  Going through the GC Forums and found some topics about encrypting " It's not to create a note that only you can read. It's to prevent someone from accidentally reading spoiler info. If they want to read it, they have to perform an action to do so."  That makes sense.  After all as a cacher and a CO there are somethings we don't want everyone to see.  It's another way of hiding spoiler info, etc without causing someones feelings to get hurt by say, deleting their log.   "The value of encryption is debatable anyway. I think seeing an encrypted log might even attract people to check it out out of curiosity." 

So what is this all about?  Well for some time a CO has been encrypting my logs on their caches.  This amuses me to no end because like me, there are a lot of other cachers who also decrypt to see what is what. I know when see an encrypted log I have to wonder what is so important about it. "Oooh, it's encrypted... there must be something juicy here, I will see what it says." 
Encrypting actually brings a lot of attention to the cache log and mine in particular.

I often get asked why I always encrypt my logs on the CO's caches.   I tell them I don't and that the CO is encrypting them.  They mention that there appears to be no reason to encrypt my logs.  The majority of the logs are quite pleasant and occasionally complimentary.  

Which brings me to why?  Who knows? Who cares? If their goal is to deter me from finding their caches then it is not going to work. A CO cannot stop someone from finding their cache  Put them on my ignore list? What for? Caches are placed to be found by everyone and not a select few.

So your Cache Needs Maintenance

So you have a few (or more) hides and everything is going along nicely.  And then, you get an email stating that someone has posted a "Needs Maintenance" log on your cache.  Hopefully you will read it and see what they have to say and if necessary go out and fix the problem ASAP.
Or are you one of those owners that ignore the note and hope that someone else will fix the problem?
One of the things about being a cache owner is the constant maintenance of what you hide.  It is not the responsibility of other cachers to constantly maintain your caches.  If they are prepared or asked in advance then they may do the maintenance for you.  However, you are still responsible. 
When another cacher places a needs maintenance note on your cache then you will receive notification of such.  From that point forward there will be a "Red Wrench"  beside your cache listing for all to see.  Now I have seen that and sometimes gone prepared and replaced logs, dried out caches, removed some pretty ugly stuff, and in some instances replaced the cache container. 
But, even when this has happened and I have posted a note saying the maintenance has been done or the CO has done it, the "Red Wrench" is still there.  Why? Well the CO has to actually post an "Owner Maintenance" log on the cache.  Just enabling it or ignoring it will not do the trick. 

Statistics

I try to keep my geocaching stats accurate so that my milestones are where they belong.  I generally use GSAK and run the "Check Multiple Finds" Macro.  Whenever I find a discrepancy I go looking for it and correct it.
Recently I was emailed and informed that one of my caches had a duplicate log on it.  Now I want my own caches to correctly reflect their finds as well  so I went ahead and deleted the double log and informed the cacher what I had done and why.
Apparently this was the wrong way to go about it.  I get accused of a hatred so deep I delved into the bowels of the cache logs until I came up with someway to screw up their stats. Said cacher hides his stats so there was no way of even knowing what I had done.  Yes, at some point I realized that it was a possibility but by then it was too late.  Said cacher decided to try to roast me in the forums once again.  Once again said cacher did not receive the support that he felt he deserved.  
On that note I did download and run the "Duplicate Found Logs" Macro.  I discovered a few more and proceeded to delete them as well.  Now I have discovered that there is another online program called Project-gc.com  Wow even GSAK has missed some of my duplicates.  Something to work with over the next few days to make corrections and inform the cachers.

A New Year

So much has happened in the past year. Some cachers took exception to my views on geocaching guidelines and how they should be approached.  Well everyone is entitled to their opinion. I believe we must strive to be the best we can every day. It's hard and sometimes petty thoughts and deeds come to mind but I do try to squelch them as much as possible. 

So here is my caching to do list for the next year:

1. I will smile and greet all those I meet on the trails 
2. I will ignore being ignored, the stares, the whispers, and the glares
3. I will not make any comment I feel is inappropriate on your cache page
4. I will answer any email I get regarding my caches, it is up to you to take me off your ignore/block list and answer in a mature and calm manner
5. If I have a concern about your cache I will email you first,  it is up to you to take me off your ignore/block list and answer in a mature and calm manner

This is pretty basic stuff and I am hoping all that I meet and know will do the same


  

Dumping in the bush...

There is just one word to describe those that take their garbage and dump it in woods.  PIG!!!

Just how cheap and lazy are you?  What gives you the right to destroy the environment and the beauty of what belongs to all of us?  
Would you dump this in your back yard?  Well you are dumping in mine!!
I would like to see everyone out there report these pigs. Take a camera and catch them in the act. Post the pictures online. Send them to the newspaper.  Do you recognize what is being dumped?  Did it belong to someone you know? Take them to task for it....
Dumping affects all of us.  Those of us who are outdoor enthusiasts find gates locked because of dumping.  It limits our access to the great outdoors.  For those of you who are content to stay in your urban setting you need to think about where your water comes from.  This dumping affects your water source.
And this is not limited to household garbage or industrial waste.  Your lawn clippings and weeds are also dumping and contributes to introducing invasive species that choke out the natural flora. 
I have a Facebook group where I post pictures from the Campbell River and surrounding areas.Logging road Dumping I have talked to people and informed them that what they are doing is illegal and there are repercussions and fines.  Some are open to my speech and some are not.
It is up to us to be proactive and stop this practice.