My research into the Trail helped me see the broader aspects of land surveying. Although most of the individual explorers who searched for the overland route from New Mexico to California were substantially unsuccessful in connecting the two destinations, they had the foresight to keep notes and journals. They intended for others to follow in their footsteps and to eventually be successful. Following footsteps most often means going where our predecessors went: literally being where they were and seeing what they saw. Success was measured by how well others used their work. The Trail’s explorers documented the routes, the terrain, the preparations, the peoples, the conflicts, the climates, the resources, the seasons and the scope of their expeditions. Sometimes they looked for their predecessors’ landmarks and markers. Often, the work needed measurements, like the explorers’ celestial observations or distances estimated in Spanish leagues. On the other hand, it could mean mending relationships between neighbors or peace-treaty participation. Sometimes it required researching the history of an area before deciding on the best route to take. It certainly includes documenting the work through field notes, journals and maps so that the latest work can be retraced. All of it is surveying, and these surveyors and explorers expected others to use and benefit from their surveys. We could not imagine the Old Spanish Trail without a surveyor’s foresight to record stories with notes and maps. How good are we telling our stories for the people that follow us? The Trail was successful because people used it. Do clients also use our surveys to be successful? For these explorers, the Trail was adventurous and exciting. I am proud to be part of a profession that gives me this feeling of excitement. UCLS Foresights 20
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