contest outline

[2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

We really like the "poker benchmarks" but can't figure out an easy way for us to keep score. We will keep working on this and maybe have another contest later.

 

For this contest, we thought the sign-up period should run from 2/1 to 3/1 and then have the contest run from 3/2 to 6/3.

 

Your targets will be any benchmark that you haven't found in the last 12 months. Others may have found it, just not you. Also on the list (and worth different point values) are..... finding a benchmark with the last log being a DNF (Did Not Find) by anyone including the Power Squadron, finding a benchmark with the last (GC.com) log being Destroyed, and any benchmark where the last log is incorrect (meaning the last person logged the wrong disk, see GP0124). Points to be announced later.

 

You will need to log your finds on GC.com with a picture of the correct benchmark AND the GPSr showing the DATE. The coordinates do not need to be shown, just the date.

 

We will have a thread (like the last contest) where you will need to log your finds with a link to the benchmark page.

 

The bonus will be announced prior to the start of the contest.

 

Anyone see any glaring problem, so far? Any other feedback before we decide on the final configuration of the rules?

 

John & Shirley

[+NorthWes]

I like the rules... simple, and it'll get me out to take a 'second look' at those listings that I may have ignored because they've been marked not found or destroyed.

 

As for the dates - well, those are dandy. I must admit I sulked a bit when I realized my upcoming dash across southern California won't fit inside the contest dates, but oh well (and the guys I'm 'dashing' with aren't big on benchmarking anyhow). However, the dates are perfect for spring recoveries here in southcentral Alaska, and will help add incentive to my desire to purchase a metal detector for benchmarking. There's a series of marks along the Alaska Railroad up near Wasilla I've had my eye on for a while... Now to get our all-time seasonal record-setting snowfall to melt before the contest is over!!!

 

Let the games begin!

[+GEO*Trailblazer 1]

I like the

BENCHMARK

BINGO

 

B/ E/ N/ C / H / M / A/ R/ K/

A?/ B?/ C?/ D?/ E?/ F? /G?/ H?/ I?/

( 9 coulombs)

(rows can add up to points and (BENCHMARK)(BINGO).

1.

2.

ect..........

 

The First set(week) can start by getting a Benchmark with an A.

The second B.

Third C.

And so on.

At anytime you can go back to fill in a previous week(set),until the conclusion of the game.

I think all the Counties have these designations.

? = number and does not matter.

 

Example using "A 1" as designation.

Searching Benchmarks

 

Total Records: 39

 

PID / Designation /State / Type / Found /

 

