Interactive Cache Map?

[shroomAzoom]

Okay, so I was playing around at lunch today and set up an interactive Cache Zones map using Google Earth. (If you don't have the Google Earth plugin, it reverts to a simple 2D map.)

So, what I'm thinking is... Wouldn't it be fun to have a bit of a preview as to where the SCC caches are right here on our own website. What I would do is request that when someone submits a cache for the SCC they include "approximate" coordinates, and I would include a little icon of their cache on the Zone Map. Then we could all start to get a bit of an idea of where the caches are showing up, but we wouldn't get all the info until the caches are released.

As far as "approximate" coordinates go, I'd ask that they be within 50m of the coords on your cache listing. So, just like in Google Earth or on gc.com the icon would show up, not quite where the cache is. It give you an idea, but not so much that you could try to find it.

Also, my suggestion is that it be within 50m of the actual coords, which provides even more room for "approximation" than Google Earth which is only a max of 36m.

It sounds exciting to me. Any thoughts?

[Wandering_Man]

We could just put up the actual coordinates of the cache. Its not like people can read anything specific about the cache.

But whatever. Its cool either way

[ChrisDom]

Are you proposing this as a means to prevent overlap for our last minute hides?  I am pretty sure that some of us can still find a cache with 50m accuracy .

[Wandering_Man]

Clearly he doesn't have enough to do at work these days.

[jleecollins]

I don't necessarily agree with this.  I like the fact we only find out the location when the caches are published on the Wednesday before. 

Even putting out the cache coordinates is not a good idea.  There will be some people doing some "pre-finds".  So to be fair to out of town people we all need to start on the same field.  What has worked for 4 previous events, still works and is more-or-less fair to everyone.

Who says that people will give coordinates to 50m accuracy.  I don't think I would.  People can still find caches to 50m accuracy, it just takes a little longer.

Putting the map out on the Thursday 1 day before the event would work, but that's want almost everyone is doing anyway to plan their route.

The cache reviewer takes care of any overlaps by not approving the cache.

[shroomAzoom]

Wow, Jim, those are some pretty strong accusations. You're pretty certain that folks will be out looking around for caches before the event if we do this, eh? I think we've had a very good track record of honesty and playing-fair for all our events, unless you know something that I don't.

I don't see how this is unfair for out-of-towners. Unless, again, you're assuming that everyone would go out and try to find the caches, and you aren't around to do that. I do see you admitting that you wouldn't follow the request to give "approximate" coordinates within 50m. Why wouldn't you do that?

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts, I'll take them into consideration.

[jleecollins]

OK, maybe I went a little too far.  I apologize for that.  I guess I was just speculating.  Yes, the last four SCC's showed that everyone was working together and there was no "claim jumping".    Although some issues with Earthcaches surfaced which were resolved.  But we are getting new players out there and they may not be aware of how well everyone was working together to make sure that we all started on the some level at the 6:00 PM start.  So that is why I think we should continue as past years.

Anyway, I believe that no-one will be doing any searching before 6:00 PM, but who knows.

I know that you like to try new things but we should keep the "rules" as they were first published a month or 2 ago and not change things half way through.

The only thing I think that putting the caches on a map ahead of time may help is to spread out the caches and thus have less "clustering" of caches.  But I like the element of surprise a couple of days before.

I was not making any assumptions that everyone would be going out and trying to find this caches.  This has come up at other SCC events by the questions that other people were asking if it could be done ahead of time and were resolved.

If you go this route, I will give you approximate coordinates for my caches that you want.  By my previous reply, I was initially thinking not to give any coordinates.  Maybe doing this will help the out-of-towners, so that they will know the roads around Thunder Bay better and be better prepared for the event and route planning.  The Thunder Bay people have the advantage here since they do live in the area and know the roads.

As you may or may not be aware. being out in Winnipeg last year and having to travel to Thunder Bay just before the event, I didn't have much prep time, but things worked out anyway.  This year I will be back out in Winnipeg for May and June, and I see myself having even less prep-time for the event than last year.

Just remember we are suppose to have fun at these events and I and some others are thinking that we are getting away from this with the "rules" for the Challenge getting more complicated each year.

I think that the zones idea was a good things, especially after the number was reduced.  This will help to reduce clustering of caches.

[ragbag]

I like the idea of putting the locations of the caches on the map.  However, I would suggest that this not be done until the Wednesday when the caches are published.  That way, everyone would have an idea of approximately where they are, and could plan their routes.  This would be easier than trying to sort out a route cache-by-cache, as some of us do not have all the fancy technology that others do.

Just a suggestion!

[jleecollins]

Just like Ragbag said and I said a couple of posts ago.  Put the map out on the day or day after the caches are released

[shroomAzoom]

Okay, right now I've gone back to the image of the zone map because some folks were having trouble viewing it, etc. I do think that I'll work on a way to put a map up with the cache locations when they are released on May 12. Mostly, I thought it was cool to be able to do, but through this conversation, I did see a couple potential advantages to having an up to date map of "approximate" cache locations.

First, as Jim pointed out, it could help out-of-towners plan their route with a bit more time. That could be helpful if they don't know the area.

Second, as Chris pointed out, it could help a lot with cache overlap.

I'll concede to you, Jim, that I prefer to not change things up, rule wise, after we're already going. That said, I do reserve the right in my games, to modify and adjudicate as I see fit.

Thanks, all, for your comments. Hope today's snow doesn't prevent you from getting out and hiding a cache or two!

[jleecollins]

Thanks aZm.

It is snowing like crazy in Marathon today.  I was going to go out and do some maintenance on my 8 stage multi "A Little Bit of Marathon History" today, but I may not be able to find a couple of the stages since they will be snow covered now.  And who wants to go out in this crap.

Too bad about the snow, we had had no snow in Marathon for the past month.  It was great.

I guess this will give me quality time today with my cache container preparation for the SCC and 10 Years! Marathon Event.  I will be putting my SCC cache containers in place next Wednesday/Thursday when I will be in Thunder Bay.  Hopefully it will be a nice day to grab a few more of the caches we haven't found yet, like The Matrix sereis

[ChrisDom]

I am glad that is settled.  Now there will be no claims of cheating when the $10,000 prize is awarded to the SCC winner.