This multi will lead you to a series of six survey markers established by the National Resources Canada's Geodetic Survey Division. They're all along Sawmill Road, within short distance of each other.
NRCan's Geodetic Survey Division is responsible for maintaining the Canadian Spatial Reference System (CSRS) which provides fundamental reference values for latitude, longitude, height and gravity, including earth's orientation parameters and rotation rate in space, as the foundation for the nation's evolving positioning and navigation activities.
Access to the CSRS Online Database is free but requires a username and password. Follow the given link to apply for an account if you're interested.
In order to find the cache, you will have to visit each of the six markers and collect some information. In the spirit of the original virtual cache, you are kindly requested to use your GPS receiver to take a coordinate reading at either one (or all) of the markers, compare the reading with the provided coordinates and post the result together with the make and model of your GPS receiver. Of course this task is purely optional and you may find and log this cache without performing it if you wish. If you do choose to participate, you can post your results in whatever way you wish: Textual with your log, screenshot of your GPSr, photograph of you and/or your GPSr, etc etc.
Note about the coordinate datum: The CSRS database lists all locations in NAD83 datum, while both this website and GPS by default use the WGS84 datum. Originally, those two datums were considered to be identical, and in fact many modern software packages as well as GPS devices still consider them to be equivalent. However, in reality there is a small difference between the two, amounting to about 1 - 1.5 meters within Canada. Of course this difference is well below the accuracy threshold or consumer-grade GPS receivers, which is probably why the receivers make no distinction in this respect. More information here.
All the clues and the cache itself are accessible in winter. One of the clues is somewhat close to the ground and may require some digging if there's a lot of snow around. However, snowplows might throw considerable amounts of snow on top of the markers, so no guarantees.
Pier 1
| Unique number |
843024 |
| Latitude as per CSRS database |
N 43° 32' 30.96024" (= N 43° 32.516') |
| Longitude as per CSRS database |
W 80° 30' 42.53141" (= W 80° 30.709') |
| Elevation as per CSRS database |
337.091 m |
| Latitude as per GPS reading |
N 43° 32.516' |
| Longitude as per GPS reading |
W 80° 30.709' |
| Elevation as per GPS reading |
339.204 m |
Take a look at the power pole closest to this marker, it has a 4-digit number on it: 304?. A = last digit plus 1
Pier 1A
| Unique number |
843024A |
| Latitude as per CSRS database |
N 43° 32' 31" (= N 43° 32.517') |
| Longitude as per CSRS database |
W 80° 30' 51" (= W 80° 30.850') |
| Elevation as per CSRS database |
336.493 m |
| Latitude as per GPS reading |
N 43° 32.528' |
| Longitude as per GPS reading |
W 80° 30.860' |
| Elevation as per GPS reading |
338.380 m |
This marker has the worst accuracy of them all, I got a reading of over 20 meters away. The lack of precision in the CSRS coordinates (only integer seconds) hints towards this marker not being a good place to test your GPS at.
