The Wye Oak LbNA #30874
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Add Location| Owner: | wood thrush  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 12, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Queenstown |
| County: | Queen Anne's |
| State: | Maryland |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | girlguides |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Aug 10, 2013 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFOFFFa |
| Last edited: | May 12, 2007 |
NOTE 12.11---The Wye Oak stamp has been recarved to look very similar to the original, and replanted in a slightly different location. The box is open for business.
Driving directions. This letterbox is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. From the east end of the Bay Bridge, head east on Rt. 50 across Kent Island, and stay on 50 past the 50/301 split. About 12.5 miles after the Bay Bridge look for Carmichael Road on the right and take it. After about 5 miles you will cross the Wye Bridge and be on Wye Island. There are other boxes on the island; be sure to print out their clues. Please note that many types of hunting are allowed in the fall and winter, so if you come during these times, bring along blaze orange and respect the hunters.
To the letterbox. Take Wye Island Road all the way to the parking area for the Ferry Landing Trail and park in the grassy area provided. Enjoy this pleasant, tree-lined trail which takes you out to the tip of Drum Point and back. Your total distance will be 1.1 miles. The wide and level trail was once an access road to a hand-drawn ferry that ran across the Wye River from Wye Island to Bennett’s Point on Kent Island. Consider taking a lunch to enjoy at the small picnic area and sand beach at the end of the trail. In warmer months douse yourself with insect repellant before you hike as the mosquitoes and midges can be a problem.
Walk this straight trail almost to its end. Along the way you will see many Osage trees which were planted for windbreaks and shade for the road. In some places these trees indeed have borne the brunt of winds and lean against each other like dominoes. You will pass a grassy intersection which allows farm equipment to move from the field to your left to the one on the right. When on your left you see a substantial tree leaning far out into the trail, the box is near. This tree will have a white blaze mark on it. Stop! Now turn around and walk 70 steps back the way you came. You should be at another tree with a white blaze on the right side of the trail. Scrounge around the back of this tree (it is in a cluster of several trees) for the box, hidden under sticks and leaves.
The box is planted here for several reasons. The original box was feared lost in the flooding of fall 2011. It may still be near its original location on the Jack-in-the-Pulpit Trail, or it may have been carried far away by the flood. Hopefully this location is more secure, as it is farther from the water. Also, it was shotgun deer hunting season when we replanted the box. There were several polite hunters in the area, and we wanted to leave them to their business; they had paid good money for their permits in the one-week season. So we did not travel as far along the trail as we might have otherwise.
Why not travel to the end of the Ferry Landing Trail (just a half-mile total)? You could try your luck at locating the original box. Original directions are below.
Directions to the original box. Continue along the trail and look for a second grassy intersection. There will be a large V tree on your right at the second intersection. Shortly after passing this point you will see a sign for the short Jack-in-the Pulpit Trail on your right. Turn onto this trail and take 25 steps (you will pass one tree with a single white blaze at about 20 steps) to an “S” tree on the right-hand side of the trail. The box was stashed in the base of the “S” tree under bark and twigs. It could still be nearby.
It’s fun to take the short half-mile Jack-in-the-Pulpit Trail around Drum Point or continue the short distance to the end of the Ferry Landing Trail. Both trails lead to the same place: a small sand beach picnic area with a sweet view of the Wye River and the luxury homes on Kent Island. When you’ve enjoyed the scenery, retrace your steps back to your car. We hope you enjoyed finding the famous Wye Oak!
A special note. The curious Maryland letterboxer may wonder why this tribute to the beloved Wye Oak was not planted at the site of the tree—Wye Oak State Park in nearby Wye Mills. In fact, this was Wood Thrush’s original intent. The idea was to plant the box at the site of the now-sadly-demised tree. Alas, it was not to be. This is an extremely small state park, just big enough for the tree and some picnic area. The grounds are well-manicured, and it was felt the tribute box would not last very long in the actual location. That being said, we do encourage you to visit the tree’s “grave” by traveling just a bit further down Rt. 50 and turning right at Rt. 662 (Old Wye Mills Rd.). This will quickly bring you to the village of Wye Mills, where you can visit the historic Old Wye Grist Mill. Just up the hill from it on the same road is Wye Oak State Park, where you can pay your respects.
