“TIDAL 8 STA 11″, PE0283

Complete survey mark log »

… Current view of approximate location of bench. All benches have been removed and new paths have been constructed.

“841 3320 TIDAL 6″, PE0286

Complete survey mark log »

… New seawall in June 2005, no mark.

“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

… PE1780, Hancock County, ME N 44° 21.044′ W 068° 11.643′

… 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

… PE0281, Hancock County, ME N 44° 23.370′ W 068° 12.426′

… Eyelevel view of disk set into the foundation wall.

… View of the Post Office building, mark indicated.

“BASS HARBOR HEAD LIGHTHOUSE”, PE1835

This was my second benchmark find on a day that went very quickly from 90° and sunny (while we were hiking on Bar Island) to about 45°, dark and misty (while we were eating our lobster lunch at Beal’s). At the lighthouse, the conditions were cold and foggy, but we still took some time for photos and exploration. The lighthouse is beautiful and I hope we were able to do it some justice with our photographs, even though we could only capture it from the usual viewpoint this time. Had we known about the nearby BASS HARBOR RESET mark, we may have searched for it as well (or simply saved it for a warmer day!).

Zhanna

… PE1835, Hancock County, ME

“CADILLAC GROUND 1968″ ,PE1787

This was my third benchmark find on a day that went very quickly from 90° and sunny (while we were hiking on Bar Island) to about 45°, dark and misty (while we were eating our lobster lunch at Beal’s). Still beneath a heavy fog, we drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain intending to log a few benchmarks and a virtual cache. This unusually-shaped mark was easy to find, especially with Rich along as a guide. It appears to be in good condition.

A report on the condition of this mark has been submitted to NGS.

Zhanna

… PE1787, Hancock County, ME N 44° 21.151′ W 068° 13.447′

… Eyelevel view of the mark on the rock outcrop.

… View from the sidewalk.

“MOUNT DESERT RESET”, PE1778

This was my fourth benchmark find on a day that went very quickly from 90° and sunny (while we were hiking on Bar Island) to about 45°, dark and misty (while we were eating our lobster lunch at Beal’s). Still beneath a heavy fog, we drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain intending to log a few benchmarks and a virtual cache. MOUNT DESERT RESET was easy to find, as were both of its reference marks and the USGS station “K 24”. All marks appear to be in fair to good condition.

For my log of “K 24”, please see: Zhanna’s Survey Mark Recoveries: K 24

Zhanna

… PE1778, Hancock County, ME N 44° 21.080′ W 068° 13.593′

… Eyelevel view of station disk in bedrock.

… The general area near the station mark.

… The disk is prominent on the bare rock.

… PE1778 RM1, Hancock County, ME N 44° 21.080′ W 068° 13.593′

… Eyelevel view of disk on bedrock.

… Looking generally SW toward the station.

… PE1778 RM2, Hancock County, ME N 44° 21.072′ W 068° 13.586′

… Eyelevel view of the disk, strange bolt indicated.

… Looking NW toward the station, where Rich stands.

“K 24″

View the complete K 24 log on my survey marks site.

“GREAT HEAD”, PE1783

Our first day in Acadia was lovely, sunny and hot. Immediately after arriving and getting settled, Rich took us on an afternoon hike to Great Head, a most scenic spot to begin our vacation. All three marks in this set are in good condition and are easy to find as described.

Zhanna

… PE1783, Hancock County, ME N 44° 19.711′ W 068° 10.460′

… Eyelevel view of station disk on rock ledge.

… Looking N from the station mark.

… Looking SSE from the station mark.

… All three marks: the station is indicated by the yellow arrow, RM1 by the white arrow, and RM2 by the turquoise arrow.

… PE1783 RM1, Hancock County, ME N 44° 19.710′ W 068° 10.459′

… Eyelevel view of RM1 on rock ledge.

… Looking SSE from RM1.

… View NW toward station from RM1, station indicated.

… PE1783 RM2, Hancock County, ME N 44° 19.710′ W 068° 10.462′

… Eyelevel view of RM2 on rock ledge.

… All three marks, with RM2 in foreground, station indicated by yellow arrow, and RM1 indicated by white arrow.