Groundspeak is removing Benchmarking and the logs/photos

[+Max and 99]

1 hour ago, Team OPJim said:

So I used to qualify for a local geocache which requires the finding of 14 icons.  I had 14 with benchmarking.  But now it is gone, I only have 13, so I can't log a find on the geocache unless I find a different Icon.  Bummer.  

 

https://coord.info/GC2HRF5

 

 

Aha: it was removed 2/5/2024. It's no longer an icon option for the challenge! You are correct!

That's a bummer! Too bad you weren't able to sign the log before benchmarking was removed!

Edited April 2 by Max and 99

[JASTA 11]

I don't know what's going on, but our BM total still shows:

 

[haystack]

Extremely Disappointed with this Decision,  I Enjoyed  the additional Hunt to the Geocache Quest.

[+Team OPJim]

Because they are no longer counted as finds, they no longer count as icons.  If you look at my statistics, I don't have an icon for benchmarking

 

I finally resolved the issue by finding the geocaching maze at geowoodstock XX.  But it was still disappointing 

[andylphoto]

Disappointed to see this. I haven't been terribly active for years due to life circumstances, but have still occasionally looked for a benchmark, and photographed them if I happened across one--especially while traveling. Back when I was more active, someone had collected Geocaching finds and submitted them along with HH2 coordinates. I recently recovered a couple and had come here to find out if that was still happening--very pleased to find you can log them directly online now. That will be useful. I was always more active benchmarking than geocaching, but now that my kids are a bit older, they are enjoying the geocache hunt on occasion.

 

I am VERY thankful that the Scaredycat films benchmark finder is still active--I hope that we never lose that resource as it is incredibly helpful! I use that regularly. I believe I read a while back that Dave has retired--congratulations Dave! Is Deb Brown still around and interested in reports on destroyed marks?

[+cerberus1]

On 4/4/2024 at 1:47 PM, JASTA 11 said:

I don't know what's going on, but our BM total still shows:

 

That's part of the hobby's (and your...) history.  History of the hobby is why we still see CO's archived hides as well...

[+cerberus1]

On 6/11/2024 at 11:40 PM, Team OPJim said:

Because they are no longer counted as finds, they no longer count as icons.  If you look at my statistics, I don't have an icon for benchmarking

 

I finally resolved the issue by finding the geocaching maze at geowoodstock XX.  But it was still disappointing 

 

Benchmarks never counted as finds in the US...

The closest is benchmarks in Europe that were added to cache pages and logged multiple times (with multiple Finds).