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4.6. Checking for Cache Saturation

Before placing a new cache, it is best to go geocaching in that area first. It's possible that other people have already placed their own geocaches there.

Your new cache must be in compliance with the Cache Saturation section of the Listing Guidelines. Below are some tips that can make this process easier for you.

Cache saturation addresses proximity of the physical stages of caches to other physical caches or cache stages, with a required minimum distance of .10 miles (528 feet or 161 m). It applies to all physical elements placed by cache owners, no matter how small.  It does not apply to virtual caches, webcam caches, earthcaches, events, bogus coordinates, or stages of multi-caches or puzzle caches entered as "question to answer" or "reference point". Within a multi-cache, there is no restriction on the distance between stages, but all physical stages of that cache must be .1 miles from any other cache.

Step 1

Go geocaching in that area. Load the local caches into your gps. When you find a good place for your cache, check for "nearest" caches in your gps. If you see any caches at a distance of .1 miles or less, this is not a good place. In the field, it's probably better to see .12 miles from your proposed cache site to any other cache; this allows for some error in the gps reading.

Step 2

You can use the Seek a Cache (search) function, specifically the Latitude Longitude Search.  Put your proposed cache coordinates into the latitude and longitude boxes; this will produce a list of nearby caches with distances of your coordinates to those caches.  If you are a Basic Member, this link will show you the distance of your proposed cache coordinates to any Members Only cache. You won't be able to see the coordinates, but you will be able to see if you are too close. Once a cache page is written, the "nearby caches" link on the cache page will also produce this list.

If you see any physical cache within .10 mi (528 ft or 161 m) of your proposed new cache, this area is saturated and your cache is unlikely to be published. Some multi-caches start with virtual stages so you may be able to place a physical cache nearby.

This list will not show you the hidden stages of caches may in the area. You will see the public coordinates for those caches only.

Step 3

The search described above is a good first step in checking for saturation but doesn't produce all of the possible results. There may be:

1. hidden stages of a multi-cache or Wherigo
2. the final location of a mystery or puzzle in the area
3. unpublished caches which are in line for review ahead of yours

If you see mystery or puzzle cache with bogus coords 2 miles, be aware that its final location might be near your proposed cache. Generally a puzzle solution is within 2 miles (3.2 km) of its starting coordinates. Keep in mind that many but not all multi-caches start and finish in the same park or general area; however, there is no limit on the range of a multi-cache, so even if don't see a multi-cache nearby, there may be a stage of one in the area.

Although Basic Members cannot see the coordinates of Premium Member Only caches, the Latitude Longitude Search will show you the distance of your proposed coordinates to the Members Only cache posted coordinates. Below is a sample of a search which shows nearby  Premium Members Only Caches. You will not see their coordinates at all if you are a Basic Member.

Step 4

What can you do about those caches which you can't "see" online?

If after Steps 2 and 3 above, you are concerned about encountering the hidden parts of other caches, contact a reviewer with your cache coordinates for a saturation check. This should be done before placing the cache container.

1. Create a cache listing.
2. Disable the cache by unchecking the box next to "this cache is currently active" on the cache submittal form.
3. Add a Reviewer Note explaining that the cache is not in place and you would like a saturation check.
4. Email your local reviewer with the GC Code of the cache. To find your local reviewer, check for a recent Published log on a nearby cache. Follow the link of the reviewer's name to their profile, where you can email them through the site.

 

Many thanks to Volunteer Cache Reviewer palmetto for initially developing this article.

Related Pages

• Geocaching > Review Process: Hiding a Geocache > Finding A Local Reviewer