The Rattlesnake Knob Letterbox LbNA #43941
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Add Location| Owner: | BlackA  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Oct 11, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Amherst |
| County: | Hampshire |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | Roo |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Apr 14, 2018 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFFFFFOFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Apr 29, 2018 |
Hiking Time: 1.5 hours
Distance:2.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate-one steep incline
Directions:
From the center of Amherst: Drive south on 116 toward Atkin's Farm. Just before Atkins turn left onto Bay Road and drive 1.3 miles. Parking area is on the right (across from mailbox #544).
From Belchertown at the junction of route 9 and route 202: Drive west on route 9 for 0.7 miles. Take a left onto Bay Road. Drive 5 miles. The parking area is on the left, (across from mailbox #544).
The History:
Rattlesnake Knob is part of the Holyoke Range. It got it's name from a legend that Amherst College freshmen were sent to this peak to catch rattlesnakes as part of a nineteenth-century initiation rite.(Hiking The Pioneer Valley by Bruce Scofield). Apparently, and I repeat apparently, none can be found there today.
Clues:
From the parking area, go around the gate and follow the blue blaze marks, the Ken Cuddeback Trail, up the road to the water tower. To the right of the water tower follow the blue blaze marked trail into the woods. You will continue to follow the blue blaze marks for about a mile until you reach a sign that says your at the end of the Ken Cuddeback Trail. The view from the right of the sign is of Long Mountain. To the left of the sign the view is of Amherst. You can see the tall buildings of UMass. To find the Rattle Snake Letterbox go back the sign signifying the end of the Ken Cuddeback Trail. Stand on the trail with the sign next to your right arm. Take 37 steps back down the trail. Turn right and take 10 steps off the trail to a three trunked oak tree. Look down at the rocks at the base of the tree. The rattlesnake is under the largest rock. You will have to move a couple of smaller rocks to find the crevasse under the rock where the snake lives. Stamp in and re-hide the box. Please make sure the box is closed tightly.
Distance:2.8 miles
Difficulty: Moderate-one steep incline
Directions:
From the center of Amherst: Drive south on 116 toward Atkin's Farm. Just before Atkins turn left onto Bay Road and drive 1.3 miles. Parking area is on the right (across from mailbox #544).
From Belchertown at the junction of route 9 and route 202: Drive west on route 9 for 0.7 miles. Take a left onto Bay Road. Drive 5 miles. The parking area is on the left, (across from mailbox #544).
The History:
Rattlesnake Knob is part of the Holyoke Range. It got it's name from a legend that Amherst College freshmen were sent to this peak to catch rattlesnakes as part of a nineteenth-century initiation rite.(Hiking The Pioneer Valley by Bruce Scofield). Apparently, and I repeat apparently, none can be found there today.
Clues:
From the parking area, go around the gate and follow the blue blaze marks, the Ken Cuddeback Trail, up the road to the water tower. To the right of the water tower follow the blue blaze marked trail into the woods. You will continue to follow the blue blaze marks for about a mile until you reach a sign that says your at the end of the Ken Cuddeback Trail. The view from the right of the sign is of Long Mountain. To the left of the sign the view is of Amherst. You can see the tall buildings of UMass. To find the Rattle Snake Letterbox go back the sign signifying the end of the Ken Cuddeback Trail. Stand on the trail with the sign next to your right arm. Take 37 steps back down the trail. Turn right and take 10 steps off the trail to a three trunked oak tree. Look down at the rocks at the base of the tree. The rattlesnake is under the largest rock. You will have to move a couple of smaller rocks to find the crevasse under the rock where the snake lives. Stamp in and re-hide the box. Please make sure the box is closed tightly.