LSUFan

I was using GSAK to parse all of the benchmarks in the northeast part of my state, looking for some of the oldest ones......that might possibly still be around. I saw one that has a 1896 monument date, but it just doesn't seem right to me. It is showing set in a concrete culvert that runs under U.S. Hwy 80. I would have figured that they would have used newer culverts when US 80 was constructed, but I guess this possibly may have been some older road that was incorporated into US 80. This benchmark also shows a recovery from the NGS in 1968........which also made me think that there were some number transpositions that may have led to 1896 for a monumentation date. Here is a link to this benchmark CP1381 Even though I would love to find a benchmark from the last decade of the 1800's, I just don't think this one is that old. Can I ask the experts here in the forums, what their take on this one would be? I really would appreciate guidance on it. Thanks

I knew they were updating some stuff today, because Deb sent me an email about a benchmark I had submitted 2 recovery reports for. She was so nice and didn't call me stupid, a moron, or even a Louisianan. LOL

Well, the Yankees should be heading home today. Hope they enjoyed the caching and the food down here. Can't wait to hear how it all went.

That's great advice, KevsKadence................but this forum is for benchmark discussions, not really geocaches. I'm sure an administrator will be along shortly and move this topic to where it properly belongs. Thanks for the information, as most benchmarkers are also geocachers too.

Jim, I do appreciate the explanation of how the statistics work. I feel guilty now that you spent so much time typing up that fantastic post, so my simple mind could understand......which I do completely. Thanks so much.

Thanks for your reply Paul. I was just kinda confusing myself, when Holograph said he had the December statistics, that it meant that was all the recoveries that the NGS were going to release for December. Jim, I also appreciate the effort you put forth with your maps and statistics. I enjoy looking at them.

I guess I am still trying to understand all of this. I submitted several recoveries on December 25, but they don't show up on the datasheet page as of today. Does this mean they are gone, or maybe they will be in the next batch of statistics from the NGS?

Howdy Crabbyamanda (can't wait to hear how you came up with that name). I hate to hear you are having to deal with the learning curve side of your gps unit. Bobby/Cajancacheman and his new wife Brenda/Sequoia live off Sligo Road and I bet they would be more than willing to meet up with you to give some pointers on getting started out. A lot of the geocaches over there in your area are theirs. You can contact them thru their gc.cm profiles, or thru our free local geocaching website at www.nelageo.net. Bobby and Brenda are super nice people. I think they can show you in two minutes what may take a while to diagnose thru the forums about your gps. I'll forward them this topic, and see if they will get in touch with you. We want you and your 7 year old to become as addicted as the rest of us.

Howdy Whiskerjinks. Maybe this forum will help some. Reporting coordinates

I have used a Wally World Bounty Hunter metal detector several times with success in locating benchmarks, with just the latest one on Christmas day on the way to the in-laws. On this particular search, the witness post was laying on the ground, about 10 feet from the mark (which I did replace it where it should be for the next person). After a few quick passes with the detector, the disk was found easily. CQ0245 Since I had the detector in the truck, my father-in-law and myself also used it to find some of his property corner pins at his house. That was a good way to help work off some of that Christmas dinner. The only drawback to using a metal detector for benchmarks (at least in my case), is all the time I waste in digging out all the other things my detector alerts me to. I just can't seem to ignore them, even when I know it's not a disk. I can't tell you how much time I have spent digging up bottle caps, old cans, nails, etc.......when I was just supposed to be benchmarking. I don't know why I can't convince myself that Captain Kidd wouldn't bury his treasure 4 inches deep beside the Interstate.

I've actually found a few between 30 and 40 feet from the witness post. I believe that I even got one that was nearer 60. http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mark.prl?PidBox=cq2808 http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mark.prl?PidBox=cq2758 I can remember (incorrectly) thinking to myself that surely the description was wrong, and maybe it was supposed to be more like 3 feet instead of 30.

Don't let the crowds at Lambert's discourage you. They have huge dining areas, and you usually won't have to wait too long to get seated. It is worth the wait. They seat parties of 20-50 on a regular basis. When the rolls start flying, you have to make yourself be seen/heard to get em, so make sure to draw attention to yourselves. That's also a lot of the fun. I also see where you have "View Carre" cache on your list. That's a great one in New Orleans.

