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Out of Africa: Baobab Tree LbNA #51397

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Nov 13, 2009
Location:
City:Sunderland
County:Franklin
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Planted by:KiliMama
Found by: Squatchis
Last found:Jun 25, 2017
Status:FFFF
Last edited:Nov 13, 2009
Out of Africa: Baobab Tree

This is the final letterbox of a series placed on the mountains I hiked many times in preparation to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro—the roof of Africa-- in June 2008. These training mountain hikes were a constant source of delight through the seasons.

The baobab is found in the savannas of African and India, mostly around the equator. It can grow up to 25 meters tall and can live for several thousand years. The baobab is leafless for nine months of the year. The Arabian legend of the baobab is that "the devil plucked up the baobab, thrust its branches into the earth and left its roots in the air". The baobab's bark, leaves, fruit, and trunk are all used. The bark of the baobab is used for cloth and rope, the leaves for condiments and medicines, while the fruit, called "monkey bread", is eaten.

The Baobab Tree letterbox is located on the summit of Mt. Toby near Sunderland.

Directions: Take Route 47 north from Sunderland. Turn right on Reservation Rd. and park at the Forest Headquarters Building for Mt. Toby State Forest. From the trail head take the white blazed Summit Road trail until you reach the Telephone Line trail on the right. Continue on the orange blazed Telephone Line trail to the summit. Sections of this trail are steep, just keep following the telephone poles to the top. Once you are on the summit you can climb the fire tower for a great view of the entire Connecticut River valley. Look for the Peace Pagoda to the east, the Holyoke Range to the south, the ski hills of Vermont to the north, and, on a clear day, the summit of Mt. Monadnock in NH to the northeast.

Clue: Find the northwest end pole of the fence enclosing the fire tower. Standing here facing west you will see a faint trail into the woods. This trail is between the two white stones on the west side holding the support wires for the tower. Follow the trail down looking for a large old downed tree on the right. This rotting tree is perpendicular to the trail. The Baobab Tree letterbox is hidden under this log near the forked branch.