AC2397 / A 1 / FL / other /

AH0924 / A 1 / TX / survey disk / Didn't find it /

AR1233 / A 1 / FL / bench mark disk/

AY0110 / A 1/ TX/ survey disk / Write note/

BJ0559 / A 1 / LA/ type not specified /

BJ1419 / A 1/ LA/ type not specified /

DX0650 / A 1 / CA / survey disk /

FF0195/ A 1 / AR / bench mark disk/

FQ0645/ A 1 / AZ/ triangulation station disk/

FS0570 / A 1/ AZ / bench mark disk/ 11/28/2006/ Found it/

GR0638/ A 1/ NV pipe cap/ 1/18/2004/ Found it /

GR1477 / A 1/ AZ / triangulation station disk/

HS3830/ A 1/ CA/ survey disk / Didn't find it /

HV0815/ A 1/ MD/ bench mark disk/

HV1981 / A 1/ DC / bench mark disk/

JF0441/ A 1 / KS/ type not specified/

JV2906/ A 1 / WV / bench mark disk/

JZ0531/ A 1/ IN/ bench mark disk/

KF0700 / A 1/ KS / survey disk/

LC0118/ A 1/ IL/ bench mark disk/ 12/29/2006 / Found it/

LW0744/ A 1/ RI / bench mark disk/

ML0599 / A 1/ NE/ survey disk/

MO0518/ A 1/ WY / type not specified /

MY0172/ A 1/ MA / bench mark disk /

NJ0057/ A 1/ WI/ bench mark disk/

NP0582/ A 1/ NE/ triangulation station disk/

NZ0058/ A 1/ OR/ survey disk/ 8/19/2003 / Found it /

OP0115 / A 1 / IA/ bench mark disk/

PF0522/ A 1/ VT / bench mark disk/

PR0376/ A 1/ SD/ type not specified/

QE1316/ A 1/ OR/ survey disk/ 11/5/2006 / Found it/

QP0164/ A 1/ MN/ chiseled cross/

RA0253 / A 1/ ID/ survey disk/ 5/3/2004// Found it /

SC0590/ A 1/ OR/ chiseled cross /

SL0815 / A 1 / ND/ pipe cap/

SX0793 / A 1/ WA/ bench mark disk/

TR0424/ A 1/ WA / bench mark disk/

TR1057/ A 1/ WA / type not specified/

 

The first BINGO will be when you complete one coloumb and one row.

You could also figure out a point system each set so if some do not bingo they still accrue points.

 

Just some ideas.

 

What ya think.

[+Ernmark]

Your targets will be any benchmark that you haven't found in the last 12 months. Others may have found it, just not you.

 

..do you mean re-logging your own previously found (>12 months) marks? Much as that would give someone who has hunted-out their home turf an equalizer for the contest, I don't think I'd want to do that... it would clutter up the CG logs w/ double-entries in a short amount of time & if you're a holoscenes stat fan, that would lessen the accuracy(?) of those numbers - we'd be doing what the USPSQD does in some areas in submitting NGS recoveries (logging a mark every 12 months just to get 'points'). Even though I wouln't be able to finish in nearly as high of a spot as last year, I'd like to keep it as a 'not found yet by you' situation. Even if the scoring was exactly the same as last year, I'd still find a reason to drive further out to find new marks - I'd want to wait a few more years (say 5 years?) before revisiting my previously-found marks (unless I see a change in their status)..

Edited January 27, 2007 by Ernmark

[Papa-Bear-NYC]

A few questions:

 

1) I seldom carry a GPS with me (unless I'm looking for a tri-station in the middle of the woods). To validate the date how about 1) setting the date-time display on in the camera, 2) sticking your watch in the photo. Personally I have always thought the pictures with a GPS next to a benchmark are ugly (I know this comment will win me a lot of friends on this site ) and I've never posted one. Last year you did not require this. Why the change?

 

2) can I log a FOUND on a mark that I had logged as NOT FOUND within the last year? I'd like to go back and work on a couple of these before giving them up entirely.

 

3) your rule about logging the find on GC.com implies that the GC Benchmark list, and not the NGS list, is definitive. Why not let us log NGS marks (which are not GC benchmarks) as Waymarks? I'm sure there are a few of these out there that folks here would like to log.

 

Thanks for running this again.

[2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

A few questions:

 

1) I seldom carry a GPS with me (unless I'm looking for a tri-station in the middle of the woods). To validate the date how about 1) setting the date-time display on in the camera, 2) sticking your watch in the photo. Personally I have always thought the pictures with a GPS next to a benchmark are ugly (I know this comment will win me a lot of friends on this site ) and I've never posted one. Last year you did not require this. Why the change?

 

2) can I log a FOUND on a mark that I had logged as NOT FOUND within the last year? I'd like to go back and work on a couple of these before giving them up entirely.

 

3) your rule about logging the find on GC.com implies that the GC Benchmark list, and not the NGS list, is definitive. Why not let us log NGS marks (which are not GC benchmarks) as Waymarks? I'm sure there are a few of these out there that folks here would like to log.

 

Thanks for running this again.

 

1) If we allow logging previous finds that were made over 12 months ago, then some means of determining whether or not the contest log is just a re-post of the old visit, or a new visit, is needed. Will make a final determination later on logging the previous finds.

 

2) If the DNF has been posted before today, then it is fair game.

 

3) I don't use Waymarking (& I'm the one who will be keeping the scores). Convince me on how to make That easiest for the scorekeeper.

 

John

[+Harry Dolphin]

Good! I don't do Waymarking either!

