Your Best/Favorite Benchmarking pictures.

[+Geoides]

Searching for HT1346 on a 120 plus year-old college campus.

 

 

Found it...

[+Geoides]

Old Water Tower and the oldest benchmark that I've found to date in this area.

 

Found it...

[+Geoides]

While hunting for a pair of marks (HT3042) on top of Twin Peaks, San Francisco. Both marks are visible in this shot and are aligned just east of the BofA Building in the distance...

 

And after the sunset, HT3091, the dome of San Francisco's City Hall...

Edited June 11, 2009 by Geoides

[+Geoides]

Caching and benchmarking on the coast...

 

Found it...

[+Geoides]

Searching for HT3673, instead found a cache and did some birding...

 

Who's who?...

[+Geoides]

Hmmm, I can't edit my Water Tower post so here's a correction to include the PID information of this mark.

HS2776

Old Water Tower and the oldest benchmark that I've found to date in this area.

 

Found it...

[foxtrot_xray]

My gosh! I finally have one to post! And it's technically not even of a station! (And in case you wuz curious, the roof of the house is two witness post signs.

 

[southpawaz]

Got a few good pictures on a trip south this weekend.

 

Here's CG0608. The now dead live oak tree in the picture was used as a reference in the 1935 description.

 

 

Here's the ghost town Ruby, Arizona, just over the hill from CG0605. The caretaker did a double take when I asked him to verify the location of the Pool Hall referenced in the description. "How'd you know about that?"

 

That mark was an interesting old hand stamped pipe cap "adopted" by the CG&S when they ran their level line:

 

A bit further on down the road, here's CG0609:

 

 

And finally, here's an interesting disk I found just a few blocks north of the border in Nogales, CG0209:

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

To re-iterate......

 

Everyone knows that I love to look at all of the pictures taken by any benchmark hunters. So, this thread is devoted to those who have taken good pictures that do not have a disk in the picture but were out there hunting them.

 

If you happen to have a shot with a mark in it, that will be fine also.

 

The one thing I ask, is to tell us which mark you were going for. Also, if you have anything else to tell us about your recovery or day, feel free to tell us. Also, feel free to place arrows in the picture for clarification if you want to tell about where something is.

 

Have fun! Let us see some of your adventure pictures!

 

Great pictures so far! Thank you all.

 

So, here is a tortoise that we saw right after finding our first 1899 drill hole along the Nevada/California border. FS1149 T 138.

He was right in the middle of the road - if you can call Government Road a road (right, Klemmer?)

 

Shirley~

[+Klemmer]

Road? That was a ROAD?

Picture of the alleged road taken from near (well below) the infamous FS1150 (VEX). I rest my case.

Edited June 18, 2009 by Klemmer & TeddyBearMama

[+pgrig]

Oldfarts--

 

Reading reports like that on VEX (and looking at your wonderful photography) is one of the major pleasures of my benchmark-hunting career! Please keep 'em coming!

 

-Paul

[foxtrot_xray]

Road? That was a ROAD?

Picture of the alleged road taken from near (well below) the infamous FS1150 (VEX). I rest my case.

Wel... it probably WAS back in 1898! Great shot. I love that landscape.

[TillaMurphs]

.

We like the NOAA juxtaposition in this photo.

 

This is QE1615 in the sunset with a NOAA witness post in the foreground and NOAA’s Okeanos Explorer in the background.

Besides the double reference to our beloved NOAA, the mark itself has been decorated by surrounding it with an overturned wine barrel.

Edited June 20, 2009 by TillaMurphs

[southpawaz]

.

We like the NOAA juxtaposition in this photo.

 

Very nice, great photo!

 

Friday I went out to find DV1918 PAINTED, which takes its name from the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site. The azimuth mark is on one of the two rocky knolls at the Petroglyph Site, up above these boulders:

 

And here's the view from the station itself, looking out over the Painted Rock Ranch in the floodplain of the Gila River:

[+89SC]

I stopped to get this black rat snake off the road while on the way to HW2048

 

 

It wasn't too happy about it.

