simpjkee: After much consideration, I have decided to archive this cache. This cache was a trick container that unscrewed at the bottom to reveal a log. The hint I had posted: "Nedry's DNA?" refers to a character in the movie "Jurassic Park", who attempted to smuggle Dinosaur DNA off the island by stashing samples of the DNA inside of a trick Barbasol shaving cream can that unscrews at the bottom just as the cache did.
4 different containers were actually used. Even though these containers are highly convincing and outstanding stash containers, I soon learned that they are horrible geocache containers.
The first container I used was a can that looked exactly like a Kibbles & Bits Dog Food can. (Seen in Exhibit A).
Within 3 weeks on August 17th, I noticed the first bit of damage. The bottom lid (that was to screw off) had actually been pried completely off. I super glued it back together and put it back in it's spot. On October 6th, the same damage had occurred. I again glued the container and placed it back in it's spot.
On October 17th, the same damage had occurred again. It was at this point that I knew that the damage was going to be an ongoing problem. On Oct. 18th, I decided to try something different. The new container was a tall and white "Gunk: Super Spray" aerosol can as seen in Exhibit B. I had high hopes for it. The Dog Food can had a flat base that unscrewed, but the "Gunk" container had a concave bottom that unscrewed. I thought that the concave structure would lead people to try not to pry the bottom open.
On Dec. 22nd, the cache was broken again. On Dec. 27th, I replaced the container with a Barbasol can that unscrewed at the bottom. I thought that with a Barbasol container, people would connect the container with the hint and immediately try to unscrew the bottom of the can. It seemed to be working. However, on February 8th, I checked on the cache and the container was missing, possibly due to good natured CITO'ers.
On the evening of February 8th, I went back to the store where I purchased these containers and they had some new containers that had metal threads. I purchased this container considering that the metal threads would make the container far more durable and hopefully damage proof. The specific container I got was a green aerosol can that had "Magic Sizing" written on it (see Exhibit C). It worked well, but on April 10th, I saw that the concave bottom had been pried to the point that the metal threads were being pulled out of the bottom of the container. I pushed the threads back in that night at the cache, but I knew that the "fix" was only temporary. On April 22nd, I went back and the container was in bad shape. The threads were still sticking out the bottom.
At this point, I began to wonder if keeping this cache active was really worth it. When I first placed this cache, I planned on seeing a lot of logs like Black_Cat's on Sept 17th. But that has not happened. I imagine that only 1 out of every 6-8 visits end in a cacher finding the cache by unscrewing the bottom of it. I figure the rest of the visits are people who never log a DNF, people who find it because the cache is broken when they arrived, or people who DNF it and hate it for being placed in a trashy area.
Considering the damage it receives, I've gotten to where I end up checking it twice a week sometimes. That maintanence regimen is beginning to be too much for me. I think this cache has had a good run so I think it's time to say goodbye. Huge thanks to everyone who visited this cache.
R.I.P.
simpjkee
07.31.07 - 04.26.08