Can benchmarks count as FTF?

[+SoonerL8R]

I was wondering if a benchmark has never been documented and we are the first to record and photograph them do they count as a FTF? I know of several in my area that nobody has ever found that I've seen growing up and plan on documenting and wondered how it all works. Thanks for any help!

[TillaMurphs]

Hi MRF,

 

It looks like you are in a great area to hunt for Benchmarks! There are scads of marks around there that were set in 1949 and very few of them have been logged by any geocachers.

 

I guess you could count them as FTF, although a better term might be FGCTL (First Geocacher To Log). We are always proud of ourselves when we are the first geocacher to log a mark on Geocaching.com but FTF is not really an acronym that we have seen commonly used for benchmarks.

 

There is a 1934 Triangulation Station benchmark near you that might be fun to look for if it is not on private property. Its PID is MJ1336 and its designation is “SEA”. (Iowa seems a funny place to have a station called “SEA”?) The last time it was logged by anyone was in 1950. That Station also has 2 Reference Marks, a MORC (Missouri River Commission) mark and an Azimuth Mark to look for. I am jealous. Triangulation Stations are a bit more complicated than a standard bench mark. You can read more about Triangulation Stations here: Benchmarking FAQ and here: Disks around Triangulation Stations

 

Good luck and have fun!

[+LSUFan]

 

I guess you could count them as FTF, although a better term might be FGCTL (First Geocacher To Log). We are always proud of ourselves when we are the first geocacher to log a mark on Geocaching.com but FTF is not really an acronym that we have seen commonly used for benchmarks.

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

Just like TillaMurph's describes, we are all proud to be the first one to log a benchmark, especially one that doesn't have a recovery report since it was placed.

 

Although geocaching.com will keep up with the number of benchmarks you log on their site, it doesn't add these benchmark numbers to your geocache find totals. The two numbers are kept separate.

 

Best of luck, and feel free to ask any questions here as you delve into the fun hobby of benchmarking.

Edited December 23, 2011 by LSUFan

[+SoonerL8R]

I think I'm gonna concentrate on some of the easier benchmarks to start with like the disc type that are a little easier to locate. I am definitely gonna make a note about that 1934 Triangulation Station and maybe as I gain some experience and build up my locating skills will try to go locate it if it's on public land! I really appreciate all the help and look forward to learning more from all of you experienced benchmark hunters!

[Wintertime]

Farmer, you might even want to start with a couple of benchmarks that other geocachers have already found (and maybe even posted photos of). That way you won't risk starting out frustrated if the ones you look for are no longer there.

 

Patty

[kayakbird]

Hi MRF,

 

--------------------That Station also has 2 Reference Marks, a MORC (Missouri River Commission)------------------------------

--------------------------

Good luck and have fun!

 

I would be very happy to see you log MORC 375 MJ1336. Most of the Missouri Commission Bench Marks and Triangulation Stations were actually set in the 1880's, but are listed in the DATASHEET with an unknown or a later date when they were first recovered or renewed. About 50% of the ones in Montana have survived the 120 plus years, but I know that downstream they are very scarce.

 

I cannot find a MORC 375 in my in-complete download of the 1891 report of the Secretary of War, but there is a listing about 20 miles north for GRANT:

NM0341'MARK IS A 4-INCH IRON PIPE, PROJECTING APPROXIMATELY 18 INCHES

NM0341'WITH CAP ON TOP AND A RAISED TRIANGLE IN CENTER. IT WAS

NM0341'FOUND TO BE INTACT AND IN GOOD CONDITION.

 

Triangulation Station NM0340 ANT and its two RM's & AZ (NM0339 ANT RM 1, NM0338 ANT RM 2 and NM0377 ANT AZ MK) were all set nearby in 1934. With 1950 recoveries and what looks to be an undisturbed location on Google Earth, I would have very high hopes of finding all of these.

 

The below link is a good story about finding a long lost MORC stone over in Nebraska and the remonumentation of a brass cap in place of the standard MORC Pipe and Cap. I think that Mr. Penry also has a newer renewal of a MORC Tri Station but it is not coming up today.

