Figure Eights - MIA LbNA #10257 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Martini Man  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 20, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Wauwatosa |
| County: | Milwaukee |
| State: | Wisconsin |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Kitty~Mail |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Sep 26, 2007 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFaFaOFaFa |
| Last edited: | Aug 20, 2004 |
Figure Eights
3/11/2007 Update: Box in new spot.
8/20/2006 Update: Box has disappeared. This is most annoying as the box had been just checked. It will be recarved and replaced sometime this autumn.
7/12/2006 Update: Box intact and OK.
This is a relatively easy letterbox to find as it requires no great distance to hike and should take no more than half an hour. Leave your mode of transportation at the intersection of 64th Street and Cedar Street in the fair city of Wauwatosa. This address can be accessed from I-94 by exiting the 68th Street exit (from the east) or the 70th Street exit (from the west) and proceeding northward on 68th Street. Watch for Wisconsin Ave. Turn right and, upon reaching 64th Street, make a left turn heading north toward Cedar.
The box was conceived as a remembrance of some difficult, but “character building” moments I had as a member of my high school’s cross country team in the early seventies. Our coach was a brilliant taskmaster and he had some ingenious ways of toughening up his troops. One of them involved running what he termed “figure eights”. Think of a quarter mile run with some bodacious inclines and you will get the idea. Coach was a man who knew his opportunities and found the perfect place to exercise the boys.
Proceed toward the setting sun (if that’s the time of day you are out) to a nature preserve. Advance to the sign and observe a gravel path on your right. Take this path, allowing time to drink in the essence of the moment, and amble on to its completion. At this point, take a left (compass heading 252º) and sally forth.
You will note a stairwell on your right. Rather lean to the left at 156º and continue to the next path to take. Now take a right. Continue along to a “T”. Here take a left. You will walk through some wooded terrain. Once you emerge note a woodchip path at 332º. You are now in “figure eight” country.
If you are in the spirit of the theme of this letterboxing excursion you should have your running togs on. Here is where you start your sprint. As coach would say, “this isn’t a jog……RUN!” But that applied to me in the old days. You can walk if you like.
Charge down a hill noting a delightful creek along your path. At the end of your descent you should come upon a “triangle” of paved walkways. Bear to the right at 30º. Please remember to note the total number of horizontal beams [A = ___ ] and the number of vertical uprights [ B = ___ ] on a bridge that you should be flying by as you make your way through the course.
Walking (or running!) on the aforementioned bearing will bring you to a large green box. This box has some identification on it which will assist you later on. Please note this down [ID = __________ ]
At the main path take a direction of 76º. You will then reach a fork at which time you should head due north. Follow this walkway and enjoy the pastoral scenery as you speed your way along. Continue on to another triangle and bear to the right. You should be passing a metal fence with “how many” upright posts [C = ___ ]. Continue through the intersection passing a post with the number “2” on it [D = 2] .
You now arrive at, yes, another “T” intersection. Move to 121º to some steps. Take seven of them. You will reach another fork. Move to the left, take ten steps and now do some math. Time for a break anyway. You must be tired from all that racing you were doing.
First calculate the following based on the information you collected: A / B = E.
Second, use some more of this data and calculate as follows: C + D + E = F.
Now refer back to the ID you found on the green box. Moving from the right, subtract the second digit from the third digit. This will be G. Add G to F to arrive at H.
Go back to the ID and take the second figure from the left for J. Calculate the final number X by multiplying J and H.
If X calculates to an even number, use it as a last compass bearing to enjoy the fruits of your labor. However if X calculates to an odd number continue on up the steps straight through an intersection of three trails. Take F and multiply it by the sum of B and E. This would be your next compass bearing. Proceed C – D steps. The box will be at X – F –B –E degrees. To find your vehicle, return to the intersection and move along at A * (B + E) degrees.
In either case, please remember to re-hide the box well and be as discreet as possible. This is a very popular park.
Enjoy.
3/11/2007 Update: Box in new spot.
8/20/2006 Update: Box has disappeared. This is most annoying as the box had been just checked. It will be recarved and replaced sometime this autumn.
7/12/2006 Update: Box intact and OK.
This is a relatively easy letterbox to find as it requires no great distance to hike and should take no more than half an hour. Leave your mode of transportation at the intersection of 64th Street and Cedar Street in the fair city of Wauwatosa. This address can be accessed from I-94 by exiting the 68th Street exit (from the east) or the 70th Street exit (from the west) and proceeding northward on 68th Street. Watch for Wisconsin Ave. Turn right and, upon reaching 64th Street, make a left turn heading north toward Cedar.
The box was conceived as a remembrance of some difficult, but “character building” moments I had as a member of my high school’s cross country team in the early seventies. Our coach was a brilliant taskmaster and he had some ingenious ways of toughening up his troops. One of them involved running what he termed “figure eights”. Think of a quarter mile run with some bodacious inclines and you will get the idea. Coach was a man who knew his opportunities and found the perfect place to exercise the boys.
Proceed toward the setting sun (if that’s the time of day you are out) to a nature preserve. Advance to the sign and observe a gravel path on your right. Take this path, allowing time to drink in the essence of the moment, and amble on to its completion. At this point, take a left (compass heading 252º) and sally forth.
You will note a stairwell on your right. Rather lean to the left at 156º and continue to the next path to take. Now take a right. Continue along to a “T”. Here take a left. You will walk through some wooded terrain. Once you emerge note a woodchip path at 332º. You are now in “figure eight” country.
If you are in the spirit of the theme of this letterboxing excursion you should have your running togs on. Here is where you start your sprint. As coach would say, “this isn’t a jog……RUN!” But that applied to me in the old days. You can walk if you like.
Charge down a hill noting a delightful creek along your path. At the end of your descent you should come upon a “triangle” of paved walkways. Bear to the right at 30º. Please remember to note the total number of horizontal beams [A = ___ ] and the number of vertical uprights [ B = ___ ] on a bridge that you should be flying by as you make your way through the course.
Walking (or running!) on the aforementioned bearing will bring you to a large green box. This box has some identification on it which will assist you later on. Please note this down [ID = __________ ]
At the main path take a direction of 76º. You will then reach a fork at which time you should head due north. Follow this walkway and enjoy the pastoral scenery as you speed your way along. Continue on to another triangle and bear to the right. You should be passing a metal fence with “how many” upright posts [C = ___ ]. Continue through the intersection passing a post with the number “2” on it [D = 2] .
You now arrive at, yes, another “T” intersection. Move to 121º to some steps. Take seven of them. You will reach another fork. Move to the left, take ten steps and now do some math. Time for a break anyway. You must be tired from all that racing you were doing.
First calculate the following based on the information you collected: A / B = E.
Second, use some more of this data and calculate as follows: C + D + E = F.
Now refer back to the ID you found on the green box. Moving from the right, subtract the second digit from the third digit. This will be G. Add G to F to arrive at H.
Go back to the ID and take the second figure from the left for J. Calculate the final number X by multiplying J and H.
If X calculates to an even number, use it as a last compass bearing to enjoy the fruits of your labor. However if X calculates to an odd number continue on up the steps straight through an intersection of three trails. Take F and multiply it by the sum of B and E. This would be your next compass bearing. Proceed C – D steps. The box will be at X – F –B –E degrees. To find your vehicle, return to the intersection and move along at A * (B + E) degrees.
In either case, please remember to re-hide the box well and be as discreet as possible. This is a very popular park.
Enjoy.