Hi Ellie,

It can be very frustrating to look for a box, not find it. For whatever
reason, sometimes people do not maintain the box, and do not update the
clues. After a few you learn which placers have dropped out. I am not
sure there is really anything that can be done without taking the
responsibility away from the placer, and I sure wouldn't want that!!

Of course, if finding the box is paramount to you, you can always post to
the main list or try to contact the placer before you embark and ask for a
status report. I have done this when traveling on occasion. Otherwise, I
prefer to accept the gifts I receive when boxing. Sometimes the prize is a
stamp in a plastic box; sometimes it is a few hours of solitude, or a bit of
vigorous exercise. Lat week I saw my first Blue Heron. It rose up out of
the water and flew a short period before settling in a nearby tree. I was
amazed and extremely privileged to have seen this, and to be able to stand
quietly and watch it for a while. (Of course, my camera was in he car, dang
it!!)

Hope you can let the frustration go by the wayside and truly enjoy your
adventures


Mama Stork
aka Pam in Cinci
>
>
> I am wondering about letterbox etiquette.When you search for
> a letterbox and come up empty handed, what to do. I would
> think that contacting the placer and getting a response would
> be very nice. I have herd of letterboxes being missing for
> over 2 years and have not been replaced. I think the placer
> should have courtesy to fellow letterboxers and either
> remove from the list or state in the directions that it is missing.
>>

I contact the placer if I think that I've followed the clues accurately but didn't find the spot or found it empty. It would be great if letterboxing.org had a feature for last found date or reported missing. It is frustrating to take the time to go visit a box then find out later that it has been missing for months or years.

Choi
----- Original Message -----
From: Ellie Huyser


I am wondering about letterbox etiquette.When you search for a letterbox and come up empty handed, what to do. I would think that contacting the placer and getting a response would be very nice. I have herd of letterboxes being missing for over 2 years and have not been replaced. I think the placer should have courtesy to fellow letterboxers and either remove from the list or state in the directions that it is missing.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I try to contact the placer BEFORE I go looking for any boxes that are very far from home. I just drop an email and ask if the box is still there. If I don't hear back, I usually don't go looking for that one.
~ Memlili




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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "John Chapman"
wrote:
> I contact the placer if I think that I've followed the clues
>accurately but didn't find the spot or found it empty. It would be
>great if letterboxing.org had a feature for last found date or
>reported missing. It is frustrating to take the time to go visit a
>box then find out later that it has been missing for months or
>years.

Not finding a letterbox is part of Letterboxing. There may be
obscure clues that cause folks fits, but when they are finally
solved, the success can be just that much sweeter. Our first
letterbox find required 3 trips to finally figure out that there
was a bonus box.
The feature you are writing about has been cussed and discussed more
than once on this list, and most "Placers" do not like losing
control and having arbitrary listings about their letterboxes. When
you come upon clues that seem more than just a little bit wrong,
remember the placers name, and next time you find that name on a
clue sheet you might want to pass.
Don

--- "John Chapman" wrote:
> It would be great if letterboxing.org had a feature for last found
> date or reported missing. It is frustrating to take the time to go
> visit a box then find out later that it has been missing for months or
> years.
> Choi

Which is why all "clues" to my letterboxes on the LBNA website are
re-directs to my personal webpages. I have a "Last Confirmed" line in
all my letterboxes. Additionally, if someone reports one of my boxes
as missing, I'll post "Reported missing, but not confirmed by placer"
until I get a chance to get out there. (Unfortunately, now that I've
been accepted to Grad School, I have a lot less free time for
letterboxing :()

I recently removed a "Reported missing" from my webpage. I had gotten
two reports that "Every Day is Earth Day" (planted on Earth Day) had
gone missing, and one report sounded like it described the right
place. When I went to confirm, I found it intact and well-stamped!
-- Dagonell the Pirate

I have a "Last Confirmed" line in
> all my letterboxes. Additionally, if someone reports one of my
boxes> as missing, I'll post "Reported missing, but not confirmed by
placer">
> -- Dagonell the Pirate

On my clues (which reside on the LBNA site) I keep a line in there
that says last found/checked so folks know. Of course if I've
received a report that it might be missing and I haven't been able
to check on it I will put that as well if it sounds like they were
in the right place. I do often receive reports that folks couldn't
find a box when it was there though, so I can see why some placers
don't want to do this. What frustrates me is the ones where placers
aer still active and have confirmed a box is missing yet do not note
that in their clues :( It is true that the journey is a good portion
of the fun of letterboxing, but I really enjoy finding the box as
well.
Nautilus

"What frustrates me is the ones where placers are
still active and have confirmed a box is missing yet
do not note that in their clues :( It is true that the
journey is a good portion of the fun of letterboxing,
but I really enjoy finding the box as
well."