Edited June 22, 2009 by 89SC

[MtnHermit]

 

Taken Monday, June 22, 2009

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

southpawaz, very nice, thanks for the petroglyphs picture and then the view shot! I love finding petroglyphs or pictographs and taking pictures of them.

 

89SC, WAY COOL picture of the snake. He sure looked like he was going to strike at something! It also looked like you were right down at eye level with him....you wouldn't have done that....or would you?

 

MtnHermit, Great picture of CONEJOS station at the peak (elevation 13154). How many feet elevation did you hike up to get that picture? Do you have any view shots?

 

Thanks to you all! More, please....

 

Shirley~

[+Mega Scooter]

View from RD1765 PRICE

 

[MtnHermit]

MtnHermit, Great picture of CONEJOS station at the peak (elevation 13154). How many feet elevation did you hike up to get that picture? Do you have any view shots?

 

Shirley~

Tobacco Lake as seen from the summit of Conejos Peak

 

 

View from Conejos Peak

 

Here's a Trip Report if you want to read more.

Edited June 27, 2009 by MtnHermit

[+89SC]

 

89SC, WAY COOL picture of the snake. He sure looked like he was going to strike at something! It also looked like you were right down at eye level with him....you wouldn't have done that....or would you?

 

Shirley~

 

You have to get down to their level to get the good shots. This is a younger black rat snake from the week before. It was even more aggressive. It kept striking at the lens.

 

[southpawaz]

I was up north on Friday, where among others I found ES0048 JACK, which had an unusual "witness post" nearby, making it hard to miss:

 

 

 

The station is about 400 feet west of the sign.

[foxtrot_xray]

I was up north on Friday, where among others I found ES0048 JACK, which had an unusual "witness post" nearby, making it hard to miss:

The station is about 400 feet west of the sign.

 

Heh! Jack Rabbit. I get it! Must have been a really important station.

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

That JACK sign is really fun!

 

I just thought I would see if there were any benchmarks with the name "JACKALOPE". Nothing came up...to bad.

 

Oh, everyone knows what a Jackalope is, right?

 

Shirley~

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

 

89SC, WAY COOL picture of the snake. He sure looked like he was going to strike at something! It also looked like you were right down at eye level with him....you wouldn't have done that....or would you?

 

Shirley~

 

You have to get down to their level to get the good shots. This is a younger black rat snake from the week before. It was even more aggressive. It kept striking at the lens.

 

 

Remind me NOT to go with you! Neat shot though.

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

MtnHermit, Thanks for the link....way cool pictures and story.

 

Shirley~

[+Klemmer]

Here's an interesting non-NGS Benchmark picture, from on top of Mt. Baden-Powell (9400 feet). At the top left of the picture is Edwards Air Force Base and Rogers Dry Lake, where many Space Shuttles and other test vehicles of all sorts have landed.

 

And there is a great monument on top in memory of Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, which I was proud to be a member of (Life Rank) many years ago. Several groups of Scouts up there yesterday.

 

Closeup of the plaque on one side:

 

It is a serious hike to get there, from 6500 feet at parking, so almost 3000 feet elevation gain, in about 4 trail miles. It is known locally as a killer conditioning hike. The trail and views are great! One view from partway up:

[+Black Dog Trackers]

Between some large rocks was this copperhead snake.

I was safe enough because I was hiding behind that leaf.

I found this snake while looking for JV4592.

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

We are extremely lucky to still have these forums and fantastic pictures for our pleasure. Groundspeak was down for just a short time due to a fire and water damage to the electrical power generators. But, Elias is on the job on the 4th of July no less!

 

A Big Thank you to Elias!!

 

Mega Scooter - the wheat field brought back many memories of our birthplace - Indiana for me. Thank you.

 

Great pics Klemmer, as always.

 

BDT - A copper head! I never saw one in real life while we lived in Indiana. I am glad that you had that leaf to hide behind. Thanks for the picture.

 

Shirley~

[+Harry Dolphin]

 

Best I could come up with from our recent trip. County courthouse at Pulaski, Virginia.

Hmm... I've only seen one copperhead. Section hiking the AT on Blue Mountain, Pa.

