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Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #108342 by Lone R
Jul 11, 2007 4:57pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Well, let's see...I have ...um about 5 very urban boxes that now made it over a year. Actually I have more, but I'm not counting/speaking of indoor ones here...or outdoor ones that haven't made it a year yet...some are getting close - thanks for the reason to think about that!

I must start by saying 2, went missing relatively quickly (they were some of my first ever plants, not to mention first urban plants so high, painful, learning curve on them.) Both have since replaced and subsequently lasted over a year. I just replaced the first full logbook on a 3rd, and another 2 are going strong. Another one is seasonal - only stays out 6 months of the year, but if I could be bothered to check on it in winter I'd leave it - the hiding spot is way secure and I have no doubt it'd be fine for "ever."

So...I loved altoid boxes, still do.. BUT...if exposed directly to elements..i.e. direct rain/snow, nope the baggies alone, even double wrapped "no worky". HOWEVER, if you can get them out of the elements...under a mailbox, guardrail, existing gap in stone wall, etc...that's working fine for me.

The first 2 (the missing/now replaced ones) taught me to

a) Grrrr @ urban gardeners! Bless their hearts, they keep our multitude of parks in fine shape, but ever square inch is gone over at least a few times a year. In a very urban environment (which is what you seem to be describing)...they also have the unenviable (sp?) task of cleaning up other peoples' crap....sometimes literally (sorry) and would be the first to notice, imho, stuff hanging from trees - so "think like a gardener." Also, think like a homeless person was my lesson here. Make sure you check out hiding spots at MANY times of day. I had one where I seemed to be get to fine, but my finders were completely frustrated.....Once I went back at some of the times they were going I "got it" ...that I needed to make it easy to snag and run (this is important!) If using fake leaves etc, do the leaf-types match and so on?

b) Think of them as your greatest challenge....either to be avoided entirely, or to attempt to outsmart. And outsmarting them takes REAL creativity and CAN be done

c) Or....my personal solution....avoid places where gardners will get at your box!

Use magnets! Guard rails off in corners....which often have the advantage of being on public property (or the argument could be made for that) when the property one is really interested in might not be. Grey duct tape for this, usually. I use magnets more than any other solution...at least so far.

Find "flaws" in things...gaps or nearly invisible top ledges of fences...I like wooden ones for this reason...brown camo/duct tape then necessary.

Sometimes you just can't put the box as near the location as you'd like....get creative and lead finders to a safer place, after they've had reason to have to go to where you really want them to go...maybe answer questions they can only answer by going there.

Work small! An altoid can seem HUGE...and often are in fact too big for the "job" of urban boxing. Find the hiding spot first! Then make the box to fit it (I've had to rework more than one box)...And finally, think about clues.....I'd love to have more finders on some of my boxes but ....well....newbie boxers and less than subtle ones ....well, unless they can do some clue solving, ain't walking right up to my boxes. I call it self-protection of my boxes...some of my attempters probably think I'm evil. And you know what? I can live with that.

Hope this helps. Feel free to get in touch if you think I can help more.
preboxed
Denver, C)
There wasn't a single box in Denver proper before I started, for whatever that might be worth. If anyone's ever stopping through town, feel free to leave urban boxes behind for me to find :-)
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #108228 by Quiet Place
Jul 11, 2007 5:27pm
Thread (disabled) Board
We've found some pretty creative urban boxes--this one's hiding spot was especially good, we thought.

http://www.atlasquest.com/lboxes/clue/index.html?gBoxId=43692

"Maybe if you just go there and sit for awhile, something might come to you as you are looking around." Great idea--good luck!!!
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #108351 by preboxed
Jul 11, 2007 6:09pm
Thread (disabled) Board
To give credit where credit is due, geocachers have some pretty creative solutions to urban boxes. Check out their forum at www.geocaching.com. Go to: Groundspeak Forums > General Geocaching Discussions > Geocaching Topics > Cool Cache Containers (CCC's). You have to be logged in to view the forum, but can get a free account if you don't already have one.

