Thanks for this explanation.  In our only cache that we have placed (Sulpher Springs Valley) which is at:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=26471

we rated the terrain at two stars.  It is on flat ground, with just some low weeds/small bushes maybe a foot tall which can be easily walked around, and you can park 20' away.  However, if it has rained recently the ground would possibly be soft enough to present a problem for wheelchairs and crutch tips.  In addition, the cache itself is back under a low mesquite, and that could present a problem for some people.  As a result, we didn't feel we could give it a one star terrain rating.  We did spend quite a bit of time thinking about this before we made up our mind, and we still aren't sure we did it right.  On the one hand, we didn't want to discourage those who would manage it with no difficulty, and on the other hand, we didn't want to lure someone all the way out here only to have them find we had misrated it.

Bill

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Andrew Ayre 
  To: listserv@azgeocaching.com 
  Sent: Friday, April 11, 2003 8:30 AM
  Subject: RE: [Az-Geocaching] Just wondering, please no fighting


  Well its quite simple really. The current system (1 star) is IMO inadequate because is relies on the hider knowing what "handicap accessible" really means, and lets face it - most people don't have a clue. If you go to the clayjar cache rating sysem thingmyjig, it describes 1 star as being wheelchair accessible. This is a perfect example IMO of someone writing an attempt at a handicap description and not having a clue. People in wheelchairs can often go further and longer than someone on crutches. IMO its a crude attempt at finding the "lowest common denominator".