Azimuth Benchmarks - A Waymarking.com Category

1. Find an azimuth mark NOT listed individually on geocaching.com.
2. Mark the azimuth marks coordinates with your gps.
3. Take a clear photo of the azimuth mark for the home page.
4. You must include in the title of the azimuth mark the designation or the name stamped on the azimuth mark, plus the state or country where located. (Example: "D-34A-Missouri")
5. In the "Long Description" text box, include a copy and paste of the most current "Documented History" notes listed on the marks web page. Special note: This REQUIREMENT will be waved if we can reasonably determine there are no current History notes. We do not want to exclude the, "Stumbled Upon" azimuth mark that is in no way mentioned on geocaching.com.

Azimuth marks associated with any NGS (National Geodetic Survey) benchmark may be placed in this catagory, as long as the azimuth mark is not listed on geocaching.com. Occasionally an azimuth slips in and is listed; we will not accept these solely for the sake of redundancy. Let's talk about that for a moment.

While there are some azimuth marks that CAN be logged on Geocaching.com, most are not listed individually. The reason for this is because azimuth marks do not have their own PID (identification) number. Azimuth marks must have the same identification number as the benchmark they are associated with. Normally the only difference in the stamp (or PID) on an azimuth mark is an "A" after the PID number, or the word "AZIMUTH" somewhere on the disk.

To be clear, an identification number (or PID number and therefore listing on geocaching.com) is assigned to a benchmark. Then an azimuth mark is placed a little ways away (usually around a half mile) from the benchmark with the same identification number as the benchmark, except it will have an "A" behind the identification number or the word "AZIMUTH" somewhere on the disk.

Right about now you may be wondering what an azimuth marker is. Here is a copy and paste from the geocaching website:

Reference (azimuth) marks are for helping to keep the location of triangulation stations (NGS Benchmarks) from being lost. The triangulation station's description has accurate azimuth and horizontal (not slope) distance to each of its reference marks so that it can be re-set from them if necessary. An azimuth mark, together with its associated triangulation station, provides an accurate azimuth (like a compass direction) that is based on true North rather than magnetic North. This azimuth is used to orient local traverse surveys.

Now back to the subject, NO actual NGS benchmark will be allowed in this category. It is a bit of a misnomer to say, "Benchmark." As I have alluded to in the opening paragraph, what I am literally talking about is, "Survey Disks, Triangulation Station Disks, and Horizontal Control Disks" that typically have azimuth marks. The marks on geocaching.com refered to as, "Benchmark Disks, Vertical Control Disks, or Metal Rod" (among others) do not to my knowledge have azimuth marks associated with them.

So here is what you do, simply find the information for a regular NGS benchmark located on Geocaching.com. As I said before, these will be referred to as, "Survey Disk", "Triangulation Station Disk", or "Horizontal Control Disk." On the marks page you will find instructions for locating the azimuth mark to that benchmark, usually called, "Documented History." Using these notes which are detailed directions to both the benchmark (sometimes called station) and the azimuth mark you will be able to find and record the coordinates to the azimuth mark. Here is an example of the page describing the directions to a benchmark and azimuth mark found on Geocaching.com:

Benchmark/Azimuth Mark Page

It looks a bit complicated at first, but give it a few tries and before you know it your eyes will be filtering out the nonsense and going straight to things you'll need. Really these are just pinpoint accurate locations on planet Earth. Most of the time I dump the coordinates and just use the documented history notes; they are far more accurate.

With this catagory you will be allowing people to finally have a place to log an azimuth mark. Just think you'll be able to log your benchmark on Geocaching.com and then log your azimuth mark on waymarking.com!

Special note for international azimuth marks: Azimuth marks globally will be accepted as long as they can be shown to be a real azimuth for a real survey station.

• Waymarks can be added to this category
• New waymarks of this category are reviewed by the category group prior to being published
• Category is visible in the directory