On August 20, 1920, the United States opened its first coast-to-coast airmail delivery route, just 60 years after the Pony Express closed up shop. There were no good aviation charts in those days, so pilots had to eyeball their way across the country using landmarks. This meant that flying in bad weather was difficult, and night flying was just about impossible.
The Postal Service solved the problem with the world's first ground-based civilian navigation system: a series of lighted beacons that would extend from New York to San Francisco. Every ten miles, pilots would pass a 70-foot concrete arrow on the ground which was painted a bright yellow. At the center of each arrow there would be a 51-foot steel tower, topped by a million-candlepower rotating beacon. Below the rotating light were two course lights pointing forward and backward along the arrow. The course lights flashed a code to identify the beacon's number. If needed, a generator shed at the tail of each arrow powered the beacon and lights.
New advances in communication and navigation technology made the big arrows obsolete, and the Commerce Department decommissioned the beacons in the 1940s. The steel towers were torn down and went to the war effort. Today, only some of the weathered cement arrows remain.
This puzzle is based on 6 of the remaining arrows here in Utah. To solve the puzzle, fly to each of the given coordinates on Google Earth or in at least one instance use the internet to answer the questions. Make sure that “Places” is checked on Google Earth. To get the answers you will have to look both from the air and by using Street View.
A. Beacon Hill Arrow (unknown#)
N36 41.120 W114 31.058
What building is closest to this arrow? Don't use sheds or other small stractures, use one of these buildings.
Nevada Highway Patrol Glendale/Moapa Sub Station (198)
Sinclair Gas & Fuel (183)
Moapa Valley Mortuary (203)
B. Black Ridge Arrow (#40A)
N37 23.753 W113 15.438
Which town is approximately 10 Miles from the arrow as the crow flies?
Pintura (206)
Leeds (227)
Toquerville (185)
C. Quail Creek Res. W. Overlook (#37C)
N37 10.835 W113 24.026
Make your way to the nearby St George Water Treatment plant. How many tall white tanks are there on the property?
1 (201)
2 (193)
3 (217)
D. Shinob Kibe (#37B)
N37 07.047 W113 29.258
What is the approximate elevation of the arrow?
3150 (207)
3200 (194)
3250 (230)
E. Bloomington Overlook (#37A)
N37 03.890 W113 35.722
Go to the nearby roundabout just off of I-15 and Brigham Road. While headed West from East Brigham Road there will be a sign just before you go under the freeway. You might want to go here N37 03.577 W113 35.017. Which name on this list is not on the sign?
Pioneer South (215)
Pioneer North (177)
Brigham West (228)
Brigham East (217)
South I-15 (222)
F. Lakepoint Arrow (#61A)
N40 42.274 W112 15.219
The nearest Arrow, that I've found to still exist close to Salt Lake City, is near Lakepoint, Ut. Unfortunately it is on Rio Tinto property, so you won't be able to get to it. there are pictures online that will give you an up close look. This arrow is different from the others I have listed as it has two tails. For this arrow you will have to look around the internet and find the two different cities that had routes that used this location to get to the Salt Lake City airfield. Which one isn't one of the cities?
San Francisco, Ca. (223)
Los Angeles, Ca. (200)
San Diego, Ca. (187)
Take the number assigned to the correct answer of A, B and C and add them together to get XXX.
A+B+C=XXX
Do the same with D,E and F to get YYY.
C+D+F=YYY
The final can be found at N40 43.XXX W111 58.YYY
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
Here are the coordinates of another arrow that is near the Dell, Ut. Exit off of I-80: N40 49.588 W112 54.344. The Google Earth image for this arrow isn’t clear but I did find some pictures online taken from the ground. It looks like you should be able to be get to this arrow without too much trouble. The other arrows that I listed for southern Utah are also accessible.
Congratulations to jecepe08 for FTF