BOATING BURR OAK LbNA #47640 (ARCHIVED)
Map
Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 30, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Glouster |
| County: | Morgan |
| State: | Ohio |
| Boxes: | 4 |
| Planted by: | GSD 1  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Not yet found! |
| Last found: | N/A |
| Last edited: | May 30, 2009 |
BOATING BURR OAK LETTERBOX SERIES
Burr Oak State Park, is approx. 15 mi. SW of McConnelsville and 4 mi. NE of Glouster. It is located in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeast Ohio, and comprises over 3000 acres of wooded hills and hollows, and old farm fields. It also encompasses a man made lake of approx. 660 acres that was built back in the early 1950’s when they dammed up the East Branch of Sunday Creek.
http://www.ohiodnr.com/parks/burroak/tabid/719/Default.aspx
There are many letterboxes located in and around this State Park. This series of boxes was made to be found using a boat.
There are 5 launching ramps at Burr Oak State Park, four can be accessed from St. Rt. 78 and one from St. Rt. 13. It doesn’t matter which one you start from, but I have numbered the boxes starting from the head (NE) end of the lake and ending down toward the mouth(NW). There are two marinas where you can rent an aquatic conveyance, if you so desire.
This is an extreme letterbox series. Extreme in that you will need a boat in order to find these boxes. Plus, you will need to be able to interpret a drawn line map(topo) into “real time” conditions, to find your starting point for each box. You will basically be covering the entire lake, a distance of between 5 and 6 miles, the total length of the lake. So, if you do all the boxes you will be doing 10-12 miles total. Although you will not have to walk far to find each box, you may well encounter thorns, briars, brush, poison ivy, mud, creepy crawlies and slightly steep terrain in order to get to the boxes.
CLUES:
As you go around the lake you will notice orange paint marks on trees along the edge. For some years, the State has been doing some fish habitat improvements in the lake. These marks signify where these areas are located. I have located these letterboxes near some of these paint marks. You may have to watch very closely in order to see some of these marks, as things grow up, and may partially shield them.
In order for these posted clues to work, you will need a map of the lake. This map will show the general area in which to look for the specific orange marks you need to find, in order to start your hunt for each box. So before going out, email me and I will send you the map. I tried to locate the boxes at the marks with as little poison ivy as possible and an easy access to shore, but this may not always be the case, as lake levels can fluctuate and things are still growing.
I tried to place all boxes out of high water,(I’ve seen the lake 10+ feet higher than what you may see it) but even so please be sure to properly reseal all bags and containers.
You will need to bring along your stamp pad, writing implement, a compass, long rope(may be needed to tie up boat, as you go up on shore to search), insect repellent, and rag. Again, be on the look out for poison ivy.
Box 1 THE LUNKER. This orange spot is on a smaller sycamore tree that leans out toward the lake. Off to the right of this tree you will see a second smaller tree, whose branches hang out into the lake. (This tree is an Osage Orange tree. It too has an orange paint mark on it, but you can’t see this mark till you get up on shore next to it.) Go to this second tree and take a compass reading of 342*. In that direction you should see a medium sized (maple) tree up the hill a little ways(about 50 feet away). There is a medium sized Shagbark Hickory tree over to the right about halfway between you and the maple tree. Go to the maple tree, and at its base are two rocks covered with leaves. Behind the rocks you will find THE LUNKER hiding in a nice little cavity. Stamp here or go back to your boat, just be cautious that no one is fishing nearby as you search, stamp and re-hide this box.
BOX 2 THE GREAT BLUE HERON. Near this mark are several sandstone blocks. These are old foundation stones for some kind of building. Standing next to the tree with this marks look up ahead(away from lake) and you will notice a line of trees going left and right along base of hill. Most of these are Osage Orange trees that were planted long ago as living fences, along roads. Be careful as you pass by them, they have some nasty thorns on them. As you stand next to the starting mark take a compass reading of 243* and you will see one of these trees with more orange paint and a red ribbon tied to a poison ivy vine climbing the trunk. Walk over and to the backside of this tree and you will see a faint game trail that goes parallel with the tree line and lake. Go right on the trail about 20-24 steps to the root base of a large Osage Orange tree that has fallen over, toward lake. Watch your head, as you will go under a smaller tree that has fallen over top of the root base.
