Hibernating Bear / Claire Birtz Sanstuary LbNA #51372 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Nov 12, 2009 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Southbridge |
| County: | Worcester |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Planted by: | crackerjax  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Rubaduc (2) |
| Last found: | Feb 21, 2010 |
| Status: | FFa |
| Last edited: | Nov 12, 2009 |
The Claire Birtz Wildlife Sanctuary box was listed previously, but the clues needed updating and so I tied it in with the Hibernation Bear Letterbox. These boxes are located in the Claire Birtz Sanctuary, which is 116 acres of forest, a red maple swamp, vernal pools, and a forty acre pond. The fishing and boating access is on Rte. 169 in Southbridge and the trailhead is located on Tipton Rock Road.
Ms. Birtz was an art teacher in the Southbridge school system for many years. She was my art teacher when I was in grade school. My lack of artistic ability is not her fault. My hand carved stamp of a heron would not have pleased her. The Opacum Land Trust is partnering with the Trustees of her Estate to manage this sanctuary.
Directions: From the north: At the junction of Rtes. 20 and 169 in Charlton, follow 169 south into Southbridge, pass the Hotel and Conference Center, around the rotary, and at the next traffic light, bear right, continuing to follow 169. From this point it is 2.4 miles to Tipton Rock Road. Turn right here and go about .2 miles to the trailhead which is on the left, and not very visible. If you reach my house whick is yellow sided, you have gone too far.
From the south: At the junction of Rt. 169 and 44 in Pomfret, next to the wonderful Vanilla Bean Cafe, follow 169 north. At the state line, you will see a sign for the fishing and boat launch of the Claire Birtz Nature Santuary. Continue past this. You will next pass the Morse Farm Stand, a great place to buy some fresh produce and flowers. Tipton Rock Road is the next left. Turn left and go .2 miles to the trailhead on the left.
Clues: From the parking area, which is limited, follow the blue trail down the cart path. A shart ways down another cart path comes in from the right. That leads to my home which is visible through the trees. Cross over a small stream. Almost immediately after, the blue trail goes left into the forest, this is just before you would start to climb uphill on the cart path. Follow the blue trail for about 5 minutes, climbing and twisting through a laurel thicket You will encounter a log across the trail. The blue trail goes left. Go straight onto the yellow trail.
You will soon pass through a stone wall. These trails are not marked as well as most trails and there are no indicators when the trail zigs and zags, so stay alert. This trail several times will zig to the left and back again. When you reach the high point of the trail, enjoy the view. A stone wall will become visible on the right. It will gradually get closer to the trail. Just before the trail begins to descend, there is an opening in the wall about 20 paces away from the trail. Go to this opening. About 2 feet to the right of this gap, at the bottom of the wall lies the Hebernating Bear. After stamping return to the trail and continue ahead. The trail soon passes through a wall next to where the wall on the right comes to an end. You will then go downhill and left. At the bottom of the hill the yellow trail goes left. An unmarked trail goes to the right. Stay on yellow. After passing a large rock with a blaze on it, the yellow trail ends. You now have a choice of bearing right onto the white trail (not recommended, this trail is very wet and poorly marked) or turning to the left onto the blue trail.
As you walk down the blue trail notice to the left all the possible places that a hibernating bear could be sleeping. I have seen deer and turkeys on this trail, but no bears. You will almost certainly see geese on the pond. As you begin to go uphill, the white trail will come in from the right. At this point, it is about 20 paces to a large rock on the right with a large tree to its backside. The Claire Birtz Letterbox is between the tree and a hardplace. After logging in, continue on and you will return to the start. Hope you enjoyed this stroll. It should take no longer than an hour including stamping in.
Ms. Birtz was an art teacher in the Southbridge school system for many years. She was my art teacher when I was in grade school. My lack of artistic ability is not her fault. My hand carved stamp of a heron would not have pleased her. The Opacum Land Trust is partnering with the Trustees of her Estate to manage this sanctuary.
Directions: From the north: At the junction of Rtes. 20 and 169 in Charlton, follow 169 south into Southbridge, pass the Hotel and Conference Center, around the rotary, and at the next traffic light, bear right, continuing to follow 169. From this point it is 2.4 miles to Tipton Rock Road. Turn right here and go about .2 miles to the trailhead which is on the left, and not very visible. If you reach my house whick is yellow sided, you have gone too far.
From the south: At the junction of Rt. 169 and 44 in Pomfret, next to the wonderful Vanilla Bean Cafe, follow 169 north. At the state line, you will see a sign for the fishing and boat launch of the Claire Birtz Nature Santuary. Continue past this. You will next pass the Morse Farm Stand, a great place to buy some fresh produce and flowers. Tipton Rock Road is the next left. Turn left and go .2 miles to the trailhead on the left.
Clues: From the parking area, which is limited, follow the blue trail down the cart path. A shart ways down another cart path comes in from the right. That leads to my home which is visible through the trees. Cross over a small stream. Almost immediately after, the blue trail goes left into the forest, this is just before you would start to climb uphill on the cart path. Follow the blue trail for about 5 minutes, climbing and twisting through a laurel thicket You will encounter a log across the trail. The blue trail goes left. Go straight onto the yellow trail.
You will soon pass through a stone wall. These trails are not marked as well as most trails and there are no indicators when the trail zigs and zags, so stay alert. This trail several times will zig to the left and back again. When you reach the high point of the trail, enjoy the view. A stone wall will become visible on the right. It will gradually get closer to the trail. Just before the trail begins to descend, there is an opening in the wall about 20 paces away from the trail. Go to this opening. About 2 feet to the right of this gap, at the bottom of the wall lies the Hebernating Bear. After stamping return to the trail and continue ahead. The trail soon passes through a wall next to where the wall on the right comes to an end. You will then go downhill and left. At the bottom of the hill the yellow trail goes left. An unmarked trail goes to the right. Stay on yellow. After passing a large rock with a blaze on it, the yellow trail ends. You now have a choice of bearing right onto the white trail (not recommended, this trail is very wet and poorly marked) or turning to the left onto the blue trail.
As you walk down the blue trail notice to the left all the possible places that a hibernating bear could be sleeping. I have seen deer and turkeys on this trail, but no bears. You will almost certainly see geese on the pond. As you begin to go uphill, the white trail will come in from the right. At this point, it is about 20 paces to a large rock on the right with a large tree to its backside. The Claire Birtz Letterbox is between the tree and a hardplace. After logging in, continue on and you will return to the start. Hope you enjoyed this stroll. It should take no longer than an hour including stamping in.