North Quabbin Reservoir LbNA #3636
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Add Location| Owner: | Coffacupee  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 4, 1999 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Pelham |
| County: | Hampshire |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Found by: | Coffacupee |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Apr 13, 2022 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFO |
| Last edited: | Sep 22, 2016 |
Originally planted by Bonnie (One of the first letterboxing pioneers) and adopted by Coffacupee in October 2008.
I had to recarve the Moon and Stars stamp as it had gone missing. The Salamander stamp is the original stamp that was carved by Bonnie in 1999. I had to replace the logbooks because they were waterlogged.
North Quabbin Reservoir Letterboxes
Pelham, Massachusetts
The Quabbin Reservoir was created in 1939 in the evacuated Swift River Valley, in order to provide a supply of water for the city of Boston. The construction of the Quabbin required the building of two dams and the destruction of the towns of Prescott, Dana, Enfield, and Greenwich. By 1946, the reservoir was filled, creating one of the largest bodies of untreated drinking water in the world. The reservation also serves as a wildlife sanctuary and offers numerous hiking trails on the nearly 40,000 acres that are open to the public.
DIRECTIONS: Take Route 202 to the intersection in Pelham where 202 meets
Amherst Rd. (which comes from the west, from downtown Amherst, and ends at
202). There's a flashing yellow light at this intersection. Cross 202 onto a gravel
road that leads to a small parking area at Quabbin Gate #11. Park here.
Note: This circular hike takes about 3 hours and is about 5 miles.
During deer hunting season (November/December) this gate may be closed to the public.
Moon and Stars Letterbox is ***currently missing***
CLUE DIFFICULTY: Easy
TERRAIN: Easy
ESTABLISHED: August 4, 1999 Replaced April 1, 2009
Walk back to 202, turn right, and walk about a half mile to Quabbin Gate #12,
which is on your right. Please use caution when walking along the highway. Walk
around Gate #12 and enter the woods on a gravel road. After about a half mile,
you'll cross a stream and then the road forks. Go right. Walk on this path for 20 to
25 minutes; the Purgee Brook will be on your right, sometimes near and sometimes
far. As you walk through a shady hemlock woods, the brook gets much closer to
the trail. Soon you'll pass a small grassy clearing on the left. Another 5 minutes of
hiking brings you to "Quabbinhenge," a collection of rectangular stones, some
upended, on your right. Continue onward for about 8 steps. To your left you'll see
a break in an old stone wall. Go through the wall and look on the left side of that wall near the base of the large pine tree to locate the Quabbin Reservoir Moon and Stars Letterbox. Make sure that when you place the box back to put the rock on top and scatter some leaves over it.
Salamander Letterbox
CLUE DIFFICULTY: Easy/Moderate
TERRAIN: Moderate
ESTABLISHED: August 4, 1999 (in good shape as of August, 2002)
Now, forward march to your next letterbox. Keep hiking (downhill) on this trail.
For a brief stretch it is paved, then it bends to the right and after that it crosses
Purgee Brook. Soon, on your left, you'll be able to see the reservoir through the
trees. Then you will come to where the road turns sharply right, away from the water.
Stop here, and look around on your left for a large birch tree* that leans in the
direction of the trail. Walk off the path and go to that tree. Stand behind it, facing
the water, and walk 20-25 steps. You will walk over the scattered remains of an old stone wall. Look to your right for a large pine tree with a birch tree next to it. The Salamander Letterbox is hidden behind the pine tree. Make sure that when you place the box back, that the rock is on top and scatter some leaves over it.
*If you have trouble locating this tree, here are some hints: 1) It's about 8 steps off
the trail. 3) It's about 40 steps BEFORE the point up ahead where the trail turns
sharply (45 degrees) to the right.
To finish the hike, go back to the trail and follow it as it swings to the right away from
the water. It makes a U-turn (If you want to go to the water, when you are halfway around the U-turn, there is an old road that goes left down to the water) and leads you uphill, back to your car, which you
parked at Gate #11. You'll pass a couple of spots where the trail branches off to the
left, but ignore those and keep going straight ahead. The hike from the Salamander
Letterbox to Gate #11 takes 30-40 minutes.
