Benchmarks

[+WhatsRNutts]

I have noticed that benchmark finds dont count as a "find" on gc.com total numbers. why is that?

[+Black Dog Trackers]

wreckelite -

 

That decision was made by Groundspeak, and I don't know why, although I'm glad it is that way.

 

Geocaches and benchmarks are quite different in that geocaches are made just for finding them as a game, whereas benchmarks are made for real-world survey purposes. Generally, finding geocaches is much more of a found-numbers-competition than benchmark hunting is. The main thing with benchmark hunting is not how many you found, but how well you looked for them and did your log.

 

For these reasons, I think it's best that they aren't mixed together in the same pot.

[+WhatsRNutts]

OIC. Thank you...benchmarks still kinda confuse but I did see a survey one at a missle silo a few weeks ago.

 

etided to add thanks.

Edited August 15, 2005 by wreckelite

[+Black Dog Trackers]

wreckelite -

 

We do hope that you'll become a benchmark hunter even though it doesn't count like a geocache. It really IS an interesting type of thing to hunt for.

 

Be sure to read the benchmark hunting FAQ page.

 

You can always include benchmark hunting with geocache hunting by clicking on "nearest benchmarks" for a geocache.

[+WhatsRNutts]

the one I found looks a lot like this but I can't find it when i do a search by zip code...is there another way to search for it?

[+Black Dog Trackers]

Yes. Go to the FAQ page that I referenced. Click on "Other search options". Put AM 50 in the "By Designation" space. Be sure to click the "By Designation" radio button too! Click "Find Benchmarks" and you will find it.

 

The Designation is the disk's name stamped on the disk.

[+deimos444]

My opinion is that benchmarks and geocaches are two different animals.

One is a governmental project and the other is just good fun and a little competition.

Degrees of difficulty would be a nice addition to benchmark hunting but I am not suggesting that Groundspeak take that on.

[gi joe & gi jane]

hello, on a recent cache hunt we found a benchmark... but cound not find it we went to the other search options ... we also was trying to load the image on the cache image area but it wouldnt load... can you give us some insight on what to do...

[+PFF]

The image has to be posted to the web site. Then you copy and paste the URL. Obviously, you cannot do that if you can't find the disk in the database.

 

Before we write it off, let's let the group do some detective work. What are the coordinates of the mark you found, and what was stamped on the disk?

 

-Paul-

[+seventhings]

And another distiction between caches and benchmarks is this: when you search for a cache but can't find it, that's generally regarded as a failure. When you search for a benchmark, you succeed whether you find the benchmark, fail to find the benchmark, make a note that the benchmark is inaccessible, or log the benchmark as destroyed. Any and all information about the benchmark's existence, condition and environment is good. The true objective of hunting for benchmarks is the "hunting" part.

 

w

[+Kewaneh & Shark]

...on a recent cache hunt we found a benchmark... but cound not find it we went to the other search options ...

The easiest way to search for a benchmark near a cache is to search from the cache page. On each cache page, there is an option to search for nearby caches, just below that is the option to search for nearby benchmarks. If there is a nearby mark in the database, it will show up.

 

- Kewaneh