HUDSON RIVER GEOTRAIL

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  Updated 9/14/06

We anticipate that the following should address the questions that many people will have about the Hudson River Geotrail.  As we get more questions via e-mail, we will add the most common ones to this page.

How is this different from other geocaching sites and groups?

Other websites devoted to geocaching are largely community forums in which the public is allowed to submit their own geocaches, which are each independently managed.  We encourage everyone to visit these sites for their everyday geocaching needs.  Our mission is somewhat different.  We are creating a string of geocaches that will actively managed by a single group using a set of uniform standards.  We invite everyone to seek out our caches, but the public will not be permitted to add caches to the Geotrail once it is fully established.  We are aiming to create a challenging adventure for outdoor enthusiasts that will also lead them to discover the many wonderful areas that surround the Hudson River.

Can I submit an already-existing cache for inclusion in the Hudson River Geotrail?

No.  In order to maintain control over the trail and ensure conformity with our own rules and procedures, all caches along the HRG must be newly-placed only after approval by us.  We will eventually allow some of the HRG caches to be listed elsewhere as a means of introducing people to the Geotrail, but many of our caches will be listed exclusively on the HRG website and in other HRG materials.

What will membership entail?

No fees will be involved.  We simply want geocachers to let us know, via our website, that they wish to attempt the Geotrail.  This will allow us to issue each member a Passport with a unique serial number, and it will also allow us to accurately monitor usage of the Geotrail.  We anticipate that there will eventually be a section of the HRG website where members can track each others' progress along the Geotrail.

Why are stamping agents necessary?

One of our main concerns is protecting the integrity of the HRG by preventing fraud.  Only those who truly and personally find each cache are entitled to have their Passports stamped.  After considering a number of methods to accomplish this, we decided that the most tamper-proof way involved a combination of logbooks and photographs that could be verified by local individuals who are affiliated with the HRG, i.e the Stamping Agents.  Additionally, this method gives us a unique way of obtaining sponsors who can provide the funds necessary to build and maintain the Geotrail.

If the HRG is supposed to be challenging, why include "easy" caches?

One goal of the HRG is to get people to explore all the diverse areas surrounding the Hudson River. Naturally, this includes some less challenging terrain, especially in the downstate area.  We will attempt to make caches on easier terrain more cleverly hidden, so that each cache presents its own type of challenge.

Why do all the HRG descriptions refer to New York, when the Hudson River also runs by New Jersey?

We hope we didn't affend New Jersey geocachers -- we are well aware that Bergen County, NJ, has a considerable amount of river frontage, and we can think of a few very devious spots there for HRG caches. However, we are also aware of Bergen County's "blue laws" which require most potential stamping agents to be closed on Sunday.  Members who go geocaching on Sunday and want to get their passports stamped would have to to either make a return trip or travel to another county, neither of which sounds like a reasonable solution to us.  We welcome any comments and ideas about resolving this dilemma.

What is a test cache?

We are in the process of placing test caches in the HRG area and listing them on other sites.  These are easy-to-moderate caches that are intended to generate interest in the Geotrail and help us monitor potential traffic levels and identify potential problem spots.  Test cache names all begin with "HRG".  We do not intend them to become official Geotrail caches.

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