MnGCA

rosebud55112 · Geocacher Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 89

I've noticed that recently a lot of people have hidden caches with the names of elements from the periodic table on it. Many of these new caches link back to Boreal Walker's Periodic Table of Elements Challenge, the object of which is to find caches containing all the elements' names.

I don't understand the purpose of this--of naming caches a particular way just so that another hider's challenge becomes easier for other cachers to complete. Sometimes, the name comes naturally- such as the caches in the Ramsey area hidden on or near streets named after some of the elements. Those, I get. But a cache named in such a way just so it will help fulfill a challenge? That sort of cheapens the challenge in my eyes.

I own one challenge based on cache names. I don't think anyone has (or had to) name a cache to meet my challenge, but I'd be a little upset if that happened. I won't be planting anymore caches based on names, for a couple of reasons.

I should say, I am working on some challenges based on cache names, and some are more open than others. And while, for example, I'd be pleased if there were a multicache starting with 'X' near me, I'd rather have have "Xeriscape" lead me through an area of drought-resistant plants than have "XRAY" be a simple walk through the woods with no connection to the name.

Even though "The Reviled Devil's Trail of Evil Hides: From Roseville to Lakeville via Lake Demontreville" might get me a lot closer to qualifying for GC2CGY0, I think that it would be cheap. And I say that even though I have some "Roseville", "Lakeville", and "Platteville" caches on my qualifying list.

Maybe I'm getting frustrated on BW's behalf, and he doesn't mind, or even encourages this. It just seems odd that lately there has been such a concerted push in this area, by a multitude of cache hiders, that I have to say " What's the deal with the names?"

bflentje · Geocacher Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 3649

Boreal Walker has a Periodic Table of the Elements Challenge. I suspect it's related to that.

bflentje · Geocacher Joined: 29 May 2006 Posts: 3649

qwerty2582 · Past MnGCA Board Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 457

For me (I hid a couple in Red Wing), I simply didn't have a good idea for a cache name, and wanted to do a little something to help with the Boreal Walker challenge...

jrest · Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:05 am Post subject:

For me, I was hiding them before that challenge came out, and was just something I was interested in. Chemistry. Found a cool website that put up video's of some interesting experiments or things that were of interest related to that particular element.

Still having fun with that.
_________________
round n' round we go!

ArcherDragoon · Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:21 am Post subject:

dornole · Geocacher Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 352

It's sort of hard to imagine how, say, strontium would ever naturally occur in a cache name? Do you have to find them ALL?