Thursday, December 13, 2007

French Creek Rocks

French Creek State Park
Mill Creek Trail
3 mile round trip if you return the way you came, longer if you choose an alternate route.
200 feet elevation
Placed 6/1/07

Those who know me, know that French Creek is NOT my favorite park. So if you are reading these clues, you probably asked me why I don't like this park. Or you were just lucky and I gave them to you. Don't expect an easy walk.


Visit the Miller.

After heading south, take the first trail coming in from the right after the Miller.

Pass a 6' rotting stump.

Go to the next downed tree on the left side whose root system is facing the trail.

15 to 20 feet off trail.

Look under bark in crook of tree.

Friday, June 08, 2007

The Green Triangle

Location: Schuylkill County or is it Lehigh County
Blue Mountain House Road
Distance .2 mile
Altitude 1342 (not hiking elevation - just altitude!)



I was meandering around the hills of Schuylkill County one warm June morning when I spied an interesting little pillar at the side of the road. So, I grabbed my trusty camera and got out to take a picture of it, when I discovered that the opposite side of the pillar bore a different inscription. So, I had to take a picture of that one too. As I was standing there looking at my surroundings, it struck me that there was a curious white blaze on the side of the pillar. Hmmm, why was that, I wondered? I parked in the little parking area about 20 feet north of the pillar. Looking around me, I decided that this was a pretty neat spot to hide that letterbox which had been riding around with me for awhile.

I poked around my car, looking for the box, and as I stood up, I noticed that there was a man with a big backpack standing on the other side of the road observing me. Startled, I asked him if he was a through hiker and he responded that indeed, he was and that he had started in Vermont but he really sounded doubtful that he would make it the whole way to Georgia.


My new companion appeared to be in no hurry to move on. I WAS in a bit of a hurry to be on my way but was determined that I was going to place my box somewhere in this vicinity. But his presence somewhat discouraged my going too far away from my car so I just meandered west on the trail, bypassing a little side trail on the left leading to a big field. This would have been a perfect area for hiding but it also looked as though it were a perfect spot for hikers to rest so I kept moving. But I didn't have to go far before I passed a three trunk tree and shortly after that, I saw a V tree on the right with a downed tree directly behind it about 25 feet off the trail.


After checking it out, I decided that it was a good spot to place my little Green Triangle and that it was time to be on my way to my next
adventure. My new friend, the through hiker, also appeared to be relieved that I was leaving so that he could continue on to HIS next adventure.


Bring your own ink - guess what color is recommended!

Last reported find: July 6, 2007

PS: The above story is true!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

The Gift

Chester County
Distance 1.2 miles roundtrip
125 feet elevation

Planted 6/1/07

Last year I was given a stamp carved by RTRW, a wonderful carver from Connecticut. I have been carrying it around for almost a year now and decided that it was time to plant it. So, I went to one of my least favorite parks to place this stamp, thinking that I might like the park a little better if it held something that I liked a lot.


Go to where the masked nighttime forager trail meets the water powered turnwheel trail and take 32 steps NW to the large tree with the pocket behind it. This tree is between two large V trees.

3/7/10: Checked on box and all is well.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Kaleidoscope #4

Update: Found on 3/31/10 by 2Stargaze

Mifflin County

Distance 1.2 miles round trip

Planted April 28, 2007

This Kaleidoscope is located near a series of boxes in a township in north eastern Mifflin County. You will need to identify the location from the clues to those boxes. Find the boxes with this description - “From the closest town along Rt. 322, take a drive north east through a beautiful valley between Strong and Thick Mountains (do not confuse with nearby Thick Mountain in Centre County). Stay on the road named for the valley the whole way to the trail head.

At the point where the paved road turns to gravel (poor winter maintenance) you will travel 5 more miles to the suggested parking. You know you are on the right track when you see Strong Imp Road going off to the left (at 2.2 miles). After you pass a camp with the name of Reading on it (4.8 miles) be watching for a pull off along the left at the blue blazed trail head. If you cross a low wooden bridge, you have gone too far. Park without blocking the trail.”

After you have viewed the two old hemlocks, passed the long rock, observed the new orchard trees and seen the interesting cherry tree, continue down the trail a little further and stop at the second blue blazed tree. This tree is located on the right side of the trail. Spy a very small stump on the left side of the trail and look inside the stump for Kaleidoscope #4. Please use only black ink.

