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Left a Trace LbNA #14126

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Apr 20, 2004
Location:
City:Essex
County:Middlesex
State:Connecticut
Boxes:1
Planted by:SwampYankee&Sunshine
Found by: SherlockMiles
Last found:Mar 3, 2024
Status:FFFFFFaaFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Apr 20, 2004
Left a Trace Letterbox
(Swamp Yankee’s Birthday Box)

On the one year anniversary of planting this box, I’ve decided to publish the clues.
One box located in Canfield woods in Essex, CT. Figure less than an hour hiking and stamping time unless you get Drew Clan’s Fab Four.
I know we practice “Leave no Trace” and this isn’t exactly politically correct but I thought it would be a good idea for a letterbox so here goes anyways (sorry Butterfly).
A 14-year-old boy used to hike these woods. He had open permission to enter these woods from a woman that lived on Dennison Road across from Trolley Lane. From her driveway he would hike up the hill, follow the ridge east to a seasonal streambed, then swing northward, past a large ledge out crop, and to the top of the ridge south of where the letterbox is placed. Then to this spot. From here we would head any way we wanted. The only trail back then was the well-worn path that is now called the Canfield trail (I used to ride my 10 speed road bike down this trail from Book Hill Road to Dennison Road before any one had thought of Mountain bikes). It was here I learned to navigate using the sun and landmarks. I would regularly hike these woods at night and in snowstorms. We would spend most of our time in the area between Book Hill to the east, the Essex Waste Transfer Station (Big Jim’s used auto parts) to the north, Dennison Road to the south, and the power lines to the west.
The Clues. Your journey starts at the Canfield Woods entrance off Book Hill Woods Road off Book Hill in Essex. Shortly after entering the trail system take a left on the blue blazed Canfield trail. Hike down the gentle slope past Connecticut’s third largest tulip tree on the left. Stay on blue past the red blazed trail on the right. Soon the trail will turn right past a large boulder that is right on the trail, you may also notice a yellow birch with a metal blue blaze just past the boulder and an old spongy cut piece of wood in between them. From this spot take 30 paces (not steps) to a 2-foot thick, 50-foot tall, dead tree and stop. With your back to the stump take a reading of 110 degrees and look for a large beech tree about 60 feet off the trail, up the hill. You should also see two more beech trees almost as big and almost in line with you to the right. Bush whack to the far side of the first beech tree to see where I “Left a Trace” (The initials R. S. are mine, the date 1973 is real). Now turn around and walk due east up the bank about 15 steps to a small bunch of rocks next to a larger rock. In the bunch of rocks is a reproduction of what you’ve found.
I like to come back to this spot from time to time to remember that boy from many years ago. I try to think what that boy would think of me now, would he respect me and want to be my friend (I’m pretty sure he would). As I said at the beginning of the clues, to me this place is much more than a spot on a map or a set or coordinates. It is a moment in time and could never be replaced and therefore it is very special to me but I’ve decided I would like to share it with my friends. Enjoy, Swamp Yankee, AKA Ron Saunders.