From the root base dirt mound take compass reading of about 84* and you should see a yellow survey marker next to a rusting metal fence stake. These stakes are up on the hillside a ways.
Go to the yellow stake and just to the left you will see a fallen tree with the root end closest to you. Under the flat rock at the root base you will find THE GREAT BLUE HERON hiding.
Again, be careful no one is around and do your stamping here or down near the last waypoint. Properly replace everything and get back to your boat and continue letterboxing.
BOX 3 COME ON IN, THE WATER’S FINE! Standing beside this tree with the orange mark take a compass heading of 184* and you will see a large old rotting tree trunk up on the hillside. Go there and on the backside is a large flat rock. COME ON IN, THE WATER’S FINE! Is located under this rock.
Across the lake from this spot, is the cove that is the Official Boat Camping and Swimming area for the Park.
Take the box down to your boat or the flat and carefully stamp and then securely replace everything.
CAUTION HERE! There is a tree, real close here, that has branches that hang down near where you are. These “tree branches” are actually poison ivy vines.
BOX 4 Y’ALL COME BACK NOW! From the backside of the tree with the mark, look up on the hillside and you will see a fallen rotting tree trunk. Following this rotting trunk further uphill to its base. There you will find several rocks under the side near the base. Behind these rocks you will find Y’ALL COME BACK NOW! There is a large boulder outcrop on up behind the base, a good stamping spot. Properly reseal everything and carefully replace the box and rocks.
NOTE: Across the lake from this spot is the Pioneer Cemetery. There is another letterbox(not one of mine) located in that area. You may wish to head over and “bushwack” your way up to the top and to this old unnamed cemetery and try to locate this box.
I hope you were able to find all the boxes and you had a great day boating and letterboxing out on Burr Oak Lake.
Since this is the first time I have tried this type of letterboxing, please send me any comments about this series, any problems you encountered and the condition of the boxes.
Burr Oak State Park, is approx. 15 mi. SW of McConnelsville and 4 mi. NE of Glouster. It is located in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeast Ohio, and comprises over 3000 acres of wooded hills and hollows, and old farm fields. It also encompasses a man made lake of approx. 660 acres that was built back in the early 1950’s when they dammed up the East Branch of Sunday Creek.
http://www.ohiodnr.com/parks/burroak/tabid/719/Default.aspx
There are many letterboxes located in and around this State Park. This series of boxes was made to be found using a boat.
There are 5 launching ramps at Burr Oak State Park, four can be accessed from St. Rt. 78 and one from St. Rt. 13. It doesn’t matter which one you start from, but I have numbered the boxes starting from the head (NE) end of the lake and ending down toward the mouth(NW). There are two marinas where you can rent an aquatic conveyance, if you so desire.
This is an extreme letterbox series. Extreme in that you will need a boat in order to find these boxes. Plus, you will need to be able to interpret a drawn line map(topo) into “real time” conditions, to find your starting point for each box. You will basically be covering the entire lake, a distance of between 5 and 6 miles, the total length of the lake. So, if you do all the boxes you will be doing 10-12 miles total. Although you will not have to walk far to find each box, you may well encounter thorns, briars, brush, poison ivy, mud, creepy crawlies and slightly steep terrain in order to get to the boxes.
CLUES:
As you go around the lake you will notice orange paint marks on trees along the edge. For some years, the State has been doing some fish habitat improvements in the lake. These marks signify where these areas are located. I have located these letterboxes near some of these paint marks. You may have to watch very closely in order to see some of these marks, as things grow up, and may partially shield them.
