[Az-Geocaching] FW: High Tech Scavenger Hunt

[Ford, Denny]

I too sent an email to the author of the article,
at the bottom was my original letter, then in the middle her entire response, and then my rebuttal to her comments of
intent to inform.

Denny 
Tres Hombres

-----Original Message-----
From: Ford, Denny 
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 11:01 AM
To: 'christina.leonard@arizonarepublic.com'
Subject: RE: High Tech Scavenger Hunt


I understand that it was written to inform, but you really did not portray the geocacher as who we are.  You took the
word of a park ranger, and without facts on who actually did do this vandalism, and pointed the blame at the entire
Geocaching group.  It would be the same if you blamed the hunters for leaving trash in the desert, just because some of
them have been used for target practice when the trash was thrown out by someone else.  If something is not factually
based, please do not slant it that way.  That is how the article came across as fact not an opinion.  The desert and
wilderness are wonderful places, I have been an avid outdoorsman, and I teach my sons to respect nature, but at the same
time enjoy it.  I have had the pleasure of meeting a large number of the truly dedicated geocachers, and all are very
responsible, and when we see something that is harmful we police ourselves.  All we ask is to portray us as who we are,
not a bunch of uncaring vandals.

sincerely 
Denny Ford

-----Original Message-----
From: christina.leonard@arizonarepublic.com
[mailto:christina.leonard@arizonarepublic.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 10:08 AM
To: Ford, Denny
Subject: Re: High Tech Scavenger Hunt


I certainly wasn't attacking geocachers. The article was written to inform,
that's it. I hope you understand that.




 

                      "Ford, Denny"

                      <denny.ford6@hone        To:       "'christina.leonard@arizonarepublic.com'"

                      ywell.com>                <christina.leonard@arizonarepublic.com>

                                               cc:

                      Composed                 Subject:  High Tech Scavenger Hunt

                      Date:08/07/2002

                      07:33 AM

 

 





Ms. Leonard


 I read your article and my concern is your lack of evidence.  In the past
year that I have been Geocaching, as a group
we are very aware of laws that impact our sport.  The allegation that
geocacher's use ATV's to get to the cache site is
somewhat absurd.  If you would have investigated it more completely, and
gone to the websites and read some of the logs,
you would realize most is done with hiking or on four wheel drive trails.
GeoCachers are not the only people that use
the wilderness.  The comment of leaving trash is also absurd, one of the
statements commonly used is "cache in and trash
out".  If you studied the demographics of this sport you would find that a
majority of it is middle aged men, with there
families that work in technical jobs.  We are not a bunch of teenagers out
just romping in the desert.   I will grant
you that there might have been some caches placed near archeological sites,
but can you tell me a place that clearly
defines where they are located.  Most of the caches that I have visited
will point out where some interesting locations
might be in the area, so they can be visited.  I have never seen one hidden
directly in the area of any archeological
sites, and I have personally found nearly 300 caches.  I think before you
put accusations in print, you should have all
the facts.  In closing the sites that are used to place a cache are known
from previous visits, either by camping,
hunting or hiking in the area.  This sport introduces people to new parts
of the state, and the goal is always to
maintain the environment.  You noticed I said maintain and not preserve, if
you have lived in Arizona all of your life
you will understand that the desert in constantly changing and fluctuating
with the climate.  Yes I agree that people do
visit, but as a group we always try to minimize our presence in an area.

>From a concerned Geocacher and Arizona Native.

Denny Ford