It’s Log. It’s Log. It’s Better Than Bad It’s Good

This article was originally published on Cache Up NB. It has been mirrored here for archive purposes only.

A lot of conversations have been had regarding the logging of a cache. But of all those discussions, it seems the conversation is always about the online log as opposed to the log in the physical container. This week, I look at the differences between physical logs found in many of our favorite geocache containers.

Whether it’s a micro or a large, all physical geocaches are required to have an actual log book to sign. Now that log book obviously varies depending on the container type and size. Even the name “log book” in itself is somewhat a misnomer given that on smaller logs it’s typically not a book at all. But let’s take a look at that name.

Log book is an older term that typically referred to the larger logs found in old traditional, regular sized geocaches. In the early days of geocaching, all containers were regular to large in size. The first geocache was a large bucket with a log book that original signees signed their names and wrote a little thank you or other commentary to the cache owner. The log book served as a way to prove that someone had actually found the physical container. In theory, the cache owner could return to their hide, open the log book, and be able to see who had actually visited the geocache. The other aspect to the physical log was that a person who found the container could write a little bit inside the book to express their opinion of the geocache itself.

It seems the practice of writing a longer story inside the actual geocache log book has long since been abandoned in favor of writing the tale online. That too has seen a decline in recent years, but not anywhere near as much as it’s physical log counterpart. I myself rarely write much more than my name but have been known to write a couple extra words of thanks in a cache that I really enjoyed or thought deserved it.

As time has progressed, and geocaching has evolved, the concept of the log “book” has changed tremendously. Instead of a log book, we see a log sheet, or even just a small rolled up piece of paper that serves as the log for us to sign. In some cases, the log might be pre-printed with a logo or lines, or other text on it. In some caches, a “stash note” can be found or may be integrated with the log sheet itself. The note is intended to be read by non-geocachers who may encounter the container by accident and wonder what it is. Stash notes have seen themselves disappear much like conventional log books, but can still be seen in some caches and occasionally as part of a micro’s log.

Since micro’s have become quite a large part of the geocaching world, logs have become much smaller. In the case of a nano sized geocache, logs are small enough that they are very carefully rolled into a small circle which then barely fits inside the container. This has led to the use of what geocachers refer to as the “log extraction tool”; aka: tweezers. It’s generally considered a best practice for cachers to sign only with initials on logs that small given how little room there is on the sheet. This helps to reduce geocache maintenance. (Which reminds me I need to replace the log in GC37QGN)

Logs are a major part of geocaching in that it is expected that all cachers sign a physical log when one is present. As the sport has evolved, signing of the log as always evolved as well. Whether it be signing your full geocaching name, or using a team name for a group of individuals, to using stickers or a stamp to minimize the time required to sign, signing the log is part of geocaching.

In New Brunswick, many logs are placed in baggies to keep them from getting wet. Some places are known for using 35mm canisters as log containers. Depending on your point of view, it’s either a great way to keep a log dry, or another hurdle to tackle when trying to get at a log. Either way, our weather sees a lot of rain and snow depending on the time of year and not all containers are waterproof. Thusly our logs take a beating and more often than not you’ll find many of them unsignable or in need of replacing. Try to remember to bring a couple of spare logs when you’re out caching as it can help the owner with cache maintenance.

Lastly, given that geocaching is all about the hunt, are we at a place in the development of geocaching that the need to have a physical log is no longer necessary. It seems there are very few cache owners who actually verify logs and for the most part seem indifferent as to whether a person’s online log is indicative of them having actually found the container. Many would argue that without a physical log there’s no way to “prove” that a person actually found the container. But then again, is anyone actually checking these logs, or for that matter, does anyone actually care?

As long as physical geocaches continue to be hidden and listed under GC.com, the physical log book will continue, and personally, I think it should. Whether or not someone is actually checking the logs is not the point. Signing the log is part of the process of finding a cache. I’m sure we’ve all taken shortcuts, and I’m sure some are more purist than others, but the log is part of the geocache and therefore part of what we do every time we uncover a cache’s location.