[+Harry Dolphin]

 

View of KV6830, Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange, New Jersey. New York skyline to the left. 9/11 Memorial to the right. View is much better at the overlook.

[+cjf]

This is one of my recent favorites. As I stepped off the cruise ship and saw the radio tower BM UV5702. I noticed a bald eagle slowly flying around and around and around the tower. So I frantically whip out my camera, zoom in the to extent possible, and take my picture. I was so excited to see a new thread of BM pictures where this one would fit right in!

[+Klemmer]

Great picture, cjf! I propose that it is the first picture of a Bald Eagle in the same frame as a benchmark (OK, an intersection station).

[southpawaz]

This one may bring back some memories of your early days of benchmark hunting, Shirley. Here's the 110 foot lookout tower above ES0969 PROMONTORY.

 

[+cjf]

Great picture, cjf! I propose that it is the first picture of a Bald Eagle in the same frame as a benchmark (OK, an intersection station).

 

 

Details......details......benchmark....intersection station....

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

Thanks to you all! Great photos!

 

southpawaz, that tower was one our early ones. We do remember it well. Our daughter and son-in-law were along for this one, the ranger was there and invited us in and to even climb that tower if we wanted. Our daughter got about a third of the way up and chickened out.

 

We still had a great time, but no digital camera that early on. Thanks for bringing back memories.....

 

Shirley~

[+go_pokes]

MtnHermit, Great picture of CONEJOS station at the peak (elevation 13154). How many feet elevation did you hike up to get that picture? Do you have any view shots?

 

Shirley~

Tobacco Lake as seen from the summit of Conejos Peak

 

 

View from Conejos Peak

 

Here's a Trip Report if you want to read more.

 

A link to a 14ers.com trip report on the benchmarking forums!!! Greatest post ever. My two passions rolled into one. Thanks for the post MtnHermit.

[southpawaz]

Here's a story of one that got away. Friday I hastily planned a trip and headed out southeast to visit Characahua National Monument. Since it was a long drive, I had only loaded about 20 roadside benchmarks to hunt along the way and just done a quick radius search on GC.com for marks near the Massai Point earthcache in the National Monument and not seen anything close by. After doing the earthcache, I decided to hike up to Sugarloaf Fire Lookout, and while I was there I took a quick look around on the foundations to see if there might be a USGS tri-station but didn't see one. Today I was looking again at the area with the Scaredy Cat map viewer and lo and behold, what do I see but CY1305 SUGARLOAF, a USGS station set in 1936 (the same year the lookout was built) but not "adopted" by the NGS into their database until 2003. Adding to my chagrin, I must have walked right past it to take this picture of the lookout, and from the description, the station should be somewhere in the photo (if I'm not standing on it):

 

 

And here's a view off the northeast corner of the lookout of the rhyolite hoodoos looking down into Bonita Canyon:

[sjkimmel99]

Armistice/ET0903

 

 

On the way to Shelf/ET0904 from Reeves/ET1125

 

[+bth7]

Between some large rocks was this copperhead snake.

I was safe enough because I was hiding behind that leaf.

I found this snake while looking for JV4592.

we just starting Geocaching at the begining of May and decided to tie bench marking into our trips. After seeing all the pictures in the forums I am not sure I want to do either down in the states. FEAR OF SNAKES

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

Here's a story of one that got away......

Adding to my chagrin, I must have walked right past it to take this picture of the lookout, and from the description, the station should be somewhere in the photo (if I'm not standing on it):

 

I can remember some that when we went to hunt for a benchmark, we had been there before to look at the views (like the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and other places) and never had noticed the benchmarks before. Of course that was before we had gotten bit by "the hunting for those little round disks" bug. Good story!

 

sjkimmel99,

 

Great pictures! What kind of bird is that in your first pic?

 

bth7,

 

Snakes are actually pretty scarce. We have gone for long stretches without seeing one (well, except for those on the highways). They tend to slither off in the brush if they feel threatened. I sure would not let the fear of snakes keep me from hunting a benchmark.

 

Keep the pictures coming! I am lovin' them bunches!!

 

Shirley~

[sjkimmel99]

Armistice bird?

