Cliffs and Clearings, by Morgun (being revised) LbNA #18755 (ARCHIVED)

Cliffs is retired in place (no clues). Clearings (Morgun box) will be retired December 2006. Easier to plant a new box than revise the clues.

Don’t let the length of this post scare you. There are multiple sets of instructions here. After 12/15/2006, check here to be sure the box has not been retired. The area is nice, but surrounding boxes are easier, etc.

Cliffs & Clearings
1 Letterbox (2 small stamps)

Russell Mill Pond and Town Forest has a 35 foot escarpment, a series of cliffs and boulders, well worth a visit; and also has archeological remains, and a scenic walk along the shore of the pond.


What you will need: Pen, Paper, Compass with bearings, Stamp pad

Driving Directions

This is a huge forest with many access points. A trail runs along the shore of the pond between the two access points.

Access from Route 4
Take Route 4 South from Chelmsford, pass South Row School on the left, pass Emmanuel Church on the right, and park in the fisherman’s parking between the two ponds.

Chelmsford, Mill Road Access (same Mapquest map as above, but Soccer fields are not on the Mapquest map) Turn into the Soccer fields near the Historic Old Mill & park at the “Russell Mill Pond Sign” at the back of the fields.


“Clearings” Letterbox Clues –Route from Rt. 4 Parking
1. Cross to the South side of the bridge. There are two forest entries. The one near the bridge has better pond views, the one 30 m. S has less litter.
2. Pass the junction with the other forest entry point and continue with the pond on your left.
3. At the “T” intersection turn left & continue parallel to the edge of the pond.
4. Stop at a place in the trail where it splits, one path runs up to a branch on the ground, and the other fork goes around the downed branch. This is “The Fork Point”. (Update 4/25/2006, blowdown has created a fake "fork point" just prior to teh real one. Verify that the foundation hole is present to be sure you have the correct one.).
5. Turn around and go back 8 meters.
6. Take the obvious entry into the clearing to the NE.
7. Continue to a small foundation (less than 1 minute). What was this? Note the rocks along the edge of the foundation. Notice the large Pine Tree directly ahead of you, compass bearing 110 degrees.
8. Continue on that bearing, past an old fire ring, to the twin oaks. How old do you think that fire ring is? Cross the stone wall to the Oak Tree side. Your goal is 9 meters S of the oaks on the East side of the wall. (For help with the landmarks in this area refer to the “stonewall” clues.)
9. Use the A stamp & the heart stamp to make a poker stamp. The third stamp is for the “Cliffs” find. Use it now, but it is not a find unless you go to the cliffs. A card shows suggested designs for the “cliff” stamp.
10. Check for clues that might come in handy later.
11. Please re-hide the box & cover it, people do travel through this area, there is even a faint path. Bark & sticks are nearby.
12. . To continue on to the Cliffs letterbox return to the pond trail and continue along the edge of the pond to the Russel Mill Pond Sign & use the “Cliffs” clues. Very few letterboxers have completed both boxes in one day.



“Clearings” Alternate Route – Stone Wall Route

1. Cross to the South side of the bridge. There are two forest entries. The one near the bridge has better pond views, the one 30 m. S, has less litter.
2. Pass the junction with the other forest entry point and continue N with the pond on your left.
3. Watch for a small faint trail on your right. Looking south from this trail junction you can see a gray house. (if you come to a stone wall, you went too far)
4. Continue on the faint path & pass through a gap in a stone wall.
5. You will see a huge wolf pine just ahead of you. To your right appears to be the remains of a large square foundation. (Note 1) Check out the foundation remains – What was this place?
6. Next walk up to the large pine you observed earlier & continue along the top of the ridge.
7. As you start to go down from the top of the ridge turn toward the left & rejoin the main path around the pond.
8. Cross two tiny streams (or 1 stream & a boggy area) 10 meters apart & come to a fork in the trail (The fork point.) Here you have the option of switching to the “Quick Route” directions at step 4.
9. Continue to a trail marker, with a stonewall to the right & above you.
10. Go due East to the stone wall, cross it, and use it as a handrail to go south to a “clearing”. When you come to a boulder incorporated into the wall, the twin oaks are 48 meters (48 to 55 steps) further.
11. Your goal is 9 meters S of the oaks on the East side of the wall.
13. Use the A stamp & the heart stamp with the red marker to make a poker stamp. The third stamp is for the “Cliffs” find. Use it now, but it is not a find unless you go to the cliffs. A card shows suggested designs for the “cliff” stamp.
14. Check for clues that might come in handy later.
15. Please re-hide the box & cover it, people do travel through this area, there is even a faint path. Bark & sticks are nearby.
16. Return to the twin oaks. 10 meters in front of you, on a bearing of 300 degrees is an old fire ring. How old do you think it is?
17. Continue on this bearing to return to the path and route 4.

Notes
1. During the (French &) Indian wars (e.g. 1693 & later) large homes were used as refuges. All the families in an area would gather in a large home each night for safety. Indian raiders would then either find an empty farm, or would face considerable firepower. Was this large foundation one of those homes? Chelmsford and Billerica were both settled in the 1600s.
2. Nearby letterboxes include: Forbidden Forest, Blue Cow, Indian Grinding Stone, Octopus, Black Goat, "Antony & Cleopatra", & Pink Pig.
3. The clearings referred to here, are places where large trees have keep down the undergrowth, and the ground is clear.