This is one of my favorite benchmarks because it is a disk with a name stamped as its designation (WILLAMET), it has one of the earliest dates (1881) and it is a nice hike in the woods to get to it. This used to be featured in my old geocache GC54YVN, but changes in the Portland Parks geocaching policy required the cache to be removed. Converting this spot to a waymark since waymarks and virtuals are still allowed in this area of the park. Plus it is a great find and piece of history that others have enjoyed discovering. I know I had a great experience finding it on my own a few years ago.
The benchmark is reached by hiking up the Newton Road from Highway 30, or down from the Newton Road parking area off of Skyline Blvd. The hike is a bit steep either way you go, but is on good trail. Just take your time. You either hike up to get to the benchmark, or up to get back to your car - your choice. :-)
If you are going up from Highway 30 you will pass two white mile posts next to the trail. At milepost 2 you are about halfway there. At milepost 1 you are almost there, just around the corner and up the hill.
If you are going down from the Newton Road parking area just follow the main trail downhill all the way.
The Benchmark:
1. On the trail stop at N 45° 36.281 W 122° 47.739 .
2. Face the north side of the trail. Find the spot where the geotrail goes between a Douglas Fir tree on the right and a Maple on the left. Directly in front of you between the trees and a little beyond along a small ridge in a NE direction is a tree that has a two-pronged fork. Beyond that are two tall skinny trees in the distance, one behind the other. The benchmark is directly in line with these two trees beyond the farthest one.
3. Follow the ridge about 127 feet using the trees as a guide. About halfway you will find a big dip that you will have to drop down and climb back up. Shortly after this you will see the benchmark area.
4. You will come to an open area covered with ferns and vegetation. On the far right is a multi-trunk tree. On the far left is a tree with what looks like a white spout sticking out of it. It is the remnants of a witness sign. In the center between these two is a white witness post for the benchmark among the ferns. The witness post is about 20 feet from the sign-munching tree.
5. The benchmark is immediately adjacent to and behind the witness post mounted in a pipe.
6. Return the way you came along the ridge.
Be sure to log your benchmark find on geocaching.com at RD3664