Vision Quest LbNA #4030 (ARCHIVED)
Map
Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | Riversol  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 18, 2003 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Blairstown |
| County: | Warren |
| State: | New Jersey |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Riversol |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Nov 1, 2008 |
| Status: | FFFO |
| Last edited: | May 18, 2003 |
Allow 2-3 hours. A map is available at the main office.
Difficulty: Intermediate
(A thousand years ago on a backwoods ridge, a tale unraveled that would change the course of a young girl’s life. The ridge, now traversed by the Appalachian Trail, is situated in the Delaware Water Gap a day’s journey from the long vanished site of a Lenape summer camp.
Our story begins on the Appalachian Trail where it now crosses an access road to Catfish Pond and an AMC Lodge. The camp’s main office and parking are up the road a short distance. In the 1900’s a scout troop called this camp by another Native American tribe’s name, and by that name it is known to this day. Many a tale, including a few by James Fennimore Cooper, were undoubtedly told around the campfire. This tale is about the origin of Catfish Pond.)
Thunder Cloud moved lightly on the rock strewn game trail a few steps ahead of his daughter. Pausing for a moment, the Lenape wood crafter pointed with the tip of his moccasin at some fresh elk tracks which crossed the trail. Rain Squall impatiently signed a gesture of understanding, conforming to Lenape tradition which encouraged quietness while traversing revered land. A woodpecker’s chiseling beak echoed nearby.
Rain Squall sat hard upon dry ground as tears came to her eyes. Thunder Cloud knelt on his knee next to her and whispered encouragement: “The seasons arrive and depart in their own time, my little rainstorm; we cannot change their pace no matter how hard we wish it.” Rain Squall sighed and softly relayed her frustration “I never feel any connection to the spirits, greater or lesser.” This was not the first time she had shared this sentiment with her father.
Thunder Cloud signed the gesture of understanding and soothed, “the spirit world has many ways of speaking to people, but one summer you will find a guiding light to your path in the physical world.”
He motioned that she follow him up the rocky trail. A single white feather left upon the trees marked the trail as they ascended. Legend had it an ancient Lenape tribe had placed these stones to ease the access to the spirits of the sky. They climbed the trail, admiring the spring green bathed by the early morning light.
After a few arrow flights, Thunder Cloud indicated a single large boulder along the right side of the trail, its dull grey tone enhancing the colorful sunrise vista beyond. “This is where I was called by my spirit guide fifteen summers ago,” he explained in a low, distant voice. “A bright sunbeam had beckoned to me as I rested here upon this stone. The trees had shaken briskly though the air itself was still and I followed the trail up to the origin of that sunbeam, to the lookout that lies ahead.”
They trekked up the white feather trail a few more arrow flights along the ridge. At an overlook paved with long parallel rock deposits, Thunder Cloud indicated the stone beneath them with a tapping of his foot and continued his story while gazing sunrise-ward.
“A large rattlesnake, fully two man-heights in length and as thick as my arm, was bathing in the sun here, coiled and looking right at me. I was enthralled, especially by the snake’s orange striping that I had never before seen a rattlesnake possess. My body filled with fear as I realized that this was a great rattlesnake spirit. I sat several strides away in the brush over there and contemplated the snake’s design until the sun was high overhead. I thought deeply of your mother’s death to the winter cough and how empty my life had seemed. I was a young respected hunter with a daughter, but somehow I couldn’t muster the strength to take on my daily tasks. While contemplating the snakeskin patterns, it suddenly came clear to me that my skill with wood carving was the talent should pursue. And so my life energy returned, and for fifteen summers as craftsman and father, I have joyously devoted myself.”
He paused, and then turned to Rain Squall. “Not every person finds their way with nature’s guidance, but perhaps one summer a living spirit will assist you, Rain Squall.
Rain Squall signed affirmation, though her body language was less certain. Then she brightened, rubbed her stomach eagerly and proclaimed “Ngatupwi!”
Smiling, Thunder Cloud replied “Yes, I am hungry too. Mitsitàm! The morning sun has become hot as well.”
They fell back to the shade of the trees. While enjoying the vista to sunrise-ward, they ate some dried elk meat and drank water flavored with blueberries. Once their bodies and spirits were rested, Thunder Cloud led the way to a sunset-ward trail one might have missed if not looking for it.
“This is my Rattlesnake Swamp Trail,” Thunder Cloud explained, “which I have marked with orange pigment in honor of my animal guide.” Father and daughter descended the trail and listened to the rich sounds of nature. They commented with hand gestures only as they continued down the pine needle carpeted trail.
