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Wapato Park LbNA #6213 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Oct 26, 2003
Location:
City:Tacoma
County:Pierce
State:Washington
Boxes:3
Found by: Whispering Thunder
Last found:Sep 4, 2005
Status:FFFFFFFF
Last edited:Oct 26, 2003



WAPATO PARK


Placed by: Fudrick
Placed on: October 16, 2003
Nearest City: Tacoma, Washington
County: Pierce
Clues: Easy
Terrain: Easy, urban park paths, several hills
Stamp: Marginally Adequate
Placed For: Fright Fest '03


Wapato Lake is one of the jewels in the Tacoma Parks System. A great lake for swimming (if the geese and ducks are not a bother), picnic areas, gardens, trails, and great foilage. A very enjoyable park.

Directions:

Coming from North (Seattle, et. al.) travel south on I-5 to exit #129 (72nd Ave) and proceed to the 72nd Ave crossover, not the 74th. 72nd will take you under the bridge and back around to you are facing north. Turn to the right, heading south, so you cross over I-5. Proceed east on 72nd.

Coming from the South (Portland, et. al.) travel north to exit #129 (72nd Ave). At the intersection, turn right, heading east. Proceed east on 72nd.

Very shortly, you will see a sign for Wapato Park on the left and the park and the lake. Go to the next intersection, Sheridan Ave. Turn left at the light. Go North on Sheridan and proceed approx 1/2 mile, to the park entrance on the left. Enter the park and at the roundabout, take the first right and head Northerly. As you wind along, you will come to a (improper) STOP sign. Turn left into the parking lot. Find a parking spot!

To the Boxes
Walk back to the (improper) STOP sign. The road is narrow, so lets go on the one that cars can not use in hopes of being safe. Cross over the bridge. Eventually you will come to another gate and some houses, probably went too far. Turn around, head back, and keep an eye open for lightless pole #2. When you spot it, you have just gone past a trail. Had down the trail toward the lake. A decision? Lets go right, see if we can find the lake. To the left you will note the greenery is standing in water, this must be the lake. Just past a trail that goes to the lake, you... What was that, looked like a Red Squirrel, running behind that tall snag by the lake. Lets see if we can find him!

Well, if we continue on this trail, we will probably get to those houses again. So lets head back. You enter a grassy area, continue on along the lake (still hiding in the greenery). You come to a stream, it looks like there are bridge abutments on both sides, but no bridge. Darn! Turn around, but rather than go back, you spot a trail going up the hill, and you take it! You pass a large tree on the right, and get a glimpse of the bridge over the stream. Off to your right you see two concrete blocks that look like they once held up a bench. Looking for a place to sit after climbing the hill, you turn around and spot a large squarish rock, just right for sitting on and logging in on. Might there be a box? Dive On In and see!

Go on up to the road, cross the bridge, but Don't Dive On In! You see a field with a backstop off to the left. Go up to the (improper) STOP sign, and go down the trail to the field. Head off to the right, coming to an almost overgrown Bench Leg Lift bench. Go in the opening to the right of the sign, follow the trail. Cross the next trail, enter the woods again. You spot a picnic table up ahead. Go sit on the Easternmost end of the table, enjoy your picnic if you still have it. At 75 degrees, thru an opening in the greenery (more like brownery in here) you will spot a tree that stared off to the right and then headed off to the left. El Gaucho will hopefully be hiding under a rock at the base.

Ahead you see a paved trail, go to it, head right, and you are back at civilization!



Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

www.geocities.com/fudrickus/wapato.html