Barton Cove Quest LbNA #31279
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 5, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Gill |
| County: | Franklin |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | nature nuts  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Nairon |
| Last found: | Jun 28, 2020 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | May 5, 2007 |
Brochure at link has map of quest.
TO Get There:
Barton Cove is located on Route 2 in Gill, Massachusetts.
From Route 91, North or South take exit 27, travel East for 3.4 miles on Route 2. Turn right at the second Barton Cove sign.
From Route 2 East, 2.3 miles past where the French King Bridge crosses the Connecticut River, turn left at the first Barton Cove sign.
The Quest begins in the parking lot at the bulletin board by the gate.
Questing 101:
Questing season is from April through November.
Questers search for a box that holds cool info and images of the Cove, a handmade stamp, ink and note pad. Many people create (or buy) their own personal stamps and leave their mark and comments behind.
Only a half-mile long, this quest has somewhat challenging terrain. Please be careful on rock ledges and steep slopes. Directional clues are in italics.
Shhh...please leave the box carefully hidden and keep the location secret! This will allow future questers the joy of the search and keep others away who may not enjoy the spirit of the quest.
If you are unable to find the box or have anything to report, please call Northfield Mountain at 413-659-4426 or email nerc@firstlightpower.com.
Allow plenty of time and keep eyes, ears and heart wide open! Please, take only pictures and memories and be sure to leave rocks and plants in place.
Your Quest begins...
Welcome to Barton Cove, a special place
One you’ll explore, with many a face.
Waterfalls, glaciers and fossilized tracks
There’s a story to tell, in time we’ll go back.
Enjoy your walk, through millions of years in time
Exploring this area, through map, clues and rhyme.
You start your Quest in the parking lot.
From here we’ll take you to a special spot.
Head up the road, walking away from Route 2.
At the 17th large rock, the trail on the right is for you.
Where you leave the road there’s a pole on your right
Go up this trail, keeping the fence on your left in sight.
At the top of the stairs, to your left you will look
the story of this place, we’ll reveal as a book.
1. On your left, was once a great waterfall
Plunging hundreds of feet, this thunderous, wet wall
Landing below, its power scouring away
the rock underneath for many a day.
14,000 years ago this story took place.
Leaving the plunge pool below, with its quiet, rocky face.
Return down the path, turning right on the road,
taking the next right as our story unfolds.
Continue along, the plunge pool on your right,
until you arrive at a deck and a water-filled sight.
2. Listening carefully, what can you hear?
Traffic noises from roads and towns so near.
Listen again, can you hear quieter sounds?
Maybe wind in the trees or crows cawing all around?
Now close your eyes and imagine a time
14,000 years ago there were no trails to climb
No airplanes to hear, no views of town,
Instead a giant waterfall is crashing down
Big as Niagra, can you feel spray on your face?
The power of falling water carved this beautiful place.
Go back up the trail, the plunge pool in sight
Where there are six steps down, take a sharp right
Pass a white blaze, on a small hemlock tree
You’re searching for BIG rocks, where might they be?
3. Close your eyes once more, an earlier time we’ll mark
200 million years ago this was a real Jurassic Park.
Imagine tall, brown mountains, a warm shallow sea at their bases
Can you see muddy banks recording traces?
Of waves, of insects and larger things
Today’s Barton Cove bedrock of this history sings
Layers of sand, baked into stone
on the mudflats here, where dinosaurs roam.
Ripples in the mud, made by strong winds that did blow
millions and millions of years ago.
As you feel the stone and the ripple marks with your hand
imagine a time when dinosaurs walked in the sand.
On the right, the first set of stairs, pass on by
Straight ahead the second set, walk up toward the sky
Before the trail joins the road, look to the right.
Something only 20 inches long is our next big sight.
4. Growing among logs and rocks, can you find clumps of ferns?
Please leave them in place for the next Questers turn
Gently hold onto a frond and give it a flip,
On the underside – do you see? It’s quite a trip!
Tiny brown spots, how many can you see?
Made of hundreds of spores – one day new ferns they’ll be.
Turn right on the road, it’s time to relax.
With each step you’re making your own tracks.
At the Nature trail sign, follow logs up the hill.
Bear right at the fork and climb a bit more still.
5. Now turn your eyes up to the tall trees above.
Plants with seeds— not spores, give us cool shade we love.
But back when this was a Jurassic Park.
Plants with seeds couldn’t caste shade this dark.
They weren’t on earth yet – hadn’t even come to be,
But ferns and other plants with spores grew big as the trees!
Tree ferns still live on the earth today,
But they’re in tropical cloud forests far away.
