“K 23″, PE0279

This benchmark has the distinction of being my “earliest ever” find—at just before 5:35am. After watching a less-than-spectacular but still awesome sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, for which we got up at 3:15am, Rich decided we could stop for a few benchmarks on the way back to Bar Harbor. Having no datasheet or coordinates with us wasn’t a problem this time. Rich wasn’t positive he had exactly the right location for this one as it’s been almost three years since he first found it, but I ran up the little hill he indicated and checked the most obvious outcropping, and there was the mark! It’s in fine condition, was well-exposed and easy to see from a distance, and the historic description is accurate.

A report on the condition of this mark has been submitted to NGS, along with the following recovery note:

Handheld GPS WAAS-corrected coordinates for the station are 44 22 43.6(N) 068 13 57.1(W).

Zhanna

… PE0279, Hancock County, ME N 44° 22.727′ W 068° 13.952′

… Eyelevel view of the mark on the rock outcrop.

… The general area; looking out toward the road.

“U 144″, PE0280

After watching a less-than-spectacular but still awesome sunrise from Cadillac Mountain, for which we got up at 3:15am, Rich decided we could stop for a few benchmarks on the way back to Bar Harbor. K 23 (PE0279) was first, followed shortly thereafter by this mark. It was very easy to find, set prominently in an outcropping rock just off the road. We noted that the fence mentioned in the datasheet description was removed at some point between Rich’s initial log in 2002 and our 2005 visit.

A report on the condition of this mark has been submitted to NGS, along with the following recovery note:

Recovered in good condition. There is no longer a fence at this location. Handheld GPS coordinates for the station are 44 22 49.1(N) 068 13 23.1(W).

Zhanna

… PE0280, Hancock County, ME N 44° 22.819′ W 068° 13.385′

… Eyelevel view of mark in rock outcrop.

… Looking S from Route 233.

“HIGGINS”, PE1870

Rich and I just hadn’t had enough benchmark hunts for one day, even after two very early-morning finds in the park. We were on our way to Indian Point to lounge around and watch the seals (who were also lounging around) when we realized that we’d be passing right by HIGGINS.

The nearby witness sign was very helpful in locating the small bolt. Reference mark 1 was easy to find as it’s set into a large and boulder, though it was covered in moss when we arrived. Reference mark 2 was more difficult to find; recovering it required taking measurements and bearings from the station as well as moving some heavy brush and fallen tree trunks. This was all quite an adventure on a hot, sunny, and extremely humid morning.

HIGGINS was a particularly interesting mark because of its Civil War-era date of monumentation. It’s not often in this country that you can touch something you know to be exactly the same as it was 140 years ago! Many of the very oldest stations were simply drill holes, which were later filled in with standard triangulation station disks in the 1930s. This station, marked by a bolt, managed to survive in its original form and was therefore an exciting find for us. The only additions to the site were the two reference marks (added in 1934) and a witness sign, date unknown though it looks to be relatively recent. This station may require another check soon, as there were indications of recent surveying in the area. I hope the station remains intact, even if development occurs.

A report on the condition of the station mark and both reference marks was submitted to NGS, along with the following recovery note:

The station mark and reference marks 1 and 2 were recovered in good condition. The fence and the blazed tree were not found. A standard metal witness sign is attached to a small tree adjacent to the station mark.

Zhanna

… PE1870, Hancock County, ME N 44° 23.333′ W 068° 22.118′

… Eyelevel view of the mark on outcropping rock; witness sign.

… Looking SW toward Higgins Farm Rd., mark indicated.

… PE1870 RM1, Hancock County, ME N 44° 23.334′ W 068° 22.114′

… View of mark on boulder, looking generally SW toward station and road.

… PE1870 RM2, Hancock County, ME N 44° 23.340′ W 068° 22.131′

… Eyelevel view of mark in concrete monument.

… Looking W toward Higgins Farm Road.

… View of RM and monument from rd., approximately SE.

“NEWPORT 1860″, PE1780

What an adventure! After a long, hot, wonderful morning of sunrise-viewing, seal-watching, benchmark hunting and hiking, Rich and I decided we’d enjoy an afternoon hike up on Champlain Mountain. As the Precipice Trail was closed this early in the season (to my great disappointment), we decided to hike the Bear Brook Trail instead. The hike began in the same kinds of conditions we’d experienced all morning—sunny and humid—but halfway up, we heard something, turned, and saw a thunderstorm coming at us straight across the bay. Yikes! We had little time to do anything but cover ourselves, crouch down, and wait. It was frightening, exhilarating, and hilarious all at once. The storm passed directly over and the thunder was amazing, but we didn’t experience any nearby lightning strikes. The rain was pounding us like handfuls of stones; I could hardly believe it was simply rain and not hail. After the storm passed (and after Rich took a few wacky photos of me wrapped up in my emergency poncho), we set out again for the top of the mountain. And of course, it showered once or twice more. This time we got soaked, but didn’t mind as the air was still warm. We found the station disk and both reference marks easily, and they’re all in good condition.

On our way back down the trail, we spotted another disk stamped JDR/USA. See my log here: Zhanna’s Survey Mark Recoveries: JDR/USA.

The following recovery note was submitted to NGS:

The station mark and reference marks 1 and 2 were recovered in good condition.

Zhanna

… Eyelevel view of the station disk in bedrock.

… Station in relation to the large cairn/signpost.

… PE1780 RM1, Hancock County, ME N 44° 21.047′ W 068° 11.642′

… Eyelevel view of RM1 disk set into bedrock.

… Looking generally N toward the station. (RM1 indicated by yellow arrow, station by white arrow.)

… RM1 is easy to find, adjacent to this huge cairn.

… PE1780 RM2, Hancock County, ME N 44° 21.043′ W 068° 11.646′

… Eyelevel view of RM2 disk set into rock ledge.

… Looking E toward the station, where Rich stands.

“JDR/USA”

View the complete JDR/USA log on my survey marks site.

“K 22″, PE0281

After a day spent golfing (Aaron) and getting caught in a thunderstorm (Rich and me), we met for dinner. On our way downtown for supper at Galyn’s, I couldn’t resist stopping to look for the benchmark at the post office. The disk is in good condition and very easy to spot.

Zhanna

… Eyelevel view of disk set into the foundation wall.

… View of the Post Office building, mark indicated.