A stiff breeze shook the trees overhead and Rain Squall started. With a shriek of delight more befitting a girl half her age, she darted down the trail he had blazed with orange many years ago, leaving her father behind in confusion. Thunder Cloud kept up with her as best he could, but she always seemed to disappear around a bend of the forested trail, just as he caught sight of her. He called after her a couple times, but saved his breath for swiftly negotiating the trail, which was quite steep in places.
At one point the trail split, the marked trail turning right, but Rain Squall darted straight ahead on a wide unblazed trail. He worried if his daughter’s frustration with finding her way in life had finally driven her to a sickness of the mind.
After a small distance he came to a clearing. Across the clearing he saw her standing sunset-ward an arrow flight away. He traveled directly to her and found her upon a large boulder at the rim of the small lake. Her long dark tresses dancing, Rain Squall pointed at the pale moon above the trees sunset-ward. “Lëlëwàxën!” she exclaimed. “The moon spirit is calling me.”
In an eye-blink she jumped off the boulder, and then ran down the short distance to the lake, shed her summer skins, and dove into the water. Thunder Cloud was concerned but now felt the spirits were at work in their ever strange ways. He now wished he were a proficient swimmer, but alas he had played Pahsaheman in his youth, rather than swim in the river. Before long, though it seemed like a thousand breaths, he saw Rain Squall rise upon the large rocks about an arrow’s flight sunset-ward across the lake. He gathered her clothing and then began skirting the lake’s flora to his left.
Having negotiated the peninsula, he came upon Rain Squall squatting upon a rock surrounded by water, her countenance peaceful as she gazed into the lake. A great-grandfather of a catfish, as long as his daughter was tall, swam splashy circles just offshore. Concerned, but knowing Rain Squall had found her animal guide, he quietly sat in the brush seven strides behind her to give her space. The happiness he felt for his daughter rippled through him. Next to him he noticed a fallen tree trunk. He took out his crafting blade and began carving the exposed hardwood. His breathing slowed as he channeled his energy to fashion an emblem of sun spirit and moon spirit perched together in their common element of the sky.
The modern day has seen many changes, and indeed the camp access road will provide a shortcut back to the start of this tale. But some things remain as ancient as humankind itself, most notably the inspiration and joy derived from deep friendship.
Thanks to Rooindie (aka CluelessBoxer) for hiking this clue out with me and finding some big rocks.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this adventure!
This tale, its characters and the historical content are a work of fiction. However, the Lenape particulars have been imbued with an essence of truth thanks to http://www.delawaretribeofindians.nsn.us/
Note this was one of my first places, so the stamp in this letterbox is store bought. I plan to hand carve a stamp for it in the future.
Difficulty: Intermediate
(A thousand years ago on a backwoods ridge, a tale unraveled that would change the course of a young girl’s life. The ridge, now traversed by the Appalachian Trail, is situated in the Delaware Water Gap a day’s journey from the long vanished site of a Lenape summer camp.
Our story begins on the Appalachian Trail where it now crosses an access road to Catfish Pond and an AMC Lodge. The camp’s main office and parking are up the road a short distance. In the 1900’s a scout troop called this camp by another Native American tribe’s name, and by that name it is known to this day. Many a tale, including a few by James Fennimore Cooper, were undoubtedly told around the campfire. This tale is about the origin of Catfish Pond.)
Thunder Cloud moved lightly on the rock strewn game trail a few steps ahead of his daughter. Pausing for a moment, the Lenape wood crafter pointed with the tip of his moccasin at some fresh elk tracks which crossed the trail. Rain Squall impatiently signed a gesture of understanding, conforming to Lenape tradition which encouraged quietness while traversing revered land. A woodpecker’s chiseling beak echoed nearby.
Rain Squall sat hard upon dry ground as tears came to her eyes. Thunder Cloud knelt on his knee next to her and whispered encouragement: “The seasons arrive and depart in their own time, my little rainstorm; we cannot change their pace no matter how hard we wish it.” Rain Squall sighed and softly relayed her frustration “I never feel any connection to the spirits, greater or lesser.” This was not the first time she had shared this sentiment with her father.
Thunder Cloud signed the gesture of understanding and soothed, “the spirit world has many ways of speaking to people, but one summer you will find a guiding light to your path in the physical world.”
He motioned that she follow him up the rocky trail. A single white feather left upon the trees marked the trail as they ascended. Legend had it an ancient Lenape tribe had placed these stones to ease the access to the spirits of the sky. They climbed the trail, admiring the spring green bathed by the early morning light.
After a few arrow flights, Thunder Cloud indicated a single large boulder along the right side of the trail, its dull grey tone enhancing the colorful sunrise vista beyond. “This is where I was called by my spirit guide fifteen summers ago,” he explained in a low, distant voice. “A bright sunbeam had beckoned to me as I rested here upon this stone. The trees had shaken briskly though the air itself was still and I followed the trail up to the origin of that sunbeam, to the lookout that lies ahead.”
