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Hemlock Overlook Series (Temporarily Out of Order) LbNA #4079 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Apr 1, 2003
Location:
City:Clifton
County:Fairfax
State:Virginia
Boxes:3
Found by: K&K (2)
Last found:Jun 8, 2003
Status:FF
Last edited:Apr 1, 2003


Hemlock Overlook Letterboxes



********** ALL BOXES OUT OF ORDER ******************
BOXES PULLED FOR MAINTANENCE AND RELOCATION(03/03/04) hopefully put back by mid April
******
Hike - about a 2.5 mile loop, Directions - easy
Bathrooms and picnic area, dogs on leash OK, park closes at dark
Fairfax County -- Clifton, VA
Placed by: Sam-I-am of the Formidable Donuts on April 27, 2003

For directions to the park see: www.hemlockoverlook.org.
Park in the Education Center parking lot.
Picnic tables are there. Bathrooms are up the hill labeled Bucks and Does.

Box 1 - Bloomin Bluebells

***In early spring, the trails along the Bull Run and Popes Head Creek are surrounded by bluebells. To celebrate their beauty, Bloomin Bluebells has been placed near the junction of these two waterways.
The Bull Run Occoquan trail is a 17.5 mile trail running from Bull Run Regional Park to Fountainhead Regional Park.***

From the big rock next to the information kiosk take a baring of 20 degrees.
There is a path that runs parallel to the road. Follow this path past a parking lot and some challenge course equipment to the edge of a large field.
Take another compass reading, this time of 350 degrees. Follow this baring to the far end of the field to a trailhead. Follow this trail, partially marked with yellow horseshoe blazes, down the hill until you reach Popes Head Creek. (kind of steep)
Here you will join the Bull Run -Occoquan trail marked with blue blazes. Turn left and count your blazes.
At the 3rd blaze, take 35 steps further down the trail and stop.
To your left you see a moss covered fallen tree. Follow the right fork in the tree and you come to the base of standing tree. Here at its base under branches and leaves the Bloomin Bluebells are ringing and waiting for you to find. Enjoy and remember to re-hide carefully.

Box 2 The Iron Cat

***This stamp is for a cat that has taken up residence at Hemlock Overlook. He was given the name Fe, short for Feline by the staff that works there. He is a little cross-eyed, but very lovable.
If he sees you, he may tag you, then run away.***

Continue down stream with the blue trail.
You will pass evidence of the river beavers, stare up a hill of Hemlock trees on your left, and clamor over some river rocks before passing MILE 7 marker.
When you come to the concrete and stone building that is the ruins of an old hydro-electric plant, you are more than half way finished your journey.
See the double pink blaze? Start counting blue blazes until you reach the number of lives a cat is supposed to have. (Count the double blue blaze as one and take the high road option.)
Just past this blaze you will see a slight path to your left leading up hill around the towering rocks.
Follow this trail to the first large tree on your left, with a flat rock at its base.
On the back side of this tree, under another rock the Iron Cat sleeps.
Remember to put him back how you found him before heading on your way.

Box 3 - Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

***This last stamp in the series is the maker of those rings of holes around the trees as you walk up the Yellow 'Ravine' trail. As I was planting the first 2 boxes, I witnessed one of these birds. Keep your eyes out for the pencil size holes in the trees along this last leg of your hike. ***

Continue along the blue trail until you cross a creek bed.
This creek bed is what is left of the original Yates Ford Road and is marked with yellow blazes. Beware, sometimes walking this trail will remind you of soggy cornflakes with the squish of the mud beneath the leaves.
As you walk up the path, you will come across a 4x4 orienteering post on your left in an alcove about 10 feet from the trail. It is part of the permanent orienteering course in the park.
From that post take a baring of 320 degrees to a beech tree. At the base of this tree you will find this feathered friend.

To return to the parking lot,
Follow the yellow blazes for about 10 minutes until you reach the trial head and black top. A quick left leads you back to the parking lot.

I hope you enjoyed this circuit hike and will come and enjoy the park again! There is still plenty of the "Blue Trial" to add boxes to. (hint hint)


Welcome to Hemlock Overlook

Helpful Links

Formidable Donuts Home

Northern Virginia Regional Parks

Hemlock Overlook Center for Outdoor Education

READ THIS

Contact about these boxes:

Name: Sam - I - am of The Formidable Donuts


Email:
samitchell@yahoo.com