Benchmark Hunters?

[Flushingrouse]

Anyone out there who does some benchmark hunting care to give us “starters” a quick rundown of the process you use in order to come up with a db of benchmarks you intend to find? I’ve been browsing the listings I’ve been pulling and find that with some of them, the last line states that the mark has been destroyed…

Now, how do I tell before going through all the work and not have to read each and every page?

Also, what does “reset” in the name mean?(I.E. “bogus name 1945 reset”)

Where do you pull your list of benchmarks from?

Thanks for your help!!

Bill

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[Mama Fishcacher]

I’ve peeked around at benchmark hunting in the past. I’ll try my best to answer some of your questions!

Now, how do I tell before going through all the work and not have to read each and every page? On your page you brought up by searching by postal code or point ID, on the far right, there is a little icon under “last log”. If it was found to be destroyed, that icon should look like a broken plate. (Other icons are happy face for “found it” and frowny face for “didn’t find it”.) Otherwise on the far left of that page, there is also an opportunity to have a “destroyed” icon. (Other icons at that part of the page are a circle with a triangle in it for “not yet logged”, a circle with a ? in it for “may be missing” and a circle with a ! in it for “found or recovered”)

Also, what does “reset” in the name mean?(I.E. “bogus name 1945 reset”) A reset is a “replacement” benchmark for a previously destroyed or not found benchmark.

Where do you pull your list of benchmarks from? I’ve pulled mine in this way – from the main gc.com page, there is a link about 1/3 of the way down the page for benchmark hunting. Click on that. Then I type in my postal code and search. It’s just fun to look at other items that are considered benchmarks such as water towers, church steeples, etc.

I hope that helped!!!

~Mama Fishcacher

[AuntieNae]

I have a question on this same topic. What about benchmarks you find that are not listed? Can they be added?

[Mama Fishcacher]

Not all benchmarks are created equal. The ones on gc.com are NGS (National Geodetic Survey) benchmarks. Other organizations use benchmarks as well – US Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, county surveyors, private surveyors, highway departments, utility companies, and telecom companies are all known to use benchmarks that are similar in size and shape to the NGS ones. If you find one, you will find a code stamped on it that will usually give you a clue as to it’s origin. But if it’s not NGS, then it’s not added to the list kept on gc.com.

[subterranean]

Great topic!! I’ve wanted to hunt for benchmarks. The only thing that has kept me from doing so is that they are not all located on public land. What would be the best way to determine which are on private land and which are on public land??? Any general advice would be appreciated.

Matt

[Author]

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