LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES - HIDING A GEOCACHE
1. PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE
* Before you place your cache check, where possible, if access is allowed and that geocaching is permitted in the area you wish to visit.
* Respect any signs, regulations, policies and special concerns for the area that you wish to visit. Permits may sometimes be needed for geocaching on public lands and permission should always be sought before placing a cache on private land. The onus is on the cache owner to ensure that adequate permission is given by the landowner.
* Encourage the use of public transport to and from your cache and in situations where this is not possible consider the availability of parking.
2. BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS
* Respect the people who visit, live and work in the area you are placing the cache and consider any negative effect it may have on them.
* Never place a cache without adequate permission from the appropriate landowner. A cache in an inappropriate place could be an unpleasant experience for any vistors that may have to explain what it and they are doing there.
* Ensure the cache container is clearly marked, stating that the contents are harmless and giving your email address or other method of contact.
* Only items that would be deemed safe and acceptable for an unaccompanied child to find should be placed in a cache. Explosives, fireworks, ammunition, lighters, matches knives (including pocket knives and multi-tools), medication, alcohol or other illicit material are prohibited items under the Geocaching.com Guidelines and should never be placed in a cache.
* Caches should be placed in a way that they will not be accidentally found by non-geocachers.
* Avoid placing your cache in a location that will tempt other to park inappropriately near gateways, forest entrances or along narrow roads. Always try to take the time to find an appropriate parking spot and highlight it on your cache page.
* Caches should not be buried. Holes should not be dug or enlarged in order to place a cache.
* Caches should not be placed in such a way that fences and dry stone walls do have to be negotiated (unless there is a stile or a gate).
3. RESPECT FARM ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE
* No items of food or drink of any kind should be placed in the cache. Smells can be detected by animals that try to chew through the container which can harm or even kill.
* Caches must not be hidden in animal lairs, burrows, runs etc. even if they appear to be abandoned.
* Cache containers should not be placed inside a polythene bag as they can also be eaten by some animals. Concentrate instead on selecting an appropriate cache container for the location and weather conditions or choose a different location altogether.
4. TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE GROUND
(Durable ground includes established tracks and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.)
In popular areas:
* Place your cache so that others are encouraged to use existing tracks.
* To avoid further erosion, try to avoid areas that are already receiving an excessive amount of visitors.
In more remote areas:
* Encourage visitors to find their own route to the cache site to prevent the creation of new tracks.
* Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show.
5. LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
* No cache should be placed in such a way as to risk damage or disturbance to any National Monument, National Park, Nature Reserves, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) in the Republic of Ireland or Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM) in Northern Ireland.
* Caches should never be placed within or close to a dry-stone wall or cairn.
* When camoflaging your cache and/or its location ensure that visitors aren't encouraged to move rocks or otherwise change or harm the natural habitat in which its situated.
* In areas with poor GPS reception try to provide a good hint and/or a spoiler photograph to minimise unneccesary searching and risk of damage to the natural habitat.
* Carry out regular maintenance visits to ensure that there is no added impact in the area as a result of the cache location and make any adjustments or remove the cache if necessary.
6. DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY
* Choose an appropriate container for your cache ensuring that it is robust and sturdy enough to withstand exposure to the Irish climate withing being broken or damaged.
* Avoid cache contents that will attract wild animals (food, drink, candles or strongly perfumed objects) which may be able to access the cache container and scatter the contents.
* Carry out regular maintenance visits to ensure that the container is intact and that there are no inappropriate cache contents.
7. MINIMISE THE EFFECTS OF FIRE
* Items likely to cause fires are prohibited under the Geocaching.com Guidelines so never place cigarette lighters or matches in your caches and remove them if placed by others.
LEAVE NO TRACE PRINCIPLES - SEARCHING FOR A GEOCACHE
1. PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE
* Before you go to an area to search for a cache read the cache page carefully and check if there are any restrictions for visitors.