The speed limit starting here is ?0 km/h. B = 8 minus the first digit
Pier 2
| Unique number |
843025 |
| Latitude as per CSRS database |
N 43° 32' 32.8250" (= N 43° 32.547') |
| Longitude as per CSRS database |
W 80° 31' 05.4565" (= W 80° 31.091') |
| Elevation as per CSRS database |
337.549 m |
| Latitude as per GPS reading |
N 43° 32.548' |
| Longitude as per GPS reading |
W 80° 31.092' |
| Elevation as per GPS reading |
338.622 m |
This marker has a "nipple" with a number on it: 98U0?9. C = digit after the "0"
Pier 3
| Unique number |
843026 |
| Latitude as per CSRS database |
N 43° 32' 33.92764" (= N 43° 33.565') |
| Longitude as per CSRS database |
W 80° 31' 18.76672" (= W 80° 31.313') |
| Elevation as per CSRS database |
339.126 m |
| Latitude as per GPS reading |
N 43° 32.565' |
| Longitude as per GPS reading |
W 80° 31.315' |
| Elevation as per GPS reading |
339.600 m |
The house number across the street, slightly to the left, is 21?7. D = third digit
Pier 4
| Unique number |
843027 |
| Latitude as per CSRS database |
N 43° 32' 34.65779" (= N 43° 34.578') |
| Longitude as per CSRS database |
W 80° 31' 27.68929" (= W 80° 31.461') |
| Elevation as per CSRS database |
340.261 m |
| Latitude as per GPS reading |
N 43° 32.578' |
| Longitude as per GPS reading |
W 80° 31.463' |
| Elevation as per GPS reading |
342.039 m |
The power pole closest to this marker has a few small metal tags, one of them contains the word F......T. E = number of letters divided by 2
Pier 5
| Unique number |
843028 |
| Latitude as per CSRS database |
N 43° 32' 35.02002" (= N 43° 35.584') |
| Longitude as per CSRS database |
W 80° 31' 32.11454" (= W 80° 32.535') |
| Elevation as per CSRS database |
341.111 m |
| Latitude as per GPS reading |
N 43° 32.584' |
| Longitude as per GPS reading |
W 80° 31.536' |
| Elevation as per GPS reading |
344.068 m |
The power pole closest to this marker has a large 4-digit number on it: 60?0. F = third digit divided 2
As you can see above, the GPS is able to give coordinate readings that are very close to the official CSRS coordinates, with the difference being well within the normal position error of consumer-grade GPS receivers. Let us know how your GPS receivers did!
The cache is located at N 43° 32.ABC' W 080° 32.DEF'
Here's the full except from the CSRS database:
Station 1 of 6
***************************************************
SITE IDENTIFICATION
Unique Number : 843024
Name : PIER 1
Established by : Geodetic Survey Division
Province : ON
Prov. Identifier : None
NTS Map No : 040P10
STATION COORDINATES
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Values should be checked with your provincial agency before use.
Latitude : N43° 32' 30.96024"
Longitude : W80° 30' 42.53141"
Agency : Geodetic Survey Division
Adjustment Net : MA94705
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821114.189 m E = 539439.747 m
VERTICAL DATA
Vertical Datum : CGVD28
Elevation : 337.091 m
Order : First Order
Method : Differential
Adjustment Line : N26U99
Published Year : 1999
STATION MARKER INFORMATION AND LOCATION
Marker Type : Self Centering Plate
Inspected in : 1999
Status : Good
Inspection Comments : None
Accessible by passenger car or light truck and a walk of less than 50 m
CONESTOGA
CONESTOGO CALIBRATION BASELINE PILLAR NO. 1 WITH STEEL TOP PLATE ON NORTH SIDE OF COUNTY ROAD 17 (CONESTOGO ROAD), 0.2 KM WEST OF INTERSECTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 22, 2.8 KM EAST OF JUNCTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 85 (FORMERLY HIGHWAY NO. 86), 17.7 M WEST OF CENTRE OF EAST ACCESS TO MUSSELMAN CRESCENT, 15.0 M FROM CENTRE LINE OF ROAD, 12.0 M SOUTHWEST OF JUNCTION POWER POLE (NO. FC83045) WITH THREE GUY WIRES, 4.7 M SOUTH OF EAST FENCE POST, 2.7 M SOUTH OF POWER LINE, AT ROAD LEVEL. ELEVATION TAKEN ON TOP AT CENTRE OF MAIN CIRCULAR PLATE ANCHORED ON TOP OF PILLAR.
HISTORICAL COORDINATES NOTE: Coordinates listed below are no longer maintained by GSD and should be verified with your provincial agency before use.