Cyanocitta Cristata on the Blue Jay Trail - Missing

7/25/2020 Both boxes missing
Update: Found 3/31/10 by 2Stargaze. Bonus box may be missing.
Reed’s Gap State Park
Mifflin County, PA
Distance - 1.5 miles round trip
Planted April 28, 2007
From park office, take the yellow and blue blazed trail up the gravel road till you come to the trail register. Sign in at the register and turn left unto the square blue blazed Reed’s Gap Spur trail. Watch on the right side of the trail for the first square blue blaze after the Spur Trail Sign and notice a crooked tree on the left side of the trail. About 15 feet behind the crooked tree is a rotted stump with another tree close behind it. Box is in niche on SE side of tree.

Friends – planted with my friends, the Crayola Posse, in mind
From the Blue Jay trail box, head back down to spur sign and turn left on Blue Jay trail. Cross footbridge and head up the trail. As it begins to level out slightly and turn SE, you will be able to see the round roof of a building down the hill on the right side. You will also see a downed tree with its roots and rock system almost on the trail directly before a tree with a blue blaze. In a nook between the root and rock system and the base of the tree trunk, you will find a micro box.


Kaleidoscope #2 - Retired


Holy Man Colic
Berks County, PA
Distance – 1.25 miles round trip
Planted May 24, 2007
Begin at the beginning from the only parking lot for this park and head west past the little outhouse. Look for the Layers which will be followed by the Tulip Tree, Ashleaf Maple and Norway Maple. Continue heading West and walk past the trail at PawPaw. The Mockernut Hickory will appear soon – watch for the next trail on the right because you will be taking it.
Pass the stump that looks as though it HAS to have a letterbox in it – I considered it but it is too close to the trail. Your next landmark is a triple trunked tree which is on the left side of the trail. It has a red blaze on two of the three trunks. Stroll about 30 feet to the next blazed tree. Stop beside this tree and face the woods on the opposite side of the trail where you will spy a small triple tree about 20 steps into the woods. From that tree look NW and 11 steps to another triple tree. This triple tree has two live trunks and one dead one. About 3 steps W of this tree is a dead standing tree with a nice little hiding place on its W side. Here you will find Kaleidoscope 2.
Please use only black ink. You can color in later.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Yuengling Brewery




In July 2005, we visited the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville on a very hot summer afternoon. Yuengling is the oldest family owned brewery in the United States and although the Pottsville brewery is not the only plant these days, they do continue to make beer there to maintain their "oldest family" status on the National Historic Register. We walked up and down old staircases in this 175 year old building going from the heat of the manufacturing plant to the cool caves holding the aging beer. After the tour, we were encouraged to sample some of the many fine brews that are produced by Yuengling and although I am not a beer lover, I quickly learned that if I DID want to drink a beer, it would be a Yuengling Lager.


I came home from this tour totally inspired to share my experience with my letterboxing friends in the form of a box in Yuengling's honor. So I carved a stamp and prepared my box and drove to Pottsville to hide it, only to find that there really don't seem to be many good hiding spots IN Pottsville. The box sat in my car for about a year and I made two or three more trips to the area, casually driving around and expanding my circle of search. And now, I decided that today was the day that I had to hide this box, freeing it from its 22 month captivity. So I again drove to Pottsville, drove around Pottsville, drove up and down the hilly streets in Pottsville and in frustration started to head home yet again after finding that the only place that seemed suitable to hide a box was in a beautiful cemetery and it just didn't feel right to put a beer stamp in a cemetery.

I soon noticed a woodsy area to my left as I was heading south on Route 61 and made a turn into the road to find that these woods were owned by the Tumbling Run Water Treatment Facility. Unfortunately, there were no trespassing signs on both sides of the road for miles. But I persisted for 3.6 miles and found a little pull off which was unposted. Six large white stones prevented me from driving up the little road which obviously led to a nice view but they didn't stop me from walking up the road. I came to a little clearing and looked all around me at the mountains which towered over me and soon noticed a little fir tree to my right. This looked like the ideal new home for my little box. I hung it, much like a Christmas ornament, off of a hook, deep in the tree. Please do not remove the hook when you find this box, just lift it off gently.

While you are in the area and if you have the time, please consider taking the tour. You can find the information on it at http://www.yuengling.com/index.htm.


