EU,
I might have missed this in earlier posts, but could you explain your process in how you pinpointed the money find location? Thanks.

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Coords seem to be questionable on sites. I went to Vancouvers website and got the coords for the location and put them into Google and it showed about 260 feet west and 160 south of the money location..the same happened when I tried to match the coords with one of the buildings..

The coordinate problem may be easily explained.  Prior to about 1983, the horizontal coordinate system was the NAD29 datum system.  In 1984, the coordinate system was changed to what was called the WGS84 datum system.  There are online programs for converting from one system to another.  Based on my checking into this about 10 years ago, I think the change was about 190 feet in an east-to-west direction (along the latitude lines) and about 10 feet in a south-to-north direction (along the longitudinal lines) in the Portland area.  I don't remember which directions the moves were but they were so small that I could easily ignore them for what I was doing at that time.

Also the vertical datum was changed about the same time as the above, but it resulted in only a foot or two change in the Portland area.

Let me amplify on the above and make a correction.

Prior to 1984, NAD27 (North American Datum of 1927) was the horizontal datum for plotting aeronautical maps.  In 1983, a new North American Datum was prepared and it became known as WGS84 (World Geodetic System 1984) and it is the current horizontal datum for plotting aeronautical maps.

NGVD29 (National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929) was the previous vertical datum for plotting maps.  It was replaced by NAVD88 (North American Vertical Datum of 1988).

Both the North American Datum of 1983 and the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 are to be replaced with new datums in 2022.

Current aeronautical maps list WGS84 as the horizontal datum but do not list a vertical datum.

Care should be used in determining GPS coordinates from maps or plotting GPS coordinates on maps to make sure that the same datums are being used.  Most hand-held GPS devices probably use WGS84 horizontal datums but the vertical datums are not generally specified to my knowledge. 

 

(NOTE: I cannot load images onto the forum for some reason, therefore I’ll reference some pictures that Shutter has loaded in previous posts to illustrate what I’m about to say.)

One thing I’ve found very interesting related to the money find spot is its location relative to a couple of trees.

There are two trees of particular interest to me. Even though most people seem interested in the Angled Tree behind Brian in one picture and visible in some other footage, the Angled Tree is meaningless in my mind.

First, there is a tree that Shutter labeled #1 in post #5030 on page 336. I refer to that tree as the “V-Tree.” The V-Tree is also visible in Shutter’s post #5033 on the same page 336—it’s the tree directly to the left of the money find spot, just a few feet from the small gravel road. Again, this is the V-Tree.

Second, there is the tree due north about 20 feet from the money find spot. I refer to this tree as the “North Tree.” The North Tree, or portions thereof, are visible in a lot of pictures and footage from the 1980 dig.

I noticed that the money find spot is not only due south of the North Tree, but it is also due west of the V-Tree. In other words, the intersection of a line drawn heading due west from the V-Tree, and a line drawn heading due south from the North Tree, appears to be the precise spot that the money was found.

This is of interest because one would think that if DB Cooper buried the money at Tena Bar that he would have noted the location somehow for later retrieval. And in my mind, using these two prominent trees makes perfect sense.

Finally, although the Angled Tree, and the North Tree are no longer around, I think the V-Tree is still in place. I have photos of the tree, however as previously noted, cannot load them onto the Forum for some reason.

Fly is trying to say the white square is a rock that can be seen in the helicopter video..it measures close to the size of a car and doesn't match with the FBI car on the path during the dig. shacks appear and disappear over the years. I'm not sure what it is until I get a better photo..

Fly is trying to say the white square is a rock that can be seen in the helicopter video..it measures close to the size of a car and doesn't match with the FBI car on the path during the dig. shacks appear and disappear over the years. I'm not sure what it is until I get a better photo..

I am unaware of a rock that size in the area. I've looked through my photos and haven't seen anything. That said, I cannot verify that there isn't a rock of that size somewhere in the area, although I think it is unlikely.

Could this be the stake that the FBI used to mark the money find spot?

Also, I found the source of FJ's nice photo. Its an Assoc Press photo from 1980.   Used by the Statesman_Journal_Wed__Feb_13__1980_.

Very nice semi hi res news paper photo! Be sure to click it full open.... very nice graphic.

Still doesn't make sense the spoil material made it that far north and up away from the tide line?