August 15, 2006: The following questions were posed by Angus Stocking, editor of the upcoming book Lasting Impressions: A glimpse into the legacy of surveying, in which several of my benchmark photographs and stories are to be published. I am sure the entire “interview” won’t be used in the book; I think it was simply intended to give Angus enough background information to write a short paragraph about me. But after writing it I could see the value in posting it on my site, both to satisfy the curiosity of some of my regular visitors, and possibly to spark some interest in those just passing through.
How did you get into benchmark recovery, and how long have you been doing it?
I first became aware of benchmarks in January 2002 through a now-defunct geocache called the NGS Benchmark Recovery Cache. I went out that afternoon and found my first mark, a triangulation station called SOUTHSIDE, not more than a mile from where I was living at the time. It wasn’t until several months later that the Benchmark Hunting section of Geocaching.com went online, but once it did, I was hooked. And I already had found several more marks in the meantime. From the beginning, I was interested in learning how I could contribute to NGS, and I was pleased to find that they welcome and value my observations. I have currently submitted to their database well over 100 official recovery notes.
What are your motivations?
First and foremost, I’m motivated by discovering the connections these marks give me to surveyors and all others who may have seen them and worked with them through the decades. Investigating these marks takes research, patience, and an eye for the little clues that remain long after the most obvious structures and pathways become victims of time and progress. I am also inspired by the fact that I can contribute to the ever-growing NGS database and that my words and measurements will be useful for years in the future. I also have personal motivations. Benchmark hunting has pushed me to climb to mountain summits with beautiful vistas and creep into hidden city corners I never would have seen otherwise, has introduced me to Monica Lewinsky’s apartment building and C. S. Peirce’s estate, has encouraged me to hike along the Appalachian Trail and the Long Path. I’ve become somewhat a collector of experiences, and my memories, stories and digital photos are more precious than any tangible souvenir. I’ve developed my photography, writing and map-reading skills; have researched old buildings, abandoned streets and rail lines; and have improved my physical health.
What are your goals re: benchmark recovery?
I intend to continue searching for and documenting marks for a long time to come. I aim to maintain a high level of care in documenting the marks I find, so that my entries into the NGS database will continue to be of value to professionals. I have kept full photographic documentation of each mark I’ve found and intend to submit these photos to the database as well, when provisions are made for such entries.
About how many benchmarks would you say you’ve recovered?
My current count is 315, which in addition to simple elevation benchmarks includes marks I’ve demonstrated to be destroyed, as well as triangulation stations (whose auxiliary marks I do not count separately unless they have their own PIDs). I don’t go for the quick finds and big numbers like some “hobbyist” hunters do. I prefer to take my time and do a complete recovery, as well as to seek out some of the more obscure marks. Marks that are not found often require more work than the marks that are easy finds, but they aren’t included in our totals. For various reasons not all marks I find are reported to NGS, the most common of which being that many marks are USGS-only, or there have been no changes to the marks’ descriptions or status in the past year.
What are some notable experiences you’ve had?
The stories are lengthy, but just for some examples: I’ve found marks with errors in their descriptions or measurements, which I was able to note to NGS. I’ve met people who were on-site when triangulation stations were set on their property, and who were all too happy to help me with my own recoveries. I’ve found a bolt set in 1865 which is still in great condition today. I’ve also been challenged, chased away from highway shoulders, and watched with suspicion. Probably the best experiences I’ve had have been when I use the clues I find at the site and the old recovery notes to piece together where a tricky mark must be located, and then poke around in the dirt or shrubbery, and actually find it!
And just for background, what’s your day job, and what are some of your other interests?
I work as a computer systems technician and programmer for an academic library. My main interests are website development, railroads and trolleys, photography, local history, and many outdoor pursuits (hiking, mountain biking, hunting, rock climbing).