Once Was Mine LbNA #3950

Once Was Mine Ashford CT. Rating Moderate to Difficult 1 mile Planted By The NeeDeeps 5-18-03 (Not a good one for small children,two short but steep hills and alittle walking close to the edge of a steep drop off.But other than that this is one of our favorite trails.) Directions:From the intersection of RT 44 & 89 turn onto RT89 North,travel down RT89 until you come to a stop sign.Turn right onto Boston Hollow RD.this road turns into a dirt road after traveling 1.6 of a mile there will be a parking area on the left for about 4 or 5 cars pull in and park.(DON'T FORGET THE CLUES FOR BOSTON HOLLOW LETTERBOX.IT'S ON THE SAME TRAIL AS ONCE WAS MINE,AND THE LETTERBOX ACROSS THE ROAD RAIN/SLEET/OR SNOW.) From the same side of the road as the parking area take the blue blazed Nipmuck trail up the steep hill.(If you can get up this hill the rest of the trail is easy.)When you get to the top of the hill turn left and follow the blue blazes.Notice down to your left the dirt road you came in on.Continue on and you will soon come to where you got to walk over some rock ledges.(BE VERY CAREFUL HERE FOR YOU WILL BE CLOSE TO A STEEP DROP OFF.ONLY FOR ABOUT 15 FEET THEN THE TRAIL IS NORMAL.) Keep going and you will go up a couple of hills the second hill a little steeper than the first,once over the second hill you will soon pass through a stone wall,then the trail will bend to the right and you will go up one more small hill and when you get near the top you will notice a pile of rocks on your right in the woods alittle bit.Staying with the blue you will twist and turn through some mountain laurel and then go over some flat rocks,there will be a hemlock tree leaning across the trail and shortly after the trail bend to the right and down a hill with another pile of rocks to your right.You will go through some more mountain laurel and go up and down a series of small hills.Eventually you will come out to a big clearing with four trees growing from the same base and a beautiful view to your left.From the view take a reading of 300 degrees and you will see a small path going into the woods opposite the view,go over to the edge of that path and stop.Take 20 steps down that path,it will twist left then right.You will see three small trees growing near each other on the right with a dead log going through the middle of them,behind those trees under a flat rock and leaves is the letterbox.After stamping,go back over to the view and picture your self on that stamp,and you will realize how that letterbox got its name.OK now you can continue on to the Boston Hollow Letterbox or if you already have it you can go back the way you came to your car.Lenny/Kathy The NeeDeeps