Arago Peak 2 Benchmark
I “recovered” (a term the National Geodetic Survey (NGS) uses to describe finding or discovering benchmarks) Arago Peak 2 (NGS PID # OA1617) back on April 14, 2005 while geocaching in the vicinity. See my geocaching blog entry for that day, though I don’t mention the benchmark.
It was recently pointed out to me that my recovery got listed on a website that keeps track of notable benchmark recoveries! Scroll to the bottom of the page and there is one titled “Westernmost Station in 48 Contiguous States” - that’s it! I didn’t even realize it fell into that category until someone reading my geocaching blog pointed it out - thanks, TheBeanTeam!
Getting to this benchmark isn’t particularly difficult. It’s about a 3.6 mile round trip from the parking area at the end of the Cape Arago highway south and west of Charleston. Access is via the Cape Arago Pack Trail at Cape Arago State Park. Take the trail to it’s highest point then divert southward on a less traveled old road grade. About 1/10th mile later you break out of the mature forest into a young stand of trees. Follow the logging roads due south another 0.6 miles to Arago Peak. From the road you can see a white metal sign marking the benchmark location.
Great views up and down the coastline from this vantage point - See photo links below: