Tom's Letterbox LbNA #14615 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Oct 25, 2002 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Fayetteville |
| County: | Onondaga |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | 3wild ones |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Aug 8, 2009 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFaF |
| Last edited: | Oct 25, 2002 |
Tom's letterbox is hidden in Green Lakes State Park. There is an entrance fee from May 1st through Columbus Day. The park is open from daylight to dusk. Park at the lot near the beach area.
Directions to Green Lakes State Park:
From New York, Albany: Thruway (I-90) west to Exit 34A (I-481 South); to Exit 5E (Kirkville Rd. East); follow Kirkvile Rd. right on Fremont Rd.; left on NYS 290. Follow signs to Park.
From Buffalo, Rochester: Thruway (I-90) east to Exit 34A (I-481 South); to Exit 5E (Kirkville Rd. East); follow Kirkville Rd. right on Fremont Rd.; left on NYS 290. Follow signs to Park.
Difficulty: easy clues; easy terrain; approximately 1.6 miles to letterbox, 3.1 miles round trip.
This box was placed on October 25, 2002 in memorial to my step-dad, Thomas Wierzbicki, who passed away from brain cancer on October 13, 2002. He was an avid runner and could often be found jogging the circuit around Green and Round lakes. Green Lakes State Park was a favorite picnic area for Tom and his wife Tarah, and his grandchildren could frequently be seen playing on the beach.
Start this hike at the stone boathouse located next to the lake near a diving platform. Walking south with Green Lake on your left, go to the entrance of the Green Lake trail. There you will find out why the lake is green and how it was formed. Walk down this trail into a grove of cedar.
As you walk further down this path you will pass several "C" shaped wood retaining walls on your left. These clearings offer spectacular vistas of the lake. Look closely at the deep green water and you will have no doubt about the appropriateness of this lake's name.
Before the start of an iron handrail to your left, there is a wooden bench facing the lake. This is a good spot for a rest and to contemplate the beauty of this park. Continuing along the rail, many twisted exposed tree roots will be visible along the bank to the right. Just before the iron handrail ends, there is a tree stump with
octopus-like roots grabbing an outcrop of sedimentary rock, just above the wooden post marker 16. At this point the path begins to curve more sharply around the lake to the left.
You will come upon another wooden bench where Baltimore may come to remember walks with Joan. Pause here to study the lush ferns. You will see many types, including bracken, hay-scented, and sensitive ferns.
Just past another wooden bench where baby Kristina is remembered, there is a fork in the road. Standing in the center of the path, take a compass bearing of 243 to take the road less traveled. At this point the path starts heading up an incline and you will pass a wooden post marker 12. At the top of the hill you will again come to
an intersection. This time take a compass bearing of 280. This path will take you down hill to another intersection, where you will take a right to start your hike around Round Lake.
On this trail you will come upon a stone retaining wall in front of a wooden bench that confirms how well loved this State Park is. Tom and Tarah could often be seen sitting on this bench sharing wine and hor d'oevres and taking in the peaceful view of Round Lake.
Continuing along this trail, look carefully at the tree trunks to your right to see the characteristic square holes created by a Pileated woodpecker. If you are lucky, you might see woody woodpecker himself! Quite a distance down the trail there is a tree you can walk into, surrounded by mossy logs. Just past this tree is an
intersection. The path to the right leads to Signal Hill Condominiums where Tom and Tarah lived and spent many happy years. Take the path to the left to continue around Round Lake. Soon you will come upon a wooden bridge, which you should cross to continue your hike.
You will pass benches where Dr. Perl and Dr. Corcoran are remembered and eventually come to a small stone house with a red roof. This area is positively electric! There is another wooden bench here to rest your weary feet. After one last look at Round Lake, continue on to a fork in the road. Take a compass bearing of 107 and head a short distance down this trail. Soon you will see a faint path to your left. Thirty paces down this footpath will lead you at a bird watching retreat. There is much to learn about our feathery little friends, so keep your eyes and ears open and you will be rewarded.
In front of you is a small feeder stream that runs into Green Lake. Look to your left and you will see a large tree trunk spanning the stream. Cross over this log and at its far end take a compass bearing of 93. Take 18 paces to a large birch tree with peeling bark. Under it's roots, sheltered by bark you will find what you seek.
To get back to your car, continue on the main trail until you get to an intersection. If you go left across a wooden bridge you will be retracing your steps back to the boathouse (approximately 1 mile). The lake will now be on your right. If you choose to go right at the intersection, the trail continues the circuit around Green Lake (approximately 1.3 miles). You will end up by the bathhouse on the beach. Simply walk around the beach area to get back to your car.
