Comb City Quest LbNA #26003
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Add Location| Owner: | the lazy letterboxer
 |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Oct 1, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Leominster |
| County: | Worcester |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 14 |
| Found by: | Nairon (8) |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Sep 14, 2019 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Oct 1, 2006 |
The Comb City Quest is a series of 13 letterboxes planted along the Monoosnoc Ridge Trail. The quest will run from October 1, 2006 to July 1, 2007. Any letterboxer who finds all 13 letterboxes and presents proof to me will receive a bonus stamp and a Comb City Quest patch. I can be reached at dave.deanne@verizon.net.
This quest is a combined effort by the Leominster Recreation Department, Leominster Land Trust, Leominster Historical Society and the lazy letterboxer and GingerBlue.
Samoset School Box and Hickory Forest Box
09/19/2011 UPDATE
I have heard reports that this trail is impassable due to fallen trees and thorn bushes. The Hickory Forest Box is no longer in place. If the trail conditions improve, I will replace the box.
Take Union Street out of downtown Leominster and stay on it until you get to Samoset and Fall Brook schools on the left, just after Holy Family Church. Take the driveway all the way to the school at the top and park in the upper parking lot. You will see the trail head on the wooded side of the lot. It is marked with a blue blaze.
Enter and follow the path through a stone wall. When you get to the T intersection in the trail turn left and walk to the cluster of tall trees just before the trail takes a sharp right. The Samoset School box is hidden amidst this cluster of trees. After stamping in please rehide it carefully.
Go back to where you turned left and now go straight following the blue dots under the power lines. Continue on this trail as it goes downhill, through a stone wall and under more power lines. You will come to a point where a yellow dot trail takes off on the right, do not take this, stay on the blue dot trail as it winds it’s way through the woods. After awhile you will notice the stone wall reappear on the left and you will cross a tree that is lying across the path. Watch on the left for a break in the wall. Go through this opening and look down on the left. The Hickory Forest Box is about 2 steps away at the base of the stone wall covered by a rock and sticks.
Return to your car the same way you came.
Waterfall, Summit and Granite Street Spur Trail Letterboxes
NOTE: As of 03.18.2012 the Waterfall box is missing and will not be replaced.
Take West Street out of downtown Leominster and stay on it to the end. You will come to a gravel parking lot with a kiosk. Park in that lot and take the blue blazed trail uphill. You will come to a point where the trail bends off to the left marked by a blue arrow. Go straight instead on the grassy path and look for a wire fence on the right. When the wire fence ends look for a small trail that leads down to the rushing water. Take a few steps on the trail and look to the left for a stone wall. The Waterfall Letterbox is at the base of that stonewall, hidden in a niche by rocks.
Go back to the arrow and continue up the trail as it climbs North Monoosnoc Hill. . At times the trail is very rocky underfoot. Stay on the blue dot trail and eventually you will come to a lookout with a somewhat scenic view to the northeast. After the lookout turn and follow the blue dot trail further uphill. The path crosses large flat rocks in the trail and then enters the woods once more. When you re-enter the wooded area count 3 blue blazed trees on the right and then take 10 steps and look off to the right for a large flat rock behind a skinny pine tree. The Summit Letterbox is hidden behind that rock.
Now return to the somewhat scenic overlook. This time turn and look for a yellow blazed trail leading uphill once more. Count 8 yellow dots on the right and look to the left for a triple trunked oak tree with one dead trunk and behind that, about 13 steps off the trail, a large boulder. The Granite Street Spur Trail Letterbox is behind that rock hidden by sticks and flat rocks.
After finding this box return to your car the way you came.
Pine Forest Letterbox
Take Wachusett Street from Pleasant St.
In 2/3 of a mile you will come to a paved parking area for a few cars on your right.
Park and walk past the green gate onto the trail for about 50 paces. Straight ahead is a large stand of planted pine trees but you must take the path entering sharply from the right. Follow this trail which passes briefly through a band of mixed forest and two stone walls. Enter another stand of planted pine trees following the path which runs more or less parallel to the street. Continue on through the pine forest and into mixed hardwood and pine forest. As the trail starts downhill you will reach another stone wall. Stand at the opening and walk 7 paces passing around a dead tree trunk immediately on your right and to the stone wall. You will find the Pine Forest Letterbox at the base of the wall hidden by some sticks. No need to move any stones in the wall. Stamp in and rehide well with sticks.
Beech Forest, Blueberry Hill, South Monoosnoc Overlook and Granite Quarry Letterboxes.
Please be advised****This hike may be dangerous in wet or icy conditions*****
Go to the end of Exchange Street and at the junction with Constitution Drive make a U-turn and park. Do not block the gate or drive past the it even if it is open or you will risk being towed. Although the sign says entrance is prohibited this trail is open to hikers and you will see a yellow blaze on the gate and on a tree on the right.
