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Letterboxing Northeast Notable Trees Series Letterboxes commemorating extraordinary trees in Connecticut
Refreshed with a new stamp in late-spring 2002... In its day, this tree was the largest Sugar Maple in the USA. Unfortunately, it has succumbed to age and elements, but the massive remnant stump is still worth a visit. It is getting a bit hard to see as it becomes overgrown with bushes and poison ivy, but if you look from behind the wall on the road to the Ramada, you'll be amazed by its size and girth. This first letterbox in the Notable Trees Series is a drive-up with no hiking involved. Directions: at the intersection of CT Rte. 82 and I-395 in Norwich, off exit 80W, park in the northwest corner of the commuter parking lot. The Norwich Maple is behind a small Tourist Info shack between the parking lot and a Ramada Inn. Look for a brass plaque commemorating the tree and for a wooden signboard. Your reward is in the stone wall behind this wooden marker: look low in the wall close to the overgrown stump and please, re-hide the box carefully.
Ledyard Oak Another dead tree, but oh, what a memory! An easy, mostly level 1½ miles for three letterboxes. Less than an hour of walking. The trails are rather new and sometimes a bit rough, and the blazes don't follow the usual conventions, but it's easy to find your way around this short loop. On Rte. 12 in Gales Ferry CT, take Long Cove Rd eastward. Follow it 1½ miles to the end at Vinegar Hill Rd. Straight across you'll see the entrance to the Nathan Lester House and the Ledyard Oak trails. From the parking area walk east past the historic Lester homestead to the trailhead. Walk down to enjoy the remains of the Ledyard Oak. From the tree, continue south on the blue trail for a counterclockwise loop. Pass a small cemetery and turn north along a stone fence. Walk up the old farm field, now reforested. You'll find a large-ish stone cairn on your right. Turn east here, off-trail, to pass through the stone wall and search in a similar cairn just beyond for Nathan's Letterbox. Continue up the trail northwards to the top corner and turn west with the blue trail to find a "T" intersection. Turn right and follow the path almost to the road, then follow the blue blazes south. The trail is a little rougher here, but is well-marked as it climbs gently for a little less than half a mile. The next intersection is marked by an exuberant bunch of blazes. Cut left on the branch heading 150° and pass three times through a couple of well made walls. At the fourth cross-through, watch out: an older trail, marked in a deeper blue color, heads straight on 020°. Our trail cuts right on 120° through the wall and downhill. From the east side of the wall, take about 8 steps north to find the Patriot's Farm Letterbox in the wide top of the wall. Now continue steeply downhill with the trail eastwards and turn right (west-southwest) at the intersection. In a surprisingly short bit, you'll intersect with the main trail heading off 240°. With the Ledyard Oak back over your left shoulder, there is another big oak on the right on the entrance trail at a stone wall's intersection. The Ledyard Oak Letterbox is behind it under a tilted stone. Thanks for visiting! We'll try to bring you to a living tree next, Connecticut's largest Sycamore.
The first notable tree in this series that is still alive, the Ashford Oak is, none the less, showing age. Preserved by the Joshua's Trust conservation group, the tree and letterbox are just off the road, so there is minimal walking involved. From the intersection of CT Routes 195 and 44 just north of UConn, follow Rte. 44 East 3.5 miles to Giant Oak Lane. Turn north onto the lane and you'll soon see this massive red oak on your left. Just across the road is another large oak: what you seek is behind it in the far side of the stone wall, down low.
Pinchot Sycamore Placed for A Somewhat Secret Gathering of Letterboxers to celebrate Hartford County boxing. Many thanks to rtrw for opening her home to us! From this spot, walk under the massive branch and go a short way upstream until the concrete abutment shoots off at 120°. Right where it ends, a step or two down to the right, and hidden under several layers of rock without the slightest trace of tupperware showing is our box. Now where did all those leaves go? Blowing in the Wind! last edited Sunday, November 21, 2004 |