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Global Positioning System
Latitude : N43° 32' 30.96024"
Longitude : W80° 30' 42.53141"
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821114.189 m E = 539439.747 m
PROJECTS IDENTIFIERS:
GPS VA7D65 43080
Station 2 of 6
***************************************************
SITE IDENTIFICATION
Unique Number : 843024A
Name : PIER 1A
Established by : Geodetic Survey Division
Province : ON
Prov. Identifier : None
NTS Map No : 040P10
STATION COORDINATES
Method : Scaled
Latitude : N43° 32' 31"
Longitude : W80° 30' 51"
Agency : Geodetic Survey Division - NRCan
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821114 m E = 539250 m
VERTICAL DATA
Vertical Datum : CGVD28
Elevation : 336.493 m
Order : First Order
Method : Differential
Adjustment Line : N26U99
Published Year : 1999
STATION MARKER INFORMATION AND LOCATION
Marker Type : Self Centering Plate
Inspected in : 1999
Status : Good
Inspection Comments : None
Accessible by passenger car or light truck and a walk of less than 50 m
CONESTOGO
CONESTOGO CALIBRATION BASELINE PILLAR NO. 1A WITH STEEL TOP PLATE ON NORTH SIDE OF COUNTY ROAD 17 (CONESTOGO ROAD), 0.4 KM WEST OF INTERSECTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 22, 2.6 KM EAST OF JUNCTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 85 (FORMERLY HIGHWAY NO. 86), 320 M SOUTHEAST OF CBN PILLAR (CONESTOGO CALIBRATION BASELINE PILLAR NO. 2), 80.9 M WEST OF CENTRE OF WEST ACCESS TO MUSSELMAN CRESCENT, 30 M EAST OF CENTRE OF APPROACH, 15.4 M SOUTHWEST OF END FENCE POST, OPPOSITE POINT ON ROAD 16.1 M EAST OF "80 BEGINS" SIGN FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC AND "50 BEGINS" SIGN FOR EASTBOUND TRAFFIC, 13.8 M FROM CENTRE OF COUNTY ROAD 17, 4.1 M SOUTH OF POWER LINE, AT ROAD LEVEL. ELEVATION TAKEN ON TOP AT CENTRE OF MAIN CIRCULAR PLATE ANCHORED ON TOP OF PILLAR.
HISTORICAL COORDINATES NOTE: Coordinates listed below are no longer maintained by GSD and should be verified with your provincial agency before use.
None
PROJECTS IDENTIFIERS:
VA7D65 43080
Station 3 of 6
***************************************************
SITE IDENTIFICATION
Unique Number : 843025
Name : PIER 2
Established by : Geodetic Survey Division
Province : ON
Prov. Identifier : None
NTS Map No : 040P10
STATION COORDINATES
Horizontal Datum : NAD83CSRS
Method : Global Positioning System
Latitude : N43° 32' 32.8250" +/- 0.001 m Std Dev. (68% confidence level)
Longitude : W80° 31' 05.4565" +/- 0.001 m Std Dev. (68% confidence level)
Ellipsoid Height : 301.96 m +/- 0.004 m Std Dev. (68% confidence level)
Geoid Separation (HTv2.0) : -35.598 m
Agency : Geodetic Survey Division
Adjustment Net : M03703
Coordinate Version No. : 4.0.0
Epoch : 2002.0
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821168.72 m E = 538924.95 m
XYZ Coords. : X = 762863.46 m Y = -4567596.16 m Z = 4371589.79 m
Horizontal Datum : ITRF2005
Latitude : N43° 32' 32.8562"
Longitude : W 80° 31' 5.4739"
Ellipsoid Height : 300.84 m
Epoch : 2002.0
XYZ Coords. : X = 762862.83 m Y = -4567594.76 m Z = 4371589.72 m
VERTICAL DATA
Vertical Datum : CGVD28
Elevation : 337.549 m
Order : First Order
Method : Differential
Adjustment Line : N26U99
Published Year : 1999
STATION MARKER INFORMATION AND LOCATION
Marker Type : Self Centering Plate
Inspected in : 1999
Status : Good
Inspection Comments : None
Accessible by passenger car or light truck and a walk of less than 50 m
CONESTOGO
CONESTOGO CALIBRATION BASELINE PILLAR NO. 2 (CBN PILLAR) WITH STEEL TOP PLATE ON NORTHEAST SIDE OF COUNTY ROAD 17 (CONESTOGO ROAD), 0.7 KM WEST OF INTERSECTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 22, 2.3 KM EAST OF JUNCTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 85 (FORMERLY HIGHWAY NO. 86), 13.3 M FROM CENTRE LINE OF ROAD, 9.7 M SOUTHEAST OF POWER POLE, 6.3 M SOUTHWEST OF FENCE, 4.9 M SOUTHWEST OF POWER LINE, AT ROAD LEVEL. ELEVATION TAKEN ON TOP AT CENTRE OF MAIN CIRCULAR PLATE ANCHORED ON TOP OF PILLAR.
