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Stairway to Heaven LbNA #22366

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 24, 2006
Location:
City:Andover
County:Essex
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:4
Planted by:Wild Animals
Found by: TallDave & ThimbeLinda (2)
Last found:Nov 4, 2013
Status:FFFFFFaFFFFFFFFFFFFa
Last edited:May 24, 2006
Stairway to Heaven
Placed National Letterboxing Day

stairway to heaven


Ward Reservation, Andover / N. Andover
Ward Reservation is a 700-acre site containing 9.5 miles of woodland trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, picnicking, bird watching, nature study, and photography. Holt Hill (the highest hill in Essex Country at 420 ft.), Shrub Hill, Boston Hill and Pine Hole Bog are also located on the property.


Directions

From I-93, take Rte.125 north 5 miles. Turn right onto Prospect Rd.
From I-495, take Rte. 114 east 1.7 miles. Turn left onto Prospect Rd.
Follow Prospect Rd. for 0.3 mile to parking area on right.


Please Note

This area can be muddy in spots after heavy rain and bug spray is advised.

This series takes about 2 to 3 hours including rest time, but not including time to search for other Letterboxes on the property.

We do suggest taking one of the trail maps available at the bulletin board located in the parking lot, or you print one following this link.
Ward Reservation Map

Neighboring Letterboxes at Ward Reservation (see ** in text)
Great Blue Heron LB
Due North LB
(No name) LB, currently orphaned
G.S. Troop #3703 LB

This Letterbox is a joint effort of Snowdog & Ratpack.

Special thanks to Prankster Pete of The Merry Pranksters for caring new stamps for this series

Turn Right out of lot on paved road and begin on the Fifty Walks Trail, to the Left of the Holt Memorial Stone. After the Tall Trees passage (a house is to your Right),



the trail splits 3 ways. Take a Left onto the trail running between 2 stone walls and follow until you get to your second Right, just before crossing a Stone threshold. Take this Right, over the stone wall onto Five Crossings Trail and proceed down the steps to a fallen mighty pine on your Left. Continue 20 steps more to 2 mini pines on the Left. When the Levee Breaks Letterbox is nestled on the other side of the wall. “If it keeps on rainin’….” This Blues song represents the mood during the recent Flood of 2006.

Return to the main trail and cross over the stone threshold, continuing straight between the 2 stone walls and remaining on the trail which bears Left at Hoehn Farm. Proceed up, pausing just before the next Left intersection, to glance Right and see the Wild Stallion. Continue uphill, staying straight, crossing over the brook and passing by side trails, until a Rock on Left marks a T-intersection. Go Right and continue to a mighty pine on Right. Although its sign says “No Hunting”, please hunt for the Black Dog Letterbox in the stone wall near the tree. “Hey, hey, baby, when you walk that way….” You’ve found your second box of the day.

Go back to the T with the Rock on your Left. “To be a rock and not to roll…” Continue straight on trail with stone walls on either side of you. Go Right at intersection marked by a 5-trunked tree, towards Boston Hill and Elephant Rock. Travel over and thru stone walls en route, keeping them on either side of you. Notice the ancient birch tree as you cross the babbling brook. “…a tree by the brook…” Continue on trail, crossing over stone walls, heading uphill, passing intersecting trail on Left and having stone wall on your Right. Ascend to the top of Boston Hill, exiting woods to find Elephant Rock at top of clearing. Take a break and enjoy the view and the breeze. “Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow…” You have reached the ½ way point!

Continue on trail through arch into woods. Pass old ski lift on Right “And as we wind on down the road...” descending to bear Right at the fork. As trail snakes through stone wall, take a right off the trail immediately after the stone wall towards a large rock and mighty pine on the Left. With Rock on your Left, continue 20 paces (with 2 pines and 1 cedar on your Left). “Got to try to find a way…” Step over deadwood. Find the Four Sticks Letterbox nestled within 3 trunks.

Return Right onto main path, taking Left at next fork, followed by immediate Right towards Holt Hill. “Yes, there are 2 paths you can go by, but in the long run…” At next fork, bear Left descending (ignore trail entering from the Right.) Begin your ascent, pass through both stone walls ( again ignoring intersecting trail), passing Woody Woodpecker tree on Right and continue straight (ignoring next 2 right turns.) Pass thru next stone wall (ignoring next trail on Left.) Thru next stone wall, do not ignore - but bear Right at fork and climb the Stairway to Heaven towards the summit of Holt Hill, past a tree from the Wizard of Oz on your Left, thru a stone wall, from North Andover into Andover (yet again ignoring the trail to the Left.) You are almost there!!

Upon arrival at the clearing, turn Right along the edge of the woods to “What do you think I saw…” a U-shaped tree branch on the Right. Sit on the branch overlooking the field, and glance Right to see the rock behind which the Misty Mountain Hop Letterbox sits.

Continue across the field past birch trees on Left to Solstice Stones on top of Holt Hill. “…it really makes me wonder… and the forests will echo with laughter…”
** Due North LB, GS Troop # 3703 LB, and orphaned box are close by.

To return to Parking – exit SW from Solstice Stones, into woods taking Left at paved road, which leads back to the lot.

This little one did it, so can you!
stairway to heaven