This is My Pennsylvania - DCNR

I don't think I have ever seen a collective group of people in a profession who seemed happier in their jobs or more proud of the work that they do in their parks than the DCNR park rangers.  I collect PA state park stamps so I talk to someone at each park that I visit and I have never found one that was not upbeat and excited about their parks, especially excited when I tell them that I am trying to visit every state park in Pennsylvania.  So, my hat is off to them and this box is in their honor even though I hope they never know it exists!

OK, head for the High Rocks Vista trail in Ralph Stover.  Don't ask me how to get there because the addresses for this park are the craziest I have ever seen.  I do have coordinates at the bottom of this blog entry.

Check out the kiosk and then cross the road.

Be sure to look both ways!

Trail splits at this tree in the middle of the trail.

 If you look left, you see this tempting little bridge but don't go there, at least not for this box.

 I am afraid of heights and this trail is definitely full of scenic views from high up.  I didn't get to see any of them.  But...after you turn right at the tree in the middle of the road, you will see a rock outcropping surrounded by a rusty fence.  I don't think this is considered one of the overlooks and it doesn't really look approachable.

 Step over the scraggly roots in the trail.

 Pass the strange shaped tree.

 And when you find this little skinny tree with a white and yellow blaze...STOP!

Look to your right at these two ginormous root balls about 50 steps off trail.  Walk back to them.

 Look to the left about 30 steps away for the tree with this interesting root.

 Have another look!

Oh, hey, there is the road just a few more steps away.

 And now you have it! 

This is My Pennsylvania - Tow Paths and Mule Teams

How can a park that is 60 miles long not have spots to plant boxes?  Well, maybe it is 60 miles long but it is only about 50 feet wide with the Delaware River running along one side of it the whole way?  I was about ready to give up when I saw something wonderful....a guard rail!

So first I got out of my car and looked at the lock and then also looked to my right.

I bet those picnic tables get busy on nice days.

So just casually mosey up to the guard rail.

And move that handy little rock out of the way to get your stamp!

This is My Pennsylvania - Wawa or Sheetz?

Go to this park.  Box is at 40.08208, -74.91279

 Head to the intersection of Oak Lane and Logan Walk.  

I found the quickest route was to park in this parking area along State Road.

 From this parking area, walk past the gate to the Hunting sign.  Turn left.

 Head down the trail, turning right when the trail curves.

 Continue walking down this trail.

 When you find this sign, head east on Logan Walk.

 See this tree? Ignore it.

 Instead, look across the trail at the downed tree.  Head to the root end.

 See this opening?

 Look what's inside!

Featherhead

Planted by Cichlid Guy for Team Little Dog
Difficulty level: Easy to Medium
Length of hike: 1.5 miles

This box can be found at the Sterner Mill hiking area at Nockamixon State Park in Quakertown, PA. Take Route 313 to 563 north, follow 563 north. You will soon see a sign on your right for the Sterner Mill hiking area. There is only one parking area.

Note* One pace in these set of clues is equal to right foot, left foot hitting the ground.
Some of the trails in this clue may be difficult to see because of the fallen leaves covering the trails.
BYOI

Once upon a time, two HUNGRY TERMITES lived in these woods but one lovely fall day, they decided they had been invaded with too many visitors so they picked up and moved to the foreign country of Michigan. The spot where they had lived was nice and cozy anf very quickly another resident took over their home.

Your quest to find this new resident begins in the southeast corner of the parking lot. Follow this trail down to where it forks off. Turn left and follow the path to where it forks again. This time turn right. Follow the path to where it forks again. This time you are going to turn left. Continue on the path to the small wooden footbridge crossing the small creek. Turn right after the bridge and continue on your way. Wow, so many rocks under your feet! You will soon come to another bridge. You are not going to cross this one, instead head to your left up the steep hill. At the top of the hill make a sharp right and continue on. What a wonderful meadow full of pine trees. Continue on the path and cross over another wooden footbridge. Continue on the path. At the fork turn left, which will take you due north. Looks like those pesky termites had made it to this part of the trail - so many trees on the ground. Continue on the path. Look at that, trees that look like snakes on your left. Continue on the path. More evidence is all around you that those termites had made it to this part of the trail. Looks like the termites knocked over a large tree, which is lying over the path. Cross over this tree and continue on. Do you see the red block on the tree up ahead? Continue on 16 paces after the tree with the red block on it. Now look to your left at the split ree. Featherhead is hiding in a small plastic box inside the tree. Please let me know if Featherhead is still safe and sound in the Hungry Termites old home.

