MARY AZ MK (HW3666)
State: VA
County: Rappahannock
Quad: Thornton Gap
Location: N 38° 39.671' W078° 19.214'
Elevation: 2297.8 ft.
Designation: MARY AZ MK 1965
Setting: Boulder
Type: Azimuth Mark Disk
Year: 1965
Established By: NGS
Recovered: 29 September 2006
This was the second benchmark hunt (and the first totally successful one) of our first day in Shenandoah National Park. Rich and I entered the park in Front Royal, at the northern terminus of Skyline Drive, and spent the rest of the afternoon enjoying a leisurely drive through the northern section of the park, stopping here and there at various overlooks and attractions. The interchange with Route 211 was our stopping point for today, and how appropriate! — an azimuth mark was located somewhere in the grassy area encircled by the exit ramp. A short walk through the scratchy brush brought us directly to a large boulder and the mark set on top. It's in good condition, and no additions or corrections to the datasheet description are necessary.
A report on the condition of this mark was submitted to NGS.
Zhanna
NGS Official Description, 1992 (see datasheet for recent updates) :
DESCRIBED BY NATIONAL GEODETIC SURVEY 1992 AT SKYLINE DRIVE AT THORNTON GAP,200 FT (61.0 M) NORTH OF US HIGHWAY 211, 180.0 FT (54.9 M) WEST OF ROAD LEADING TO THE SKYLINE DRIVE, 140.0 FT (42.7 M) EAST OF THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE BRIDGE OVER U.S. HIGHWAY 211 AND ON THE SKYLINE DRIVE AT THORNTON GAP, IN A LARGE BOULDER THAT PROJECTS 4 FEET (1.2 M).
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...HW3666, Rappahannock County, VAN 38° 39.672' W 078° 19.212' |
...Eyelevel view of disk on the large rock outcrop. |
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...Looking SSW toward the Skyline Drive bridge over Route 211. |
...Looking E toward Route 211 and the ramp entrance. |
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...The interchange and site of AZ MK viewed from Mary's Rock. |