I'm working on a Mineral Survey Retracement in the Wasatch Mountains in Utah (elevations range from ~8,800 ft. to over 10,000 ft.), that involves about 100 Patented Mining Claims (all Lode Claims). The vast majority of the Corners are marked by Wood Posts set in the 1880s through 1920s.
I ("we") recruited an elite crew for this project for various reasons (some more obvious than others). The crew consists of three "RETIRED" surveyors (all are current PLS), with a combined age of?ÿover 200 years, and combined experience of ~150 years. All have spent the bulk of their careers in this same area, and have seen hundreds (if not thousands) of Mineral Survey Corners.
All three of these guys are "hiking nuts,"?ÿin better shape than most of the 40-50 something folks that I know, and are also guys that I have worked with for decades.
I'm not sure whether they are the "Pros from Dover," the "Over the Hill Gang," or just the PERFECT CREW for this project.
Loyal
Sounds like the perfect crew...good luck.?ÿ But I've never seen more arguing than a crew with 3 licensed surveyors.
Back in the early eighties the firm I was with was forced to start laying off crew members due to a a lack of work.?ÿ We eventually were down to one crew with 3 surveyors.?ÿ I and another fella were licensed surveyors and the other was a licensed surveyor and a PE.?ÿ We argued more than we worked.?ÿ I was the only surveyor among us that was licensed by examination BTW.?ÿ The other two were "grandfathered"...guess who got run the rod?
We finally derived a system to "draw straws" in the morning before we left.?ÿ 'Short matchstick' was the PC for the day and the other two kept quiet.?ÿ Things went smooth after that.
PS - Love the new avatar.?ÿ Friend of yours? ;)?ÿ
A photo diary of their finds and corner perpetuations, por favor.
Maybe this winter when things slow down a bit...
This is NOT the only MS Retracement on my table right now.
???? Loyal
Sounds like the makings of a new blockbuster movie to me.
?ÿ
Not sure what a better crew would be 3 men all 65 plus in age, hauling equipment and digging for corners, or 1 man 65 plus telling 2 men in their 20's where to dig and look, then have the other 2 retired Surveyors looking at the data and making new look files.?ÿ
I'm the "other" over 65 guy looking at the data and generating search coordinates. Besides which, having that kind of experience in the field (guys who KNOW WHAT to look for), is much better than having rookies who can't recognize a monument that doesn't have a "ring & lid" over it. Search radii can be rather large on these projects, and having 2-3 experts probing, poking, crawling around is much better than having a kid or two texting their girlfriend.
Loyal
Not involving at least one person still in their working life seems like a missed opportunity?ÿ to pass down some of the skills and practices so hard earned.
I agree 100%, but those kids are working on other projects right now (and hopefully LEARNING what they need to know).
Loyal
I love working on those crews. Usually happens on a Saturday when no one else will work. Everyone gets out of the truck and does whichever task they prefer. Almost no talk about surveying, but a lot of talk about sports, office people, the boss and what nimrod set that corner. We finish the 'all day' job about 1:00, stop to eat and drink a few beer and clock out about 4:30. Those are the days.?ÿ?ÿ
I realized that was probably the case after I posted, funny how opportunity has a slippery and random nature.
10,000 ft., bunch of old guys, pushing into snow season,,,,,,,,what could go wrong?
does field equipment include nitroglycerin tablets and a defibrillator? ?????ÿ
Not that I wouldn't fit in with the age requirements.
Might have to leave a body or two on the mountain like Everest.
I don't take any large project if there is no access by ATV or there is a big yellow machine making a trail for one.
Had one client that would fly me to the project and have not had anyone offer to helio me in there and I am not jumping out of a perfectly good airplane or other aircraft.