Head south up the paved road and pass the green Water Department building on the left. The pavement turns into a dirt path and leads into the woods. You will come to a yellow arrow blazed on a tree, follow it to the right. At the next “y” in the trail, go to the right. Follow the yellow dots, the trail will lead upward to the left. You will again go left following the yellow blazes and then the trail will make a sharp right. At the right there is a tree on the right with a yellow blaze and a little further up the trail another tree with a yellow blaze. At the second tree take 20 steps and look off the trail on the right for a large rock between 2 beech trees. Walk to the backside of that rock, and look down on the left for the Beech Forest Letterbox, hidden by sticks.
Return to the trail and continue to follow the blazes. You will come to a t-intersection. Go left at this point and continue along the yellow blazed Beech Tree Spur Trail. You will come to another T intersection marked with a blue dot, go left, you are now on the Monoosnoc Ridge Trail approaching South Monoosnoc Hill. Once on the top of the hill, where it flattens out, you will find a few large yellow blazes as well as blue blazes along the trail. When you reach a cavitated tree stump on the right of the trail, about 4-41/2’ high, stop. Turn and take 4 steps back. Then turn left and walk about 8 steps to a pile of dead wood. The Blueberry Hill Letterbox lies in the center left of the pile. Go back to the trail and continue on. In a few minutes you will reach a yellow arrow pointing right. Take this right and follow the trail. You will pass by a rock saying that the summit trail is dedicated to Robert Axel Anderson, who cherished and preserved this land. After a short walk you will come to the South Monoosnoc Overlook. From this vantagepoint you can see Haynes Reservoir, Mt.Wachusett and Leominster State Forest. After you have enjoyed the view continue on, the trail will lead down over some large rocks. After walking over the rocks begin to count the yellow dots on both the right and left side of the trail. After 5 dots walk a few more steps down the trail and look left for a triple trunked oak tree with a tumble of rocks in front of it. The largest rock has a flat stone on top of it. Go to the back of that rock and look underneath on the left for the South Monoosnoc Overlook Letterbox.
Continue down the trail for one more yellow dot, you will come to another T intersection. Go left and continue along the trail following the blue dots. You will begin climbing again. Eventually the trail will even out, continue along following the blue blazes. You will come to another intersection marked with a blue arrow pointing left. At this point go right and follow the yellow dots. You are now on the quarry trail and will begin a steep descent. At the bottom of this steep hill you will come to a tree marked with arrows pointing right and left, turn left and continue following the yellow dots. As you walk along look for evidence that this was once an active granite quarry. The trail will climb slightly and at the top you will see a tree with a yellow dot on the left. A short way further on the left side of the trail is a multi-trunked tree with a yellow dot, take a few steps past that tree and look for a triangular shaped rock pointing to a birch tree in the quarry. The Quarry Letterbox is hidden under that rock a few steps in, covered by loose stones. Please rehide carefully, as it could be visible from the trail.
Continue along the trail following the yellow dots, you will come to an intersection marked by a yellow dot and an arrow pointing left. Go right and this will bring you back to where your car is parked at the end of Exchange Street.
Sholan Farm Box, Fallbrook Reservoir Box, Mountain Laurel Box
Take Pleasant Street out of downtown Leominster and stay on it for a little over 3 miles. After you pass the Sholan Farms Stand look for a “Speed Limit 35” sign immediately followed by a rock-ringed parking lot with a kiosk on the right hand side of the road. Pull into this lot and park.
Walk through the field to the wooded trail. As you descend the hill on this trail you will pass by a trail on the left, stay straight. The trail will eventually bear left at the next junction. Continue on as the trail bends again. You will go past an outcropping of white quartz and come to a point where the trail splits. Take a few steps down the path to the right and look into the woods for a 3 trunked pine tree with a large quartz rock in front of it. Go to the far side of the rock and look to the bottom right for the Sholan Farm Letterbox.
Now go back to the split in the trail and continue on following the trail. At the next split in the trail go left. After a short while the blue blazes will reappear. Eventually this trail will lead you out to the Fallbrook Reservoir. Turn left at the reservoir and walk 160 steps on the path to a thin, bright white birch tree with sticks at it’s base on the left side of the trail. Behind this tree is a splintered tree stump that hides the Fallbrook Reservoir Letterbox.
