Sterling Nature Center LbNA #10994
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Sep 18, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Fair Haven |
| County: | Cayuga |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 5 |
| Planted by: | Craftymouse
  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | celtic hound (5) |
| Last found: | Oct 16, 2010 |
| Status: | FOFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Sep 18, 2004 |
This series of boxes can be found at the Sterling Nature Center in Cayuga County. The Nature Center website has directions to get there, as well as a trail map which may be helpful. http://cayuganet.org/sterlingpark/center/
You'll need your own ink and pen, as there aren't any in the boxes. Also, bug spray, long clothing, the usual. There is a high potential for mud in wet weather, but if you're a serious letterboxer - and we know you are - it's nothing you can't handle.
The trail map will show a parking area near the Nature Center building. Park in this lot. If you didn't print out a map to take, there are some available at the large sign at the entrance. The Nature Center (the building) has hours that are posted on the website. The trails are open all day everyday and there is no fee to park. Be aware that in summer months there may be more people at the Nature Center than usual, but this is because the shore of Lake Ontario is accessible for water-lovin' folk.
Each of these boxes contains one stamp that makes up one part of a whole image. When you have completed all five boxes, you should have one whole image that is square-shaped and roughly 3 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 in. You don't really need a template to make the image. Each box will show you the correct placement of each stamp in order to complete the image. Trust me, when you get the first box, you'll know what to do. So let's get to it.
Box #1 - Forest Ecology
Begin on the Forest Ecology trail, marked trail #7 on the map. It is marked by green arrows and red dots on the trees. When you enter the trail, go right. You'll pass a big mossy boulder in the ground and cross a small bridge. On a windy day, you'll hear the crashing of the waves to your right. Soon you'll make the switch from deciduous to evergreen. Afterwards, the path will go left, uphill into the woods. Stay on the path. You'll continue to two piles of rocks, one on each side of the path. Stop here. On the left of the trail is a green #7. On the right side of the trail, a short ways in, is a very tall, mostly dead tree. At the base of this tree, covered with debris and rocks is your first stamp.
Box #2 - Lake Lookout
After stamping in at Box #1, continue on the path until you reach the entrance where you started. Standing in the middle of the parking lot, find the northern-most trail in the corner and cross through the meadow. (Hint: it's not the trail with the wooden 'arch') Heed the warning and avoid the "LOADS" platform to the left. Continue through the meadow towards the lake. You'll reach a lookout point with a little something extra. Under the eastern corner - don't move the larger rocks, just the smaller ones - and make sure you've read the notice regarding erosion and take care not to cross to where you shouldn't be. Please be discrete and rehide the box well.
Box #3 - Wildflower Garden
From the lookout platform, continue through the meadow in a north-easterly direction. You want to go into the woods. At the 5-way intersection go right and look at the garden sign(note: the sign is no longer there, but there does appear to be a post in the roughly the same place). Now really, if you could pick a tree to hide a box under, which would you choose? Yeah, us too. Unfortunately, that didn't work. So...with the sign to your right, go straight across the intersection. On your right is a big tree, then a little tree, then a big tree with a large pink boulder. A big mossy root sticks out, reaching for the path. Under this root, covered with flat stones is your next prize. Please rehide well.
Box #4 - Heron Rookery
Continue on to the north, always following the trail closest to the water. (This will now be marked in blue and is trail #6) At the Y, take the left leg for a peek and a quick read, then go back and take the right leg. Continue following blue blazes and eventually the path turns away from the lakes edge. At the intersection, go straight. You'll go through a marshy area and cross a wooden bridge. You'll then be walking between a small waterway and a meadow. You'll see an orange arrow pointing to the rookery. Put on your Mission:Impossible shoes and be stealthy as you follow the arrow. The trail will take you to the waters edge. See for yourself this amazing sight. When you're ready, head back the way you came until you come to these three things in a line: bundles of grape vines to the left of the path, rock piles next to the path, and a big pink rock to the right of the path. Do you see the tall smooth beech tree in front of you? In eight paces, you should be standing next to this tree. Off the path on the right, directly behind this beech tree is it's brother. Go to it. You'll see by looking up the back that the brother isn't doing so well. Think good thoughts for this tree as you uncover something between its roots that has been hidden under rocks and debris.
Box #5 - Sterling Nature Center
For the center piece to this image, you'll have to go back the way you came on the trail that brought you to the rookery. Back on the path between the meadow and the small waterway, back over the wooden bridge, back to the intersection that was mentioned in the clues for Box #4. When you get there, go right. When this path splits, go left and start counting. At about 35 paces down the trail, stop and look left. About 30 feet off the path is a blowdown from years past. The top of the tree is pointing at you, and in the distance, you can see the roots sticking up. Find your way to this tree. It has lots of spikes, but the bark is worn smooth and green. At its mid-section is a cradle for a letterbox, tucked warm and safe in leaves and debris.
Once you've completed the last box, we recommend walking a little further on this trail. It will come to a beautiful little opening just right for a rest and a snack.
