Rocky number conundrum - good for kids LbNA #6778
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Dec 3, 2003 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Acton |
| County: | Middlesex |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | geoff  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Nairon |
| Last found: | Apr 16, 2023 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFaFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Oct 29, 2015 |
Rocky Number Conundrum (Littleton/Acton, MA)
This letterbox is dedicated to our Mum/wife.
EDITED 07/08/12 : Details updated - letterbox confirmed in place.
EDITED 07/08/12 : Many thx to OldHounder for refreshing and rebuilding this box.
EDITED 10/03/10 : Letterbox still in place - clues updated to reflect new terrain! Many thx to our fellow letterboxers for letting us know of major changes!
EDITED 05/01/09 : Letterbox still going strong and has been sprong cleaned...happy hinting.
EDITED 09/05/06 : Letterbox is still in good shape. Was not too dry but is refreshed. We have edited the clues as a little more vegetation has made this a little more enticing. But the box is there and even if you don't get all the clues you should find the box with a little reasoning and exploration! Good hunting.
EDITED 04/09/05 : letter box checked out - dry and fit and ready for number crunching. Our dog loves this trail.
Difficulty: moderate
Terrain: The trail is a bit rocky with some very interesting granite rocks and fantastic trees – think Muir Woods (with a bit of imagination). Wear proper shoes – not advisable for strollers! The first trail will take 30-45min. at the end you can either loop back to parking area or start on a second trail (Tatatiquinea Loop) to double the length and make a complete figure of eight to loop back to the parking lot
For those with kids you might like to do the math challenge at the end. You WILL need to take a pencil and make notes on a hardcopy of this letterbox instruction as you go. Some of the numbers you collect maybe subject to interpretation so if you get frustrated use the answer at the end of this set of instructions and work backwards! It does not matter if you get it completely right – having fun is the objective – but if you get it wrong it will take longer to find the letterbox at the end!
Driving directions:
Take Route 2A (also posted r119 and Great Road) N from Acton towards Littleton
Pass Nagog Pond on lhs (left-hand side) after lights first left on Nashoba Road
Nagog pond will remain on lhs
Straight over 4-way stop at farm shop
1/4m further on a sharp right hand corner
Turn left into signposted SARAH DOUBLET FOREST & NATURE RESERVE (on Charter Way)
1/8m down track to parking
Finding the signpost for the parking is the trickest part - (not too difficult - just drive slowly)
Trail directions:
1. Go to Trail head where there maybe some maps
2. Orientate yourself that you are going to follow the following trials (approx distances):
Knapp-Jenkins trail………….… 1/8m
Wunnuhhew trail………….……3/4m
Then either return
AT&T buried cable (!) trail……1/4m straight line
Knapp-Jenkins trail…………… 1/8m
(Or optionally
Tatatiquinea Loop……………...3/4m
AT&T buried cable (!) trail……1/2m straight line
Knapp-Jenkins trail…………… 1/8m)
3. Turn right and follow Knapp-Jenkins trail
4. On lhs (left hand side) find crumbled down chimney. Whilst standing on granite on the trail with the chimney on your lhs. What is the stone animal 20 feet to your right in the brush? (hint - visible mainly in fall and winter!) Draw and name it here!
THE ROCK ANIMAL IS:
Face the back of the chimney stack. How many layers of red brick? (record this as # A). See how the rain has eroded the brick and not the mortar. If you reach the stone wall on the trail before you see the chimney - you missed it!!!!
A=
5. Follow the trail over the stone wall and start to follow Wunnuhhew trail. This trail is posted with both red painted tin lids and tree strips/blaizes (yellow in the other direction). You MUST keep count of ONLY the red painted tin lids!
Count the number of red painted tin lids circles as you go:
6. Spot where granite has been mined. Count number of drilling holes on the front face of the first large granite slab on rhs (right-hand side) of trail.
B = (clue: should be less than 16)
7. Walk through the woods!
8. Spot the sign for the tree struck by lightening. What number month was it hit?
C = (clue: # between 1 and 12!)
