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Virtual Cache
Virtcache
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Status

Grandfathered

A virtual cache is a type of geocache that involves gathering information at the cache site instead of finding a hidden container.

Description

"A virtual cache is a cache that exists in a form of a location. Depending on the cache 'hider,' a virtual cache could be to answer a question about a location, an interesting spot, a task, etc. The reward for these caches is the location itself and sharing information about your visit.

Because of the nature of these geocaches, you must actually visit the location and acquire the coordinates there before you can post. In addition, although many locations are interesting, a virtual cache should be out of the ordinary enough to warrant logging a visit."[1]

Virtual caches became popular due to the lack of maintenance needs, the ease of creating them, and the ability to put them in locations that were unconducive to a physical geocache (for example, National Parks). To verify a visit to the cache site, cache owners often required geocacher's to gather some kind of information at the site and report back to the owner. Pictures were another common way to verify a geocacher's visit, often requested in addition to collecting information. Problems with people "hiding" virtuals at lamp posts in parking lots and the quality of the location of virtuals, led to the ban on new virtual caches. All virtual caches created up to that point were grandfathered, allowing them to remain active. Many have since been archived, but some still remain. Virtual caches, along with webcam caches and locationless caches, led to the creation of the Waymarking site.

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References

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