There are currently a lot of ticks in this area, so make sure that you do a tick check when you get home.
Dogs are not allowed at the Quabbin.
Bring your own ink and pen.
Hike length: 5-8 miles
I had to recarve the Moon and Stars stamp as it had gone missing. The Salamander stamp is the original stamp that was carved by Bonnie in 1999. I had to replace the logbooks because they were waterlogged.
North Quabbin Reservoir Letterboxes
Pelham, Massachusetts
The Quabbin Reservoir was created in 1939 in the evacuated Swift River Valley, in order to provide a supply of water for the city of Boston. The construction of the Quabbin required the building of two dams and the destruction of the towns of Prescott, Dana, Enfield, and Greenwich. By 1946, the reservoir was filled, creating one of the largest bodies of untreated drinking water in the world. The reservation also serves as a wildlife sanctuary and offers numerous hiking trails on the nearly 40,000 acres that are open to the public.
DIRECTIONS: Take Route 202 to the intersection in Pelham where 202 meets
Amherst Rd. (which comes from the west, from downtown Amherst, and ends at
202). There's a flashing yellow light at this intersection. Cross 202 onto a gravel
road that leads to a small parking area at Quabbin Gate #11. Park here.
Note: This circular hike takes about 3 hours and is about 5 miles.
During deer hunting season (November/December) this gate may be closed to the public.
Moon and Stars Letterbox is ***currently missing***
CLUE DIFFICULTY: Easy
TERRAIN: Easy
ESTABLISHED: August 4, 1999 Replaced April 1, 2009
Walk back to 202, turn right, and walk about a half mile to Quabbin Gate #12,
which is on your right. Please use caution when walking along the highway. Walk
around Gate #12 and enter the woods on a gravel road. After about a half mile,
you'll cross a stream and then the road forks. Go right. Walk on this path for 20 to
25 minutes; the Purgee Brook will be on your right, sometimes near and sometimes
far. As you walk through a shady hemlock woods, the brook gets much closer to
the trail. Soon you'll pass a small grassy clearing on the left. Another 5 minutes of
hiking brings you to "Quabbinhenge," a collection of rectangular stones, some
upended, on your right. Continue onward for about 8 steps. To your left you'll see
a break in an old stone wall. Go through the wall and look on the left side of that wall near the base of the large pine tree to locate the Quabbin Reservoir Moon and Stars Letterbox. Make sure that when you place the box back to put the rock on top and scatter some leaves over it.
Salamander Letterbox
CLUE DIFFICULTY: Easy/Moderate
TERRAIN: Moderate
ESTABLISHED: August 4, 1999 (in good shape as of August, 2002)
Now, forward march to your next letterbox. Keep hiking (downhill) on this trail.
For a brief stretch it is paved, then it bends to the right and after that it crosses
Purgee Brook. Soon, on your left, you'll be able to see the reservoir through the
trees. Then you will come to where the road turns sharply right, away from the water.
Stop here, and look around on your left for a large birch tree* that leans in the
direction of the trail. Walk off the path and go to that tree. Stand behind it, facing
the water, and walk 20-25 steps. You will walk over the scattered remains of an old stone wall. Look to your right for a large pine tree with a birch tree next to it. The Salamander Letterbox is hidden behind the pine tree. Make sure that when you place the box back, that the rock is on top and scatter some leaves over it.
*If you have trouble locating this tree, here are some hints: 1) It's about 8 steps off
the trail. 3) It's about 40 steps BEFORE the point up ahead where the trail turns
sharply (45 degrees) to the right.
To finish the hike, go back to the trail and follow it as it swings to the right away from
the water. It makes a U-turn (If you want to go to the water, when you are halfway around the U-turn, there is an old road that goes left down to the water) and leads you uphill, back to your car, which you
parked at Gate #11. You'll pass a couple of spots where the trail branches off to the
left, but ignore those and keep going straight ahead. The hike from the Salamander
Letterbox to Gate #11 takes 30-40 minutes.
There are currently a lot of ticks in this area, so make sure that you do a tick check when you get home.
Dogs are not allowed at the Quabbin.
Bring your own ink and pen.
Hike length: 5-8 miles