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Akane
   
Noble Donor
location:
London, Ontario
 |  | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 20 on 11/28/2004 12:37 AM >
|  | | | Posted by MDuitsman
By the way, I've also seen them in urban areas painted onto sidewalks (probably the original was paved over, so the paint marker is temporary). These would be used most likely for orienteering, map-reading practice, and the like. The one I saw looked like this:
 It was about a 3x3 inch square.
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That would be temporary benchmarks. They were probably painted there during the design survey or before a construction project either on the road(s) or a nearby building. These temporary benchmarks are placed relative to the stone monument benchmarks (that make the topic of this thread.) The temporaries are closer to where the surveying is going to take place and are easier (or possible) to use without constantly taking shots of benchmarks very far away.
During and before construction, you'll often see marks or stakes marked BS### (backsight), CP ### (Control Point), and TSP ### (Temporary setup point). These are surveying points related to the construction project (and you shouldn't mess around with them either, unless you're an asshole.)
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MacGyver
location:
St Paul, Minnesota
Gender: Male
"Someone go find me a paperclip, a D-cell battery, and a cheese grater"
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 21 on 11/28/2004 8:07 AM >
| | | | Posted by Turbo
Hey isn't that Enger Tower in Duluth?
It looks familiar.
Dan |
Close, but no cigar. As Macsbug states, this is a very old and very historic water tower in St. Paul, MN. Every summer, it is opened for one weekend to the public, which is where I got my pictures.
To your credit, you actually made a connection I never have. Both towers are octagonal and composed of some sort of stone with an observation deck at the top. Both are also on top of a hill, for what that's worth...
Anyways, here are pictures for comparison:
Enger tower:
(photo not taken by me)
Highland Park water tower:
(photo taken by me)
Maybe sometime I'll dig up my pictures from Enger tower. I've been there a few times, and it might even have a benchmark or two, although I don't remember seeing any.
Like a fiend with his dope / a drunkard his wine / a man will have lust for the lure of the mine
"If you are not part of the solution, you are not dissolved in the solvent." |
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xrahy
   
