Anniversary/Western Divide Box LbNA #3104 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Dec 27, 2000 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Kernville / Springville |
| County: | Tulare |
| State: | California |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | PenGwen
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|---|---|
| Found by: | Pug Herders |
| Last found: | Sep 9, 2007 |
| Status: | FaFFFFm |
| Last edited: | Dec 27, 2000 |
9/30/2009 confirmed missing. It is still a lovely hidden spot to visit and if you want to carve a stamp for the location DO IT. Try to hide it better than we did...Gwen Feb 6, 2011
This letterbox is a 3 season box. We call it the Anniversary/Western Divide Box, as we placed it on our 37th Anniversary (12/27/00) at one of our favorite spots. Winter weather brings icy, snowy roads so be careful if this is attempted during the winter! We suggest use of a Forest Service map of the Lower Sierras. The location is near the Western Divide Highway and is accessible from via Camp Nelson but we drive up via Kernville, Ca and so the directions are from Kernville.It is the 15th stamp placed in CA.and our first placed letterbox. I have a theory that some of the neatest places have the crappiest stamps - well this stamp isn't very impressive but the location sure is.Not only did we place the stamp on our anniversary, but our son-in-law Scott proposed to our daughter Pam at this spot. So if you are looking for one of those secret romantic spots this is it !
From Kernville and Primo's big white Chicken, head north 19.2 miles drive past the Sherman Pass turnoff and cross the Johnsondale Bridge. As you leave the Digger pine altitude you can see the stately cedars and Jeffrey Pines growing in abundance. Look through the trees at the trailers stored at Johnsondale R Ranch as you drive by. At 24 1/2 miles from the chicken look for a sign, Ponderosa, California Hot Springs and take left fork. Now as the road gains more elevation look for a partially bald mountain face on the right, which we gradually circle, then another bald face mountain on the left. There is a sign at 6,100 feet and then a sign Ponderosa 13, Camp Nelson 26, Springville 53 and Porterville 63. Take right fork. You are now on Western Divide Highway. (Note: in winter there may be ice and snow on road. turn back now or chain up.) At 30.9 miles from the chicken, look for a sign for Parker Meadow Creek, and sign for Horse Meadow. Continue on main road into the magnificent giant Sequoias. Look for the split tree trunk on your left and the sign for Trail of 100 Giants. Pass Long Meadow campground sign, staying on asphalt road. Pass sign for Bone Meadow, and Mule Creek lookout (if you pass sign for Alder creek you have gone too far). Driving slowly, look for a dirt road on the right, 22S02. At approximately 36.3 miles from the chicken, look for sign "Camp Nelson 20 miles and Springville 37". Still on main road, drive 1 mile, look for a small clearing to the right. There may be a mound of dirt at the clearing. Just inside the clearing is a sign 304015 (Altitude 6338 and GPS N 36 deg. 00.988 W 118 deg 33.758)
Pull into clearing. From the sign 304015 take trail at 18 deg. slightly down hill past Cedar and pine cone litter. Cross fallen log. At 120 paces (6 ft. male pace) from fallen log turn right 60 deg. then 30 paces left, turning to 30 deg., then 56 paces to large rounded boulder with a skinny pine tree snuggling next to it on the right side of trail. Pass a small open area and an old camp fire on left. Look for big exposed tree root on right. As the trail makes a bend to the right at 164 paces look for a small faint trail opening at 5 deg. on left. Head down the trail past a huge fallen log on your right. The trail is steep(NO, IT IS VERY STEEP). When you see the creek turn to 340 deg. and go 22 paces down, then turn up at 280 deg. and head carefully up the trail until you see a bank of moss covered boulders in front of you. Pass by the boulders to your left then pass by a big pine tree on your right, then up 1 switch back and up until you enter the grotto. Sit on large orange lichen spotted rock near entrance. Letter box is under large entry boulder at 145 deg. and 6 paces away from orange sitting rock. A globular patch of green moss on the boulder is just above the box. A small triangular rock below the big boulder indicates the box spot. Check for snakes, etc, remove some small rocks. Enjoy the magic of the grotto. Lunch here or further down the creek at the shallow but always cool pools.
If you are coming from Springville/ Camp Nelson area,a few miles after you pass Quaking Aspen Campgrounds you will come to the Ponderosa Cafe on your left.Dome Rock road will be 1.8 miles from the Ponderosa Cafe on your left and the Anniversary/ Western Divide Letterbox turn out will be 5 miles from the Dome Rock road also on your left.
If you drive back to 22S02 to 22S82 try and find Peppermint Falls!
