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Grin and Bear It LbNA #33966 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Aug 9, 2007
Location:
City:Kamas/Mirror Lake
County:Summit
State:Utah
Boxes:1
Planted by:Curly "Grrr"ly
Found by: T/S
Last found:Sep 6, 2015
Status:FFFFF
Last edited:Aug 9, 2007
Difficulty: Easy-Driveby
Dog Friendly: Yes
First Finders Reward: Yes
Required Fee: Yes-$3.00 day pass
Accessible during Winter: No
Hand Carved Stamp: Yes

Site: This letterbox is an easy drive-by hidden next to breathtaking waterfalls along SR150, or the Mirror Lake Highway in the Uinta Mountains. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Description: The Uintas are bear country, which was the inspiration for this box. Most black bears are quite shy and really are more afraid of you than you are of them. There are only 2 instances when a black bear will fight: to protect her young, or to get food.
Let bears know you are coming. They will usually move out of the way if they hear people approaching, so make noise. Attach a bell to your pack, sing, clap your hands, or talk loudly. Just don’t whistle, as marmots whistle and you don’t want to sound like the bear’s favorite meal.
A bear might not know you’re coming if you’re hiking by a stream, against the wind, or in dense vegetation. A blind corner or a rise in the trail also requires special attention by hikers.
Bears spend a lot of time eating, so avoid hiking in obvious feeding areas like berry patches, meadows, or fields of glacier lilies.
When hiking in bear country, leave an itinerary with friends or in your car which includes beginning and ending times.
Never hike alone, or at night.
Never feed animals or leave food or garbage unattended. All edibles (including pet food), food containers (empty or not), and cookware must be stored in a hard-sided vehicle, food locker, or hung from a food pole or cable when not in use, day or night. Store the clothes you wore while cooking or eating with your food. Burn all grease off grills and camp stoves. Place all trash in bearproof containers.
Pets, especially dogs, must be kept under physical restraint.
Use a flashlight when walking at night.
If a bear enters your campsite in a park, inform park staff immediately.
Do not attempt climbing trees to escape black bears. This may stimulate the bear to follow and pull you out by the foot.
Use purchased Bear Spray made by UDAP. The bear will take one whiff and head the other direction. Just make sure you’re not spraying it into the wind.
Carry a bandanna, shirt, or hat to drop to distract an approaching bear. Do not drop your backpack! Leave it on for added protection.
http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/bear/pdf/bear_brochure.pdf

Directions:
From Kamas, take Center St. or SR-150, otherwise known as Mirror Lake Highway going East. The box is 23 miles down this road. After about 10 minutes of driving you’ll see the fee station to your right. Pull over and pay $3.00 for a day pass, then continue along the highway. You’ll climb in altitude and pass many beautiful campgrounds and trails. After mile marker 23, right before mile marker 24, you’ll see a sign that says “Wasatch National Forest Overlook: Provo River Falls.” Turn left into the parking lot and park the car.

Clues:
Look for the asphalt path leading to the falls and follow it. You’ll see stairs ahead of you, but don’t take them. Instead, take the paved path that veers to the left. As soon as you turn left, stop and look at the path. Ahead of you, the path is straight, then it turns to the right. Find the spot approximately halfway down that straight section of the path. Walk to it, then stop. Turn to your right. A step away from the trail is the largest rock in that area. The box is hiding in a cavity underneath that rock, hidden by several small rocks.

This is a heavily populated area, so you might need to sit on the rock a while and wait till you won’t be seen. There are benches closer to the falls where you can sit to stamp in. When you replace it, please make sure no one sees you, and cover it well so it won’t be accidentally exposed. Please email me to let me know the condition of the box, and how you enjoyed the hunt.

If you continue a few more miles you can find the Uintas box as well!