Found an unlisted benchmark

[+CorDenCheDer]

I'm new to benchmarking. We found this benchmark while looking for a geocache. I have searched both geocaching.com and NGS and can't find a listing. I'm not sure what to do next.....thank you for any help you can give me

 

http://cid-8df3b4f23cfaa95b.photos.live.co...IMG%5E_7912.JPG

[ribozyme]

There are multiple reasons why this could be, but the most likely reason is that the mark was never added to the NGS database. There are numerous organizations that set benchmarks but only a fraction make it into the NGS database. This mark is from the USGS; many of their marks are in the database but many more are not. You won't be able to log this on GC.com but you could log it on Waymarking.com. Welcome to benchmarking though!

[glorkar]

Did you mark the coordinates? You can do a search on the NGS site that will bring up all marks in a certain radius.

[+CorDenCheDer]

Did you mark the coordinates? You can do a search on the NGS site that will bring up all marks in a certain radius.

 

I tried looking the benchmark up by the coordinates, but it didn't turn up. I did find a similar one on Waymarking.com com after reading the above post. I will post it there.

 

Thanks everyone!!

[+latahgps]

Did you mark the coordinates? You can do a search on the NGS site that will bring up all marks in a certain radius.

 

I tried looking the benchmark up by the coordinates, but it didn't turn up. I did find a similar one on Waymarking.com com after reading the above post. I will post it there.

 

Thanks everyone!!

Your mark is more and likely a third order bench or a triangulation mark. Could you give me the section, township and range where the mark is located. That way I can wind out more info for you that way you can report it to Denver.

[China21]

I too am new at this and I have found two recently in Edgartown, Ma. that are not listed here or on 'Waymark.com' now what?? (I do have photos of them and the co-ordinates for both btw)

 

China -21

[glorkar]

Can you post the pictures at all? Or at least tell us what is written on the disks?

[China21]

one has "NO 9" 1960 around the center with an horizontal line across a circle. The other has a "NO 11" 1961 with a short vertical 'dash' through the horizontal line in the center without a circle. Both carry the "Bench Mark" and the normal "U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, do not remove.... etc.

(I Haven't figured out how to post pictures yet....)

 

C-21

[Papa-Bear-NYC]

one has "NO 9" 1960 around the center with an horizontal line across a circle. The other has a "NO 11" 1961 with a short vertical 'dash' through the horizontal line in the center without a circle. Both carry the "Bench Mark" and the normal "U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, do not remove.... etc.

(I Haven't figured out how to post pictures yet....)

 

C-21

From your descriptions, those are Tidal Benchmarks. Although only a subset of Tidal Benchmarks are NGS stations and thus on this site, you can find them on another NOAA web site: NOAA Tides and Currents

 

Navigating from that, (In left Side Bar, Under Bench Mark Data Sheets, click on Present Epoch > Massachusetts) I found a tidal station (No. 8448558) in Edgartown, which in fact list a No. 9 and No. 11.

 

Check this: Edgartown Tidal station. The descriptions should match where you found these marks.

 

There's also a No. 6 listed (on the First National Bank - go find it!). None have a PID, and thus none are in the NGS data base or on this site. You can be the first to Waymark them if you choose.

 

Make sure you have good pictures, preferably one showing the area, and another a closeup in which you can read the stamping, and a good GPS reading for each.

Edited August 20, 2010 by Papa-Bear-NYC

[China21]

None have a PID, and thus none are in the NGS data base or on this site. You can be the first to Waymark them if you choose.

 

PID= Lat/Lon??

 

(did I mention I was new to this??)

 

Thanks!!

~C-21~

[kayakbird]

None have a PID, and thus none are in the NGS data base or on this site. You can be the first to Waymark them if you choose.

 

PID= Lat/Lon??

 

(did I mention I was new to this??)

 

Thanks!!

~C-21~

 

China21,

 

Here are two lines from the NGS DATASHEET for a couple of my recent logged benchmark with the PID underlined and bold. That number can be entered in its block on the FIND A BENCHMARK page to go to its log.

 

TL0643* NAD 83(1992)- 48 00 51.71622(N) 110 20 09.58411(W) ADJUSTED

TL0643* NAVD 88 - 862.0 (meters) 2828. (feet) VERTCON

 

TK0186* NAD 83(1986)- 48 10 41. (N) 109 19 23. (W) SCALED

TK0186* NAVD 88 - 1327.447 (meters) 4355.13 (feet) ADJUSTED

 

Technically speaking only the second is a BENCH MARK with an accurate elevation but only scaled Lat/Long, which are frequently several hundred feet off - Yes, you need to read the to find directions. The first one is a triangulation station with very accurate coordinates, but sometimes only a scaled elevation.

 

Now go read the two "Pinned" topics at the top of the Benchmark forum page and some of these terms will start to make sense.

 

Have fun, ask questions and remember; no secrets here - it is nice to see a L/L with the first post.

 

kayakbird

[Wintertime]

PID= Lat/Lon??

 

"Permanent identifier." It's a six-character (two letters and four numbers) identifier that NGS assigns to all survey marks in its database. Yours aren't there, so they can't be logged on Geocaching.com or with NGS. You can make waymarks from them.