 

http://www.penryfamily.com/surveying/saintderoin.html

 

 

MORC TROVERS

 

One of my finds where thde 37 inch long, 4 1/2 inch diameter pipe with its distinctive cast iron cap had eroded or been pulled out of an unusually shallow setting. Most of the MORC Tri's will have just the cap protruding, while the BM's generally stick up a foot or more.

 

Happy hunting. kayakbird

Edited December 23, 2011 by kayakbird

[TillaMurphs]

Hi MRF,

 

--------------------That Station also has 2 Reference Marks, a MORC (Missouri River Commission)------------------------------

--------------------------

Good luck and have fun!

 

I would be very happy to see you log MORC 375 MJ1336....

 

Happy hunting. kayakbird

 

Kayakbird,

 

I knew you would be able to smell any mention of a MORC mark. As soon as I typed my reply to MRF I knew it would only be a matter of time - 12 hours - you are getting a little slow.

[kayakbird]

Hi MRF,

 

--------------------That Station also has 2 Reference Marks, a MORC (Missouri River Commission)------------------------------

--------------------------

Good luck and have fun!

 

I would be very happy to see you log MORC 375 MJ1336....

 

Happy hunting. kayakbird

 

Kayakbird,

 

I knew you would be able to smell any mention of a MORC mark. As soon as I typed my reply to MRF I knew it would only be a matter of time - 12 hours - you are getting a little slow.

 

OK, I took the bait - just keep throwing me into that briar patch, maybe with a couple SS + CGS marks as a bonus. MEL

[TillaMurphs]

 

OK, I took the bait - just keep throwing me into that briar patch, maybe with a couple SS + CGS marks as a bonus. MEL

For your Christmas present, here is a 1934 SS+CGS in red and green Christmas colors:

 

And here is SC0374 after we sprayed on the white flocking:

 

.

.

 

Merry Christmas everyone!

.

.

[AZcachemeister]

I've been 'first to find' on more than a few marks.

It is gratifying, but carries about as much reward as FTF on a geocache (actually, possibly less...since the cache owner may have left an FTF prize.)

[kayakbird]

Thanks TillaMurphs. Now to get back to Iowa and hopes of generating new and old enthusiasm. A little playing with Excel, GSAK and DSWORLD came up with this Mother Load - an 1880's MORC Tri, 1930's CGS + SS and a 1934 CGS Tri with RM's & AZ - six pieces of PID'd brass in one trip!! Cultivation permitting. of course.

 

NM0355| NM0356 HEDGES 6.237 METERS 11201 |

NM0355| NM0354 WASHBURN RM 1 39.323 METERS 17526 |

NM0355| NM0357 97 941 122.290 METERS 17815 |

NM0355| NM1665 SLOAN MUNICIPAL TANK APPROX.12.3 KM 2190116.0 |

NM0355| NM0350 WASHBURN AZ MK 2515142.1 |

NM0355| NM1679 SALIX MUNICIPAL TANK APPROX.12.6 KM 2644516.1 |

NM0355| NM0353 WASHBURN RM 2 33.011 METERS 35730 |

 

kayakbird

[+Harry Dolphin]

Ah. But just because I'm the first one to log the benchmark KV1352 to Geocaching, or even to the NGS KV1352 does not mean that I was the first to find. The pink surveyor's tape helped with this one. Someone found it before me, but never logged it. So, it's not an FTF.

[2oldfarts (the rockhounders)]

You are correct Mr. Dolphin. It is actually a "FTR = First To Recover" on both Geocaching and NGS since Monumented.

 

Everyone aught to remember that term from all of the benchmark contests we have had. You actually received extra points for FTRs. And old ones also.

 

My, how the mind forgets things over the years......

 

Shirley~

[foxtrot_xray]

I'm the odd one out. I don't care too much for FTR's.. I enjoy more the ones that are found after the last person COULDN'T find it. ("FNF" - Found Not Found? "RNF" - Recovered Not Found?) Like HK0001 - RV 105, apparently, the DOD just.. couldn't find this one. (And the second time I was there I got better pictured, but need to upload them to GC still. D'oh, a year later.) However, some FNF's just aren't all that impressive, like CK3749 - TYBEE LIGHTHOUSE - yes, I logged that one to NGS, Deb said that I should, to correct *ahem*'s horrible recovery.