HISTORICAL COORDINATES NOTE: Coordinates listed below are no longer maintained by GSD and should be verified with your provincial agency before use.
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Global Positioning System
Latitude : N43° 32' 32.83811"
Longitude : W80° 31' 05.45868"
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821169.120 m E = 538924.894 m
PROJECTS IDENTIFIERS:
GPS CBN VA7D65 43080
Station 4 of 6
***************************************************
SITE IDENTIFICATION
Unique Number : 843026
Name : PIER 3
Established by : Geodetic Survey Division
Province : ON
Prov. Identifier : None
NTS Map No : 040P10
STATION COORDINATES
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Values should be checked with your provincial agency before use.
Latitude : N43° 32' 33.92764"
Longitude : W80° 31' 18.76672"
Agency : Geodetic Survey Division
Adjustment Net : MA94705
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821201.008 m E = 538626.055 m
VERTICAL DATA
Vertical Datum : CGVD28
Elevation : 339.126 m
Order : First Order
Method : Differential
Adjustment Line : N26U99
Published Year : 1999
STATION MARKER INFORMATION AND LOCATION
Marker Type : Self Centering Plate
Inspected in : 1999
Status : Good
Inspection Comments : None
Accessible by passenger car or light truck and a walk of less than 50 m
CONESTOGO
CONESTOGO CALIBRATION BASELINE PILLAR NO. 3 WITH STEEL TOP PLATE ON NORTH SIDE OF COUNTY ROAD 17 (CONESTOGO ROAD), 1.0 KM WEST OF INTERSECTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 22, 2.0 KM EAST OF JUNCTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 85 (FORMERLY HIGHWAY NO. 86), 27.1 M EAST OF PROJECTION OF CENTRE OF DRIVEWAY TO HOUSE NO. 385,209, 23.9 M WEST OF PROJECTION OF DRIVEWAY TO HOUSE NO. 386,209, 20.5 M SOUTHEAST OF POWER POLE (NO.6063) WITH TRANSFORMER AND GUY WIRE, 13.0 M FROM CENTRE LINE OF ROAD, 6.2 M SOUTH OF POWER LINE, AT ROAD LEVEL. ELEVATION TAKEN ON TOP AT CENTRE OF MAIN CIRCULAR PLATE ANCHORED ON TOP OF PILLAR.
HISTORICAL COORDINATES NOTE: Coordinates listed below are no longer maintained by GSD and should be verified with your provincial agency before use.
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Global Positioning System
Latitude : N43° 32' 33.92764"
Longitude : W80° 31' 18.76672"
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821201.008 m E = 538626.055 m
PROJECTS IDENTIFIERS:
GPS VA7D65 43080
Station 5 of 6
***************************************************
SITE IDENTIFICATION
Unique Number : 843027
Name : PIER 4
Established by : Geodetic Survey Division
Province : ON
Prov. Identifier : None
NTS Map No : 040P10
STATION COORDINATES
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Values should be checked with your provincial agency before use.