I have to ditto the sentiments above. I have
thoroughly enjoyed every hike I've gone on, regardless
of whether or not I could find the box...I dislike
going as a Team though (kids in tow) and not find what
we went to find because clues were not updated
(confirmed after a "contact the placer" and the placer
confirms box is in fact missing). The kids don't
necessarily always "get" the hike part. They do,
however, "get" the treasure part and that is why they
enjoy doing this - otherwise it would be just another
thing to do. They take great pride in their log books
and in their carvings.

LILY



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What frustrates me is the hand holding people expect. There may be a
number of reasons that an active boxer hasn't updated clues to note
a box is confirmed missing. The person may be traveling without
access to editing their clues. The person may be too busy with other
things to update clues. The person may have just forgotten to do it.
It certainly can be frustrating to later find that the placer knew
the box is missing but please consider that the placer has done
something for you that s/he did not have to do. Recievers of gifts
are usually wise not to specify what the gift must be.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, TeamWARE
wrote:
> "What frustrates me is the ones where placers are
> still active and have confirmed a box is missing yet
> do not note that in their clues :( It is true that the
> journey is a good portion of the fun of letterboxing,
> but I really enjoy finding the box as
> well."
>
> I have to ditto the sentiments above. I have
> thoroughly enjoyed every hike I've gone on, regardless
> of whether or not I could find the box...I dislike
> going as a Team though (kids in tow) and not find what
> we went to find because clues were not updated
> (confirmed after a "contact the placer" and the placer
> confirms box is in fact missing). The kids don't
> necessarily always "get" the hike part. They do,
> however, "get" the treasure part and that is why they
> enjoy doing this - otherwise it would be just another
> thing to do. They take great pride in their log books
> and in their carvings.
>
> LILY
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish.
> http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail

>What frustrates me is the ones where placers
> aer still active and have confirmed a box is missing yet do not note
> that in their clues :( It is true that the journey is a good portion
> of the fun of letterboxing, but I really enjoy finding the box as
> well.

True. That's why it's called letterBOXING. The hike, scenery and
company are wonderful. So is finding the box....but when the owner
knows for a fact the box is gone and is still an active boxer? Sure
there are circumstances that can delay updating the clues, but keeping
updates are as important as box maintenance. After all, you wouldn't
list a box that doesn't exist...would you? ;-)

catbead

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "catbead1" wrote:
> After all, you wouldn't list a box that doesn't exist...would
you? ;-)

Actually, someone might.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "bcostley"
wrote:
> --- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "catbead1" wrote:
> > After all, you wouldn't list a box that doesn't exist...would
> you? ;-)
>
> Actually, someone might.


I was joking when I said that, but now thinking about it I'm inclined
to agree that it is possible....considering what's been going on in
the past few.

How sad.

catbead

In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, "catbead1" wrote:
> How sad.

Or not. Don't limit your thinking to a straight forward clue leading
to a non-existant box. Cleverness abounds, there may very well be a
delightful reason for a non-existant box to have clues somewhere.

if after two year you still forget give it up!!!!!

bcostley wrote:What frustrates me is the hand holding people expect. There may be a
number of reasons that an active boxer hasn't updated clues to note
a box is confirmed missing. The person may be traveling without
access to editing their clues. The person may be too busy with other
things to update clues. The person may have just forgotten to do it.
It certainly can be frustrating to later find that the placer knew
the box is missing but please consider that the placer has done
something for you that s/he did not have to do. Recievers of gifts
are usually wise not to specify what the gift must be.

--- In letterbox-usa@yahoogroups.com, TeamWARE
wrote:
> "What frustrates me is the ones where placers are
> still active and have confirmed a box is missing yet
> do not note that in their clues :( It is true that the
> journey is a good portion of the fun of letterboxing,
> but I really enjoy finding the box as
> well."
>
> I have to ditto the sentiments above. I have
> thoroughly enjoyed every hike I've gone on, regardless
> of whether or not I could find the box...I dislike
> going as a Team though (kids in tow) and not find what
> we went to find because clues were not updated
> (confirmed after a "contact the placer" and the placer
> confirms box is in fact missing). The kids don't
> necessarily always "get" the hike part. They do,
> however, "get" the treasure part and that is why they
> enjoy doing this - otherwise it would be just another
> thing to do. They take great pride in their log books
> and in their carvings.
>
> LILY
>
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Mail Address AutoComplete - You start. We finish.
> http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I dislike
> > going as a Team though (kids in tow) and not find what
> > we went to find because clues were not updated
> > (confirmed after a "contact the placer" and the placer
> > confirms box is in fact missing). The kids don't
> > necessarily always "get" the hike part. They do,
> > however, "get" the treasure part and that is why they
> > enjoy doing this -
> >
> > LILY

An easy remedy is to contact the placer BEFORE you hunt for the box.
This way you make sure you get the most up-to-date information. Or
ask about a grouping of boxes on a regional list---someone has most
likely been to the boxes you want to hunt for and can tell you if
they are alive and well.

-Amanda from Seattle