Cache Containers are wonderful things to find, but there are sad times when you walk up to a cache location and see pieces of the cache all over the place.  A few times I have made a long trek through the woods and found the container and it’s contents just laying out in the open.

I Found The Container And It’s Contents Just Laying Out In The Open!

What do I do?

• If you can put everything back together, do so.
• Check to make sure that the container hasn’t been compromised (cracked, broken, leaks, etc.).
• Sign the log and place the cache back where the description, hint, or other finder’s logs indicate.  If you are not sure where it is supposed to go, place it where your GPSr or smartphone indicates 0 feet (Ground Zero) or the nearest safe place to the posted coordinates.  Send a message to the Cache Owner and let them know where you put it.
• Replace the container, if you have a similar one, if it is in poor condition.
• When the container is broken and you do NOT have a replacement, put everything back the best you can and ensure that it is well hidden.  Log a “Needs Maintenance” entry in addition to your “Found It” log.
• Report the condition of the cache, as you found it, in your online log.

Taking care of our “treasure chests” is the responsibility of the Cache Owner, however, cache finders can lend a hand in keeping our game pieces ready for the next cacher.