Continue down a steep hill, at the bottom turn left.
You’ll find yourself in a rocky cleft.
6. Down in a hole, what do you do?
How was it made? Can you find a clue?
Vertical lines up and down the rock face
Show the Quarryman’s work in this once busy place
Starting on top; drilled and dug up the land
It took many years to get where you stand.
How much were all of their efforts worth?
Tracks were sold to museums around the earth!
Farmer, dentist & professor all bent their backs
to labor and learn from fascinating tracks
Around the world long debate was heard
Were they signs of reptiles or the tracks of birds?
Enter the discussion if you will
Scientists love to debate it still
7. At the top of the steps, a slab left behind!
Could it be the dinosaur track-bearing kind?
Circle ‘round the slab and bend down on one knee
Put nose near stone, what do you see?
Look for three-toed tracks four-to-eight inches long
The Barton Cove rocks once again sing their song.
How many you find depends on your eyes
Were their feet bigger or smaller compared to your size?
Dino-names like Coelophysis, (See-low-phy-sis) that you might recognize
Come from fossils of bodies and bones of all size
The Valley is famous for dino-tracks and traces,
but very few bones have been found in local places.
So local scientists came up with track-names galore,
and this type of track is called “Grallator.” (Growl-uh-tor)
Scientists think this beast was a meat eating sort
And for dinosaurs, only seven feet tall was short.
It may have eaten dead things, or hunted wolf-like in packs
So be glad you wont ever meet the thing that made these tracks!
With the slab at your back, continue up the trail
Continue to bear left, you will not fail
36 steps before top of the hill, a rock outcropping
It marks the place where you will be stopping.
8. The rock speaks of times that are long past
but it is in rocks that the stories will last.
Clues of dinosaurs roaming these muddy spaces
walking in soft mud, their feet leaving traces
The wind blew, leaving ripples that we can still see
and waterfalls plunged as part of this history.
Now turn away from the rock, a distinctive bark you will see,
one that is lighter than that of any other tree.
Take 10 steps down the trail, more of this tree will be on your right
Count the number of these, and on the line this number write:________.
Remember the quest stop with this same even number?
Please return there to find where the quest box slumbers.
Quickest way to box:
Head up trail, bearing left to the parking lot.
Go left down the road and you’ll find a familiar spot
Box Finding Hints:
Congratulations quester, you hiked high and low.
To find the box, by the step look below.
TO Get There:
Barton Cove is located on Route 2 in Gill, Massachusetts.
From Route 91, North or South take exit 27, travel East for 3.4 miles on Route 2. Turn right at the second Barton Cove sign.
From Route 2 East, 2.3 miles past where the French King Bridge crosses the Connecticut River, turn left at the first Barton Cove sign.
The Quest begins in the parking lot at the bulletin board by the gate.
Questing 101:
Questing season is from April through November.
Questers search for a box that holds cool info and images of the Cove, a handmade stamp, ink and note pad. Many people create (or buy) their own personal stamps and leave their mark and comments behind.
Only a half-mile long, this quest has somewhat challenging terrain. Please be careful on rock ledges and steep slopes. Directional clues are in italics.
Shhh...please leave the box carefully hidden and keep the location secret! This will allow future questers the joy of the search and keep others away who may not enjoy the spirit of the quest.
If you are unable to find the box or have anything to report, please call Northfield Mountain at 413-659-4426 or email nerc@firstlightpower.com.
Allow plenty of time and keep eyes, ears and heart wide open! Please, take only pictures and memories and be sure to leave rocks and plants in place.
Your Quest begins...
Welcome to Barton Cove, a special place
One you’ll explore, with many a face.
Waterfalls, glaciers and fossilized tracks
There’s a story to tell, in time we’ll go back.
Enjoy your walk, through millions of years in time
Exploring this area, through map, clues and rhyme.
You start your Quest in the parking lot.
From here we’ll take you to a special spot.
Head up the road, walking away from Route 2.
At the 17th large rock, the trail on the right is for you.
Where you leave the road there’s a pole on your right
Go up this trail, keeping the fence on your left in sight.
At the top of the stairs, to your left you will look
the story of this place, we’ll reveal as a book.
1. On your left, was once a great waterfall
Plunging hundreds of feet, this thunderous, wet wall
Landing below, its power scouring away
the rock underneath for many a day.
14,000 years ago this story took place.
Leaving the plunge pool below, with its quiet, rocky face.
Return down the path, turning right on the road,
taking the next right as our story unfolds.
Continue along, the plunge pool on your right,
until you arrive at a deck and a water-filled sight.
