andylphoto

No chance of it. But it's still fun to wish, isn't it?

I think that sums it up. In addition to the poor placement on the (not so) print friendly pages, I simply don't like the lack of detail on the google maps. Aside from the poor satellite resolution in some areas, the google maps are much less detailed in my area, unless you zoom right in...then you're looking at such a small area that it's useless for an overview. So what's the solution? Print the cache page twice with two different map views? As an example, here are both maps from one cache page. The google map was already zoomed in once to provide a comparable view, with more detail than originally seen... So if I print this map and don't happen to be familiar with the area, the squiggly lines don't do me much good. Zooming in to where it actually starts putting meaningful labels on roads gives a very small view.

RK0421 is in the foreground, Lake Superior in the background.

Let me add to the fray that I also liked the old maps much better. I think they looked much better than the google maps. I have the same problem with the layout when making cache pages "print friendly." Now that the google maps are appearing on the print friendly pages, they show up at the bottom and sometimes get split over 2 pages, sometimes don't print, and just look bad. I much preferred the old maps at the top of the print friendly pages. I don't know if it's remotely a possibility or not, but I like the idea of having a choice in the map displayed.

I found one that was monumented this year, but not quite as new as yours. And no, I did not get to help set the mark. Just drove by and saw what appeared to be a new one, so stopped & logged the original and photographed the reset. RK0460

Here's one that's kind of new... It isn't in the database yet, but I posted the photos of this reset in the log for the original which will be destroyed by construction over the summer. Original mark: RK0460.

It's not free, but I have been using Mac GPSPro to talk to my Garmin. If you have access to a PC and can wait a while, Garmin has announced that all their software will be available for Mac by the end of the year.

Check out this thread. The other thread will give you a wealth of technical information on how the GPS system works, but it looks like your question is a bit more basic than that. Yes, if you're looking for a geocache, or another waypoint, you've got it basically correct. You input the coordinates for a particular waypoint in some fashion. On many models, you can use a computer to do this automatically, which saves a lot of time. Then, you can tell your GPSr to navigate to this waypoint. When you start moving, it will give you a compass bearing, indicating the direction you should go, and a distance to the point you're navigating to. As you move in the correct direction, you'll see the arrow pointing straight up on the screen, and the distance decreasing. This page from Garmin has a few screen examples for the yellow etrex. The lower right screen shot should be what you see when navigating.

For a good example of this would be to search for designation "NIAGARA", which you can do from this page. You'll see seven marks with the same designation (along with a number of other variations including this word) in seven different states.

Thanks holograph. I guess my erroneous assumption was that most were used for horizontal control. I had read about the difference between scaled and adjusted, but now looking back over the ones I've logged, it appears more (that I've looked for anyway) have adjusted elevations than locations, so would be for vertical control.

Thanks for the info...I had always wondered about it. This explains a lot.

Another question...I have seen negative references in various places to the U.S. Power Squadron. Who are they, and why do they recover (or not, as the case may be) benchmarks?

Pardon my ignorance...I'm relatively new to this, and am NOT a surveyor, so this is an honest question. How do surveyors use these marks, exactly? How exactly are marks set, and with what accuracy? If the descriptions and measurements are correct...I guess my question is how exact is the position to begin with, and in relation to what? Obviously some of the coordinates listed for marks are nowhere close. For example, I logged RK0411 on Geocaching. The coordinates listed in the datasheet put the mark roughly 500 feet south of its actual location. On the opposite side of a four-lane highway, and the opposite side of the cross street. I guess my confusion is that if a datasheet has scaled coordinates that are hundreds of feet off, if the description and measurements match, how much more accurate does it need to be? Again, this is an honest question--I am trying to learn here.

I use MacGPSPro to upload/download to my GPSMap60C with the USB Cable. It works nicely...sort of. The software does tend to freeze up after one transfer. i.e. if you want to transfer both waypoints & tracklogs, it works best to shut down the software and reboot the GPS between them. YMMV with the other receiver, but for now, it work for me to transfer. One thing I do like about MacGPSPro is that I purchased their Michigan Topo CD. That works VERY nicely. Obviously the maps are not Garmin so they can't be loaded into the GPS. But I have used the TOPO maps to create waypoints & routes that I can transfer to the GPSr to use later. That works nicely, with the previous caveat about the USB connection freezing. You can also download tracklogs from the GPSr and display them, and waypoints, over USGS Topo maps. When Garmin puts out Mapsource for OSX, I will get it and see if I like it better for waypoint management. But I will probably still use MacGPSPro for the computer based Topo work.

