19 replies to this topic

[Lighthawk]

Either tough or stupid, and most likely a mixture of both, we finally reached flatter terrain. 

That sounds familiar.  

 

I enjoyed your breakdown of the mapping.  I've read surveyor descriptions on title reports to decipher property easements and it's a tough translation.  

[Happyjax]

As much as I love your trip reports and imagine hiking alongside I would never really attempt it. The thought of inconveniencing you with my cold dead body keeps me up at night....lol

 

You two are impressive

[ski3pin]

Nice to have such an enjoyable hike nearby!

 

We are indeed lucky in that regard. Thanks smlobx!

[ski3pin]

Thanks, as always, for the fine TR.  My favorites of your TRs are those in which you teach about old-school land navigation using USGS topos and a compass.

 

In this one, I gladly learned about the origins of the PLSS.  I had thought the processes had been originated after Thomas Jefferson, as POTUS, sent Lewis and Clark out for a look-see up the Missouri River, so along about 1805-1806 or so. It's very cool to find out its origins were some 20 years earlier.

 

Some of the founders and early prominent citizens were surveyors: some good, some not so good.  George Washington was a surveyor. Thomas Jefferson was the son of Peter Jefferson, one of the surveyors who cut the state line between North Carolina and Virginia all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to the Cumberland Gap. Washington and Peter Jefferson were two of the good surveyors. Then came Daniel Boone providing many, many surveys of land in Kentucky and later in Missouri.  Boone apparently "shingled" so many tracts so badly that he was dogged for his entire life by litigation resulting from his work.

 

There is a group of reenactors who appear at festivals/fairs in the garb of PLSS surveyors' and have a plethora of tools, instruments, and equipment used in the PLSS days.  I had a ball talking with them at Bannack Days, Bannack, Montana back in 2010 or 2011.  

 

Foy--bogged down in old English "metes and bounds" North Carolina, and son and grandson of civil engineers who made a living surveying.

Foy, thanks for your great post! We usually do not like events and people, but Bannack Days and the opportunity to see the "old surveyors" would be loads of fun!

 

I've read about Boone's problem getting his surveying correct. My goodness. Boone's wife, Rebecca - "Becky" in the TV series - has an unconfirmed connection with my family tree. She is believed to be the grandniece of my 7x great grandfather. Ole Daniel maybe should have listened to Becky more seriously.

[ski3pin]

Very nice! Great pics! Wondering why we don’t see you in the pics ? Lol. Again thanks for sharing such incredible adventures and educating us about the natural world. I forwarded the survey makers to my brother in law he is a master survivor. H e lives for these things!

 

Thanks Wayne, you are very kind. We enjoy finding and deciphering the land survey posters and also using them for practicing our skills with map and compass. There is nothing like practice! 

[ski3pin]

Either tough or stupid, and most likely a mixture of both, we finally reached flatter terrain. 

That sounds familiar.  

 

I enjoyed your breakdown of the mapping.  I've read surveyor descriptions on title reports to decipher property easements and it's a tough translation.  

Andy, thanks for checking in! Yup, just another adventure.

 

Back when we did what we called the "fun with Monte & Julie" weekends teaching land navigation in the field, we'd intentionally walk the class by a "K tag" or land survey poster and wait for someone to ask the question -"What's this?" It is so much fun bringing this stuff alive to people.

 

Historic USFS trivia - the "Forest Location Poster" the square metal tag nailed to a tree with a township depicted and a nail placed at its location, is often called a "K tag". Why? Early rangers had a list of supplies they were required to carry. Instead of numerically, the items were listed by alphabet. The item on the list at K was the forest location poster. So it became a "K tag" and most have long forgotten why.

[ski3pin]

As much as I love your trip reports and imagine hiking alongside I would never really attempt it. The thought of inconveniencing you with my cold dead body keeps me up at night....lol

 

You two are impressive

 

You are very kind, Happyjax, and don't sell yourself short. Most people do much better than they might imagine.

[craig333]

 

Either tough or stupid, and most likely a mixture of both, we finally reached flatter terrain. 

That sounds familiar.  

 

I enjoyed your breakdown of the mapping.  I've read surveyor descriptions on title reports to decipher property easements and it's a tough translation.  

Andy, thanks for checking in! Yup, just another adventure.

 

Back when we did what we called the "fun with Monte & Julie" weekends teaching land navigation in the field, we'd intentionally walk the class by a "K tag" or land survey poster and wait for someone to ask the question -"What's this?" It is so much fun bringing this stuff alive to people.

 

Historic USFS trivia - the "Forest Location Poster" the square metal tag nailed to a tree with a township depicted and a nail placed at its location, is often called a "K tag". Why? Early rangers had a list of supplies they were required to carry. Instead of numerically, the items were listed by alphabet. The item on the list at K was the forest location poster. So it became a "K tag" and most have long forgotten why.

 

I've heard other explanations for it. A lot like how the Jeep got its name

[longhorn1]

Another great trip and hike. Thanks for sharing. JD

[ski3pin]

Thanks jd! We're looking forward to hearing about yours!