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Gilbert & Sullivan Series #1 LbNA #8831

Owner:Bell Lady
Plant date:Jun 18, 2004
Location:
City:West Simsbury
County:Hartford
State:Connecticut
Boxes:4
Found by: Nairon
Last found:Oct 22, 2023
Status:FFFFOFFFFFF
Last edited:Jun 18, 2004
Difficulty: Moderate - a couple steep climbs
Time: About 1 to 1 1/2 hrs.


Gilbert and Sullivan’s composing collaboration began in the 1870’s with the writing of “Thespis”, a 2-act comic opera which turned out to be a flop. However they were encouraged to try again by a talented producer and promoter, Rupert D’Oyly Carte which resulted in the wildly successful “Trial By Jury”. Their collaboration continued with them creating a new operetta every season or two until the death of Sullivan in 1900.

This series of Gilbert and Sullivan boxes is dedicated to the Simsbury Light Opera Company which will soon be celebrating its 60th anniversary. This longest surviving non-profit light opera company in the nation presents a major production each spring at Simsbury High School featuring experienced amateur singers. Everything about these productions is high quality and each performance is eagerly awaited by the community.
Therefore, this series of letterboxes will begin in Simsbury, actually West Simsbury.

Length: approximately 2-2 ½ miles to the Outlook and back.
Boxes checked on 627/14 and 2 are missing: #1 & #3. This notice will be replaced when the boxes are replaced.

Clues:
Find Simsbury High School by turning off Rt. 10 in Simsbury by the big white church on the hill onto Rt. 167/309. When Rt.167 turns left at the traffic light, continue straight on Rt. 309. You will pass the high school on the right. Travel on Rt. 309 through W. Simsbury and to The Master’s School (sign on the right - long drive to parking area). Just before entering the parking lot look for the trailhead on the right. (The flagpole has been moved.) After parking, enter here and follow the red blazes.

You will pass a building and turn left onto a downhill path that probably was once a ski trail. Continue to a rocky road. Turn left and almost immediately turn right onto and uphill tha will take you under the power lines and into the woods again. Not many blazes on this section from the road to the powerlines. At the intersection with green stay on red.

Continue on the trail until you find a group of large rocks on either side of you. Stop and go left to the large irregular rock. Tucked under its back side is the H. M. S. Pinafore. Please rehide these boxes carefully since Masters’ School students and others use this trail. I don’t know how much exploring they do around these big rocks, but I’d rather they did not find these accidentally due to someone not concealing them properly after stamping in.

Continue following the red trail. Notice the massive rock wall to the left.

Pass through some old cut logs and go to the 2nd red blaze beyond - keeping the long rock wall to your left. Stop and look to the left toward the wall for a largish somewhat slanted rock. Under the SW corner is box #3. Please be sure it is well hidden from view since it shouldn't be visible from the trail. Continuing on you will soon you’ll come to possible the steepest part of the climb yet. Continue on to the Outlook. Enjoy the view. Hope it is a clear day when you are here! Standing about in the center of the rocky area, near the traces of a campfire spot, turn your back to the view and see an opening in the bushes which is not really a trail. If you go down this steepish bank just a few steps and look to the left, you should see an overhanging rock. Look under the overhang for Patience. Be sure this is hidden well when you leave. This is a popular gathering place but I hope others' attention is directed at the view. When you have finished, retrace your steps to your car.

The trail does continue, but it is long with more steep ups and downs and you have to retrace your steps to the car anyhow.