Survey Markers????

[joseywalesb]

On top of many peaks there are USGS markers. This was due to the 2 studies that I've read of and know about currently. Not sure if there were any others, now it's all done with Satellites. Anyone know why on some peaks they have them and others they don't? It would seem if it were surveyed they'd put one on every peak???? Why would they not mark some mountains, and mark others??? Ampersand was the first place I'd seen 2 markers, this was pretty odd as well, from two different surveys I'd guess... Both are dated 1942 :eek:

[hawk]

Are you talking about the Benchmarks?

There are lots of them in the dacks, but they are often hard to find, even if you have the gops co-ordinates for them.

[Boreal Chickadee]

Can't answer all your questions but I believe that some of the markers were for triangulation and not marking the actual summit, therefore some peaks have more than one marker. Others have been stolen over the years. :cry:

Check out form the library the Verplanck Colvin story. Good reading.

[Jay H]

There also a bunch of different "types" of markers at least those that I've noticed. Some are labelled as a "azimuth" and would have an arrow on it and some are "elevation" markers with the elevation on it. There's a couple peaks in NY State where I've seen like 3 different USGS markers on it. I believe there are three on a peak by Storm King Mtn in the Hudson Highlands (west coast).

Jay

[TFR]

There also a bunch of different "types" of markers at least those that I've noticed. Some are labelled as a "azimuth" and would have an arrow on it and some are "elevation" markers with the elevation on it. There's a couple peaks in NY State where I've seen like 3 different USGS markers on it. I believe there are three on a peak by Storm King Mtn in the Hudson Highlands (west coast).

JayQuite often, the 3 markers on a summit are a group. 2 have arrows that point to a 3rd with a triangle on it.

There was a long discussion of markers over on VFTT (http://viewsfromthetop.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13421&highlight=markers) a while ago. In that thread, there are links to many different types of markers. I still like mine the best! :D

[joseywalesb]

So when I was up there Sat. this dude was telling me quite in depth about the survey conducted years ago. He has some property over on Burnt Hill, just a couple miles up the road from my house, and was telling me the process for the survey. He said they do it via aerial, i.e. planes and a ground guy, and end up with a triangular tape type thing. Then the dude started kicking around in the dirt, and sure enough, he pulled out like a 1/2 inch dowel that was used to mark the corner of the property some 75 or so years ago. This is very expensive, but after 75 years, just to be able to find a 1/2 dowel buried on a 2 or 300 acre lot in the middle of the woods amazes me. He even had pictures of it. Unreal... Would this be the same as what they do at the top of the peaks???

[masshysteria]

Triangulation was the method of choice up till about 30 or 40 years ago. If you read the accounts of Colvin and how triangulation was done and elevation was arrived at, it is amazing that their figures were even ball park. The purpose of most of the survey markers was as a reference point to place their 'theodelite' (sp?) over to view other survey points or benchmarks in the distance. You had to have a line of sight to at least 3 different points to accurately triangulate, hence there could not be any trees obstructing the view.

I have a benchmark on my property from the 1927 Mass. Land Survey. It's noted on all topo maps as 'Mottor', and it is simply a large boulder with a small drill hole in it. The surveying instument was plumbed over that hole and sightings were made to other known benchmarks. I live on the top of a ridge, and the area was cleared of trees in the early part of the century, giving the expansive view that was needed to triangulate properly. Now it's all woods, but that rock is still there and is a legal benchmark for surveyors.

[joseywalesb]

I have been going to Strackville for roughly 20 yrs or so now and came across one. I didn't have my camera to get a pic of it, but will. I found it while cutting a downed tree the state cut down a couple yrs ago. It's right on the side of the road on like a concrete footer or something. Who'da thought. Very very very cool. Will get a pic and post it... I've started looking all over for them, keep your eyes open folks and see where you see them. Some strange places I'm sure. :tup: