Imagine a tiny path through the forest with ferns that almost cover your feet as you walk. As the trail winds through the forest it passes a large clearing covered with fern. In the middle of the clearing is a large log. Sitting on this log gives you a beautiful view of mountain peaks.
What a great place for a Geocache! The log is only 100 meters off the trail. Geocacher plants his cache under the log and records the coordinates for display on the Internet.
...Ten years later...
The clearing is now covered with foot paths approaching the log from all directions. Ferns are trampled all over the place. Around the log is a 10 meter circle of mud. Initials of many visitors are carved in the log, geocache is there but empty...