twofer
-
noun
An offer, a deal, or
an arrangement in which a single expense yields a dual
return. |
This series will
provide you with a dual return if you choose to make just a little
bit of extra effort. Each cache in this series is located very
close to a benchmark. Not only can you get the smiley, you can add
a benchmark to your finds list.
BENCHMARKS
You can read more
about benchmarks in greater detail
at geocaching.com but here is
some basic information for those of you not familiar with
benchmarks.
What is a
benchmark? A benchmark is a point whose position is
known to a high degree of accuracy and is normally marked in some
way. The marker is often a metal disk made for this purpose, but it
can also be a church spire, a radio tower, a mark chiseled into
stone, or a metal rod driven into the ground. Benchmarks can be
found at various locations all over the United States. They are
used by land surveyors, builders and engineers, map makers, and
other professionals. Benchmarks come from the National Geodetic
Survey (NGS), a federal agency within the Department of Commerce.
The NGS database contains all sorts of information about these
benchmarks. In the NGS database, each geodetic control marker has a
Permanent IDentifier, known as a PID and an associated datasheet of
information about it.
Why search
for benchmarks? The interesting thing about
benchmarks is that a majority of them are located in plain sight
(though largely ignored by the general public). Searching out these
locations and documenting them allows others to share pictures of
the various areas where they are placed. There's a certain
excitement to be the first to find and document a control point, as
well as seeing what others have found through uploaded photos. Some
of these points haven't been visited and documented in a very long
time, so you may also be rediscovering long neglected objects of
American history as well!
How does
someone find a benchmark?
- Choose some
benchmarks to search for and get their datasheets. Datasheets
contain the coordinates and a description of where to find the
benchmark. If I am planning on hunting a cache, I will often click
the "Nearest Benchmarks" link on the cache page to see if there are
any benchmarks close to the cache site.You can also go to the
benchmarks homepage and search
by zip code. The easiest to find are the ones that have been found
by someone else using Geocaching.com and have uploaded pictures
showing the mark's location.
- Do not set out with
coordinates only; you must have the verbal to-reach description in
the datasheet with you when you go. The coordinates are often
inaccurate. Using the written description can help you locate the
benchmark more quickly. Later, if you do find that the coordinates
were incorrect, take a mark of your own and post it to the
benchmark page for future hunters to use.
- The hunting process:
When you arrive at the area of a benchmark's location but before
you get out of your car, read the datasheet carefully. The first
thing to note is whether the mark is location-adjusted or
location-scaled. Next, read all the benchmark's recovery notes from
the most recent to the oldest. In each recovery note, the most
important item of information is the distance and direction of the
landmark that is the the shortest distance from the station. Start
with the closest landmark of all the recovery notes and see if you
can find it. The most accurate instrument you have is your tape
measure, not your GPSr, so use the tape measure first. If the mark
can't easily be found, continue with the next closest landmark and
measure from it to an intersection area with the distance you
measured from the first landmark. If you don't see the mark yet,
probe the ground in the area with a probe, (benchmarks often get
buried) searching for the disk plus its monumentation. If you
haven't yet found the mark, read older recovery notes again to try
to get more information, since many recovery reports don't bother
repeating older recovery information that's still
good.
THIS
TWOFER
The
Cache - To get the smiley, look for a matchsafe at the
posted coordinates. Use the hint if needed. Please replace as found
after signing the log - cover well. Also, please do not
over-tighten the container top because it will cause the O-ring to
fail. Parking is pretty close to the cache and there is a small
hill to climb. Muggles are often heavy at this spot but they are
usually driving by rather quickly - stay safe and stay out of the
street. Enjoy!
The
Benchmark -
FE1248 - You can view the
datasheet using that link but here is some information. You are
looking for a triangulation station disk. The posted coordinates
for the benchmark are N 35° 12.063 W 089° 50.311
and they are fairly accurate. The disk is located on the top of a
hill not too far away from an electrical pole. It is set in a
concrete block in the ground. Below is a picture of what you seek.
Once you have found it, you can take a picture of it but it is not
required. Some people will take a picture of the benchmark with
their GPS or with them in the picture. You may also take pictures
of the surrounding area to aid future hunters. To log the find, go
to the
geocaching.com page for the
benchmark and click " Log this benchmark". From there
it is a similar procedure to logging a
cache.
This is
a view from the cache site to the location of the benchmark across
the street. This is a very busy street!! Please cross in safety
whether you choose to walk or drive.
BONUS
I went
ahead and created a waymark of the benchmark, too -
WM3HWE. If you do
waymarking, make sure to log
it.