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The Catch Of The Day LbNA #8037

Owner:Coffacupee
Plant date:Apr 25, 2004
Location:
City:New Salem
County:Franklin
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Found by: Coffacupee
Last found:May 30, 2019
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFO
Last edited:May 19, 2016
Placed: 4/25/04
Terrain: Easy
Clues: Medium
Time: 2-3 hours
Number of boxes: 1

Quabbin Gate 33, New Salem, Ma.

The Quabbin Reservoir was created in 1939 in the evacuated Swift River Valley, in order to provide a supply of water for the city of Boston. The construction of the Quabbin required the building of two dams and the destruction of the towns of Prescott, Dana, Enfield, and Greenwich. By 1946, the reservoir was filled, creating one of the largest bodies of untreated drinking water in the world. The reservation also serves as a wildlife sanctuary and offers numerous hiking trails on the nearly 40,000 acres that are open to the public. It is one of my favorite places to go hiking and fishing.

To get to Gate 33, from Rt.2: take exit 16 onto Rt.202 south. At the blinking yellow light, take a left onto Rt. 122. Go 1.9 miles and you will see gate 33 on your right. Park at the gate and walk around it down the dirt road.

On the way to this box, I will take you on a few detours so that you can see a few of the interesting places in this area.

Walk down the road for a while and you will come to a 4 way intersection. Go straight. There will be a pond on your left. Continue on until the road starts to leave the water. Look to the left for a large sawdust pile between you and the water. Go just a little farther and there will be a small trail on the left. Go down this trail and you will come to an old foundation with a large stone fireplace near the water’s edge. This is the remains of the main building of Hackett’s Camp.
Go back to the road, turn left and continue on. After a short while you will see a clearing in front of you, as soon as you see the clearing (before you get there) look to your left and you will see small cleaeing that leads to an open crypt. This is the remains of the crypt of the Golden Lake Cemetery. All of the 177 graves from this cemetery were removed to the Quabbin Park Cemetery in Ware.
Go back to the road and continue on to the clearing, which is for the power lines. Turn right and follow the power lines to the top of the hill. Stand on the rock that is under the power lines at the crest of the hill. Enjoy the view of part of the Quabbin. If you look across and to the left, you will see a rock face, which is Rattlesnake Hill. (The Rattlesnake Hill letterbox is on that hill).
Go back to the road and turn right and continue on. You will very soon come to a fork. Bear right, towards the water. Go to the water and enjoy the beach. Remember, no swimming is allowed at the Quabbin. This is a nice place for a picnic lunch. After enjoying the beach, go back towards the road. You will see a path on your right that goes through the woods following the shoreline. Walk along this path until you come to a small pond. This pond was used to make ice, which was loaded onto railroad cars on the old rail bed on the other side of the pond. When you get to the pond, turn left and follow the shoreline. You will soon come to a large rock that looks like it is wearing a hat. Ihe box is under the rock near the pine tree.
When you rehide the box, please place the small rock on top of it and cover it well with leaves until the depression is full. The box is very near the trail and has been found by non-letterboxers.

Go back to your car the same way that you came. Or if you want to hike a little farther, go across the beaver dam and causeway of the pond to the old railroad bed. Turn left. At the next intersection, there will be a gate on your right (Gate 35), turn left. Just after you cross the power lines again, turn right onto the dirt road. Stay on this road and you will come back to your car.


Questions, problems or comments? E-mail dbastarache@hotmail.com

This box was originally a bonus box from the Hooked on Letterboxing letterbox at Dunn Pond in Gardner. We weren’t comfortable with the location of this box so we moved it. It is the same name and stamp, but a new location.

Sorry, but dogs are not allowed at the Quabbin.


Hike length: 3-5 miles