There are no fewer than 6 disks at the summit of Mt. Whitney, representing USGS, USC&GS (NGS), and Caltrans. (The latter, set in 1968 and marked "CL FWY," appears to be a joke, but I'm trying to find out if it was ever positioned.) The most impressive thing about 2 of the C&GS marks is that they were part of at least 2 separate First Order Class II leveling campaigns, one in 1928 and the other in 1940. The 1940 run was the most ambitious, incorporating about 50 miles of off-road leveling above 8,000 feet.
The idea of hauling a 3-meter invar rod and turning pin or turtle over 50 miles of high Sierra trails -- about 13 miles of it in very rugged country over 10,000 feet -- is sobering. But what an experience it must have been!
If you haven't taken the Sonora Pass Road over there, it is spectacular.
But be prepared for 25% grades, have good brakes.
So, I wonder what number will be designated for the freeway. 220? 720? The 14505?...
When we were up there, there was a yellow cardboard sign on the shack door that said "Elevator out of service."
a peak cushion?
Mt. Whitney Survey Trivia-Muddy
On our little Mount Scott we have several brass caps. NGS, USGS and DoD. From their placement then they all seem to have been done for different reasons.
The USGS was likely when they built the road up the mountain. The NGS was for national triangulation and the DoD was for Fort Sill. They are sorta close together (hundred feet or so) but each has it's own unique view. The NGS is on the highest rock and has the most commanding view though.
Mt. Whitney Survey Trivia-Muddy
I guess I forgot to put the little smiley thing on the post.
:'( 🙂
Mt. Whitney Survey Trivia-Muddy
Deral - While attending elementary school in Lawton I ended up in several short fist-fights over the propostion put forth by various young Okies that Mt. Scott was the highest mountain in the world. I was there from Colorado while my dad attended training at Ft. Sill. and was unimpressed by that mountain at the time.
