Can't get there from here...

[+travisl]

This benchmark is the light in the center of the top of the southeast tower of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge (a huge mile-long two-tower suspension bridge).

 

Other benchmarks I've read about are at the top of water towers .

 

Because it's certainly illegal (not to mention foolish) to try go actually get to these locations I'd count these as finds if I just get as close as I legally can to them. Standing at the base of the bridge tower or standing next to the chain link fence at the water tower should count, as far as I'm concerned.

 

Which then leads to this mark located on the flightline on McChord Air Force Base. Generally, the closest any civilian could legally get is the edge of the McChord AFB, 2/3 of a mile away. Most military can't even legally get to within 100 yards of it.

 

In previous years, McChord AFB has put on a one-day air show, and let civilians on base to walk on the flightline and look at the planes. I don't know if they'll be doing it this year, so for this discussion, let's assume they won't.

 

So my questions: In your opinion,

 

a) What constitutes a find on the Narrows Bridge benchmark?

 

What constitutes a find on this McChord benchmark?

 

Also, does anyone know if they actually put those round brass markers in the top-of-tower locations?

 

"If a boy has enough intelligence, he ought to go into the ministry, except that if when he enters college he is given to carousing, drinking, and wenching, then in that case he should enter the law." - Harvard Student Review, 1796

[+infosponge]

If you absolutely must log the one on the bridge, then I would say take a photo as close as you can get. As for the air base, unless you can get there on an open house (or you work there) then just cross it off your list as not-findable.

There's so many of these markers around...it shouldn't be a big deal to just accept that there are some that won't be logged because they're not accessable.

There are some in my area at a power plant and also a missile tracking annex. If I was persistent I might call the contact person for those facilities (often listed in the benchmark data, at least for recent marks) and explain what I was doing and ask if I could be allowed (escorted) to visit the mark and photograph it. If they said no, then that would just be one less out of hundreds for me to try to find. If they say yes, I might have a neat story to go with it.

I may have to get a surveyor's license just to be more legit.

[+infosponge]

If you absolutely must log the one on the bridge, then I would say take a photo as close as you can get. As for the air base, unless you can get there on an open house (or you work there) then just cross it off your list as not-findable.

There's so many of these markers around...it shouldn't be a big deal to just accept that there are some that won't be logged because they're not accessable.

There are some in my area at a power plant and also a missile tracking annex. If I was persistent I might call the contact person for those facilities (often listed in the benchmark data, at least for recent marks) and explain what I was doing and ask if I could be allowed (escorted) to visit the mark and photograph it. If they said no, then that would just be one less out of hundreds for me to try to find. If they say yes, I might have a neat story to go with it.

I may have to get a surveyor's license just to be more legit.

[survey tech]

Hello, everyone. Im here to promote, and to thank you for, your interest in Land Surveying.

 

Regarding water towers, microwave towers, steeples, lights and other prominent objects: No, these sites do not contain brass cap markers. They are known in surveying as "intersection stations", because the coordinates for the site location were created by turning angles to the object from several ground points, often miles away, and calculating the coordinates at the point of intersection of the lines. Therefore, the object itself is your goal and should be recognized as a point scored for you.

 

For further information about Land Surveying please feel free to visit us at rpls.com and ask any questions you may have.