Toad Buffet LbNA #16420 (ARCHIVED)

Box 1-"Aphid" has been reported missing. I am SO sorry to anyone who contacted us and recieved no reply. Life has been a whirlwind and unfortunately, Letterboxing had to take a temporary backseat. We hope to have "Aphid" up and running by mid-May. Check back.

TOAD BUFFET

Difficulty rating: 2

Terrain rating: 3.25

DIRECTIONS
From points south take Rt. 270 North to Exit 11- Montgomery Village Avenue. At the 2nd traffic light (including exit ramp light), turn Left onto Route 355 (Frederick Ave). After you pass a Costco and a couple of car dealerships, Turn Right onto WATKINS MILL RD. Stay on this for a few miles and after you pass through the light for APPLE RIDGE RD. (Watkins Mill High School is on your left here) you will see a very small parking lot on your right (before a bridge). Turn in and park.

From points North or from Germantown take 270 South to 118 North and continue on this road as it crosses over Rt. 355 (the road is called Germantown Road at this point). You will enter a roundabout - take 1st exit onto WATKINS MILL RD. (basically 12 o’clock). Soon you will come to a bridge crossing over Seneca Creek and you will see a very small parking lot on your left right after the bridge. Turn in and park.

Now it’s time to begin your Toad Buffet Search! This letterbox series is in the middle of the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail; the Watkins Mill to Brink Road Section.

FIRST COURSE: THE APHID
Begin by walking past the metal gate to the beginning of the trailhead. Here there is a sign-post stating that Brink Road is 1.4 miles ahead on the trail. Count the blue blazes as you begin the Greenway trail. You will go up and down a hill and continue on. This is often a popular spot with deer so keep on the look-out for them. Just BEFORE you come to the 4th trail blaze (approximately 5 feet before) turn 90° to the Left. In the distance you will see a pole with an orange reflector on it. Walk to that pole. (You will cross over a tiny creek bed which is more of a mud bed in the summer – we built a crude bridge of logs and sticks to cross over the mud. It may be gone, so prepare to get muddy feet!

When you reach the orange topped pole face the creek and walk to the edge of it. Looking to your left you will see two downed trees crossing over the creek. Walk to the one further away from you, which is the larger of the two. Pretend you’re a billy goat and cross over this log. When you reach the other side, climb down the left side close to the edge of the creek as there is almost a built in step here in the tree trunk. Once down walk to the end of the tree trunk on the left-hand side and look up the hill toward the left. Spot a large grey rock. Walk to this rock. Standing on the left side of this rock facing up the hill you will see a large fallen tree on your right. At the top end of this tree waiting in a hollow space is Box #1. Congrats! This is the most difficult of the four boxes!

SECOND COURSE: THE MOSQUITO
Retrace your steps back over the log bridge and past the pole to the trail. Continue the trail in the same direction and soon you will come to a Creek Crossing. Cross over the creek and about 2 blazes up from the creek the trail splits. (The blue blaze trail goes to the left and a red marked trail continues straight ahead). Stop here and look to your right. About 15 -20 feet from the trail you will see a small cut stump sticking up about 2 feet. Walk to this stump and take a compass reading of 120°. In this direction, spot 2 trees in the distance with boards nailed into them and rocks at the base. Walk to these trees. Box #2 is waiting on the right side of the right-hand tree under a flat rock.

THIRD COURSE: THE BEETLE
Get back onto the blue blazed Greenway trail in the same direction. The trail will climb up a hill and peaks when you reach many barren pines. After this plateau, the trail begins going downhill. On the way down you will see trailpost on your right (it says “Trail” with arrows). Keep going down. As you descend the hill look to your left, soon you will come upon a large grey rock with a tree growing out of it. Walk over to this rock and in a crevice on the left side, you will find box #3 hidden under a flat narrow rock.

FOURTH COURSE: THE CRICKET
Back on the blue blazed trail continue heading down the hill. You will cross over a tiny creek (much smaller than the last). Soon after the creek the trail will split. The left-hand side heads down to Seneca Creek and the blue marker trail continues to the Right. The 4th box is further down the trail, but we recommend taking a few moments to enjoy the view of the creek here as there is a nice big log to sit on and the water is wonderful to wade in. A perfect place to have a picnic on a nice day.

Once refreshed, head back on the Blue marked Greenway Trail. Pass a trail marker that reads “To Brink Road” and continue. You will pass through an area of skunk cabbage and then arrive at to 2 bridges. Standing on the 2nd bridge, you will see a very small path leading towards the creek. From the end of the bridge walk 20 paces down this small path. Look to your left. Here you will see an old rotting log. On the backside of the log (the side closest to the creek) you can find Box #4 hidden in a crevice under a chunk of bark. Congratulations you have found all four delicious toad entrees!

Note: You are almost to the end of this section of the trail (approx. 1/8 of a mile) and if you enjoy birding and butterflies you may want to continue on the blue blazed Greenway trail heading towards Brink Road as you will come to a beautiful meadow full of many birds and birdhouses.

We hope you enjoy this series. Please let us know if any of our boxes are missing or in need of attention. toadpatrol@hotmail.com