2. Listening carefully, what can you hear?
Traffic noises from roads and towns so near.
Listen again, can you hear quieter sounds?
Maybe wind in the trees or crows cawing all around?
Now close your eyes and imagine a time
14,000 years ago there were no trails to climb
No airplanes to hear, no views of town,
Instead a giant waterfall is crashing down
Big as Niagra, can you feel spray on your face?
The power of falling water carved this beautiful place.
Go back up the trail, the plunge pool in sight
Where there are six steps down, take a sharp right
Pass a white blaze, on a small hemlock tree
You’re searching for BIG rocks, where might they be?
3. Close your eyes once more, an earlier time we’ll mark
200 million years ago this was a real Jurassic Park.
Imagine tall, brown mountains, a warm shallow sea at their bases
Can you see muddy banks recording traces?
Of waves, of insects and larger things
Today’s Barton Cove bedrock of this history sings
Layers of sand, baked into stone
on the mudflats here, where dinosaurs roam.
Ripples in the mud, made by strong winds that did blow
millions and millions of years ago.
As you feel the stone and the ripple marks with your hand
imagine a time when dinosaurs walked in the sand.
On the right, the first set of stairs, pass on by
Straight ahead the second set, walk up toward the sky
Before the trail joins the road, look to the right.
Something only 20 inches long is our next big sight.
4. Growing among logs and rocks, can you find clumps of ferns?
Please leave them in place for the next Questers turn
Gently hold onto a frond and give it a flip,
On the underside – do you see? It’s quite a trip!
Tiny brown spots, how many can you see?
Made of hundreds of spores – one day new ferns they’ll be.
Turn right on the road, it’s time to relax.
With each step you’re making your own tracks.
At the Nature trail sign, follow logs up the hill.
Bear right at the fork and climb a bit more still.
5. Now turn your eyes up to the tall trees above.
Plants with seeds— not spores, give us cool shade we love.
But back when this was a Jurassic Park.
Plants with seeds couldn’t caste shade this dark.
They weren’t on earth yet – hadn’t even come to be,
But ferns and other plants with spores grew big as the trees!
Tree ferns still live on the earth today,
But they’re in tropical cloud forests far away.
Continue down a steep hill, at the bottom turn left.
You’ll find yourself in a rocky cleft.
6. Down in a hole, what do you do?
How was it made? Can you find a clue?
Vertical lines up and down the rock face
Show the Quarryman’s work in this once busy place
Starting on top; drilled and dug up the land
It took many years to get where you stand.
How much were all of their efforts worth?
Tracks were sold to museums around the earth!
Farmer, dentist & professor all bent their backs
to labor and learn from fascinating tracks
Around the world long debate was heard
Were they signs of reptiles or the tracks of birds?
Enter the discussion if you will
Scientists love to debate it still
7. At the top of the steps, a slab left behind!
Could it be the dinosaur track-bearing kind?
Circle ‘round the slab and bend down on one knee
Put nose near stone, what do you see?
Look for three-toed tracks four-to-eight inches long
The Barton Cove rocks once again sing their song.
How many you find depends on your eyes
Were their feet bigger or smaller compared to your size?
Dino-names like Coelophysis, (See-low-phy-sis) that you might recognize
Come from fossils of bodies and bones of all size
The Valley is famous for dino-tracks and traces,
but very few bones have been found in local places.
So local scientists came up with track-names galore,
and this type of track is called “Grallator.” (Growl-uh-tor)
Scientists think this beast was a meat eating sort
And for dinosaurs, only seven feet tall was short.
It may have eaten dead things, or hunted wolf-like in packs
So be glad you wont ever meet the thing that made these tracks!
With the slab at your back, continue up the trail
Continue to bear left, you will not fail
36 steps before top of the hill, a rock outcropping
It marks the place where you will be stopping.
8. The rock speaks of times that are long past
but it is in rocks that the stories will last.
Clues of dinosaurs roaming these muddy spaces
walking in soft mud, their feet leaving traces
The wind blew, leaving ripples that we can still see
and waterfalls plunged as part of this history.
Now turn away from the rock, a distinctive bark you will see,
one that is lighter than that of any other tree.
Take 10 steps down the trail, more of this tree will be on your right
Count the number of these, and on the line this number write:________.
Remember the quest stop with this same even number?
Please return there to find where the quest box slumbers.
Quickest way to box:
Head up trail, bearing left to the parking lot.
Go left down the road and you’ll find a familiar spot
Box Finding Hints:
Congratulations quester, you hiked high and low.
To find the box, by the step look below.