GT0153 "B44 1925"
My Wife and I were able to spend a few days in and around Lone Pine and Independence, exploring the Alabama Hills, the Movie Museum, and Manzanar. Found some geocaches and benchmarks while we were there too, including this one.
Located about three miles west of the City of Lone Pine, Inyo County, California, this USC&GS mark lies on the north side of the Whitney Portal Road in the Alabama Hills. The USC&GS mark stamped "B44 1925" was found at 16:30, 08 April 2018 as described and in generally good condition. Go to description is adequate to find the mark.
In 1984, the NGS described the mark as being 4 feet east of a rock with a face on it. That face is a prominent feature of the Hills, easily seen from the road. The rock is 12 feet high. So is the face. It is regularly maintained by the locals and known as 'Nightmare Rock'. Information found in one of the local diners said her name was Brenda.
Published NAD83 coordinates are located about 503 feet southerly of the found WGS84 coordinates. WGS84 coordinates for the mark found by 3 minute occupation with 9 strong satellites and 1 WAAS satellite.
_____________________________________
Found Details for Benchmark: GT0153
N 36° 35.799 W 118° 05.914 (WGS 84)
Altitude: 4261
_____________________________________
Published Details for Benchmark: GT0153
N 36° 35.717 W 118° 05.900 (NAD 83)
Altitude: 4263.66
Coordinates may not be exact. Altitude is ADJUSTED and location is SCALED.
Location: In Inyo County, CA
Designation: B 44
Marker Type: bench mark disk
Setting: in rock outcrop
Stability: Most reliable and expected to hold position/elevation well.
_____________________________________
Documented History (by the NGS)
01 Jan 25 by CGS (MONUMENTED)
01 Jan 62 by NGS (GOOD)
DESCRIBED BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1962 2.2 MI W FROM LONE PINE. 0.1 MILE SOUTH ALONG MAIN STREET FROM THE POST OFFICE AT LONE PINE, THENCE 2.15 MILES WEST ALONG WHITNEY PORTAL ROAD, 0.1 MILE WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE JUNCTION OF A TRACK ROAD NORTHWEST, 0.05 MILE EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE JUNCTION OF A TRACK ROAD NORTH, 210 FEET NORTH-NORTHWEST OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE ROAD, IN THE TOP OF A 10- BY 12-FOOT OUTCROP WHICH PROJECTS 3 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, 45 FEET SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE TRACK ROAD, 7.7 FEET NORTH OF A WITNESS POST, AND ABOUT 20 FEET HIGHER THAN THE ROAD.
01 Jan 84 by NGS (GOOD)
RECOVERY NOTE BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1984 3.5 KM (2.2 MI) WEST ALONG WHITNEY-PORTAL ROAD FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH U.S. HIGHWAY 395, 64 METERS (210 FT) NORTH OF THE CENTER OF THE ROAD, 13.7 METERS (45 FT) SOUTH OF THE CENTER OF A TRACK ROAD, 2.35 METERS (7.7 FT) NORTH OF A WITNESS POST, 1.2 METERS (4 FT) EAST OF A 12 FT. HIGH BOULDER WITH A FACE PAINTED ON IT, IN THE TOP OF A 10 X 12 FT. GRANITE BOULDER THAT PROJECTS ABOUT 3 FT, AND ABOUT 20 FT. HIGHER THAN THE ROAD.
 |
| GT0153 "B44 1925" - Benchmark detail. |
 |
| GT0153 "B44 1925" - Benchmark setting in the Alabama Hills. View westerly toward Mt. Whitney. |
 |
| GT0153 "B44 1925" - Benchmark setting in the Alabama Hills. View southerly. |
 |
| GT0153 "B44 1925" - Benchmark setting in the Alabama Hills. View northeasterly. |
 |
| GT0153 "B44 1925" - Benchmark setting in the Alabama Hills. View northwesterly. |
 |
| GT0153 "B44 1925" - Benchmark and Mt. Whitney. |
 |
| GT0153 "B44 1925" - Benchmark setting. "1.2 meters (4 ft) [west] of a 12 ft. high boulder with a face on it." 'Nightmare Rock', aka Brenda. |
 |
| GT0153 "B44 1925" - Benchmark coordinates. |
Control Text
- The horizontal coordinates were scaled from a topographic map and have an estimated accuracy of +/- 6 seconds.
- The orthometric height was determined by differential leveling and adjusted by the National Geodetic Survey in June 1991.
- The geoid height was determined by GEOID99.
- The dynamic height is computed by dividing the NAVD 88 geopotential number by the normal gravity value computed on the Geodetic Reference System of 1980 (GRS 80) ellipsoid at 45 degrees latitude (G = 980.6199 gals.).
- The modeled gravity was interpolated from observed gravity values.
Comments