[svigus]

I have found a disk that has the markings of:

 

US Bureau of Public Roads

3345.71

BM

LEV

 

can anyone give more information about this disk. Is it a benck mark or what is it....

 

Thanks

[Wintertime]

The "Me First" thread in this forum will probably answer your questions. If not, post a followup!

[+DangerousDale]

I found a benchmark near a dam, and I went to log it and couldn't find it in the GC site. I haven't done these before but from all I have read it might not be listed. Can someone tell me if this is one in the listing or do I have only the option to log in Waymarking? Here is the picture.

 

It is near the dam near Lake Mills in the Olympic National forest.

 

Thanks for your help and time in advance!

[+billwallace]

....

It is near the dam near Lake Mills in the Olympic National forest.

 

Thanks for your help and time in advance!

Checkout this NGS Benchmark Viewer - navigate to the dam (Upper Elwha Dam) and choose the MyTopo map option. Putting "Lake Mills, Washington" in the location search box seems to work. Zoom in to the dam... See the "BM 605" just above a triangle near the dam? That triangle is most likely your survey mark (note the elevation stamped on the disc).

 

Doesn't look like that mark has made it into the NGS database so it won't be in the GC.com database. If you zoom out a bit from the dam you can see two marks on peaks just west and east of the dam - these are in the GC.com database.

[+DangerousDale]

....

It is near the dam near Lake Mills in the Olympic National forest.

 

Thanks for your help and time in advance!

Checkout this NGS Benchmark Viewer - navigate to the dam (Upper Elwha Dam) and choose the MyTopo map option. Putting "Lake Mills, Washington" in the location search box seems to work. Zoom in to the dam... See the "BM 605" just above a triangle near the dam? That triangle is most likely your survey mark (note the elevation stamped on the disc).

 

Doesn't look like that mark has made it into the NGS database so it won't be in the GC.com database. If you zoom out a bit from the dam you can see two marks on peaks just west and east of the dam - these are in the GC.com database.

 

I found it on that site, thanks! I guess I can't log it in GC.com since it is not in the NGS database but I did create a waymark for it. And the two marks on the peaks, did I have to go there to log them or take pictures of them, or since I was in between them I could log them? I am sure I saw them but didn't know what I was looking for at the time, nor will I be back anytime soon if ever. Just wondering what the requirements are for this? Don't want to cheat, but if I deserve it, I would gladly log them.

 

Is this what you were referring to:

SY1854: OVAL

Location is: ADJUSTED

Last Activity: 1926, MONUMENTED, By CGS

NGS Data Sheet: Link, Geocache Page: Link

Add PID to Data Sheet Viewer: Add PID

And

TR2480: VALL

Location is: ADJUSTED

Last Activity: 1926, MONUMENTED, By CGS

NGS Data Sheet: Link, Geocache Page: Link

Add PID to Data Sheet Viewer: Add PID

[kayakbird]

TR2480: VALL

D---D---,

 

This might be an intersection station; which are usually listed as 'FIRST OBSERVED' instead of 'MONUMENTED'.

 

To be certain that you were sighting in at the right mountain, or in this case at the correct knob on a ridge,

 

TR2480''STATION IS THE PEAK FORMING E TIP OF RIDGE BEHIND ROCK FROM E IT

TR2480''IS A SKYLINE RIDGE

 

wouldn't you just about have to be at the triangulation station(s) that use it for a reference object? kayakbird

 

PS I think that there may be a punctuation mark or two missing MEL

 

ps ps

 

and which one of these two spires would you give the DDMMSS.sssss DDDMMSS.sssss to?

 

TR2477* NAD 83(1991)- 48 00 40.03874(N) 123 31 19.82625(W) ADJUSTED

TR2477 HISTORY - 1926 MONUMENTED CGS

TR2477

TR2477 STATION DESCRIPTION

TR2477

TR2477''DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1926 (HAC)

TR2477''STATIONS ARE THE TWO CONSPICUOUS SHARP PINNACLE ROCK TIPS ON THE

TR2477''TOP OF A RIDGE DIRECTLY S OF ANGELES POINT. THEY ARE ONLY ABOUT

TR2477''500 METERS APART. FROM PORT ANGELES THEY ARE IN RANGE BUT FROM

TR2477''MOST OTHER POSITIONS ALONG THE SHORE AND OFFSHORE THEY CAN BOTH BE

TR2477''SEEN. MEL

Edited September 21, 2010 by kayakbird

[+billwallace]

I found it on that site, thanks! I guess I can't log it in GC.com since it is not in the NGS database but I did create a waymark for it. And the two marks on the peaks, did I have to go there to log them or take pictures of them, or since I was in between them I could log them? I am sure I saw them but didn't know what I was looking for at the time, nor will I be back anytime soon if ever. Just wondering what the requirements are for this? Don't want to cheat, but if I deserve it, I would gladly log them.

If there is a disk you need to see the disk to log it and we love to see pictures of disks and their surroundings.

 

As kayakbird mentioned Val and Oval look like they might be intersection stations - which don't have disks. You can read about intersection stations here. To log these you have to make sure you saw the exact feature written in the description.