SCHOODIC RESET (PE1769)

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State: ME
County: Hancock
Quad: Schoodic Head
Location: N 44° 21.044' W068° 03.177'
Elevation: 440 ft.
Designation: SCHOODIC RESET 1860
Setting: Rock Outcrop
Type: Triangulation Station
Year: 1860
Established By: NGS
Recovered: 19 June 2006

Eager to explore someplace a little different for the day, we left MDI and headed for Schoodic Peninsula on this foggy Monday. After a leisurely several hours' drive around the point, stopping many times along the way to take photos, climb on the rocks and poke around in the bunchberries, we decided to hike to the summit of Schoodic Head. (It was no coincidence that a tri-station and three reference marks are located there, to Aaron's dismay.) We began from the Blueberry Hill parking area and took the open, relatively level Alder Trail northwest to then Schoodic Head trail, which becomes narrower, rocky and steep as it winds northeast toward the summit.

We first encountered RM2 as we made our way to the station. Then the station disk was found with ease, as expected. Finding RM1 was a very difficult challenge and it was the reason our recovery took the better part of an hour. This reference mark was buried beneath a layer of soil and debris, and a rock partially covered the location as well. The use of compass and measuring tape was required, and even then, finding the disk was difficult.

While Rich worked on his photographs, I jogged north along the ledges toward RM3 (PE1772), which is quite a distance from the station and the other reference marks. RM3 is situated on a ledge with a clear view (on a clear day) west over Winter Harbor. This would be a magical spot for a picnic lunch! We found all marks to be in good condition, and the datasheet description does not require any changes.

A report on the condition of the station mark and all three reference marks was submitted to NGS, along with the following recovery note:

The station and all three reference marks were recovered in good condition. The 1971 station description and to-reach remain accurate. Autonomous (non-corrected) handheld GPS coordinates for RM 1 are 44 21 2.4(N) 068 03 10.9(W). Autonomous (non-corrected) handheld GPS coordinates for RM 2 are 44 21 2.2(N) 068 03 10.3(W).

Zhanna

NGS Official Description, 1903 (see datasheet for recent updates) :

DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1903 ON THE SUMMIT OF SCHOODIC MOUNTAIN, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE SE PART OF SCHOODIC PENINSULA, ABOUT 3-1/2 MILES S OF THE TOWN OF WINTER HARBOR. THE STATION IS NEAR THE NE EDGE OF THE SUMMIT AND IS ABOUT 500 METERS FROM THE W SHORE OF SCHOODIC HARBOR. A GOOD ROAD FROM WINTER HARBOR LEADS DIRECTLY TO THE SUMMIT. THE STATION IS MARKED BY A DRILLED HOLE IN A ROCK. IN 1903 THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN WAS COVERED BY A THICK GROWTH OF TREES AND BUSHES.