Last found: June 9, 2008

The Tyler Park Boxes

Battle of the Bands - Taking Care of Business

Difficulty level: easy
Time: about 30 minutes
Placed: November 6, 2004

Elvis was looking for something...he didn't exactly know what it was but he knew that when he found it,he would know it. He made up his mind I DON'T CARE IF THE SUN DON'T SHINE because of the EARLY MORNING RAIN. I BELIEVE IN THE MAN IN THE SKY and I need to find what I am searching for. So he decided to take a trip in his LONG BLACK LIMOUSINE with his HOUND DOG in beautiful Tyler State Park. He started by driving past the fields that reminded him of the GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME and that today were filled with GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS and EARTH BOYS playing soccer. I GOT MY MOJO WORKING today, he thought, I can feel it! Ahhh! Look at that sign; it says "Maze" which reminds me of one of my favorite songs - AMAZING GRACE. This must be an omen so I will park here and FOLLOW THAT DREAM.
Look, there is a trail at the end of this parking lot, the Tyler Drive Trail that looked like a LONG LONELY HIGHWAY to Elvis. But he decided to try it out. He took the path at 285 degrees and crossed a little stone bridge. On his right, he then noticed a drinking fountain. I GOT A FEELING IN MY BODY that I may need that a little later. He then walked through two yellow posts and past the Dallons Grove Picnic Area sign. "HOUND DOG," he said, "IF YOU TREAT ME RIGHT we will bring our lunch and eat it here."

He reached a little circle then and after choosing the clockwise direction, he noticed A BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER. Another omen, he thought. Let's STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN to the water passing through here. Upon reaching the other side of the bridge, Elvis noticed a cylinder shaped object and thought "if I touch that, I MIGHT GET STUNG by those bees flying around. So I will head up the path behind the sign that says 'Nature Trail Start'. I am getting closer to my goal, he thought, I GOT A FEELING IN MY BODY. Look at that large JAILHOUSE ROCK on the left - IT FEELS SO RIGHT here." He walked a few steps further to a smaller rock on the left and took a little look at the downed tree behind it. SLOWLY BUT SURELY this SMOKY MOUNTAIN BOY looked for a fork in the downed tree and there he found what he had been looking for. And best of all, he thought, I DID IT MY WAY!
After he was through TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, he GENTLY rehid his treasure and began to retrace his steps humming VIVA LAS VEGAS but knowing in his mind that the words should be Viva Pennsylvania.

If you have to figure out how to get around the tree in the path, you have gone too far.
Words in capital letters are actual names of Elvis songs.


Battle of the Bands - Hound Dog

Difficulty level: Easy
Time: about one hour for both boxes
Placed 11/6/2004

It was a beautiful day when Elvis and Hound Dog visited Tyler State Park in the Long Black Limousine. After a nice picnic lunch at the Dalton Grove Picnic area, Elvis stretched out for a little nap. Hound Dog, being a typical hound dog, had to investigate every new smell in the area. Before he knew it, he had wandered the whole way down to the Plantation Picnic area. He stopped to watch the children playing on the swings before he continued sniffing along the Quarry Trail. Then he spent a few minutes watching the frisbees flying back and forth on the disc golf course. But there were more places to investigate so nose to the ground, he continued. He noticed pungent odors coming from the little house on the right, so he hurried by that and made a right hand turn onto Tyler Drive Trail. Meandering along, he got excited as he began to hear the sound of water to his left. Just before the curve in the road, he spied some benches on the left. The first one was occupied so he walked past it around a little bend and found an empty one right on the bank of the creek where he could enjoy the view for a while. By this time, Hound Dog was getting a little tired himself, so he looked at the little patch of woods behind him and saw a great area to take a nap. Directly behind his bench, deep in the little wooded patch was a downed tree with a large arm pointing up to the sky. He nested himself into the roots and began to dream of Elvis and his happy life with the King.

Battle of the Bands - Blue Suede Shoes

Hound Dog awoke from his nap and noticed that the sky was getting dark. He must have slept longer than he meant to and now it was time to get back to Elvis and the Long Black Limousine. However, he was now totally disoriented and didn't know how he was going to do this. "Hound Dog", he said to himself, "you ARE a hound dog, blessed with a magnificent sense of smell. You just need to sniff your way back to Elvis."
So putting his nose to the ground, he went back out to the Tyler Drive Trail and headed left on it. Sniff, sniff, sniff, he passed a set of double benches on his right. He hadn't picked up a good scent yet but he did smell water and when he saw a drinking fountain down a little path on his right, he decided to take a drink. After quenching his thirst, he figured that he might be able to take a shortcut to where he had last seen Elvis. He headed into the woods behind the drinking fountain, heading north on the faint trail that was there. After taking about 23 human size paces (left foot, right foot = 1 human pace) he noticed a really familiar smell in the leaning tree with the exposed roots. Could he have found Elvis? If not, where of where could he be? And what WAS that smell?
Update 10/23/10:  Taking Care of Business and Hound Dog are probably missing.  Blue Suede Shoes has been moved slightly "7 double paces NE of the big root ball. ".  Thanks to The Soul Mates for the update and repairs to the Blue Suede Shoes box.