CSCM and I often find boxes that are not hidden (or re-hidden) well.
Sometimes it is just not a great hiding spot for a box, but more often than not I
think that when the last finder put it back into its hiding place they only looked
at the hiding place from one direction.

We have found some boxes that when approached from one direction, it is
completely hidden, but if you look at it from a different angle or come at it from
a different direction, it's in open view. Sometimes, if we know an area, we
may not follow the placer's directions exactly. If we come up a trail from a
different direction, sometimes we see a box from quite some distance.

I would recommend to newcomers to, if you can, to walk around a box and make
sure you can't see it from any angle.

I would also recommend that we, as placers, try to avoid creating hiding
places that are really obvious. Some piles of rocks or twigs are just too
suspicious looking. If I was a non-boxer and saw a suspicious pile of rocks, and I
know it's not a cairn marking a trail, I'd probably check it out. We have stopped
following the written directions many times to make a beeline to an obvious
pile of sticks or an out of place rock.

Also, if you're placing a box and the area is frequented by families, just
try to imagine where you would explore if you were a five year old. You climb
rocks, look into crevices, you want to touch everything. A family with young
kids is very likely to accidentally come across boxes placed in areas with lots
of big boulders, caves or cool hollows.

I am interested to hear ideas from others.

-Kim (Rustypuff)


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We just experienced this very problem yesterday. The box in question
was far off the trail and lucky for that because when we walked up to
do a maintenance check, I could see it from about 10' away. The
person who had visited it last hadn't bothered to take the time to
re-hide very well. It was just shoved part way into the nest and the
rocks & bark used for cover were not bothered with. This person has
been letterboxing longer than us, and in fact said to me that
letterboxers are not interested in stopping to enjoy the nice views
along the way, they just want the box.

Now I understand letterboxing is different for everyone and I try to
respect that. Just as I want my clues to be accurate, I hope those
who find my boxes will be kind and take an extra 30 seconds to re-hide
them safely. But the fact is that there are some who don't care and I
don't think there is anything that can be done about it. For these
people one could:

- Send an email to the offender? I don't think it would be well
received because the offender might not believe it. Besides, could
it be proved they did it?
- Make a request in the clues? Already have.
- Educate? You can make a person read it but you can't make them
understand it.

It's like when my son was in his terrible 2's: It was easier for me to
get him to do what I wanted him to do if I changed MY direction of
attack. I had to get tricky in my thinking.

How does this relate to my boxes (and I know this goes beyond the
initial subject)? When I look for a spot I try to find the best
possible spot. I'm thinking hard rain & the way the water flows,
floods and how high it gets. Do kids play here? Will bushes have
grown up here in 3 years and will I need to move it? What's it going
to look like in the winter? After placing micro-boxes that have been
chewed and moved by critters, I've learned to think: is this someone's
home, can someone pull this out and will it roll it down a hill? Does
it look like an exotic nut to a squirrel? Are these rocks heavy
enough?

I look for hiding places that cannot be seen from the path or people
walking by. Is hidden by as many angles as possible. Is it under or
in something that is stable, or if it's in something organic that's
rotting away then I expect to move it at some point and will keep an
eye on it. I'm still learning and with every box planted I gain more
insight. A friend recently told me that the more boxes I find the
more I'll learn. I believe it.

So I guess it's like a child who grows up and leaves home: I let him
go and what will be, will be. Beyond that I just hope.

catbead

Personally, I love to re-hide a box better than it was hidden when I
find it. I consider it a challenge, and I like to make it just a
little bit harder for the next finder to find it. ;)
If we all take the "make it harder for the next person" approach,
maybe we won't have any boxes left out in plan site?
We found a box this weekend that was under a tree buried with a few
pine needles. When we left it, you couldn't even see it, but it
didn't look obvious either. The next person may *never* find it.
**evil laugh** :)

NeverEnuff of Team PresSinOn
P3AD2F40X2HH2V8

>
> Bottom line?? I guess just try to instill some of the ethics from
> experienced letterboxers into those folks that are coming up through
> the ranks. Any other comments??
>
>

Yes--exactly! As someone with minimal experience I have so appreciated any
tips and suggestions shared by the local boxers who have befreinded me!
That is how I have learned the importance of discretion, careful rehiding
etc.

And, not to stir the pot, I think this is a really good example of why this
list needs to be patient and nurturing of new folk. Yes, we tend to ask the
same old questions. At least we are asking and learning--otherwise we would
just be out there willy-nilly finding boxes with careless abandon.

Mama Stork
aka Pam in Cinci
F21