Driving directions. This letterbox is on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. From the east end of the Bay Bridge, head east on Rt. 50 across Kent Island, and stay on 50 past the 50/301 split. About 12.5 miles after the Bay Bridge look for Carmichael Road on the right and take it. After about 5 miles you will cross the Wye Bridge and be on Wye Island. There are other boxes on the island; be sure to print out their clues. Please note that many types of hunting are allowed in the fall and winter, so if you come during these times, bring along blaze orange and respect the hunters.
To the letterbox. Take Wye Island Road all the way to the parking area for the Ferry Landing Trail and park in the grassy area provided. Enjoy this pleasant, tree-lined trail which takes you out to the tip of Drum Point and back. Your total distance will be 1.1 miles. The wide and level trail was once an access road to a hand-drawn ferry that ran across the Wye River from Wye Island to Bennett’s Point on Kent Island. Consider taking a lunch to enjoy at the small picnic area and sand beach at the end of the trail. In warmer months douse yourself with insect repellant before you hike as the mosquitoes and midges can be a problem.
Walk this straight trail almost to its end. Along the way you will see many Osage trees which were planted for windbreaks and shade for the road. In some places these trees indeed have borne the brunt of winds and lean against each other like dominoes. You will pass a grassy intersection which allows farm equipment to move from the field to your left to the one on the right. When on your left you see a substantial tree leaning far out into the trail, the box is near. This tree will have a white blaze mark on it. Stop! Now turn around and walk 70 steps back the way you came. You should be at another tree with a white blaze on the right side of the trail. Scrounge around the back of this tree (it is in a cluster of several trees) for the box, hidden under sticks and leaves.
The box is planted here for several reasons. The original box was feared lost in the flooding of fall 2011. It may still be near its original location on the Jack-in-the-Pulpit Trail, or it may have been carried far away by the flood. Hopefully this location is more secure, as it is farther from the water. Also, it was shotgun deer hunting season when we replanted the box. There were several polite hunters in the area, and we wanted to leave them to their business; they had paid good money for their permits in the one-week season. So we did not travel as far along the trail as we might have otherwise.
Why not travel to the end of the Ferry Landing Trail (just a half-mile total)? You could try your luck at locating the original box. Original directions are below.
Directions to the original box. Continue along the trail and look for a second grassy intersection. There will be a large V tree on your right at the second intersection. Shortly after passing this point you will see a sign for the short Jack-in-the Pulpit Trail on your right. Turn onto this trail and take 25 steps (you will pass one tree with a single white blaze at about 20 steps) to an “S” tree on the right-hand side of the trail. The box was stashed in the base of the “S” tree under bark and twigs. It could still be nearby.
It’s fun to take the short half-mile Jack-in-the-Pulpit Trail around Drum Point or continue the short distance to the end of the Ferry Landing Trail. Both trails lead to the same place: a small sand beach picnic area with a sweet view of the Wye River and the luxury homes on Kent Island. When you’ve enjoyed the scenery, retrace your steps back to your car. We hope you enjoyed finding the famous Wye Oak!
A special note. The curious Maryland letterboxer may wonder why this tribute to the beloved Wye Oak was not planted at the site of the tree—Wye Oak State Park in nearby Wye Mills. In fact, this was Wood Thrush’s original intent. The idea was to plant the box at the site of the now-sadly-demised tree. Alas, it was not to be. This is an extremely small state park, just big enough for the tree and some picnic area. The grounds are well-manicured, and it was felt the tribute box would not last very long in the actual location. That being said, we do encourage you to visit the tree’s “grave” by traveling just a bit further down Rt. 50 and turning right at Rt. 662 (Old Wye Mills Rd.). This will quickly bring you to the village of Wye Mills, where you can visit the historic Old Wye Grist Mill. Just up the hill from it on the same road is Wye Oak State Park, where you can pay your respects.