When we locate a geocache, the great majority of us log it on geocaching.com as a smilie-faced find. And the great majority of us, when we fail to discover the almighty cache, defies history and refuses to log the DNF.

This is so wrong. There is no shame. There should be no embarrassment attached to logging a DNF on the virtual Internet log.

There is no shame. There should be no embarrassment. Logging DNFs is like an athlete recording his training. It portrays effort and determination-not failure. There are many good reasons to log your DNFs. There are few good reasons to ignore them. Logging a DNF provides an accurate historical record, both for the cacher's personal record and the chronicle of the cache itself. If Lou Brock failed, attempting a stolen base, the try was still entered into the record books (not really affecting his record). When a rarely summited mountain is conquered, it's the failures before it that make it an accomplishment.

DNFs can provide pertinent information to seekers and cache owners alike. It's always possible that a cache has gone missing. A string of DNFs can be an alarm for someone preparing to pursue a questionable cache. It can also alert the cache owner that a problem may exist, and cache maintenance may be necessary.

At the same time, a series of DNFs may provide incentive for determined geocachers who believe that the cache is just very cleverly hidden. And, if the cache were very cleverly hidden, logged DNFs would be gratifying for the cache owners.

If a 5-star cache has DNFs logged, the rating is more likely substantiated. Is it really a 5-star if everyone finds it? If someone has logged 500 caches, DNFs peppered throughout their finds displays tenacity and realism to their efforts. How many people can find 500 caches with no DNFs?

Logging DNFs is like an athlete recording his training. It portrays effort and determination-not failure. And it's the right thing to do. Those geocachers who are not in it for the numbers must realize that it's the experience that counts, and DNF's are just as valuable, for the record, as the successes.

Those who are geocaching for numbers can benefit, too. There are some cachers who are (nearly) famous for logging excessive DNFs. They are arguably some of the happiest cachers out there.

Groundspeak has provided for personal records of DNFs. But presently, DNFs are viewable only by viewing the particular cache log, or privately by each individual cacher (through their Groundspeak log records).

Groundspeak provides a public view of everyone's finds. The personal stats page should also offer a public tally of everyone's DNFs. Because so many who play the game emphasize numbers, it might even encourage the logging of DNFs. It would certainly gratify the "experience" seekers.

There are many good reasons to log your DNFs. There are few good reasons to ignore them.