a/r/sf/ret

Thanks folks....learning more as i go.

Okay you surveyor guys and knowledgeable benchmark hunters...clue me in as to the definition of "grid feet" and "grid bearing".....if my training was right, I understand those terms were measured from a map or on the map. Not sure though. Help please.

Congratulations on the milestone.....nice trip report.

Evenfall, thanks for your response to that. It confirmed in my mind a few I was wondering about. I knew there would be nothing on them but having run across a couple in the database at NGS, I was curious as to why the write ups.

Well to start, for Geocache I'd say that without being able to "read the mark" (disc) that it would be a "not found". You could log it as such and include your pics to justify. Or, you can go ahead and post a note of what you have done and indicate there that you intend on returning in the future for maybe better results. Now depending on how much further you wanted to go with it...and if you are absolutely positively sure that it is the one described you can go ahead and send a recovery report to NGS and indicate there that it is a found "in poor condition", or as a "not found" and include in your comments what you did find. Before the NGS stuff though I would return and attempt to locate the Rm's if you say there are some and run my checks from them along with the other described references to insure that my info. is correct. Even then I'm reluctant to send a not found to the NGS. But that's me. Enjoy the hobby.

Thanks for the info. After looking at several of their datasheets I got that impression but never was sure.

I might further add that the reset, if my thinking is straight was the stone monument with the grooves etc. then the disc was added in the 30's.

Well you happened to be after the same one I was going to visit last weekend. The original corner was a tree which was lost. The station was reset with what is described today.

Fellow enthusiasts...don't get me wrong. Lunch with folks, some of whom I think of as experts would be great. What hasn't been stated or I missed it was say what day of the week. If say on a Fri then that would leave the weekend to find a few. I'm not so rude that I would show up then disappear to find marks. Rude yes but not that bad. You folks for the most part must live fairly close to that area...being retired and on a pension with gas the way it is, I kinda have to make it an outing say for the weekend. it would be nice to sit and talk to start the weekend off for me at least. To the person who mentioned hard finds and hiking then I'm up for that also. That would be a weekend well spent. But whatever, having made plans for a group before it is always hard to satisfy everybody. If I can I will.

NC here and wouldn't mind joining in....however I would have to find a mark or 6 as just lunch is to far of a drive. Rather eat a sack lunch while hunting.

I've read the comments added here and will say again that I, in a moment of frustration with members of the local squadron were in fact, and again in my opinion not making a serious effort in their volunteer work. I have taken the time to review several areas along the coast of NC where the reporting by them is much better. I also must agree with NGS policy that stations that are truly looked for and not found are in fact not found and not destroyed. I have run into that and though sometimes it takes awhile to sink in, it was made clear to me by examples i filed that were classed as "in poor condition' when they were truly destroyed. As in monument found lying on the surface with mark still present is destroyed while monument found lying on the ground with stem still there but no mark is only "in poor condition", mutilitaed or in need of repair. The logic being that can you be sure that the monument is the one in question. Most of the time with the regulars here i would say yes, particularly when I know they most likely have done the research etc. and determined that it could'nt be any other one. Enough ramble...I steadily try to improve upon my methods and techniques and use the work of alot of the good people here as examples.

At present I use a Whites MXT, with headphones and a probe. I must agree with BDT however, mine is high priced. Stick with something less expensive. Check out Kellyco. They offer a wide range of all models on the market and the best deals around if you really are serious.

I don't think the real users of survey marks will even take the time. The info they use is already provided by state and federal agencies in most cases. To me it appears to be another form of a cache.

Well gang I just was so p.....ed off I vented my feelings.

Well to start, I had second thoughts about posting this but then after I researched a little further decided to go ahead. Basically some of them should get out of the survey mark business. Case in point...EZ0363, listed on Fayetteville NC quad by USGS. Description calls for it to be a chiseled cross on a bridge abutment at a bridge (of course) on US-301 east of Fayetteville and over the Cape Fear river. Now, the latest datasheet entry made this year by the USPSQD states that "bridge has been removed and is being replaced by new bridge". So you ask, Whats the problem? Well 1st, the Fay... quad does not cover the Cape Fear river for one. 2nd, the description calls for the bridge on US-301 which would be on the Vander NC quad and 3rd, the bridge that's being replaced is not on US-301 but is the Person Street bridge also on the Vander quad. Granted when I plotted the given adjusted coords. the position came up on the Fay quad but was so out of place I then used the description to fix the correct location, therefore the datasheet is kinda screwy. But to make a report without doing the homework and then if you did drive out and not realize um where you are that to me is well I won't go there. I have attempted to recover that mark and can say that since it was put in the bridge concerned has been replaced. My 2 cents on the USPSQD in the mark recovery business, at least around here.

Hey folks, Somewhere in here I remember someone coming up with a pretty good diagram of where the prefix letters to station PIDs were within the US. Can anybody point me to it. Thanks

Thank you for pointing it out.

Howdy folks. I have one question on an issue that has been on my mind. When I post or review topics where I've made a comment on a subject my name appears as the poster with the word "WARN" and some red boxes. Am I taboo or something? Curious as to why....thanks.

I did the opposite. After reading earlier discussion on a topic like this and taking notice of false entries for claims I alerted one user in a polite manner via e-mail. Told the individual that they were claiming finds with ref marks and explained the differences. Thats all....will leave it to them to correct. As the finds are on the opposite coast from me I don't see where I'll be able to correct with an entry of my own.

From all I can see that is a USC&GS gravity station disc and from what I can read in your photo it appears to match what the datasheet claims is the stamp. the arrow I'm not to sure about. Check out Zhanna's web page. She has there some outlines of station marks used by USC&GS for various sites. Nice find though. Had a chance to check some refs. and found that your mark is a standard USC&GS gravity station reference mark disc. Sorry for not researching prior to posting.

Well from a relative newbie at this and with only a few reports to NGS ref. marks found thta were previously reported as NF I say thank you Ms. Brown for confirming at least in my mind that NGS does visit this site. Have wondered and was gonna ask if anyone knew. Again thanks for the encouragement.

My apologies, for the sidetrack.

Thanks Rich and Terra very much I believe I have the problem solved now with your help and examples. Notes made. Particular example has no refs. left but a measurement from a road. Found all the rest cept-in the Az Mk which was destroyed years ago. Gonna get that RM mark though.....thanks again

Okay, getting the declination for a spot is no problem....its using that to convert the true north headings used in the datasheets as "observed angles" to magnetic for use with the compass thats confusing to me. Thanks

Recently there was some discussion here about the observed angles on the datasheets and how to work with them. Having been in the mil. and only dealing with grid and mag azimuths the use of true north was never really gotten in to. I have tried to find on-line mind you more explanation in regards to this and im still say confused. What i would like is someone in the know to use as an example say EB2570 (current) and figure that and tell me how you came about your answer. Or take me to an online source that explains it better than what i've gotten so far. Oh and the declination for EB2570 is -8 degrees or 8 west. Anybody thanks alot for your time.