They trekked up the white feather trail a few more arrow flights along the ridge. At an overlook paved with long parallel rock deposits, Thunder Cloud indicated the stone beneath them with a tapping of his foot and continued his story while gazing sunrise-ward.
“A large rattlesnake, fully two man-heights in length and as thick as my arm, was bathing in the sun here, coiled and looking right at me. I was enthralled, especially by the snake’s orange striping that I had never before seen a rattlesnake possess. My body filled with fear as I realized that this was a great rattlesnake spirit. I sat several strides away in the brush over there and contemplated the snake’s design until the sun was high overhead. I thought deeply of your mother’s death to the winter cough and how empty my life had seemed. I was a young respected hunter with a daughter, but somehow I couldn’t muster the strength to take on my daily tasks. While contemplating the snakeskin patterns, it suddenly came clear to me that my skill with wood carving was the talent should pursue. And so my life energy returned, and for fifteen summers as craftsman and father, I have joyously devoted myself.”
He paused, and then turned to Rain Squall. “Not every person finds their way with nature’s guidance, but perhaps one summer a living spirit will assist you, Rain Squall.
Rain Squall signed affirmation, though her body language was less certain. Then she brightened, rubbed her stomach eagerly and proclaimed “Ngatupwi!”
Smiling, Thunder Cloud replied “Yes, I am hungry too. Mitsitàm! The morning sun has become hot as well.”
They fell back to the shade of the trees. While enjoying the vista to sunrise-ward, they ate some dried elk meat and drank water flavored with blueberries. Once their bodies and spirits were rested, Thunder Cloud led the way to a sunset-ward trail one might have missed if not looking for it.
“This is my Rattlesnake Swamp Trail,” Thunder Cloud explained, “which I have marked with orange pigment in honor of my animal guide.” Father and daughter descended the trail and listened to the rich sounds of nature. They commented with hand gestures only as they continued down the pine needle carpeted trail.
A stiff breeze shook the trees overhead and Rain Squall started. With a shriek of delight more befitting a girl half her age, she darted down the trail he had blazed with orange many years ago, leaving her father behind in confusion. Thunder Cloud kept up with her as best he could, but she always seemed to disappear around a bend of the forested trail, just as he caught sight of her. He called after her a couple times, but saved his breath for swiftly negotiating the trail, which was quite steep in places.
At one point the trail split, the marked trail turning right, but Rain Squall darted straight ahead on a wide unblazed trail. He worried if his daughter’s frustration with finding her way in life had finally driven her to a sickness of the mind.
After a small distance he came to a clearing. Across the clearing he saw her standing sunset-ward an arrow flight away. He traveled directly to her and found her upon a large boulder at the rim of the small lake. Her long dark tresses dancing, Rain Squall pointed at the pale moon above the trees sunset-ward. “Lëlëwàxën!” she exclaimed. “The moon spirit is calling me.”
In an eye-blink she jumped off the boulder, and then ran down the short distance to the lake, shed her summer skins, and dove into the water. Thunder Cloud was concerned but now felt the spirits were at work in their ever strange ways. He now wished he were a proficient swimmer, but alas he had played Pahsaheman in his youth, rather than swim in the river. Before long, though it seemed like a thousand breaths, he saw Rain Squall rise upon the large rocks about an arrow’s flight sunset-ward across the lake. He gathered her clothing and then began skirting the lake’s flora to his left.
Having negotiated the peninsula, he came upon Rain Squall squatting upon a rock surrounded by water, her countenance peaceful as she gazed into the lake. A great-grandfather of a catfish, as long as his daughter was tall, swam splashy circles just offshore. Concerned, but knowing Rain Squall had found her animal guide, he quietly sat in the brush seven strides behind her to give her space. The happiness he felt for his daughter rippled through him. Next to him he noticed a fallen tree trunk. He took out his crafting blade and began carving the exposed hardwood. His breathing slowed as he channeled his energy to fashion an emblem of sun spirit and moon spirit perched together in their common element of the sky.
The modern day has seen many changes, and indeed the camp access road will provide a shortcut back to the start of this tale. But some things remain as ancient as humankind itself, most notably the inspiration and joy derived from deep friendship.
Thanks to Rooindie (aka CluelessBoxer) for hiking this clue out with me and finding some big rocks.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this adventure!
This tale, its characters and the historical content are a work of fiction. However, the Lenape particulars have been imbued with an essence of truth thanks to http://www.delawaretribeofindians.nsn.us/
Note this was one of my first places, so the stamp in this letterbox is store bought. I plan to hand carve a stamp for it in the future.