Porcupine and Mom LbNA #16669 (ARCHIVED)

The letterbox is located in St. Patrick's County Park. St. Patrick's Park offers many places to picnic and several play areas for children. You can easily plan to spend the day.


The trail to these boxes becomes difficult and is not for small children or strollers - unless you want to carry them!

There is a separate letterbox (not part of this series, but placed by our family) on the way to the Porcupine boxes. Check out the clues under the letterbox name, "Catch Me I'm Falling."

Growing up I was blessed to be able to spend summers at our cottage in Wisconsin. Several families were lucky enough to live on the lake year round. One such family included my best friend, Kristin. She and I were inseparable! Playing together, making up skits together, campfires together, and even going to summer camp and white water canoeing together. The years went by, we both grew up and both got married. My husband and I went on to adopt four children while Kristin and her husband had four children naturally.

Almost a year after the birth of her second son, Shane, Kristin and her family were visiting her parents back at their home on the lake. After swimming and playing Kristin's dad headed up to the house with 11 mo. old Shane following Grandpa all the way. Unbeknownst to anyone there was an underground electrical wire that had become exposed. Shane, dripping wet, stepped on it and was electrocuted and pronounced dead at the scene.

Though unbelievably heartbreaking, there is a good ending. Through their grief, Kristin and her husband established a non-profit organization called the Porcupine Foundation. The name comes from what older brother, Keegan, called Shane. Shane had hair that stood straight up on end, hence the name. The Porcupine Foundation contributes to many worthy causes including, but not limited to, the family grief center at the hospital where Shane was taken and the camp where Kristin and I spent our summers and where she met her future husband. These letterboxes are dedicated to the friendship Kristin and I have shared for over 30 years, and the love she has for a child that was taken much too early.

Letterbox Clues:

Enter the park and obtain a trail map. Park near the Fragomeni shelter. (In the winter this parking lot may be closed. If so, park near the Red Barn facing South. Look between the pine trees and you can see the shelter you seek from here.)

While facing the shelter, head for the upper left hand corner where the field meets the woods. Here you will find a path - follow the path into the woods until you reach a clearing. Once in the clearing, locate the map and post number 2. Facing the map, take the trail on your immediate right. Follow the trail down the steps and over the bridge. At the fork in the trail, turn left and follow the trail Oak Tree trail up the steps. At the top of the steps follow the trail to the right about 30 steps. On your left you will find the baby, "Shane", "porcupine tree" - the tree looks like a porcupine with its quills up. Look at the base of the tree for the box. Once stamped up - please replace the box and continue on the trail in the direction you were headed for about 100 additional steps. Again, on your left, you will find the mama, "Kristin", porcupine tree. Again, the box is at the base of the tree.

Thank you for looking for our boxes and reading the story of my dear friend and her courage to reach out and help countless others while facing enormous grief.

To date, the Porcupine Fundation has raised more than $175,000 for deserving organizations. Information about the Porcupine Foundation and the wonderful work they do, pictures of Kristin and her family and much more information can be found at: www.porcupinepower.com