We are discussing this topic on the TX List, but I thought it
warranted discussion here, too. It would be interesting to hear
thoughts, especially from the more experienced placers, on this
subject. Here are mine:

Even though a perfect hiding place probably doesn't exist, all
letterboxers strive to find the best one they can when placing a
box. But what constitutes the perfect hiding place? For me, ideally
it would be a place easy to get to but not likely to be visited by
noxers; safe from weather, critters and evil plants; and near a
secluded bench or place to sit while stamping with no bugs. But even
if this place could be found, there is no guarantee it would stay
that way since the environment is constantly changing and a box is
only hidden as well as the last finder left it. Therefore, I'm
afraid luck plays a bigger part in box longevity than we would like.
It is still important to find the best hiding spot you can, but
without a little luck, your box still might not make it.

My first placed box (Zube Zephyr) is the perfect example of the "luck
factor". I did find a secluded spot rarely, if ever, visited by
noxers, but it was still found by several Geocachers before TX
Letterboxers finally arrived. Luckily it survived. I also concealed
it behind a log on the ground thinking that would protect it further,
not realizing the nearby creek was prone to flooding. Sure enough, a
flood came and washed the box away, but by sheer chance a letterboxer
visited the next day and found it floating in the creek nearby. They
salvaged the contents that were still relatively dry thanks to
ziplock bags and rehid the box. Another lucky break. I now have the
box wrapped in camo tape and strapped to the back of a tree 4 feet
above ground near the original spot. I figured it needed all the
protection I could give it since it has probably used up all its luck
quota.

When I first started placing boxes, I used full size tupperware
without camo and usually hid them beneath trees covered with sticks
not too far off trail. My assumption was that if I covered it so
well that even I couldn't see it, that would be good enough. I
learned the hard way that critters, weather and future finders would
eventually leave the box exposed, so I revised my strategy. I
started hiding further off trail, putting them on the back side of
trees and covering them with rocks instead of sticks when possible.
I wanted the box to remain covered longer (rocks), but to remain
somewhat hidden even if no longer covered. I also started hiding
mainly microboxes since they are easier to hide and less intrusive.
Once I found out about camo tape, I started using that, too. Now I
have even started using paper clip hooks to hang the micro higher off
the ground. My favorite hiding place, though hard to find, is a rock
wall. If hidden within, especially on the back side, a box is
protected from weather, critters and noxers for a long time. Trees
die, sticks decay, but rocks last!

However, even if I use all my experience and find a great hiding
spot, the box still might be compromised by the clues themselves.
Between Rangers and malicious people, some well hidden boxes still go
missing. One solution is to make every box WOM or disguise the clues
in some manner. I have done this for some, but since I want my boxes
to be found by many people, I am willing to risk the exposure by
posting most of my clues on LBNA. So far I have lost less than 10%
of my boxes, which I figure is about as good as I can get with
published clues.

Silver Eagle