I assume that you mean the last person to log the benchmark as a find photographed the wrong disk. Example: LY2640. Only person to log a find, logged Reference Mark 3. Wrong disk? Zhanna posted a note, not a find, after that. I know where the disk is, but the ground is frozen today, and I couldn't get to it. (The orange tape sticking out from the frozen clod of earth sort of gives it away.) (It'll keep until March!)

I can't say that I'm all that interested in going back to benchmarks that I've logged already. Oh, well.

But I do have the advantage that the NJGS couldn't seem to find anything in 1992!

Other than that, I'm ready! (Probably won't do too well this time around, though.)

[2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

I like the

BENCHMARK

BINGO

 

B/ E/ N/ C / H / M / A/ R/ K/

A?/ B?/ C?/ D?/ E?/ F? /G?/ H?/ I?/

( 9 coulombs)

(rows can add up to points and (BENCHMARK)(BINGO).

1.

2.

ect..........

 

The First set(week) can start by getting a Benchmark with an A.

The second B.

Third C.

And so on.

At anytime you can go back to fill in a previous week(set),until the conclusion of the game.

I think all the Counties have these designations.

? = number and does not matter.

 

Example using "A 1" as designation.

Searching Benchmarks

 

Total Records: 39

 

PID / Designation /State / Type / Found /

 

AC2397 / A 1 / FL / other /

AH0924 / A 1 / TX / survey disk / Didn't find it /

AR1233 / A 1 / FL / bench mark disk/

AY0110 / A 1/ TX/ survey disk / Write note/

BJ0559 / A 1 / LA/ type not specified /

BJ1419 / A 1/ LA/ type not specified /

DX0650 / A 1 / CA / survey disk /

FF0195/ A 1 / AR / bench mark disk/

FQ0645/ A 1 / AZ/ triangulation station disk/

FS0570 / A 1/ AZ / bench mark disk/ 11/28/2006/ Found it/

GR0638/ A 1/ NV pipe cap/ 1/18/2004/ Found it /

GR1477 / A 1/ AZ / triangulation station disk/

HS3830/ A 1/ CA/ survey disk / Didn't find it /

HV0815/ A 1/ MD/ bench mark disk/

HV1981 / A 1/ DC / bench mark disk/

JF0441/ A 1 / KS/ type not specified/

JV2906/ A 1 / WV / bench mark disk/

JZ0531/ A 1/ IN/ bench mark disk/

KF0700 / A 1/ KS / survey disk/

LC0118/ A 1/ IL/ bench mark disk/ 12/29/2006 / Found it/

LW0744/ A 1/ RI / bench mark disk/

ML0599 / A 1/ NE/ survey disk/

MO0518/ A 1/ WY / type not specified /

MY0172/ A 1/ MA / bench mark disk /

NJ0057/ A 1/ WI/ bench mark disk/

NP0582/ A 1/ NE/ triangulation station disk/

NZ0058/ A 1/ OR/ survey disk/ 8/19/2003 / Found it /

OP0115 / A 1 / IA/ bench mark disk/

PF0522/ A 1/ VT / bench mark disk/

PR0376/ A 1/ SD/ type not specified/

QE1316/ A 1/ OR/ survey disk/ 11/5/2006 / Found it/

QP0164/ A 1/ MN/ chiseled cross/

RA0253 / A 1/ ID/ survey disk/ 5/3/2004// Found it /

SC0590/ A 1/ OR/ chiseled cross /

SL0815 / A 1 / ND/ pipe cap/

SX0793 / A 1/ WA/ bench mark disk/

TR0424/ A 1/ WA / bench mark disk/

TR1057/ A 1/ WA / type not specified/

 

The first BINGO will be when you complete one coloumb and one row.

You could also figure out a point system each set so if some do not bingo they still accrue points.

 

Just some ideas.

 

What ya think.

 

 

Looks like fun, when you gonna do it?

 

 

John

[+Ernmark]

..I'm not big on posting a GPSr in my pics either...

 

..maybe a copy of the front page of the local newspaper?

[+GEO*Trailblazer 1]

Here is a sample of 9 Bingos.

I still think (John) that you can add this to the score keeping or part of your fun..

Heck they could be poker chips.

[2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

Your targets will be any benchmark that you haven't found in the last 12 months. Others may have found it, just not you.