When researching our clues please be aware that when previous searchers list “ATTEMPTED” on the clue sheets it may reflect more on their abilities as finders than indicate whether the box is viable or not. We do monitor our clues and boxes pretty well and appreciate the notes written to us by those that find or attempt our letterboxes.
Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.
This letterbox is a 3 season box. We call it the Anniversary/Western Divide Box, as we placed it on our 37th Anniversary (12/27/00) at one of our favorite spots. Winter weather brings icy, snowy roads so be careful if this is attempted during the winter! We suggest use of a Forest Service map of the Lower Sierras. The location is near the Western Divide Highway and is accessible from via Camp Nelson but we drive up via Kernville, Ca and so the directions are from Kernville.It is the 15th stamp placed in CA.and our first placed letterbox. I have a theory that some of the neatest places have the crappiest stamps - well this stamp isn't very impressive but the location sure is.Not only did we place the stamp on our anniversary, but our son-in-law Scott proposed to our daughter Pam at this spot. So if you are looking for one of those secret romantic spots this is it !
From Kernville and Primo's big white Chicken, head north 19.2 miles drive past the Sherman Pass turnoff and cross the Johnsondale Bridge. As you leave the Digger pine altitude you can see the stately cedars and Jeffrey Pines growing in abundance. Look through the trees at the trailers stored at Johnsondale R Ranch as you drive by. At 24 1/2 miles from the chicken look for a sign, Ponderosa, California Hot Springs and take left fork. Now as the road gains more elevation look for a partially bald mountain face on the right, which we gradually circle, then another bald face mountain on the left. There is a sign at 6,100 feet and then a sign Ponderosa 13, Camp Nelson 26, Springville 53 and Porterville 63. Take right fork. You are now on Western Divide Highway. (Note: in winter there may be ice and snow on road. turn back now or chain up.) At 30.9 miles from the chicken, look for a sign for Parker Meadow Creek, and sign for Horse Meadow. Continue on main road into the magnificent giant Sequoias. Look for the split tree trunk on your left and the sign for Trail of 100 Giants. Pass Long Meadow campground sign, staying on asphalt road. Pass sign for Bone Meadow, and Mule Creek lookout (if you pass sign for Alder creek you have gone too far). Driving slowly, look for a dirt road on the right, 22S02. At approximately 36.3 miles from the chicken, look for sign "Camp Nelson 20 miles and Springville 37". Still on main road, drive 1 mile, look for a small clearing to the right. There may be a mound of dirt at the clearing. Just inside the clearing is a sign 304015 (Altitude 6338 and GPS N 36 deg. 00.988 W 118 deg 33.758)
Pull into clearing. From the sign 304015 take trail at 18 deg. slightly down hill past Cedar and pine cone litter. Cross fallen log. At 120 paces (6 ft. male pace) from fallen log turn right 60 deg. then 30 paces left, turning to 30 deg., then 56 paces to large rounded boulder with a skinny pine tree snuggling next to it on the right side of trail. Pass a small open area and an old camp fire on left. Look for big exposed tree root on right. As the trail makes a bend to the right at 164 paces look for a small faint trail opening at 5 deg. on left. Head down the trail past a huge fallen log on your right. The trail is steep(NO, IT IS VERY STEEP). When you see the creek turn to 340 deg. and go 22 paces down, then turn up at 280 deg. and head carefully up the trail until you see a bank of moss covered boulders in front of you. Pass by the boulders to your left then pass by a big pine tree on your right, then up 1 switch back and up until you enter the grotto. Sit on large orange lichen spotted rock near entrance. Letter box is under large entry boulder at 145 deg. and 6 paces away from orange sitting rock. A globular patch of green moss on the boulder is just above the box. A small triangular rock below the big boulder indicates the box spot. Check for snakes, etc, remove some small rocks. Enjoy the magic of the grotto. Lunch here or further down the creek at the shallow but always cool pools.
If you are coming from Springville/ Camp Nelson area,a few miles after you pass Quaking Aspen Campgrounds you will come to the Ponderosa Cafe on your left.Dome Rock road will be 1.8 miles from the Ponderosa Cafe on your left and the Anniversary/ Western Divide Letterbox turn out will be 5 miles from the Dome Rock road also on your left.
If you drive back to 22S02 to 22S82 try and find Peppermint Falls!
When researching our clues please be aware that when previous searchers list “ATTEMPTED” on the clue sheets it may reflect more on their abilities as finders than indicate whether the box is viable or not. We do monitor our clues and boxes pretty well and appreciate the notes written to us by those that find or attempt our letterboxes.
Before you set out read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.