9. Follow trail around to left, at the top of the rise will be a large flat top granite bolder on the rhs with a tree in it. Stand on the bolder facing away from the trail. On your lhs nearest to the stone wall is a small tree with a small sign hiding from you. Count the numer of leaves depicted on the sign.
D = (clue: A number between 3 and 5 will work.....)
10. 1/4M Further on there was a 3-4ft "rock finger" on the rhs of trail When this letterbox was originally setup in 2003. (This clue has become really tricky as this is now a pile of rocks. Add a bolder to the pile for those who follow.....;-). Stand with your back to the "rock finger". 20ft in front of you will be some pine trees with trunks in a 4-5ft row. How many pine trees in the row?
E = (clue: A number less than 6!)
11. A little further on there is a really large 15ft granite bolder with some large quartz crystals. No questions on these as we were not smart enough to think of a question.
12. When you reach the tree at the 41st Wunnuhhew trail marking circle - STOP! ( if you have reached the end of the trail retrace your steps to the 2nd from last marking circle before the end!) Hint..this is the most important clue.
13. (#13 – unlucky for some). Reverse direction. Stand with your back towards the 41st Wunnuhhew trail marking circle and retrace your direction along the trail as below:
* Continue to walk A-B feet retracing your original steps along trail. To your right will be a large granite outcrop.
* turn to your right and climb carefully to the top of the outcrop formation with a large flat granite top
* standing in the middle of the large flat granite slab at the top – face away from the trail from which you have just come.
* C paces away will be a tree with D trunks
* E yards from the tree you will find what you are seeking.
Keep looking you'll find it and when you do you will feel all the better!
To return continue on the Wunnuhhew trail and then turn left on the AT&T buried cable trail back to the parking lot.
(Or continue ahead onto the Tatatiquinea loop and then eventually rejoin the AT&T buried cable trail back to the parking lot).
Add A+B+C+D+E together – what is the answer? (We make it 72). Any artistic interpretations of the ROCK ANIMAL (step 4.) are welcomed!
BONUS question for the brainy – as you pass the chimney work out how many bricks were needed to make the red brick perimeter of the chimney.
This letterbox is dedicated to our Mum/wife.
EDITED 07/08/12 : Details updated - letterbox confirmed in place.
EDITED 07/08/12 : Many thx to OldHounder for refreshing and rebuilding this box.
EDITED 10/03/10 : Letterbox still in place - clues updated to reflect new terrain! Many thx to our fellow letterboxers for letting us know of major changes!
EDITED 05/01/09 : Letterbox still going strong and has been sprong cleaned...happy hinting.
EDITED 09/05/06 : Letterbox is still in good shape. Was not too dry but is refreshed. We have edited the clues as a little more vegetation has made this a little more enticing. But the box is there and even if you don't get all the clues you should find the box with a little reasoning and exploration! Good hunting.
EDITED 04/09/05 : letter box checked out - dry and fit and ready for number crunching. Our dog loves this trail.
Difficulty: moderate
Terrain: The trail is a bit rocky with some very interesting granite rocks and fantastic trees – think Muir Woods (with a bit of imagination). Wear proper shoes – not advisable for strollers! The first trail will take 30-45min. at the end you can either loop back to parking area or start on a second trail (Tatatiquinea Loop) to double the length and make a complete figure of eight to loop back to the parking lot
For those with kids you might like to do the math challenge at the end. You WILL need to take a pencil and make notes on a hardcopy of this letterbox instruction as you go. Some of the numbers you collect maybe subject to interpretation so if you get frustrated use the answer at the end of this set of instructions and work backwards! It does not matter if you get it completely right – having fun is the objective – but if you get it wrong it will take longer to find the letterbox at the end!
