I received a couple of emails this evening that they are disabling a couple of my geocaches in Hitchcock Woods. I’m not the only one either, there were two other caches that got the same treatment.
The email cited a Hitchcock Woods Foundation rule that there only be three caches in the Woods. At the Aiken Horse Show this past spring I spoke to the Woods Superintendent and he knew of the rule. When I told him that there were already six or seven in place, he shrugged and said he didn’t mind and felt that there could even be more. He wants the woods to be used and geocaching was a good use. His only concern was that when they do controlled burns some caches could get ruined in the process. With out a direct denial that I couldn’t place any more caches in the Woods, I took that as permission to go ahead and do it, but don’t blame him if they got torched.
Cool I thought, as Captain Barbossa said, “The code is more what you’d call ‘guidelines’ than actual rules.”
Well, as it turns out in this case, the rules were just that, rules.
I’m saddened by this development because there are 2,000 acres of forest with plenty of room for more than just 3 caches, but the Woods are the property of the Hitchcock Foundation and they have the right to set rules and limits on the use of their land.
By my count there are currently eleven caches in the woods (my four, plus seven more.) So far there have only been 4 disabled (2 of mine), I hope this is done fairly, so four more are disabled, leaving only three. And the three that stay should be the 3 oldest, even though this means all 4 of the caches I’ve placed have to come out.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 328
Brian,
Sorry to hear about your caches in Hitchcock Woods.
We had heard of this closed minded problem when CDiesel’s Earthcache was scratched.
I could sort of understand it being removed for it took people to a towering cliff and it could possibly cause safety concerns.
But, your caches weren’t causing any of that nor did I see where they maybe even would say that they were causing erosion concerns.
I could see if Geocachers in the past and present was causing problems such as trashing the park. But, every time we have been at the woods to geocache I have never seen any evidence of that. Gee, Geocachers have even had a CITO there before to clean up the some of the park. It’s a shame really! We never knew Hitchcock Woods exsisted until Geocaching and it is a wonderful place for the sport. We have always enjoyed the quite beauty of the woods and we got exercise when we where there to boot. I PERSONALLY JUST DON’T GET IT!
Thank you Brian for the fun you have added to our sport and we hope you will continue your hides for us to find. They are always fun and sometimes the challenge that we all need.
The Sand Hill area on the North side of Aiken has trails and plenty of real estate. I don’t think they shun the sport of Geocaching in their woods.
All I can say about Hitchcock, is that they are being selective and because of that they have made us selective and plus had left us with a per say “Bad taste in the mouth”.
Hope to see more of your caches Brian.
Thanks again,
Ro of OddAngles
Thanks for the kind words. I’ll be looking for a new home for the Hats Off for sure and I have another idea for an interesting easy cache that is begging to be hid. The Sand Hills area was my next thought. We are probably going out this weekend to find the two up there and scout locations. Going to have to make sure I get “real” permission this time. Lesson learned.
Brian:
Ro and I just finished getting the FTF on Hats Off to Geocaching in South Carolina and it was my first trip into Hitchcock Woods. We are sorry to hear it as well as others are being decommissioned. David and I never got the chance to check out the rest of the area.
Thanks so much for all the hides you have been placing even though we never got the chance to get most of them. If they were anything like “Hats Off” we know they were well worth searching for.
As Ro stated hopefully you will find other areas in Aiken that welcome us to place your existing hides or place completely new ones.
Personally, we are saddened to hear this became an issue. As you stated Rules are Rules but they have been overlooked for quite some time — interesting how now it is being enforced.
Thanks again for Hats Off and we hope to do more of your caches soon.
David and Tina – Pilgrimsprogress