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Top Spot LbNA #32690

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Aug 14, 2006
Location:
City:Westmore
County:Orleans
State:Vermont
Boxes:1
Planted by:The Stream Team
Found by: Par3
Last found:Aug 11, 2007
Status:F
Last edited:Aug 14, 2006
Top Spot **REVISED 8/2/08 DUE TO VANDALISM** SEE BELOW **
After reading an article in Vermont Life magazine we attempted the hike to the top of Bald Mountain and hid our box. Bald Mountain is 3,315 ft and from the top of the fire tower you can see a 360 degree panorama of Burke Mountain, Lake Willoughby, Mount Mansfield, the Worcester Range, Bald Hill Pond, Newark Pond, Jay Peak and Wheeler Mountain just to name a few. You can find the box at the top but won’t see anything but pine trees unless you climb the fire tower (beware those afraid of heights – it’s very high). We hiked it with two children ages 10 and 6 and they did fine stopping once or twice for a water break; round trip it took 3 hrs but we stopped a while to admire the view and eat lunch. Don’t misunderstand; this is a hike not a walk. The top of the fire tower is completely enclosed to the floor with high “window” cut outs for viewing the scenery and we felt very safe once we were at the top. We went in summer over a very well marked and maintained trail; I only wish we could have seen the view during the fall foliage season because it was already breathtaking in high summer!

Here’s how to get there: take Route 5A in Westmore to Long Pond Road at the Millbrook General Store, opposite Lake Willoughby. Drive 2 miles; on the right you will see the Long Pond Fishing Access; continue 0.1 miles. The Bald Mountain trailhead is on the left at a gate; there is enough parking for approximately 8 cars. The trail starts there and runs along a logging road and has signs to direct you as well as painted blazes. The start is open meadow that leads to the woods which has a nice gradual rise. Once in the shade of the trees the trail gets steeper with lots of places to rest or sit and enjoy the shade and a sip of water. Once you are at the top you will see why it’s called Bald Mountain; a large area of bare rock on which the fire tower was constructed. To find our box stand under the tower and put the shed to your back. Look off to the right where the rock continues “downhill”. You will see large rectangular rock blocks where the trees start; the box is in the crevice between the first and second blocks and is covered with rocks.
**REVISED 8/2/08** BOX HAS BEEN DISCOVERED BY OTHERS AND PLACED IN THE SHACK FOR ALL TO SIGN. WE LOVED THE IDEA THAT ALL HIKERS AND NOT JUST LETTERBOXERS COULD SIGN IN BUT SOMEONE BEGAN BURNING THE NOTE CARDS - SORRY HAD TO HIDE IN BETTER SPOT: FOLLOW ABOVE DIRECTIONS BUT ONCE YOU FIND THE CREVICE WALK DOWN THE SECOND BIG ROCK AND AROUND THE END. LOOK AT THE VERY BASE/ROOT OF THE TRUNK OF THE FIRST PINE TREE RIGHT BEHIND THE ROCK ACTUALLY TOUCHING IT. A BUCKET OF SOME KIND MUST HAVE BEEN THERE BECAUSE THE TREE GREW UP OVER IT. THE BUCKET IS ON IT'S SIDE SO WE TUCKED THE BOX INSIDE AND PUT 2 ROCKS COVERING THE OPENING. PLEASE BE DISCREET BECAUSE THE FIRE TOWER IS A POPULAR DESTINATION AND WE DON'T WANT IT VANDALIZED AGAIN. THANKS AND SORRY FOR THE CHANGE**

A small disclaimer: We placed this box last summer and can only check it once or twice a year. Please let me know if there are any problems with the box or the clues; this is our first letterbox and we hope it is a success. If it’s a hot day you could drive South on Rt. 5A to the end of Lake Willoughby, park the car across from the public beach and go for a swim in the lake – you earned it!