Enjoy this amazing park.
Directions to Green Lakes State Park:
From New York, Albany: Thruway (I-90) west to Exit 34A (I-481 South); to Exit 5E (Kirkville Rd. East); follow Kirkvile Rd. right on Fremont Rd.; left on NYS 290. Follow signs to Park.
From Buffalo, Rochester: Thruway (I-90) east to Exit 34A (I-481 South); to Exit 5E (Kirkville Rd. East); follow Kirkville Rd. right on Fremont Rd.; left on NYS 290. Follow signs to Park.
Difficulty: easy clues; easy terrain; approximately 1.6 miles to letterbox, 3.1 miles round trip.
This box was placed on October 25, 2002 in memorial to my step-dad, Thomas Wierzbicki, who passed away from brain cancer on October 13, 2002. He was an avid runner and could often be found jogging the circuit around Green and Round lakes. Green Lakes State Park was a favorite picnic area for Tom and his wife Tarah, and his grandchildren could frequently be seen playing on the beach.
Start this hike at the stone boathouse located next to the lake near a diving platform. Walking south with Green Lake on your left, go to the entrance of the Green Lake trail. There you will find out why the lake is green and how it was formed. Walk down this trail into a grove of cedar.
As you walk further down this path you will pass several "C" shaped wood retaining walls on your left. These clearings offer spectacular vistas of the lake. Look closely at the deep green water and you will have no doubt about the appropriateness of this lake's name.
Before the start of an iron handrail to your left, there is a wooden bench facing the lake. This is a good spot for a rest and to contemplate the beauty of this park. Continuing along the rail, many twisted exposed tree roots will be visible along the bank to the right. Just before the iron handrail ends, there is a tree stump with
octopus-like roots grabbing an outcrop of sedimentary rock, just above the wooden post marker 16. At this point the path begins to curve more sharply around the lake to the left.
You will come upon another wooden bench where Baltimore may come to remember walks with Joan. Pause here to study the lush ferns. You will see many types, including bracken, hay-scented, and sensitive ferns.
Just past another wooden bench where baby Kristina is remembered, there is a fork in the road. Standing in the center of the path, take a compass bearing of 243 to take the road less traveled. At this point the path starts heading up an incline and you will pass a wooden post marker 12. At the top of the hill you will again come to
an intersection. This time take a compass bearing of 280. This path will take you down hill to another intersection, where you will take a right to start your hike around Round Lake.
On this trail you will come upon a stone retaining wall in front of a wooden bench that confirms how well loved this State Park is. Tom and Tarah could often be seen sitting on this bench sharing wine and hor d'oevres and taking in the peaceful view of Round Lake.
Continuing along this trail, look carefully at the tree trunks to your right to see the characteristic square holes created by a Pileated woodpecker. If you are lucky, you might see woody woodpecker himself! Quite a distance down the trail there is a tree you can walk into, surrounded by mossy logs. Just past this tree is an
intersection. The path to the right leads to Signal Hill Condominiums where Tom and Tarah lived and spent many happy years. Take the path to the left to continue around Round Lake. Soon you will come upon a wooden bridge, which you should cross to continue your hike.
You will pass benches where Dr. Perl and Dr. Corcoran are remembered and eventually come to a small stone house with a red roof. This area is positively electric! There is another wooden bench here to rest your weary feet. After one last look at Round Lake, continue on to a fork in the road. Take a compass bearing of 107 and head a short distance down this trail. Soon you will see a faint path to your left. Thirty paces down this footpath will lead you at a bird watching retreat. There is much to learn about our feathery little friends, so keep your eyes and ears open and you will be rewarded.
In front of you is a small feeder stream that runs into Green Lake. Look to your left and you will see a large tree trunk spanning the stream. Cross over this log and at its far end take a compass bearing of 93. Take 18 paces to a large birch tree with peeling bark. Under it's roots, sheltered by bark you will find what you seek.
To get back to your car, continue on the main trail until you get to an intersection. If you go left across a wooden bridge you will be retracing your steps back to the boathouse (approximately 1 mile). The lake will now be on your right. If you choose to go right at the intersection, the trail continues the circuit around Green Lake (approximately 1.3 miles). You will end up by the bathhouse on the beach. Simply walk around the beach area to get back to your car.
Enjoy this amazing park.