Latitude : N43° 32' 34.65779"
Longitude : W80° 31' 27.68929"
Agency : Geodetic Survey Division
Adjustment Net : MA94705
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821222.385 m E = 538425.695 m
VERTICAL DATA
Vertical Datum : CGVD28
Elevation : 340.261 m
Order : First Order
Method : Differential
Adjustment Line : N26U99
Published Year : 1999
STATION MARKER INFORMATION AND LOCATION
Marker Type : Self Centering Plate
Inspected in : 1999
Status : Good
Inspection Comments : None
Accessible by passenger car or light truck and a walk of less than 50 m
CONESTOGO
CONESTOGO CALIBRATION BASELINE PILLAR NO. 4 WITH STEEL TOP PLATE ON NORTH SIDE OF COUNTY ROAD 17 (CONESTOGO ROAD), 1.2 KM WEST OF INTERSECTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 22, 1.8 KM EAST OF JUNCTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 85 (FORMERLY HIGHWAY NO. 86), OPPOSITE POINT ON ROAD 89 M EAST OF "ROAD AHEAD" SIGN FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC, 12.8 M FROM CENTRE LINE OF ROAD, 14.5 M SOUTHEAST OF POWER POLE, 4.7 M SOUTH OF POWER LINE, AT ROAD LEVEL. ELEVATION TAKEN ON TOP AT CENTRE OF MAIN CIRCULAR PLATE ANCHORED ON TOP OF PILLAR.
HISTORICAL COORDINATES NOTE: Coordinates listed below are no longer maintained by GSD and should be verified with your provincial agency before use.
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Global Positioning System
Latitude : N43° 32' 34.65779"
Longitude : W80° 31' 27.68929"
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821222.385 m E = 538425.695 m
PROJECTS IDENTIFIERS:
GPS VA7D65 43080
Station 6 of 6
***************************************************
SITE IDENTIFICATION
Unique Number : 843028
Name : PIER 5
Established by : Geodetic Survey Division
Province : ON
Prov. Identifier : None
NTS Map No : 040P10
STATION COORDINATES
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Values should be checked with your provincial agency before use.
Latitude : N43° 32' 35.02002"
Longitude : W80° 31' 32.11454"
Agency : Geodetic Survey Division
Adjustment Net : MA94705
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821232.993 m E = 538326.325 m
VERTICAL DATA
Vertical Datum : CGVD28
Elevation : 341.111 m
Order : First Order
Method : Differential
Adjustment Line : N26U99
Published Year : 1999
STATION MARKER INFORMATION AND LOCATION
Marker Type : Self Centering Plate
Inspected in : 1999
Status : Good
Inspection Comments : None
Accessible by passenger car or light truck and a walk of less than 50 m
CONESTOGO
CONESTOGO CALIBRATION BASELINE PILLAR NO. 5 WITH STEEL TOP PLATE ON NORTH SIDE OF COUNTY ROAD 17 (CONESTOGO ROAD), 1.3 KM WEST OF INTERSECTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 22, 1.7 KM EAST OF JUNCTION WITH COUNTY ROAD 85 (FORMERLY HIGHWAY NO. 86), 13.0 M FROM CENTRE LINE OF ROAD, 12.0 M WEST OF PROJECTION OF CENTRE OF DRIVEWAY TO HOUSE NO. 383,209. 7.4 M SOUTHWEST OF POWER POLE NO. 6060 WITH GUY WIRE, 2.3 M SOUTH OF POWER LINE, AT ROAD LEVEL. ELEVATION TAKEN ON TOP AT CENTRE OF MAIN CIRCULAR PLATE ANCHORED ON TOP OF PILLAR.
HISTORICAL COORDINATES NOTE: Coordinates listed below are no longer maintained by GSD and should be verified with your provincial agency before use.
Horizontal Datum : NAD83
Method : Global Positioning System
Latitude : N43° 32' 35.02002"
Longitude : W80° 31' 32.11454"
UTM : Zone = 17 Scale Factor = .9996 N = 4821232.993 m E = 538326.325 m
PROJECTS IDENTIFIERS:
GPS VA7D65 43080