Noble Donor
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 22 on 11/28/2004 5:03 PM >
| | | | Not a benchmark, but similar.
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tbone
Gender: Male
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 23 on 11/29/2004 2:02 PM >
| | | | Posted by Akane
During and before construction, you'll often see marks or stakes marked BS### (backsight), CP ### (Control Point), and TSP ### (Temporary setup point). These are surveying points related to the construction project (and you shouldn't mess around with them either, unless you're an asshole.)
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agreed.
also, don't touch nails with orange flag on them
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MatC
Nobler Donor
location:
ENY
Gender: Male
Accepted everywhere
| |  | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 24 on 12/2/2004 12:06 AM >
| | | | Posted by xrahy
Not a benchmark, but similar.
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This is an awesome picture (except for the vandalism -- stupid Cory  ). I can't read the writing at the top -- is this meant to mark the highest point on the Parkway, or some historic event, or is it just a random commemoration?
-- Mat
"We shall not cease from exploration / And the end of all our exploring / Will be to arrive where we started / And know the place for the first time."
- T.S. Eliot, excerpt from "Little Gidding" |
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Slickis
Noble Donor
location:
Kokomo, Indiana
Gender: Male
Rest In Piece Booger 4-6-08
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 25 on 12/2/2004 12:57 AM >
| | | | Posted by xrahy
Not a benchmark, but similar.
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That's pretty close to home for me, maybe an hour away.
I've been feeling funny since I went in that open crypt. Not sure what it is. |
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xrahy
Noble Donor
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 26 on 12/2/2004 11:36 AM >
| | | | Posted by MatC
This is an awesome picture (except for the vandalism -- stupid Cory ). I can't read the writing at the top -- is this meant to mark the highest point on the Parkway, or some historic event, or is it just a random commemoration?
-- Mat
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Thanks Mat,
It's at an overlook (obviously). The holes around the perimeter used to have little cones as well, you line up the center cone with one of the outer ones and it points to various other mountain tops or places of interest. Names and distance noted on plaque. I can't remember what is written at the top.
Slickis, I think it's more like 3 or 4 hours from you, if you're actually in Gatlinburg, TN.
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Kokopelli
location:
Jacksonville, Florida
Gender: Male
Crack Smokin' Parrot
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 27 on 12/2/2004 3:56 PM >
| | | | It is my understanding that they're used for geographical survey crews and topographical maps. I saw them marked on the topo map I had of the Huachucas in AZ, and was going to use them to hike to the various adits throughout the mountains. Unfortunately, I could never find people to go on that long of a hike.
"...Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live..." --Marcus Aurelius |
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Slickis
Noble Donor
location:
Kokomo, Indiana
Gender: Male
Rest In Piece Booger 4-6-08
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 28 on 12/2/2004 10:06 PM >
| | | | Posted by xrahy
Thanks Mat,
It's at an overlook (obviously). The holes around the perimeter used to have little cones as well, you line up the center cone with one of the outer ones and it points to various other mountain tops or places of interest. Names and distance noted on plaque. I can't remember what is written at the top.
Slickis, I think it's more like 3 or 4 hours from you, if you're actually in Gatlinburg, TN.
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I didn't realize it was that far away.
I've been feeling funny since I went in that open crypt. Not sure what it is. |
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Turbo
location:
Durham Region
Gender: Male
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 29 on 12/24/2004 12:17 AM >
| | | | Posted by MacGyver
Close, but no cigar. As Macsbug states, this is a very old and very historic water tower in St. Paul, MN. Every summer, it is opened for one weekend to the public, which is where I got my pictures.
To your credit, you actually made a connection I never have. Both towers are octagonal and composed of some sort of stone with an observation deck at the top. Both are also on top of a hill, for what that's worth...
Anyways, here are pictures for comparison:
Maybe sometime I'll dig up my pictures from Enger tower. I've been there a few times, and it might even have a benchmark or two, although I don't remember seeing any.
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I was in Duluth about 3 years ago and I have pics from the top over looking the causeway and Superior and pics of the inside but I'd have to look for them... I thought it was the same place but I guess not.. my bad.. I was in the right state though.. lol
Dan
Have you felt her breath on the back of your neck.. I have... |
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greywolf45
location:
U.S.A.
Gender: Male
Resident UER pain in the ass
| |  | | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 30 on 1/5/2005 5:53 AM >
| | | | Posted by MDuitsman
I'm sure a lot of you people know this, but I just think its a good idea to give fair warning to those who don't.
On some explorations you may see what appears to be brass/copper disc inlaid into the ground. If you look closely, it will have a number of things deeply engraved on it, the most important of which being "BM ###" This object is called a monumented benchmark, and they are rather fascinating objects because of how durable and long-lasting they are.
However, you should never attempt to move or deface a benchmark (of course, it probably wouldn't cross your mind to begin with). This is for two reasons:
1. Doing so is a serious federal offense (definitely in the U.S., but probably in Canada too) for which you will have both law enforcement AND the military after you.
2. Benchmarks are excellent emergency locations because they make it so much easier for rescue personnel to find you (or any unfortunate person) when you are out in the sticks.
Here's a picture of a really fancy benchmark- <http://www.hewgill.../IMG_7491.JPG.html>
Note: Benchmarks can also be found as a concrete slab (like a gravestone) with numbers etched into it.
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I would love to see the 4 corners bench mark. Think i'll get on the WWW, and find a picture of it.
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends"
Martin Luther King Jr. |
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BigPoppaMikey
This user has been banned. See the banlist page for more details.
location:
Milpitas, California
Gender: Male
Don't follow me unless you want to...
| |  |  | | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 31 on 1/11/2005 5:52 AM >
| | | | Here is one:
Wishing I was Jack Dalton just to have all the cool leftovers... |
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The Corch
location:
Cambridge, ON
Gender: Male
Mein Führer, I can walk!
| | | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 32 on 1/26/2005 1:00 AM >
| | | | Do these exist in Ontario at all? I've never seen anything like this.
The Corch. |
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Akane
Noble Donor
location:
London, Ontario
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 33 on 1/28/2005 5:11 AM >
| | | | Posted by The Corch
Do these exist in Ontario at all? I've never seen anything like this.
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They certainly do. I work with them every now and then.
Many of them are in stone or concrete foundations along the sides of major highways.
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altec
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 34 on 1/30/2005 1:37 AM >
|  | | | Well, I know the military uses benchmarks because I had map reading as part of my JROTC class and we used Army maps of towns and there were like, a million BM ### etc. Also, there are a lot of Relay towers in Columbus.... Hmm, another thought to ponder?
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CCC
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 35 on 2/19/2005 7:52 AM >
| | | | you can find craploads of benchmarks through geocaching.com - they have thousands in their database that they got straight from the government.
Not ALL benchmarks are in their database, though... some city government ones or whatever... for example we found several of these in Buffalo that aren't in geocaching.com's database.
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Archer
  
location:
Toronto, ON
Gender: Male
Imperator Sagittario
| | | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 36 on 2/20/2005 4:18 AM >
| | | | Posted by Akane
They certainly do. I work with them every now and then.
Many of them are in stone or concrete foundations along the sides of major highways.
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There's one in front of the Sanford Fleming Building on the U of T campus, if I recall correctly. Not sure if it's a government benchmark or one that the university put there to mark the location of soemthing that used to be there.
Abandoned UE - http://www.abandonedue.com
"We live in a twilight world... and there are no friends at dusk." |
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tbone
Gender: Male
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 37 on 2/22/2005 5:59 PM >
| | | | Posted by Archer
There's one in front of the Sanford Fleming Building on the U of T campus, if I recall correctly. Not sure if it's a government benchmark or one that the university put there to mark the location of soemthing that used to be there.
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campuses sometimes keep them pretty obvious for survey school purposes i think
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Giblet
location:
Atlanta
Gender: Male
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 38 on 3/21/2005 9:04 PM >
| | | | Posted by XRAHY
Not a benchmark, but similar.
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I've seen this one but the pic is on film and I'm too lazy to scan it.
That's a great Thinkin' Spot.
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Pydpiper
Gender: Male
| | Re: Things NOT to disturb- Benchmarks
<Reply # 39 on 3/24/2005 3:11 AM >
| | | | Great stuff! I never knew what these were after years of seeing them..
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