When you're ready to head for the car, the quickest way back is to return to the intersection mentioned in boxes 4 and 5. Instead of turning to take the blue trail (trail #6) go straight. The path is a little wider and on a slight incline and will take you directly to the building and the parking lot.
Don't forget to let us know how your search went!
You'll need your own ink and pen, as there aren't any in the boxes. Also, bug spray, long clothing, the usual. There is a high potential for mud in wet weather, but if you're a serious letterboxer - and we know you are - it's nothing you can't handle.
The trail map will show a parking area near the Nature Center building. Park in this lot. If you didn't print out a map to take, there are some available at the large sign at the entrance. The Nature Center (the building) has hours that are posted on the website. The trails are open all day everyday and there is no fee to park. Be aware that in summer months there may be more people at the Nature Center than usual, but this is because the shore of Lake Ontario is accessible for water-lovin' folk.
Each of these boxes contains one stamp that makes up one part of a whole image. When you have completed all five boxes, you should have one whole image that is square-shaped and roughly 3 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 in. You don't really need a template to make the image. Each box will show you the correct placement of each stamp in order to complete the image. Trust me, when you get the first box, you'll know what to do. So let's get to it.
Box #1 - Forest Ecology
Begin on the Forest Ecology trail, marked trail #7 on the map. It is marked by green arrows and red dots on the trees. When you enter the trail, go right. You'll pass a big mossy boulder in the ground and cross a small bridge. On a windy day, you'll hear the crashing of the waves to your right. Soon you'll make the switch from deciduous to evergreen. Afterwards, the path will go left, uphill into the woods. Stay on the path. You'll continue to two piles of rocks, one on each side of the path. Stop here. On the left of the trail is a green #7. On the right side of the trail, a short ways in, is a very tall, mostly dead tree. At the base of this tree, covered with debris and rocks is your first stamp.
Box #2 - Lake Lookout
After stamping in at Box #1, continue on the path until you reach the entrance where you started. Standing in the middle of the parking lot, find the northern-most trail in the corner and cross through the meadow. (Hint: it's not the trail with the wooden 'arch') Heed the warning and avoid the "LOADS" platform to the left. Continue through the meadow towards the lake. You'll reach a lookout point with a little something extra. Under the eastern corner - don't move the larger rocks, just the smaller ones - and make sure you've read the notice regarding erosion and take care not to cross to where you shouldn't be. Please be discrete and rehide the box well.
Box #3 - Wildflower Garden
From the lookout platform, continue through the meadow in a north-easterly direction. You want to go into the woods. At the 5-way intersection go right and look at the garden sign(note: the sign is no longer there, but there does appear to be a post in the roughly the same place). Now really, if you could pick a tree to hide a box under, which would you choose? Yeah, us too. Unfortunately, that didn't work. So...with the sign to your right, go straight across the intersection. On your right is a big tree, then a little tree, then a big tree with a large pink boulder. A big mossy root sticks out, reaching for the path. Under this root, covered with flat stones is your next prize. Please rehide well.
Box #4 - Heron Rookery
Continue on to the north, always following the trail closest to the water. (This will now be marked in blue and is trail #6) At the Y, take the left leg for a peek and a quick read, then go back and take the right leg. Continue following blue blazes and eventually the path turns away from the lakes edge. At the intersection, go straight. You'll go through a marshy area and cross a wooden bridge. You'll then be walking between a small waterway and a meadow. You'll see an orange arrow pointing to the rookery. Put on your Mission:Impossible shoes and be stealthy as you follow the arrow. The trail will take you to the waters edge. See for yourself this amazing sight. When you're ready, head back the way you came until you come to these three things in a line: bundles of grape vines to the left of the path, rock piles next to the path, and a big pink rock to the right of the path. Do you see the tall smooth beech tree in front of you? In eight paces, you should be standing next to this tree. Off the path on the right, directly behind this beech tree is it's brother. Go to it. You'll see by looking up the back that the brother isn't doing so well. Think good thoughts for this tree as you uncover something between its roots that has been hidden under rocks and debris.
Box #5 - Sterling Nature Center
For the center piece to this image, you'll have to go back the way you came on the trail that brought you to the rookery. Back on the path between the meadow and the small waterway, back over the wooden bridge, back to the intersection that was mentioned in the clues for Box #4. When you get there, go right. When this path splits, go left and start counting. At about 35 paces down the trail, stop and look left. About 30 feet off the path is a blowdown from years past. The top of the tree is pointing at you, and in the distance, you can see the roots sticking up. Find your way to this tree. It has lots of spikes, but the bark is worn smooth and green. At its mid-section is a cradle for a letterbox, tucked warm and safe in leaves and debris.
Once you've completed the last box, we recommend walking a little further on this trail. It will come to a beautiful little opening just right for a rest and a snack.
When you're ready to head for the car, the quickest way back is to return to the intersection mentioned in boxes 4 and 5. Instead of turning to take the blue trail (trail #6) go straight. The path is a little wider and on a slight incline and will take you directly to the building and the parking lot.
Don't forget to let us know how your search went!