In order for these posted clues to work, you will need a map of the lake. This map will show the general area in which to look for the specific orange marks you need to find, in order to start your hunt for each box. So before going out, email me and I will send you the map. I tried to locate the boxes at the marks with as little poison ivy as possible and an easy access to shore, but this may not always be the case, as lake levels can fluctuate and things are still growing.
I tried to place all boxes out of high water,(I’ve seen the lake 10+ feet higher than what you may see it) but even so please be sure to properly reseal all bags and containers.
You will need to bring along your stamp pad, writing implement, a compass, long rope(may be needed to tie up boat, as you go up on shore to search), insect repellent, and rag. Again, be on the look out for poison ivy.
Box 1 THE LUNKER. This orange spot is on a smaller sycamore tree that leans out toward the lake. Off to the right of this tree you will see a second smaller tree, whose branches hang out into the lake. (This tree is an Osage Orange tree. It too has an orange paint mark on it, but you can’t see this mark till you get up on shore next to it.) Go to this second tree and take a compass reading of 342*. In that direction you should see a medium sized (maple) tree up the hill a little ways(about 50 feet away). There is a medium sized Shagbark Hickory tree over to the right about halfway between you and the maple tree. Go to the maple tree, and at its base are two rocks covered with leaves. Behind the rocks you will find THE LUNKER hiding in a nice little cavity. Stamp here or go back to your boat, just be cautious that no one is fishing nearby as you search, stamp and re-hide this box.
BOX 2 THE GREAT BLUE HERON. Near this mark are several sandstone blocks. These are old foundation stones for some kind of building. Standing next to the tree with this marks look up ahead(away from lake) and you will notice a line of trees going left and right along base of hill. Most of these are Osage Orange trees that were planted long ago as living fences, along roads. Be careful as you pass by them, they have some nasty thorns on them. As you stand next to the starting mark take a compass reading of 243* and you will see one of these trees with more orange paint and a red ribbon tied to a poison ivy vine climbing the trunk. Walk over and to the backside of this tree and you will see a faint game trail that goes parallel with the tree line and lake. Go right on the trail about 20-24 steps to the root base of a large Osage Orange tree that has fallen over, toward lake. Watch your head, as you will go under a smaller tree that has fallen over top of the root base.
From the root base dirt mound take compass reading of about 84* and you should see a yellow survey marker next to a rusting metal fence stake. These stakes are up on the hillside a ways.
Go to the yellow stake and just to the left you will see a fallen tree with the root end closest to you. Under the flat rock at the root base you will find THE GREAT BLUE HERON hiding.
Again, be careful no one is around and do your stamping here or down near the last waypoint. Properly replace everything and get back to your boat and continue letterboxing.
BOX 3 COME ON IN, THE WATER’S FINE! Standing beside this tree with the orange mark take a compass heading of 184* and you will see a large old rotting tree trunk up on the hillside. Go there and on the backside is a large flat rock. COME ON IN, THE WATER’S FINE! Is located under this rock.
Across the lake from this spot, is the cove that is the Official Boat Camping and Swimming area for the Park.
Take the box down to your boat or the flat and carefully stamp and then securely replace everything.
CAUTION HERE! There is a tree, real close here, that has branches that hang down near where you are. These “tree branches” are actually poison ivy vines.
BOX 4 Y’ALL COME BACK NOW! From the backside of the tree with the mark, look up on the hillside and you will see a fallen rotting tree trunk. Following this rotting trunk further uphill to its base. There you will find several rocks under the side near the base. Behind these rocks you will find Y’ALL COME BACK NOW! There is a large boulder outcrop on up behind the base, a good stamping spot. Properly reseal everything and carefully replace the box and rocks.
NOTE: Across the lake from this spot is the Pioneer Cemetery. There is another letterbox(not one of mine) located in that area. You may wish to head over and “bushwack” your way up to the top and to this old unnamed cemetery and try to locate this box.
I hope you were able to find all the boxes and you had a great day boating and letterboxing out on Burr Oak Lake.
Since this is the first time I have tried this type of letterboxing, please send me any comments about this series, any problems you encountered and the condition of the boxes.