 

Not sure what kind. At the time I thought it was a carrion type, maybe because of the shape of the wings but I'm no bird expert. Here's a slightly closer pic of the shape.

 

[+Klemmer]

Looks like a Turkey Vulture to me. Lots of them around here in the mountains & wilderness-y areas. I was going to write something witty about the LA metro area needing a few more, but I better not......

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

Or maybe----- a Dark morph red-tailed hawk????

 

[+Klemmer]

Had a great hike last weekend, up to San Jacinto Peak (10,834 feet), near Palm Springs, CA. I've been up there before (four time now), but FINALLY found the Azimuth Mark that belongs to the San Jacinto Triangulation Station. Looked for it before, but this time got it! It is quite a ways (trail distance) from the peak, and previously not well documented. Kudos to our forum member Rumpled for the first find and the coords!

More info & pictures on my latest Geocaching log: DX5119

More pictures on our picture website HERE

 

And, here's a couple flower pictures for Shirley:

Very wide open Maripos Lily:

 

California Corn Lily:

[+2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

Klemmer, Thanks for the links and flower pictures. Way cool!

 

On the 20th we went to Flagstaff to get with our Daughter and Grandkids. Of course we had to go find some caches and benchmarks. After we found R 490 FQ0391 (John has not posted a find log yet) and then Peter Pan's hideout tree (cache) we went to the U. S. Naval Observatory close by.

 

It has a 61" telescope inside the dome.

 

The lady behind the front desk was very busy, but took some time to take us on a tour to see the telescope and get some more pictures. One of those is a view of Mt. Humphrey's from the walkway around the outside of the dome.

 

 

We also saw the place where they take the mirror to clean it and then resurface it. We all had a Great memorable time there. They accept walk in visitors! Who would have known?

 

Shirley~

[+Klemmer]

Another great hiking / benchmark hunting day. Found EV9281 on Mount Islip. Here's a few more wildflowers for Shirley:

Blazing Star: First I've seen south of the Sierra Nevada. Really showy, unusually long stamens, and just across the road from the Dawson Saddle trailhead:

 

Another pretty wildflower, but so far I haven't been able to identify it;

 

And finally, a pair of members of the wild snapdragon family, possibly Lowbush Penstemon (although a bit out of it's described range):

 

Sorry of you're not a wildflower lover, but I know Shirley likes them....

[+agentmancuso]

Some pictures of benchmarking in Scotland:

 

 

Sunrise over S5332 Peat Hill, Ayrshire.

 

 

View to Holy Island from S1607 Goat Fell, Arran.

 

 

View to Holy Island from S8701 Clauchland, Arran.

 

One from down south:

 

 

S6860 Ravenstonedale, St Oswald's Church, Cumbria. An 18th century church, with 13th Century monastic remains in the graveyard.

 

And one I found, rather than took, and which always looks vaguely Egyptian to me:

 

[wandering_yoopers]

There are so many nice pictures here. Seeing as I am new to GeoCaching, I really don't have very many pictures to share, but I will be moving to Alaska in January, where I am sure I will have plenty of photographic opportunities. Be on the look out for my pics.

Edited July 30, 2009 by wandering_yoopers

[AZcachemeister]

Some pictures of benchmarking in Scotland:

 

 

Sunrise over S5332 Peat Hill, Ayrshire.

 

 

View to Holy Island from S1607 Goat Fell, Arran.

 

 

View to Holy Island from S8701 Clauchland, Arran.

 

One from down south:

 

 

S6860 Ravenstonedale, St Oswald's Church, Cumbria. An 18th century church, with 13th Century monastic remains in the graveyard.

 

And one I found, rather than took, and which always looks vaguely Egyptian to me:

 

 

Excellent photos!

I especially like the one with the island, very mysterious and enticing.

[+agentmancuso]

Excellent photos!

I especially like the one with the island, very mysterious and enticing.

 

Thanks. The island is rather special. The building visible on the bottom right is a Buddhist retreat centre, and there are monastic remains going back at least to the 7th century, when the island was inhabited by an early Irish saint, Molaise, after whom the island is named - in Gaelic Eilean Molaise.