Go back to the trail and continue walking west. When you get to the next fork in the trail go right and then take an immediate left following the blue dots. Stay on this trail following the blue dots. Eventually you will climb a hill and find yourself amid a multitude of laurel bushes. Look for a flat rock on the left side of the trail with a blue dot on it. Off to the left of that rock is a faint trail that leads up among boulders. Take about 20 steps on that trail past 2 dead trees on the left. The Mountain Laurel Letterbox is under a triangular shaped rock just past the second dead tree. After stamping in and carefully rehiding the box return to your car the same way you came.
This quest is a combined effort by the Leominster Recreation Department, Leominster Land Trust, Leominster Historical Society and the lazy letterboxer and GingerBlue.
Samoset School Box and Hickory Forest Box
09/19/2011 UPDATE
I have heard reports that this trail is impassable due to fallen trees and thorn bushes. The Hickory Forest Box is no longer in place. If the trail conditions improve, I will replace the box.
Take Union Street out of downtown Leominster and stay on it until you get to Samoset and Fall Brook schools on the left, just after Holy Family Church. Take the driveway all the way to the school at the top and park in the upper parking lot. You will see the trail head on the wooded side of the lot. It is marked with a blue blaze.
Enter and follow the path through a stone wall. When you get to the T intersection in the trail turn left and walk to the cluster of tall trees just before the trail takes a sharp right. The Samoset School box is hidden amidst this cluster of trees. After stamping in please rehide it carefully.
Go back to where you turned left and now go straight following the blue dots under the power lines. Continue on this trail as it goes downhill, through a stone wall and under more power lines. You will come to a point where a yellow dot trail takes off on the right, do not take this, stay on the blue dot trail as it winds it’s way through the woods. After awhile you will notice the stone wall reappear on the left and you will cross a tree that is lying across the path. Watch on the left for a break in the wall. Go through this opening and look down on the left. The Hickory Forest Box is about 2 steps away at the base of the stone wall covered by a rock and sticks.
Return to your car the same way you came.
Waterfall, Summit and Granite Street Spur Trail Letterboxes
NOTE: As of 03.18.2012 the Waterfall box is missing and will not be replaced.
Take West Street out of downtown Leominster and stay on it to the end. You will come to a gravel parking lot with a kiosk. Park in that lot and take the blue blazed trail uphill. You will come to a point where the trail bends off to the left marked by a blue arrow. Go straight instead on the grassy path and look for a wire fence on the right. When the wire fence ends look for a small trail that leads down to the rushing water. Take a few steps on the trail and look to the left for a stone wall. The Waterfall Letterbox is at the base of that stonewall, hidden in a niche by rocks.
Go back to the arrow and continue up the trail as it climbs North Monoosnoc Hill. . At times the trail is very rocky underfoot. Stay on the blue dot trail and eventually you will come to a lookout with a somewhat scenic view to the northeast. After the lookout turn and follow the blue dot trail further uphill. The path crosses large flat rocks in the trail and then enters the woods once more. When you re-enter the wooded area count 3 blue blazed trees on the right and then take 10 steps and look off to the right for a large flat rock behind a skinny pine tree. The Summit Letterbox is hidden behind that rock.
Now return to the somewhat scenic overlook. This time turn and look for a yellow blazed trail leading uphill once more. Count 8 yellow dots on the right and look to the left for a triple trunked oak tree with one dead trunk and behind that, about 13 steps off the trail, a large boulder. The Granite Street Spur Trail Letterbox is behind that rock hidden by sticks and flat rocks.
After finding this box return to your car the way you came.
Pine Forest Letterbox
Take Wachusett Street from Pleasant St.
In 2/3 of a mile you will come to a paved parking area for a few cars on your right.
Park and walk past the green gate onto the trail for about 50 paces. Straight ahead is a large stand of planted pine trees but you must take the path entering sharply from the right. Follow this trail which passes briefly through a band of mixed forest and two stone walls. Enter another stand of planted pine trees following the path which runs more or less parallel to the street. Continue on through the pine forest and into mixed hardwood and pine forest. As the trail starts downhill you will reach another stone wall. Stand at the opening and walk 7 paces passing around a dead tree trunk immediately on your right and to the stone wall. You will find the Pine Forest Letterbox at the base of the wall hidden by some sticks. No need to move any stones in the wall. Stamp in and rehide well with sticks.
Beech Forest, Blueberry Hill, South Monoosnoc Overlook and Granite Quarry Letterboxes.
Please be advised****This hike may be dangerous in wet or icy conditions*****
Go to the end of Exchange Street and at the junction with Constitution Drive make a U-turn and park. Do not block the gate or drive past the it even if it is open or you will risk being towed. Although the sign says entrance is prohibited this trail is open to hikers and you will see a yellow blaze on the gate and on a tree on the right.
