happycycler

Thank you! I an not wise enough to have thought to ask for this but it is what I need! Thank you!

I do some benchmark hunting via bicycle. I take it all with me -- sometimes 2 small paniers. GPS mounted on handlebars. Digital cam, compass, spike for probe, garden trowel to dig them out, saw to cut the honeysuckle (not used yet), compass, calculator, extra batteries, etc,. Unfortunately I have attempted most of the benchmarks within an easy ride of my house now though.

Nice job and welcome to benchmark hunting!

Thank you catcher24. Digital zoom (10X). Sony Mavica MVC-FD75. Low quality (640X480) but great zoom and I like using 3.5 floppy discs for storage.

Terrrific! Great photos also! Thank you for taking us along with your description and photos!

If you select the Eads Bridge link in my post above -- that will get you to the page for the JC0043 benchmark. My photos and some links to Eads Bridge info. can be found there. Or just select the benchmrk link here.

Yes the database CAN be in error. Rogbarn (my benchmark hunting mentor) found that the lat. /lon. forJC1817 were 19.5 miles too far West. I followed his suggestion to look where the description indicated and the benchmark is right where described. Probably a typo by the data entry person.

Those SCALED ones are tough -- especially where the description does not give some meaningful measurements that intersect! (5.85 MI, 15.3 FT. SOUTH and 125.0 FT. SOUTH does not give you a lot to work with -- in my opinion.) I have several frowny faces for SCALED benchmarks with very similar descriptions -- along different canals. The ADJUSTED locations will be somewhat easier to locate with your handheld GPS. And of course when a witness post survives, that can be very helpful. Good luck!

Congrats! That is great! I agree with mr.magoo -- that find seems worth reporting to NGS. Fifty years of having been listed as not found and now you have seen it. Personally I don't move Witness Posts, I don't feel that I know enough. I do usually leave benchmarks uncovered though, when I have moved some vegetation or dirt to find them. Keep on searching!

The bronze plate Eads Bridge (1882) in St. Louis is the oldest marker that I have found. We also have a few observed church crosses, etc. dating from 1871 around here.

But once in a while the mark gets preserved: PID=JC1177 This one is in a rest shelter on a bicycle trail, not in a mall though.

Conrats!! That is great! It means more to me to find one with some history. Would that be one of the earlier ones out in your area? (The East coast folks may have it easier finding the older ones.)

I have followed rogbarn to several benchmarks. Also he & I went out together to reach our latest benchmarking milestones (100 finds for each of us). rogbarn had noticed SL-100 listed in our area and we did that one for for our 100th! So we have several that we both have logged.

Yes JoGPS -- I MAY have found JC0110 but what I photographed is on the East side of the pillar not on the West as the description says. So I would need to read the designation in order to be sure & my 8X monocular was not enough to do that. It is only a game with us so we decide what to claim as found Black Dog -- I don't think that my wife would agree to my donating her birding tools. heh heh Thank you -- I am enjoying your responses.

Dustyjacket has a great web site that shows some of the variety of things that have been used as Benchmarks. Please take a look at: Benchmarks & Witness posts

beejay&esskay from the NGS history page: quote: As soon as I had taken a few measures, I called Doctor McLean and Hubbard to let them see the heliotrope at Mount Helena, 192 miles off, and the longest line ever observed over in the world. NGS History So that may give us some leeway.

Might some optics help? I have one JC0110[/url where I may take a spotting scope -- it is a DNF for me for now due to a fence.

Great Ideas! Also very interesting survey stations.

Good One! Thank you for posting!

Well I guess that we could all volenteer to do the data entry of the USGS benchmarks in the 7 1/2 minute quad where we live. I bet that would give me more tolerance for the typos that I sometimes find in the data base. LOL

It is great to have such wise & helpful folks to happily answer my newby questions! Thank you ScottJ & Thank you elcamino

This past weekend we found: JC0310 listed as a quote: MONEL-METAL RIVET]. Unfortunately my photo is poor but the rivet head protrudes about 1/4 inch above the concrete. BTW is MONEL the name of an alloy? or a brandname? My oldest find (& probably favorite) is:JC0043 This is an 1882 bronze plate mounted in Eads Bridge in St. Louis, MO.

Thank you survey tech. I just found it interesting that the old section corner marker is also used as a benchmark. It would be a nice area for a hike, but it would be necessary to secure permission. Rogbarn and I did some benchmarking in that general area on Sunday but we did not attempt to find owners to get permission to try for those. A Tavern Rock or a Tavern Cave may be mentioned in the Lewis and Clark journals. There was a historical marker in St. Albins to that effect. So some history may be involved.

JC1722 (Designation: T45N R2E SEC 36 NW COR) might add a bit more confusion into this discussion Unfortunately I doubt that I could get permission to try to find it. JC1721 in that area sounds difficult for an amature like me to get too & JC1722 is not near any mapped road plus most likely also on private land.

Thanks Kewaneh, Trailblazer & Dusty! Yesterday rogbarn found one for me in proper assocoation with benchmark AA8681. Now I know! These forums have been a great deal of help! Thank all who post here & a special thank you to our web site GURU who makes it all happen!