You absolutely have to stop off in Foley, AL and go to Lambert's. The food is probably the best you've ever had and the atmosphere inside is a blast, especially getting them to throw you rolls across the dining area. It's quite an experience and one you'll definitely remember. It's not too much of a minor detour on your way to Pensacola. Make sure to try all the free sides they will bring to your table. I'm from Louisiana, and know good eating...........and believe me, Lambert's is GREAT eating. Here is their website: http://www.throwedrolls.com/

I knew it was all a joke when it stated that Al Gore called the benchmarks by that name. Politicians NEVER refer to something as it should be. It might have been more believable if he called the benchmarks things like "Economic Stimulus Diskettes" or "Federal Subsidized Geodetic Control Points". I was afraid there for a minute, that you were going to tell me that Obama was going to turn gps selective availability back on.

AZcachemeister, evidently you've never been to a family reunion down here in Louisiana. There is another dnf recovery effort by the USPS that I am going to recheck on today in the same area. I already looked one time, and it seemed that the objects on-site were contradicting the description in the official NGS report. It didn't seem possible to be south of the rightaway fence, then north of the witness post......since the fence is south of the witness post. I didn't have a compass with me during my first attempt, and will see if that changes anything. (although I thought I knew which way was North, especially with an East-West running Interstate beside me) CQ3260

I didn't really know why the US Power Squadron checked on benchmarks, until reading about it here in this forum. That is interesting. I easily found one this year, that at first glance I thought had a dnf log by the US Power Squadron, but it was actually one by the USPS (US Postal Service). Does anyone know why they would hunt for benchmarks........or is it just a hobby thing for them too? CQ3259

Yep, I can remember when that happened. It was all over the news here in Louisiana. Maybe if they had civilian gps back then, it would have been avoided. I have never seen that documentary on it. It was extremely interesting. Thanks for sharing.

jc_hook, there are several posts in these forums that will tell you how to log it with the NGS. I am going to post a link to a tutorial on it in our local geocaching forum, because it is the easiest for me to do.... not because I am trying to promote our club or anything. Call me lazy. This should get you started. http://www.nelageo.net/index.php?topic=248.0 EDIT: The NGS doesn't have regulations pertaining to the benchmark being on private property or not when you submit a report to them. That said, You certainly don't want to break any laws to search for a mark (like trespassing). Use common sense when deciding if you should be in an area or not, when attempting your searches. You are not a government employee or a licensed surveyor acting in an official capacity, so you don't have the same rights they do. We are just all average "Joe the plumbers". Personally, I usually ask the landowner permission to search for one, if it is in their yard or such. The property owner can be of immeasurable help, as noted in several of my attempts...a few of which are below for examples. CQ0049 CQ0576

Coach88, Eastings and Northings are the components of the UTM system, which is just one of the many different coordinate systems. However you have too many numerical places for your eastings to be UTM. NAD27 and NAD83 are what's referred to as datums and mean something else. This might explain it a little better: http://www.colorado.edu/geography/gcraft/n...s/coordsys.html I am confident that you will receive a better answer than I could provide shortly, by ones who are a lot smarter than me.

I agree with Will and Bob. You are going to find marks that were previously reported as "not found" in your travels. It does give you a sense of accomplishment to actually find these marks in particular, as it will help others behind you in their uses for the benchmark. I have found several that were reported that way by the US Power Squadron and one this year that was reported by the USGS as "not found". Here is a link to it: CQ1177 It's really one of those "you never know until you try" kinda things. If you do find benchmarks that have been reported as "not found" before your successful find, it will greatly benefit others if you make sure to log your find on the NGS site, so it can become a part of the official history of the mark. Good luck in your attempts Bobby

Here is one placed by the town of Bossier City, LA AA3473

ROFLMAO, that one is going to be difficult to top.

That was a cool looking monument. When I read the "user comments" at the bottom of the page, there were several stating that this same newspaper had ran another article about this monument in 1993, with a lot more details on it in that article.(with possibly a picture of it being erected) I think it would be interesting to read that article on it also.

I have to wonder what the girl who lived near this one said to the surveyors: VIXEN I bet this guy would have liked to be located near the one above BATCHELOR How bad do you have to be, before they send you below the surface BELCHER UNDERGROUND Sometimes, it sure pays to be this when benchmark hunting LUCKY

Boy, It sure didn't take long at all. That was fast. When I checked this morning, everything was fixed. Thanks DaveD and everyone at the NGS.