Head south up the paved road and pass the green Water Department building on the left. The pavement turns into a dirt path and leads into the woods. You will come to a yellow arrow blazed on a tree, follow it to the right. At the next “y” in the trail, go to the right. Follow the yellow dots, the trail will lead upward to the left. You will again go left following the yellow blazes and then the trail will make a sharp right. At the right there is a tree on the right with a yellow blaze and a little further up the trail another tree with a yellow blaze. At the second tree take 20 steps and look off the trail on the right for a large rock between 2 beech trees. Walk to the backside of that rock, and look down on the left for the Beech Forest Letterbox, hidden by sticks.
Return to the trail and continue to follow the blazes. You will come to a t-intersection. Go left at this point and continue along the yellow blazed Beech Tree Spur Trail. You will come to another T intersection marked with a blue dot, go left, you are now on the Monoosnoc Ridge Trail approaching South Monoosnoc Hill. Once on the top of the hill, where it flattens out, you will find a few large yellow blazes as well as blue blazes along the trail. When you reach a cavitated tree stump on the right of the trail, about 4-41/2’ high, stop. Turn and take 4 steps back. Then turn left and walk about 8 steps to a pile of dead wood. The Blueberry Hill Letterbox lies in the center left of the pile. Go back to the trail and continue on. In a few minutes you will reach a yellow arrow pointing right. Take this right and follow the trail. You will pass by a rock saying that the summit trail is dedicated to Robert Axel Anderson, who cherished and preserved this land. After a short walk you will come to the South Monoosnoc Overlook. From this vantagepoint you can see Haynes Reservoir, Mt.Wachusett and Leominster State Forest. After you have enjoyed the view continue on, the trail will lead down over some large rocks. After walking over the rocks begin to count the yellow dots on both the right and left side of the trail. After 5 dots walk a few more steps down the trail and look left for a triple trunked oak tree with a tumble of rocks in front of it. The largest rock has a flat stone on top of it. Go to the back of that rock and look underneath on the left for the South Monoosnoc Overlook Letterbox.
Continue down the trail for one more yellow dot, you will come to another T intersection. Go left and continue along the trail following the blue dots. You will begin climbing again. Eventually the trail will even out, continue along following the blue blazes. You will come to another intersection marked with a blue arrow pointing left. At this point go right and follow the yellow dots. You are now on the quarry trail and will begin a steep descent. At the bottom of this steep hill you will come to a tree marked with arrows pointing right and left, turn left and continue following the yellow dots. As you walk along look for evidence that this was once an active granite quarry. The trail will climb slightly and at the top you will see a tree with a yellow dot on the left. A short way further on the left side of the trail is a multi-trunked tree with a yellow dot, take a few steps past that tree and look for a triangular shaped rock pointing to a birch tree in the quarry. The Quarry Letterbox is hidden under that rock a few steps in, covered by loose stones. Please rehide carefully, as it could be visible from the trail.
Continue along the trail following the yellow dots, you will come to an intersection marked by a yellow dot and an arrow pointing left. Go right and this will bring you back to where your car is parked at the end of Exchange Street.
Sholan Farm Box, Fallbrook Reservoir Box, Mountain Laurel Box
Take Pleasant Street out of downtown Leominster and stay on it for a little over 3 miles. After you pass the Sholan Farms Stand look for a “Speed Limit 35” sign immediately followed by a rock-ringed parking lot with a kiosk on the right hand side of the road. Pull into this lot and park.
Walk through the field to the wooded trail. As you descend the hill on this trail you will pass by a trail on the left, stay straight. The trail will eventually bear left at the next junction. Continue on as the trail bends again. You will go past an outcropping of white quartz and come to a point where the trail splits. Take a few steps down the path to the right and look into the woods for a 3 trunked pine tree with a large quartz rock in front of it. Go to the far side of the rock and look to the bottom right for the Sholan Farm Letterbox.
Now go back to the split in the trail and continue on following the trail. At the next split in the trail go left. After a short while the blue blazes will reappear. Eventually this trail will lead you out to the Fallbrook Reservoir. Turn left at the reservoir and walk 160 steps on the path to a thin, bright white birch tree with sticks at it’s base on the left side of the trail. Behind this tree is a splintered tree stump that hides the Fallbrook Reservoir Letterbox.
Go back to the trail and continue walking west. When you get to the next fork in the trail go right and then take an immediate left following the blue dots. Stay on this trail following the blue dots. Eventually you will climb a hill and find yourself amid a multitude of laurel bushes. Look for a flat rock on the left side of the trail with a blue dot on it. Off to the left of that rock is a faint trail that leads up among boulders. Take about 20 steps on that trail past 2 dead trees on the left. The Mountain Laurel Letterbox is under a triangular shaped rock just past the second dead tree. After stamping in and carefully rehiding the box return to your car the same way you came.