SandiBox
NOT a geocacher, but appreciate good ideas where I can find them!
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #108217 by The Gillespie Tribe
Jul 14, 2007 12:43pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I found an urban box that utilized a magnet to attach it up under an electrical box. I've thought about doing that with my Seattle Center boxes.
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #109012 by girlnextdoor
Jul 14, 2007 5:12pm
Thread (disabled) Board
I found an urban box that utilized a magnet to attach it up under an electrical box.


Don't attach letterboxes to electrical boxes. People tend to find things like that "suspicious" and call the bomb squads. Definitely avoid areas around electrical boxes. *nodding*

-- Ryan
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #109079 by Green Tortuga
Jul 14, 2007 6:23pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Don't attach letterboxes to electrical boxes. People tend to find things like that "suspicious" and call the bomb squads.


yes! this happened to me just today. i planted my first box about a week ago, it was a metal box with a magnet attached to an electrical box just outside city hall. i was worried becasue nobody had found it yet, and the clues were really really easy. i guerss i screwed up when i posted it, becasue it never showed up i guess on aq! anyway, i went there today to look at it, and when i got htere i saw the area had been blocked off and a LOT of police and ambulance and stuff were around there. fortunately, i didn;t put my email address or anything on the box, the only thing identifying it was just a link to Atlas Quest.

so ryan is right, that is not a very good idea of a place to plant. i just hope i didn't leave any fingerprints! :)

squiggy
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #109094 by squiggy
Jul 15, 2007 4:08am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote fortunately, i didn;t put my email address or anything on the box, the only thing identifying it was just a link to Atlas Quest.


Actually, I ONLY put my own email address on my boxes. I stopped putting Atlasquest or LBNA's address in my plants A LONG time ago. Basically, I take full responsibility for where I plant my own boxes but I am not willing to open up all others boxers to muggles or anything else. A few people have emailed me and asked me what they just found..and some were intrigued enough to begin letterboxing. But I didn't have to expose anyone else.

LW PhD
"Nice Counts"
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #109165 by Lock Wench
Jul 16, 2007 8:52am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote
Quote fortunately, i didn;t put my email address or anything on the box, the only thing identifying it was just a link to Atlas Quest.



Actually, I ONLY put my own email address on my boxes. I stopped putting Atlasquest or LBNA's address in my plants A LONG time ago. Basically, I take full responsibility for where I plant my own boxes but I am not willing to open up all others boxers to muggles or anything else. A few people have emailed me and asked me what they just found..and some were intrigued enough to begin letterboxing. But I didn't have to expose anyone else.


In the same regard, I actually don't put any other information about the box. Sometimes I will write my email address or my own website in the logbook, but other then that I don't include any kind of information sheets or links to any other websites.

I I usually put on the outside of the box is the name of the box and that it is not a geocache. I do all I can to make the box smaller and less prone to getting wet, and this is one of the ways.
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #109079 by Green Tortuga
Jul 24, 2007 4:41am
Thread (disabled) Board
Yikes! Good Advice....I'll stick to hiding them in bushes. ;)

(Don't attach letterboxes to electrical boxes. People tend to find things like that "suspicious" and call the bomb squads. Definitely avoid areas around electrical boxes.)
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #111938 by girlnextdoor
Jul 25, 2007 5:46am
Thread (disabled) Board
I am also avoiding planting at our schools for the same reason. I wanted to do a mascot type one for the high school but I'm thinking of a different place for it now.

CP
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #112309 by CP and The WeeFolk
Jul 25, 2007 6:34am
Thread (disabled) Board
I've been on the fence about planting at our schools. Several of them have "woods" behind them and one even has a little outdoor classroom. I was thinking of making some small, temporary boxes that would be available just for the summer. I had to explain to my kids (whey they questioned why would I pull the boxes) that we don't want people milling around in the buses during school hours --YIKES! Could you imagine??!!

Mercs
Re: Urban boxing
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #112309 by CP and The WeeFolk
Jul 25, 2007 10:46am
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote I am also avoiding planting at our schools for the same reason. I wanted to do a mascot type one for the high school but I'm thinking of a different place for it now.


I have a box on the grounds of a local high school as well, but the township knows it is there so all is well.

Try seeking permission for it, you never know, they may be thrilled with the idea.