Thanks Z15. I thought of the upcoming construction this morning, and it got me wondering. There was one up by Three Lakes my dad posted a DNF on recently--it was on my list to look for this summer. By the description I assumed it had been destroyed when they took back the rock a couple years ago, but I had not yet been there to look. Now I'll have to look and see if there's a reset nearby. I did read with interest the note you posted on GC about the one near Ferrelgas in Negaunee.

I located a benchmark yesterday (wasn't that hard really) but I think it's pretty cool. Noticed the witness post from the highway a while back, and it seemed new. Finally got some time, and stopped by to take a look. Turns out it WAS new. So new in fact, that it hasn't even made it into the NGS database that I can see. I logged RK460 on Geocaching, and also included photos of the new one, making clear that it was NOT the BM described...but is a Reset BM for the one described. New station is about 70 feet from the old one. PID for the old one is PID RK460. Can someone describe what exactly a "reset" is/does? I assume it is intended to be essentially a replacement for an existing marker, possibly with more precise coordinates? I do know that this portion of highway is scheduled to be resurfaced this summer. I don't know if any blasting is scheduled, but if the ROW is widened, the old one could be destroyed. The rock it is mounted in is relatively close to the shoulder of the road. Also...any problems with the log as I have it? I did want to post pictures of the new one someplace, but with the similar designation, a casual observer might find the new one and believe they've found the old one.

If you are manually entering the coordinates of your geocaches, change the waypoint icon (upper left) to the "geocache" icon, which looks like a treasure chest. After you're done, when you press the "find" button and choose "geocache," the unit will display any geocaches. If you choose one from the list and then select "go to" the GPSr will help you navigate to that waypoint, either through the map page or the compass page. On the latter, once you've found the geocache, you can click on "found it" on the bottom to log your find. The find will be logged, and the waypoint icon will be changed to the "geocache found" icon, which is a treasure chest with an open lid. EDIT: Thanks for asking the question! I was wondering what exactly the little D's were for too!

Thanks for the assistance. You have very clearly laid out the process. I will let you know what happens with this. Andy

I have logged several benchmarks as destroyed on GC, and had been considering beginning logging BMs, especially destroyed ones, with NGS. In the report form, it suggests emails should be sent to Deb only when the actual station is found, but removed from the ground. I have read through old threads, such as this one and have found that others have submitted photographic proof of the destruction of intersection stations by email. This would be the route that I would need to take. RK0571 is the current BM that I have in mind. Just looking for guidance as to whether this should be submitted by email as destroyed, or with the form as not found, with a note about its destruction? Thanks for any help. I am new at this, but enjoying the hunt!

LOL...that's great! I love your sense of humor.

I am not familiar with with either of these units specifically, but I will echo the suggestion for the Garmin GPS MAP60C. I found a NIB 60C on ebay for $300. It will do autorouting with the optional City Select software, and has a geocaching mode. I have manually set up waypoints and routes and it does a great job at that. I have not played with the autorouting yet--waiting for the Mac software announced by Garmin to be released this year.

How are you trying to go to them? On my Garmin there is a separate search mode for geocaching. The benchmarks will be stored as "ordinary" waypoints, not geocaches. I've not used Magellan, but there should be a way to navigate to a waypoint. The way I read your question, it sounded like it may not be a software issue, but rather figuring out how to get your GPSr to navigate to a waypoint that's stored. One other note on finding benchmarks, often the written description will be of more use in finding it than your gps. Not only will it tell you exactly what you're looking for (flashing light on tower, survey disc, rivet, etc.) it will describe how to get there. I have found that the accuracy of coordinates listed for benchmarks varies greatly in my area.

Also check with local tire shops, as being in the industry, they will get a discount on tire disposal. Some smaller shops with friendly owners may pass that savings along, especially if they know it's for a good cause. Locally, the transfer station charges $5 per tire for disposal. There is a tire shop I frequent that only charges $2 per tire. I asked him once about the price difference. He said that being a shop, he is only charged $1 per tire, so he can charge less to accept tires from the public and still make it worth his while. I'd say get an estimate on the number of tires, and work with a shop. Let them know you have X number of tires, that they're not yours, and you're cleaning up a site...see if someone will work with you and give you a good rate on disposal.