MINOOKA RESET
State/County/Quad: PA/Lackawanna/ScrantonLocation: N 41°22.735' W 075°40.560'
Elevation: 1017 ft.
Designation: MINOOKA RESET
Setting: Rock Outcrop
Type: Triangulation Station
Year: 1976
Recovered: 12 February 2005
I initially thought that recovering this set of marks was going to require parking at ToppCopy and climbing over a wire fence, but I got a lucky break this time. I hadn't noticed it when scouting out the mark, but there is a convenient opening cut in the fence directly behind one of the powerline poles (number 56922 N44837) referenced in the station description. I was able to walk right through; I wonder if the fence was cut to allow easier access to the marks.
My new GPSr took me to within 2 feet of the station mark, and it was easy to spot because the rock outcropping was clear of snow and debris. The outcropping into which RM 1 was set was similarly simple to find, but I was disappointed to see that the disk was vandalized and only the shank remains. (I did not realize until later in the evening that RM 1 has its own datasheet, which does note the destruction.) Locating RM 4 proved to be a challenge. I took measurements from the end of the east-west paved road and from powerline pole 56906 N44818 in order to pinpoint the spot. The measurements brought me directly to the mark, which was found after removing some litter and mud packed around the mark. This mark too has been vandalized, with only the shank remaining; this is noted on its datasheet. There was no sign of a witness post as mentioned in the 1976 description.
NGS Official Description, 1976/1980:
See the Datasheet for AJ2429.
 |
...This triangulation station disk is in good condition. |
|
 Eye-level view of the station mark set in a rock outcrop. ... |
||
 |
...Looking southeast toward powerline pole 56922 N44837. |
|
 |
...What remains of MINOOKA RM 1. |
|
 This rock outcrop now projects only a few inches above the level of the ground. ... |
||
 |
...Looking SSW toward powerline pole 56922 N44837. |
|
 |
...Reference mark 4 is also missing. |
|
 It was covered with mud and trash and was difficult to find, even though the measurements from nearby reference objects were accurate. ... |
||
 |
...Looking SW toward powerline pole 56906 N44818. |
|