shorbird

Somehow, a data entry coding error moved 7 benchmarks from Clark County IN into Carroll County OH(an amazing geographical feat!). Even the datasheets for the 7 HZ marks listed by holograph say Carroll County OH. When you check out the GPS coordinates, however, another story emerges. So, Carroll County OH ACTUALLY has 25 total benchmarks(not 32), with one yet to be logged by GEOCAC(thought I had them all--the one I overlooked is not at the geocaching website). Hancock County WV had its final 7 marks logged in December 2008, and those logs have not yet been updated by the NGS.

Carroll County OH, with 24 benchmarks, also has all benchmarks logged.

All 28 benchmarks in Hancock County WV have been logged.

Go get 'em, Paul! It was 19 degrees up this way today, and my shovel was bouncing off the frozen dirt....

I will usually be out there all year, including winter. Using the GPS, measuring tape, probe, and datasheet. I can often locate benchmarks in snow. My biggest nemesis is the ice. The ice can be so thick on a bridge abutment that you don't know if the mark is there or not. Return in the summer and you wonder how you missed it.

As of December 5, all of my recoveries up to and including those of November 28 had been posted to NGS datasheets.

Thanks for checking. We'll have to do without the updated maps this time. I certainly appreciate all of the work that you put into this part of the recovery process. Looking forward to January!!

Incorrect logs will always be a part of this site. Some may provide comic relief, but perhaps an educational email to the logger might enlighten him/her. I doubt that many past loggers return to their incorrectly logged benchmark page, but a note there may help to educate future seekers. Incorrect logs to the NGS are serious, and I hope that the "casually incorrect" loggers don't send their logs there!

Jim, It's great to see the NGS almost all caught up with their datasheet updates and your resulting newest maps and stats! Seven counties changed color from my recoveries, including the last one(Dukes) with no previous recoveries in MA. It was a busy time! Thanks again for so graphically showing us all how we are doing!!

After seeing Wintertime's note, I spot-checked my recoveries since early August. All of my activity from early August up until last weekend has been updated. Glad to see that the NGS is all caught up!!

Maybe you found the stem of a disk set by another agency, possibly the USGS. Many such marks are not in the geocaching database.

If you want credit for finding a benchmark which is not listed at geocaching.com, go to Waymarking.com and log it there. There is a section for U.S. Benchmarks where you would log your find. You provide the description and coordinates.

They must have quite a backlog. I see no updated datasheets for any of my reports since early August. The two PIDs you mentioned for me were from the distant past: MC1243 was from October 2006 and JW1749 was from April 2007. Sure hope that they can get things straightened around soon. I appreciate your work, I just wish that your incoming data was more current!

The connection is now working. Thanks to all who answered my posts! Now I'm working on downloading the benchmark PID instead of having the program rename it GCxxxx.

Drivers are loaded and USB mass storage is turned on. Still nothing.

I have the GPS turned on and plugged into the computer. The GPS display says connected. Seems like the drivers are OK.

I was using an eTrex Legend with a serial port and downloading benchmark PIDs to it with no problem. After upgrading to the HCx, EasyGPS gives me the message "No GPS is connected to the USB port." I get this message on all 3 of my USB ports. Also, onscreen on the PC, the upgraded EasyGPS does not display the PIDs now--instead, it renames every benchmark as GCxxx, using the last two numbers of the PID. Has anyone run into either or both of these issues?

I won't need to look for that mark on the roof of the Federal Courthouse in Phoenix now! Thanks for checking that one out. I'd had my "eye" on going after it...Almost every school in Akron(OH) has a benchmark on its roof--can't wait to get started on THAT project.

Papa Bear, Your picture is a perfect illustration of how benchmarks are used. Thanks for the post!! That picture should be on the main page for benchmarks here. shorbird

Thanks once again for your monthly activity report. Maybe the NGS will be caught up next time.

RENO RESET sounds like an interesting expedition.....

Here's one from a very shallow cut: Disk on ledge http://img.geocaching.com/benchmark/lg/685...0a490c55e09.jpg

Thanks for sharing, both story and pictures!! What an excellent adventure!!

Great to see the new maps!! I'm glad that the NGS finally updated their datasheets and that you were able to retrieve the numbers. Looks as though all of my recoveries from May and June are in there besides the ones for July. Thanks again for all of your work on this.

A few PIDs from my July recoveries: KY3611 KY3347 KY3348 KY1284 All NGS datasheets were updated for these.