* Check previous logs to make sure there are no problems with the cache that could result in a wasted trip and a need to revisit the area. For a cache with multiple "Did Not Find" logs it may be worth leaving your visit until the owner has had a chance to check it out.
* Respect any signs, regulations, policies and special concerns for the area that you wish to visit.
* Where possible travel by public transport or share cars; consider the availability of parking.
* Ensure you have the appropriate skills and equipment needed for the area that you are visiting and that you will be able to cope with any emergencies that could arise.
* Check the weather forecast and always be prepared for changing weather conditions.
* Let someone know where you are going and when you intend to return and always let them know if you are delayed.
* For environmental and safety reasons, and to minimise your impact on other users, keep group numbers small; split larger parties into smaller groups.
* Consider compiling and carrying a cache repair kit so that you can carry out simple maintenace for a cache owner to avoid them having to revisit a cache to perform simple tasks. Good things to carry in a repair kit include spare pens/pencils, stash notes, log books, Ziploc bags and of course extra goodies to top up a cache.
2. BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS
* Respect the people who visit, live and work in the area you are visiting and avoid drawing negative attention by behaving in a furtive or suspicious manner. If approached by a landowner, police, security or other interested parties be open and honest about what you are doing.
* Park appropriately and legally - avoid blocking gateways, forest entrances or narrow roads. Remember that farm machinery, local residents and the emergency services may need access at all times.
* Take care not to damage property, especially walls, fences and crops.
* Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
* Let nature's sounds prevail. Keep noise to a minimum.
3. RESPECT FARM ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE
* Dogs should be kept under close control and should only be brought onto hills or farmland with the landowner's permission.
* Observe wild animals and birds from a distance. Avoid disturbing them, particularly at sensitive times: mating, nesting and raising young (mostly between spring and early summer).
* Keep wildlife wild, don't feed wild animals or birds - our foods damage their health and leave them vulnerable to predators. Also avoid placing items in caches that will attract animals (food, drink, candles or other strongly perfumed items)
* Farm animals are not pets; remain at a safe distance.
4. TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE GROUND
(Durable ground includes established tracks and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.)
In popular areas:
* Concentrate use on existing tracks. Avoid blindly "following the arrow" and think about the impact you are having when approaching the cache site.
* To avoid further erosion, travel in single file in the middle of the track even when wet or muddy.
In more remote areas:
* Disperse use to prevent the creation of new tracks.
* Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show.
5. LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
* Respect property. For example, farming or forestry machinery, fences, stone walls etc. Leave gates as you find them (open or closed).
* Preserve the past: examine - without damaging - archaeological structures, old walls and heritage artefacts e.g. holy wells, mine workings, monuments.
* Conserve the present: leave rocks, flowers, plants, animals and all natural habitats as you find them. Fallen trees are a valuable wildlife habitat; do not remove or use for firewood.
* Avoid introducing non-native plants and animals e.g. don't leave seed packets as a swap.
* Do not build rock cairns, structures or shelters.
* When leaving a cache site there should be no visual sign of disturbance and all should be left as you found it.
* Help others to avoid unnecessary visits to the cache site by logging "Needs Maintenance" notes when you discover a problem with a cache. This alerts the owner as well as other potential visitors so give plenty of detail so that the owner knows what is required to fix the problem.
6. DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY
* "If You Bring It In, Take It Out" - take home all litter and leftover food (including tea bags, fruit peels and other biodegradable foods).
* Get into the habit of carrying spare plastic bags and perform a CITO (Cache In, Trash Out) when visting a cache in a littered area.
* If you currently use printouts of cache pages consider methods to reduce the amount of printing you have to do, recycle old cache pages or even better consider switching to paperless caching using a PDA (Palm Pilot or PocketPC), iPod or Smartphone (Paperless caching also requires a Premium Membership of Geocaching.com and access to Pocket Queries)
7. MINIMISE THE EFFECTS OF FIRE
* Items likely to cause fires are prohibited under the Geocaching.com Guidelines so never place cigarette lighters or matches in a cache and remove them if placed by others.
