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the Degree Confluence Project
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United States : California

10.0 miles (16.1 km) SSE of Twentynine Palms (San Bernardino), Riverside, CA, USA
Approx. altitude: 1361 m (4465 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap topo aerial ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 34°S 64°E

Accuracy: 3 m (9 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View North #3: View East #4: View South #5: View West #6: All GPS zeros! #7: Belle Campground, where I began my hike #8: A striking-looking barrel cactus growing near the point #9: This military helicopter passed directly overhead during my visit #10: This stray mylar balloon has, coincidentally, made a successful visit to the point

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  34°N 116°W (visit #12)  

#1: The confluence point lies near the top of a rock-strewn hill

(visited by Ross Finlayson)

23-Oct-2016 -- I had previously visited this point (the first recorded visit for this project) almost 17 years ago, in December 1999, before the end of GPS ’Selective Availability’. I figured it was time to revisit this point, to get better photos, and ‘all zeros’. (I would also have loved to get a quadcopter (‘drone’) aerial video from this point, but unfortunately - being inside a National Park - drones are banned here.)

Once again, I started hiking from the Belle Campground - 1.25 miles away. Despite having made hundreds of other confluence visits since my first visit, the hike was very familiar; my original hike seemed fresh in my mind. I did find, however, that the final climb up the steep, rocky hillside was harder that I’d remembered. This might be due in part to being 17 years older (age 57 versus age 40), but also due to the fact that - during my first visit - I hiked up the drainage that’s just to the south of the point. In retrospect, that seems to be easier than making a ‘bee line’ hike directly from Belle Campground. In fact, there’s now a partially-formed hiking trail that runs up through the drainage; this trail seems to be new since 1999.

While I was at the point, taking photos, a military helicopter - presumably headed towards the nearby Twentynine Palms Marine Base - flew directly overhead. It appears that they use this Degree Confluence Point as a waypoint!


 All pictures
#1: The confluence point lies near the top of a rock-strewn hill
#2: View North
#3: View East
#4: View South
#5: View West
#6: All GPS zeros!
#7: Belle Campground, where I began my hike
#8: A striking-looking barrel cactus growing near the point
#9: This military helicopter passed directly overhead during my visit
#10: This stray mylar balloon has, coincidentally, made a successful visit to the point
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
In the Joshua Tree National Park.