Benchmarks- off-topic at Mainegeo?

[SFTA2010]

I think I've always liked Benchmarks (even when I didn't know what they were called) for the same reasons that brdad doesn't like them so well. I treasure the idea that an object had some purpose or source that has/had nothing whatever to do with my unexpected stumbling across it. For me it marks a place and a time completely separate from its intended purpose. And then I can research it.
I haven't found even one actual geocache so it remains to be seen whether or not the "numbers" and logging part becomes interesting for me. Meanwhile this is all fun.

[cano]

I am quite certain that is the reason many people don't do them.

I would do them, but I can find an easy way how to download all of them in certain area.

[brdad]

I would do them, but I can find an easy way how to download all of them in certain area.

There used to be a way to do it by county though the NGS site. It's been so long I don't remember, and can't seem to find it. There is a guy on the national forums selling a 3 CD set of supposedly every mark in every state for 10 to over shipping, all converted to gpx format.

http://forums.groundspeak.com/GC/ind...owtopic=258803

[SFTA2010]

These maps only cost $8 at Cadillac Mt Sports and they have all the Benchmarks and much more other stuff on them. They are great.
This from a person who has had the GPSr for 3 years before putting batteries in it and still has the waymark (?) compass without any pointers on its face.
But with these maps, all you need is the coordinates, right?

[brdad]

Coordinates are not always enough for some benchmarks. Many of them are under steps, or on the wall of a building. Having all of the NGS data can help.