 

..do you mean re-logging your own previously found (>12 months) marks? Much as that would give someone who has hunted-out their home turf an equalizer for the contest, I don't think I'd want to do that... it would clutter up the CG logs w/ double-entries in a short amount of time & if you're a holoscenes stat fan, that would lessen the accuracy(?) of those numbers - we'd be doing what the USPSQD does in some areas in submitting NGS recoveries (logging a mark every 12 months just to get 'points'). Even though I wouln't be able to finish in nearly as high of a spot as last year, I'd like to keep it as a 'not found yet by you' situation. Even if the scoring was exactly the same as last year, I'd still find a reason to drive further out to find new marks - I'd want to wait a few more years (say 5 years?) before revisiting my previously-found marks (unless I see a change in their status)..

 

We just checked with the expert on the statistics and he informed us that every "log" for GC.com is counted. This means, if you submit a DNF for a benchmark and then later find it and "log" it as found, it will be counted twice. The same applies to "Notes" that you post for a benchmark. This means that if someone post a note on a benchmark page stating that the previous "finders" logged the wrong benchmark, they will get a Log "count" for the GC.com statistics even though they didn't look for that mark.

 

Compare our profile numbers and our Holograph statistics and you will see the difference between 'finds' and 'all logs'.

 

Would logging previous finds as a "Note" be acceptable in light of the above information?

 

Thanks to Holograph for his quick response to our query.

 

John

[monkeykat]

Sounds like a lot of fun. For statistics and scoring, will I need to be a premium member? I currently am not. Just wasn't sure exactly how you are generating those.

[2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

Sounds like a lot of fun. For statistics and scoring, will I need to be a premium member? I currently am not. Just wasn't sure exactly how you are generating those.

 

No, just be signed up when we get everything finalized.

 

John

[+Ernmark]

Your targets will be any benchmark that you haven't found in the last 12 months. Others may have found it, just not you.

 

..do you mean re-logging your own previously found (>12 months) marks? Much as that would give someone who has hunted-out their home turf an equalizer for the contest, I don't think I'd want to do that... it would clutter up the CG logs w/ double-entries in a short amount of time & if you're a holoscenes stat fan, that would lessen the accuracy(?) of those numbers - we'd be doing what the USPSQD does in some areas in submitting NGS recoveries (logging a mark every 12 months just to get 'points'). Even though I wouln't be able to finish in nearly as high of a spot as last year, I'd like to keep it as a 'not found yet by you' situation. Even if the scoring was exactly the same as last year, I'd still find a reason to drive further out to find new marks - I'd want to wait a few more years (say 5 years?) before revisiting my previously-found marks (unless I see a change in their status)..

 

We just checked with the expert on the statistics and he informed us that every "log" for GC.com is counted. This means, if you submit a DNF for a benchmark and then later find it and "log" it as found, it will be counted twice. The same applies to "Notes" that you post for a benchmark. This means that if someone post a note on a benchmark page stating that the previous "finders" logged the wrong benchmark, they will get a Log "count" for the GC.com statistics even though they didn't look for that mark.

 

Compare our profile numbers and our Holograph statistics and you will see the difference between 'finds' and 'all logs'.

 

Would logging previous finds as a "Note" be acceptable in light of the above information?

 

Thanks to Holograph for his quick response to our query.

 

John

I realize that notes & not founds add to holograph's statistics* - the point I was trying to make is that the temptation exists (I personally have no plans to do this) to go back & revisit/relog all previous founds over 12 months old (where's the fun in that?). If you make it "previously not found by you" as per the rules last year, there would be no 'revisits' ...or need for that GPSr pic/watch/newspaper (& it's easier on the scorekeeper! ).

 

Except for the ga$, veteran hunters have the advantage of experience in actually finding the marks, so I think the contest would be still fun for everyone - even if we played by last year's rules

 

..that bingo card does intrigue me....hmmm

 

* - so far, on GC the 'found' total pretty much is the total of different disks you have actually tripped over in person - no 'doubles' ...although in a few years as things evolve, marks probably may get revisited as enough time has elapsed to look in on them again..especially if you are an NGS logger..