Geocaching Considered
Gordon Dewis has posted his examination of the impact of the Ecological Conservation Plan on geocaching.
His post provides both a map extracted from the Plan and a Google map showing geocache locations in and around the park. He comments that a number of caches are required by the Plan to be moved, and speculates on whether this will be done by the NCC or by geocachers.
In closing, his post expresses the hope that geocachers will be consulted as the Plan is implemented.
As noted here the pattern seen with both rock climbers and mountain bikers (so perhaps to be expected for geocachers as well) is that the NCC seeks an overarching group involved in the activity and then seeks to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with them. The idea is that the group itself aids the NCC in governing that type of activity in the Park. This sounds like a valid approach. The experience of rock climbers so far though is cautionary.
March 24th, 2010 - 10:01
Any Geocaching fan might look up a cache called “Caving 101″ to get an idea of ecological impact from geocaching.
March 24th, 2010 - 12:02
I’ve looked at the cache page and poked through the gallery of pictures from both the hider and the finders. Nothing there jumped out at me as being grossly negative or irresponsible from an ecological point of view. Perhaps you could expand on the problem with this cache since you pointed it out.
March 24th, 2010 - 12:10
This will, in my opinion, be a big loss to the park. Over half the area has been designated as an ‘Integral Conservation Area’ which will have this an likely a bunch of other restrictions placed up on it. As far as the caches are concerned, there will be about 50 that are in the area and will need to be ‘moved’. Of course that actually means removed. Most of these caches get one or two visits a year which is very unlikely to have much ecological impact IMHO.
Also I agree with Gordon when looking at that particular cache.
March 24th, 2010 - 12:29
The map of Caches in the park is posted at this location
http://sites.google.com/site/gatineauparkmaps/
March 24th, 2010 - 16:03
Here Gordon talks a little bit about the map John posted above.
http://gordon.dewis.ca/2010/03/24/a-closer-look-at-geocaching-and-the-gatineau-park-ecosystem-conservation-plan/
March 26th, 2010 - 09:28
Am I the only one who views geochaches in caves as irresponsible?
Am I confused as to why a member of the Quebec Speleo Society has put this cache here?
Wasn’t it the SQS that once said:”Une grotte connue est une grotte perdue”? (A known cave is a lost cave)
So there’s Cavers, then there’s Spelunkers, now there’s Geocachers crouched in caves…
March 26th, 2010 - 13:26
Could you elaborate as to why you think it’s irresponsible? I’m not trolling here, I’m genuinely curious.
March 26th, 2010 - 19:31
In short, it’s because local caves are sensitive areas. Besides, GPS wont work underground!
Really it comes down to the ability of an area/feature to support an activity without degrading the area. Very sensitive areas, like caves, old forests or the Eardley escarpment, for that matter, can’t always handle the demands and thus become protected by limiting access, among other measures. It generally goes like so, first the hikers, geocachers and other recreational users get the boot, then the special interest groups, then the general scientist until only the ecological researcher remains(réserve écologique).
Geocachers, beware of porcupines in caves while reaching out in search of caches…