Did you figure this out yet Jim? If not:
For Land Desktop
1. Create your existing surface
2. Set your suface current
3. Profiles > Existing Ground > Sample From Surface
4. Profiles > Create Profile > Quick Profile (or Full Profile)
5. Pick point for profile insertion
For Civil 3D
1. Create your existing surface
2. Profiles > Create From Surface
3. Select your alignment in the pulldown on the left
4. Select which surface in the Select Surfaces box on the right
5. Click Add>>
6. Click Draw In Profile View
7. Type in your profile name and description
8. Select the Alignment
9. Define station range and profile settings, styles, band sets
10. Click OK
11. Pick point for profile insertion
These are just basics. If you need more help check also on AUGI.com forums in the Infrastructure section or theswamp.org in the vertical/land lubber section.
Note that there are tutorials that are installed with Land Desktop and Civil 3D which are worth having a look at. There are also several other places online. Simply perform a search on google and you will find many. The help file (F1) can also be of service.
Also check out civil3d.com and thecadgeek.com. These sites are blogs which teach some things, but it's not always easy to understand what they're talking about if you're not an intermediate or advanced user.