Kaleidoscope #3

Did you ever drive by a road time after time and each time you do it, you say "next time I come this way, I am going to see what is down that road"? Well, there is a road like that a little north of Port Clinton and today was the "next time" that I had promised myself. I drove up this road which is right off of Rt. 61 and is sometimes gated. I found out why the gate is there as I drove up and up and up. There is no way that I would even want to consider driving here in the snow or ice. I found a map which gives the elevation at 1300 feet and I hope to head back there soon to verify that with my GPS.

I drove 2.9 miles enjoying several different vistas on my way up and when I saw a towering fire tower, I knew I had reached the end of the road. The fire tower is fenced off and I can only imagine the views that one would see from it. Not me, though, heights terrify me so I would never have been able to climb it even for a spectacular view.

I parked at the fire tower and walked to the gravel road behind the brown and white striped gate. As I headed downhill, I saw a large evergreen ahead of me on the left side of the road as the trail begins to bear to the right. A little further along, there were a pair of almost matching three foot stones on either side of the trail and I passed through them.

A little further along I saw a trail heading off on the right side of the road and decided to explore that area a little bit. I walked back to the little raised island and headed clockwise around it to the first faint trail on the left and soon saw a three trunked tree which looked like a good spot for my Kaleidoscope #3 box.

I hope you have the time to enjoy the views while you are driving up this mountain, they were beautiful on this lovely sunny day.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Kaleidoscope #1


KRAP YTNUOC OLLOPA

I passed by the sign for this little park while driving to another box and decided to turn around and see what was there. Boy, was I really glad that I did. It was a lovely little park in the middle of nowhere and looked like the perfect spot to place a box I have been carrying around for a few weeks. I also took the opportunity to try out my GPS which I received two Christmases ago and still can’t use. With it, I found that this walk is 1.2 miles long and there is a 226 foot elevation, so although it is not the most challenging walk I have ever taken, it isn’t really a walk for kids or those more out of shape than I am!
Begin at the beginning – take #1 from the parking lot and stay on #1, not hard to do since all the trails are named #1! When #1 splits, take the straight ahead #1.
As you approach a tree laying across the trail with a narrow cut in it to allow hikers to go through it, you will also catch your first glimpse of the Susquehanna River. Go through this narrow cut and continue on the trail.

You will pass several more trees which have been cut to allow people to remain on the trail. As the trail begins to go slightly downhill and you see a stone wall on the right and a full view of the river on the left, look for a long downed tree. Its root end is close to the trail. Go to its other end and look in the little niche on the river end of the tree. Please use only black ink on this stamp. Take it home to add color to it.

1/2/2010 -Box has been found in good condition by Idlemoon.  Thanks for the update!

I Heart Joe


It was the summer of 1968 and I was in love with Joe, the older brother of one of my best friends, Lyn. We all were in the same grade in high school and to Joe, I was just his little sister’s friend so I had to keep my unrequited love a deep secret. Joe’s family was the only family that I had ever met who had two homes – a winter one and a summer one. They were only about 25 miles away from each other, one being in the countryside of Starview and the other along the Susquehanna River in Long Level. As soon as school was out for the year, their family migrated to their life along the river and I was a frequent visitor that summer of 1968. Their house was close to the river, only the road and a narrow strip of shore separated them and we would spend hours sitting in their yard, just watching the boats go by. Sometimes we would walk over to the marina which was always a hubbub of activity, with boats constantly coming and going. We would often buy ice cream at the snack shop there. Other times we would go over to the park which was right on the northern edge of their yard and walk around a bit, swinging on the swings or just hanging out on the picnic tables – again watching the river go by. When it was time to go home, Joe would pile Lyn and me in his teeny little MG convertible (these were the days before seatbelts) and we would race along the river roads with the top down to my home in East York.

A few years ago, Lyn and I were reunited after 35 years at our class reunion. Unfortunately, Joe was not able to join us since he had passed away several years previously from pancreatic cancer. The day after the reunion, Lyn’s mother prepared a wonderful brunch for several other of our high school friends and me at her home in Long Level, which was now her permanent home, and we did a lot of reminiscing about Joe and how much we had all cared about him. Sadly, it will be the last time I ever visit that home because Joe's mother died a few months later when she never recovered from a broken hip.

I have placed a box in Joe’s honor in the park next to his home in Long Level. To find it, go to the south west corner of the park. Here you will find several picnic tables and an intersection of several fences. Northwest of the tables is a rotten stump and about three steps from the stump is a rough barked tree with a nook in its base. My box for Joe is in this nook.