Driving directions:
Take Route 2A (also posted r119 and Great Road) N from Acton towards Littleton
Pass Nagog Pond on lhs (left-hand side) after lights first left on Nashoba Road
Nagog pond will remain on lhs
Straight over 4-way stop at farm shop
1/4m further on a sharp right hand corner
Turn left into signposted SARAH DOUBLET FOREST & NATURE RESERVE (on Charter Way)
1/8m down track to parking
Finding the signpost for the parking is the trickest part - (not too difficult - just drive slowly)
Trail directions:
1. Go to Trail head where there maybe some maps
2. Orientate yourself that you are going to follow the following trials (approx distances):
Knapp-Jenkins trail………….… 1/8m
Wunnuhhew trail………….……3/4m
Then either return
AT&T buried cable (!) trail……1/4m straight line
Knapp-Jenkins trail…………… 1/8m
(Or optionally
Tatatiquinea Loop……………...3/4m
AT&T buried cable (!) trail……1/2m straight line
Knapp-Jenkins trail…………… 1/8m)
3. Turn right and follow Knapp-Jenkins trail
4. On lhs (left hand side) find crumbled down chimney. Whilst standing on granite on the trail with the chimney on your lhs. What is the stone animal 20 feet to your right in the brush? (hint - visible mainly in fall and winter!) Draw and name it here!
THE ROCK ANIMAL IS:
Face the back of the chimney stack. How many layers of red brick? (record this as # A). See how the rain has eroded the brick and not the mortar. If you reach the stone wall on the trail before you see the chimney - you missed it!!!!
A=
5. Follow the trail over the stone wall and start to follow Wunnuhhew trail. This trail is posted with both red painted tin lids and tree strips/blaizes (yellow in the other direction). You MUST keep count of ONLY the red painted tin lids!
Count the number of red painted tin lids circles as you go:
6. Spot where granite has been mined. Count number of drilling holes on the front face of the first large granite slab on rhs (right-hand side) of trail.
B = (clue: should be less than 16)
7. Walk through the woods!
8. Spot the sign for the tree struck by lightening. What number month was it hit?
C = (clue: # between 1 and 12!)
9. Follow trail around to left, at the top of the rise will be a large flat top granite bolder on the rhs with a tree in it. Stand on the bolder facing away from the trail. On your lhs nearest to the stone wall is a small tree with a small sign hiding from you. Count the numer of leaves depicted on the sign.
D = (clue: A number between 3 and 5 will work.....)
10. 1/4M Further on there was a 3-4ft "rock finger" on the rhs of trail When this letterbox was originally setup in 2003. (This clue has become really tricky as this is now a pile of rocks. Add a bolder to the pile for those who follow.....;-). Stand with your back to the "rock finger". 20ft in front of you will be some pine trees with trunks in a 4-5ft row. How many pine trees in the row?
E = (clue: A number less than 6!)
11. A little further on there is a really large 15ft granite bolder with some large quartz crystals. No questions on these as we were not smart enough to think of a question.
12. When you reach the tree at the 41st Wunnuhhew trail marking circle - STOP! ( if you have reached the end of the trail retrace your steps to the 2nd from last marking circle before the end!) Hint..this is the most important clue.
13. (#13 – unlucky for some). Reverse direction. Stand with your back towards the 41st Wunnuhhew trail marking circle and retrace your direction along the trail as below:
* Continue to walk A-B feet retracing your original steps along trail. To your right will be a large granite outcrop.
* turn to your right and climb carefully to the top of the outcrop formation with a large flat granite top
* standing in the middle of the large flat granite slab at the top – face away from the trail from which you have just come.
* C paces away will be a tree with D trunks
* E yards from the tree you will find what you are seeking.
Keep looking you'll find it and when you do you will feel all the better!
To return continue on the Wunnuhhew trail and then turn left on the AT&T buried cable trail back to the parking lot.
(Or continue ahead onto the Tatatiquinea loop and then eventually rejoin the AT&T buried cable trail back to the parking lot).
Add A+B+C+D+E together – what is the answer? (We make it 72). Any artistic interpretations of the ROCK ANIMAL (step 4.) are welcomed!
BONUS question for the brainy – as you pass the chimney work out how many bricks were needed to make the red brick perimeter of the chimney.