Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a GPS receiver or other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers ("geocaches" or "caches") anywhere in the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and "treasure," usually toys or trinkets of little value.
Upon finding a cache the finder fills out the log book (who, when etc) and takes a trinket and places a trinket (this is optional). As well as trinkets there are other things that can be taken. My favourite are GeoCoins which are set up by an individual with a specific purpose, i.e. make it to Canada. these are taken and then placed in another cache for someone else to move on.
The boxes are normally quite small tupperware type boxes and are usually discreetly hidden, in fact on most countryside/mountain walks people do they will have wlaked passed many without even knowing.
I know it sounds a bit nerdy but it is good fun and can get you to places you never would normally go.
The question is, would an underground geocache network, work?? (yes I know GPS doesn't work underground).
Obviously the location of these would be kept within the mine-explorer community and with the usual disclaimers.
In the geocache community they are rated according to how hard they are to find and how difficult the terrain is.

Any thoughts??

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Yeah I have thoughts ("Quick nurse the TABLETS again!!") about this:

DON'T BOTHER :thumbdown:

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I thought that mine exploring was all about visiting, appreciating and recording the remains of our mining (& quarrying) heritage? The day I need to go underground looking for a tupperware box (unless it's my bait box) will be a sad one. There's enough rubbish in our mines - newspapers left by mineral collectors/coke cans/mars bar wrappers, without adding more sh**e. I can see pack walls ripped down, artifacts trodden on, all to find a box with a Kinder egg toy in it!
As far as i'm concerned this is even worse than ANY Mineral collector (i'm not one by the way), at least they are underground for some sort of purpose.

What's next? The great Cwmorthin hide & seek challenge?

Forget it, you're going underground for the wrong reasons, if you want a trinket - buy a box of chistmas crackers.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not going to run underground and start dumping things here there and everywhere. I was just expanding on something from another thread earlier.
If it's a crap idea then that's fine, hence the "any thoughts?" question.
I can definitely see the validity of the points against it and good ones they are too.
I would never want anything to take away from or promote the destruction of such important, historical places, as I said I was just expanding of something from earlier.
By the way, I am going underground for the right reasons so please don't think to assume anything about me.

Perhaps Geocaching is for the upper world only :surrender:

As for "The great Cwmorthin hide & seek challenge?"
Theres an idea :lol:

Sorry didn't mean to offend anyone 😞

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Stevem

No offence taken, yes lets just leave the trinket chasers to 'the upper world'.
Anyone else have a different view?

As for "The great Cwmorthin hide & seek challenge?"
Theres an idea :lol:

Well i'm not being 'it' first!

Cheers Heb,
I know when I've backed a looser 😉

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Cheers Heb,
I know when I've backed a looser 😉

Yeah... file it away along with those other notables "Subteranean Sunbathing" and "Underground Fishing"

..... However.... if those trinket thingies were substituted with a £20 note... well, that would be different, eh ?

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SteveM,

I just don't see that something like geochaching is appropriate in an underground setting.

I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

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couldnt disagree more.
I have hidden a geocache in a mine. It gets nothing but WOW great fun from people who find it. They then often go on to find out more about the area and the history.
I should go and put some more detail in the description. geochaching is a lot of fun and a great way to find out about new and interesting things. For example the stone circles that are tucked away all over the place. However make it simple and safe.

couldnt disagree more.
I have hidden a geocache in a mine. It gets nothing but WOW great fun from people who find it. They then often go on to find out more about the area and the history.
I should go and put some more detail in the description. geochaching is a lot of fun and a great way to find out about new and interesting things. For example the stone circles that are tucked away all over the place. However make it simple and safe.

Yeah, yeah I know all about it as well,

I just don't see the point leave it for the "Above Grounders"

file with lunar pannels. :zzz:

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just a quick point some of you came be rather unacomadating towards other uses for the subterrianian world. it could be one of those little fun things on the side like getting to the ballroom flat and signing the book there

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couldnt disagree more.
I have hidden a geocache in a mine. It gets nothing but WOW great fun from people who find it. They then often go on to find out more about the area and the history.
I should go and put some more detail in the description. geochaching is a lot of fun and a great way to find out about new and interesting things. For example the stone circles that are tucked away all over the place. However make it simple and safe.

Yeah, yeah I know all about it as well,

I just don't see the point leave it for the "Above Grounders"

file with lunar pannels. :zzz:

because lots of poeple have no idea its there. They visit they find out stuff go WOW amazing then join adit now and become explorers. I didnt know that there was a bonze age axe factory ~ 3 miles form my house till i visited the place.
Or that in the 50's the circles were dug and child remains were discovered.
also its fun

SteveM,

I just don't see that something like geochaching is appropriate in an underground setting.

I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

Completely understand where you are coming from. :thumbup:
Please don't think I'm saying that mines are places for people to go running around blindly hunting for 'prizes'
I have much more respect for the places than that.

It is the whole point of a discussion forum to discuss, im not one to take offence at people comments (unless they say im ugly and call me names 😉 ) I think it is very interesting to hear peoples ideas and comments, especially ones you (me) hadn't actually considered, for and against.
:flowers:

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It is the whole point of a discussion forum to discuss, im not one to take offence at people comments (unless they say im ugly and call me names 😉 ) I think it is very interesting to hear peoples ideas and comments, especially ones you (me) hadn't actually considered, for and against.
:flowers:

Quite agree Steve, it's been interesting watching this one.

Moutainpenguin makes a valid point about introducing people to something they may otherwise not experience; who may then go on to develop a genuine interest. That's why a few of us are trying to arrange beginner friendly trips at the moment.

But, and it's a big but, the idea of unprepared people frantically trying to bag prizes underground is somewhat scarey 😮

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But, and it's a big but, the idea of unprepared people frantically trying to bag prizes underground is somewhat scarey 😮

Very scarey, like you said before, you'd need the emergency boxes to aid the unprepared geocachers 😉

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yep note the easy and safe in my first reply.
Having said that I have seen one half way up an e1 !
there is already a system of rating for both difficulty and terrain.
the highest level is stated as:
Requires specialized equipment and knowledge or experience, (boat, 4WD, rock climbing, SCUBA, etc) or is otherwise extremely difficult.

I agree with you there. Not everyone who is a geocacher is a "trinket" seeking bounty hunter. Most are responsible people.
I do agree puting them underground might ('might') encourage people to go underground irresponsibly. It is possibly easier to get underground than up/down an E1.
But then again walking past an open adit may encourage people to go underground irresonsibly.
At least (like mountainpenguin says) these things are rated and people who look them up know what they are in for.
Likewise, an experienced mine explorer would have read about the CRTT, but without SRT they (more than likely) wouldnt even attempt it.
I don't have all the answers (or a spell checker!) but it is certainly interesting.
I have poked my head above the fence but may just sit on it for now 😉

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It is possibly easier to get underground than up/down an E1.

You're not wrong there 🙂 🙂

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Erm .................. well ..........................
There are some £20 notes underground somewhere in Wales, i take it nobody has found them yet?

Yes, im being serious! 🙂

Is that the one in a lead mine just south of Beddgelert perchance?

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