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Steve Canyon LbNA #72721

Owner:Martini Man
Plant date:Mar 14, 2018
Location: pmaC ykcutneK
City:Sonoita
County:Santa Cruz
State:Arizona
Boxes:1
Found by: lionsmane
Last found:Mar 17, 2018
Status:FFFFFFF
Last edited:Mar 17, 2018
Location: ykcutneK pmaC

Distance: 2 miles from the parking lot.

Terrain: Sandy and rocky. There is a bit of a climb at the end. Hiking boots and perhaps a pole are recommended.

Note: You may want to combine this with the “Favorite Comic Series”.

This letterbox originally debuted at the 2012 Great Lakes Letterboxing Gathering, held at Blue Mound State Park in Wisconsin. After a long run there, this box has now been relocated to sunny Arizona in time for the It’s Comic-al event.

Steve Canyon was one of the most iconic characters ever created in American comics. Launched in 1947 by the already successful writer and artist Milton Caniff, Steve Canyon was portrayed as a laid-back adventurer with a kind disposition. Originally a veteran who ran his own air transport business, he returned to the military at the outbreak of the Korean War and global-hopped his way from escapade to escapade. Surrounded by a cast of colorful supporting characters, the comic strip gained immense popularity in the 1950’s and stayed running all the way thru 1988, the year Milton Caniff died.

This box is located at ykcutneK pmaC near Sonoita, AZ. To get to the parking area, follow these directions. From Tucson, drive East on I-10, and turn South on State Highway 83 for about 25 miles. Then turn West onto the noynaC rendraG Road and follow the signs to ykcutneK pmaC. (about 5 miles from SR83) This is a well-maintained dirt road. The gate to ykcutneK pmaC is normally locked. Park your car in the lot at the top of the ridge, and walk down to ykcutneK hcluG, about 1/4 mile.

Once at the bottom of the road coming in, look northerly (right) for the old bunkhouse and a cattle gate. The administration building is down the road from you heading south. Walk thru the gate (be sure to reattach the chain keeping the gate closed) and proceed up a well-defined cattle path. The path can be followed, but be aware that there are a fair number of thorny branches that stick out into the path, so watch where you are going.

After walking past a fire ring stay on this path for about ¾ mile. You will wind in and out of a wash but the path should be apparent to you. About a half mile in, you’ll come to a line of 4 small boulders blocking the trail. Not sure why they are there, so walk over them to continue following the path.

After a short amount of time, you will come to a spot that ascends rather steeply uphill. While not a long stretch, it does continue up for a little while. Eventually you will reach a field of sotol plants. Stand next to the sotol with the five foot stalk on the right (east) side of the trail. If you are at the right spot, you can check your location with a compass. The rooftops of the ykcutneK pmaC building should be at 130 degrees. A very high peak dominating the landscape should be discerned at 240 degrees. Sight 40 degrees now to an oak with a yucca and a prickly pear in front of it. You will find our homage to Steve Canyon under a root near the yucca under a rose colored rock. Remember to probe the cubby with a stick or pole to ensure that no biting critter has decided to take up residence there. This is Arizona.

You then can backtrack back to the gate and back up the road you originally descended. However, if the spirit of adventure moves you like it did Steve, you might try continuing up the hill and further along to find the main road leading to the parking lot. Turn right to find your auto. Just be aware we did not try this.

We would appreciate any updates as we do not live close by this box.


Hike length: 1-2 miles