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Letterboxing Northeast Local Letterboxes VIII
Glacial Park (Spring 2006: We've had several missing reports but haven't had a chance to check on this one). Given enough time and about a million dump trucks, any New Jersey contractor with connections could pile up enough rubble to recreate Long Island. That the Wisconsin Ice Sheet took 10,000 years to do it shouldn't be discouraging. This one mile hike explores a cache of rocky leftovers that didn't make it out to Long Island, but somehow got dumped in a hollow in Connecticut during the glacier's retreat. The hike is short, but amazingly rugged due to the randomly dropped granite and schist erratics you'll be scrambling over. Figure one hour of stoney enjoyment. Directions: From I95 in Groton, CT, take exit 86 and head north on CT Rte. 12 for 6.7 miles. Turn right on Rte. 214 East, then after 1 mile, right again on Avery Hill Extension. At the end of the road, turn left on Whalehead Rd and watch to your left for the Glacial Park sign under power lines. Park in the small parking area, and walk left onto the trail bearing 035°, away from the power line gate. Entering the woods, notice sporadic and faint old blue blazes: although poorly maintained when this letterbox was placed, the blazes will help quite a bit in keeping you on-trail over the course of the hike. Soon fork left again at a loop intersection for a clockwise north-to-south circle around this amazing area. In a short way, cross through a stone wall. Turn right off-trail about 15 steps along the western side of the wall until you come to a little drop off. The Boulder Train Letterbox lives here, in the wall. Now continue with the trail uphill, watching for a sharp right that will lead you across a zen garden of boulders in a big scattering of rubble. From here you'll follow the faint blue blazes back uphill and then trend generally east and south to the beginning, forking left at the original loop intersection to your car.
Eagle Scout A little doodle of a hike, covering 2 easy miles in one hour for a single letterbox. Sketchy Directions: From I95 in Groton, CT, take exit 86 and draw a line north on CT Rte. 12 for 6.7 miles. Scribble right on Rte. 214 East, then after 2.7 miles, right again on Rte. 117 East. In 0.4 miles, go left on Colonel Ledyard Highway, then after 0.5 miles turn right on Blonders Rd. Follow the road into the park, and pass by the fields to park down at the Pavilion. Walk south past the tennis courts and turn right to the marked trail heading west. Dash off down the trail and draw left (south) at the loop intersection for a clockwise circle. Brush past the first bench and info board and follow the painted blazes around the trail. At the third bench, stop and enjoy the artistic view, then scrawl across the trail at 150° to peek under a low overhanging rock. Finish your doodling composition by completing the loop.
Three Rivers (The 2nd letterbox, missing for ages, was kindly replaced by Maureen in March 2002) Celebrating 400 years of history (warring natives, colonial trading, industrial revolution, urban renewal), the "Rose City" has created a Heritage Walk along the Yantic River. Follow this interesting, well-marked path for about 3.5 miles (round trip) to visit two letterboxes. This is a great walk for strollers, kids, and active seniors. Directions: From I-395 in Norwich, CT, take exit 80E and follow CT Rte. 82 East for 2.1 miles. Turn right onto Rte. 2 East, and in 50 yards park on your right, either in the public street parking spaces or at the marina. Clues: Take a few minutes to enjoy the superb pavillion at the confluence of the Shetucket, Thames, and Yantic Rivers, and then head northwards on the paved Heritage Trail. This urban pathway keeps the Yantic River on your left as you hike upstream through old mills and quiet neighborhoods. At the world's longest sewer pipe, which we guess is a great thing and worth a plaque, turn right (east) off-path and walk about 25 steps to find the Hollyhock Island Letterbox on the ground behind a tree on your right. Continuing, the Heritage Walk weaves away from the river here and there to finally arrive at Yantic Falls. Cross over the impressive gorge on the walkway and hike a short way south on the path towards a pedestrian bridge, passing a huge chestnut hulk on the left. Just as you step up onto a concrete stairway, cut left (east) through the pipe fence and look low in the stone wall for the Uncas Leap Letterbox. You can turn back here to retrace your steps, or head left back at Yantic Street to visit the upper falls area. We hope you had a pleasant day in the Rose City!
Removed due to security changes since September 11th.
Currently inaccessable due to security changes since September 11th
Aix sponsa (We're pretty sure the second box is missing) Here's an easy 1½ mile dabble with a brace of letterboxes near the duck pond at Pequot Woods in Mystic, CT. Perfect for the hatchlings in your brood, this short and level flight might sometimes give waterfowl slightly damp webbed feet. Flyway: From I95 in Mystic CT, take exit 89 (Allyn Street) and turn south from the ramp towards Mystic. Bank right at the first street and follow Sandy Hollow Rd 0.2 miles to the nesting area on your left. Migration: Take wing southwards around the gate and follow the stone wall past wetlands on your right to a junction with a wooden trail map. Migrate straight south for a clockwise loop. At the southern turn of your journey, bank left on 250 degrees toward Stone Bridge. After a few flaps of the wing, watch on your left for a waist-high boulder split in three like a deck of cards. Behind it is a maple and behind that is a single clutch in a nest. Your V formation can continue down this path to Rte. 1 and back if you'd like. Then fly back up to the main migration route and bank left to continue your clockwise loop. You'll pass a clearing and an old farm site. At the end of the east-running cobblestone walkway, soar over the wall to your left just before a chestnut tree and quack loudly when you spot the second nestling of the day. Now fly your flock down to the original trail junction and point your pinfeathers left, north, to return to your incubator.
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