Table of Contents

Cover Page

In Search of the Sun Tunnels

Benchmark Hunting

Geocache Workout Program

Regular Features

Chuckles

Credits

Submission Guidelines

In case any of you haven't noticed, Geocaching.com has set up a section for hunting & logging benchmarks. It is available here.

What are benchmarks, and why should you go looking for them? Hopefully we can help you out some. Benchmarks are survey markers that have been set up by the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), in order to give surveyors good reference points for their work. Initially they were used by the government to survey unorganized territories. This was required by the US Constitution, before any new states could be added to the Union. They are also used to mark boundaries, such as state lines, Indian Reservations, and international boundaries.

There are over 700,000 benchmarks in the United States. Chances are, there are several with 1 mile of your home. Benchmarks are usually marked with a metal disk like this one, which was placed in 1935:

Photo by dino_hunters

Benchmarks can also be old stone or brick monuments, or landmarks visible from a long distance, such a water tower, mountain peak, or the steeple on an old church. Searching for benchmarks can be as fun as geocaching. You get to see all sorts of neat places like high mountain peaks, old buildings, bridges, and sometimes ghost towns! You even get to write a log for your visit at the geocaching.com website. Instead of a waypoint number (like GC1234), they are called by their PID's (permanent identifiers). Geocaching.com uses the same PID's that the NGS uses.

Be sure to Click Here to see pictures of many of the different kinds of benchmarks that are available.

There are other treats for benchmark hunters. Sometimes a benchmark hasn't been "recovered" in a long time. This means that no one has told the NGS that they have found it, and described the condition it was found in. If you find a benchmark that has not been recovered in a long time, you can submit a recovery note, with your name, to the NGS website.

Benchmarks can also be a challenge, which provides for more fun. Sometimes the coordinates listed are not accurate. This is because they are "scaled", or approximate. This means more hunting. Another challenge is the "Skulls". Geocaching.com marks all benchmarks that the NGS has presumed destroyed, with a skull. Sometimes they are still there, but they are just hard to find. These are the Difficulty 5's of the benchmark hunting world. You have to click on the link that says "See all benchmarks for this query" in order to see the Skulls.

Here are some interesting Benchmarks in Northern Utah.

Benchmark #MS0615 This is a stone monument in the Ghost Town of Kelton in Box Elder County. It was placed in 1868, and even has its own historical sign. Be sure to click on the link for more pictures!!! This is the original stone marker!

Photo by dino_hunters

Benchmark #MS0158 Photo by Olystats02

Here are a couple of brick monuments in Davis County, from the 1890's. Be sure to check out the rest of the pictures on the webpage. We haven't been to these yet, but we will soon. Benchmark #MS0501 Photo by Olystats02

Benchmark #KN0030 Here is a benchmark in Utah, where a metal disk from the US/Canada boundary survey was used because they ran out of the normal ones. It was placed in 1910.

Photo by KC7FEO

Photo by dino_hunters

Benchmark #AE4738 This benchmark was the first one placed in Utah, on August 3, 1847, just 10 days after Brigham Young arrived in the Salt Lake Valley. It is right on the southeast corner of Temple Square. All surveying done in Utah is centered around this point. The original stone monument, placed in 1855, is visible at the LDS Church History Museum along with antique surveying instruments. It is identical to the monument there today.

If you want to know more about benchmarking, just e-mail us. Or you can ask your questions at the benchmark hunting section of the geocaching.com forums.

Happy Hunting!!!

dino_hunters
tylosaurus@sisna.com