Curious Crow's Cache on Sachem Head LbNA #43625
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Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Sep 24, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Greenfield |
| County: | Franklin |
| State: | Massachusetts |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Curious Crow
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|---|---|
| Found by: | Nairon |
| Last found: | Nov 2, 2024 |
| Status: | FFFOFFFFaaFaFF |
| Last edited: | Nov 29, 2015 |
Curious Crow’s Cache on Sachem Head
In honor of the hundreds of crows that make Greenfield their winter roost, this letterbox was placed along the forested ridge on the east side of town. From late fall through early spring crows fly in from miles around before dark each night and gather noisily to sleep together. Their actual location varies each day, but they can usually be found on or near this ridge.
Curious Crow’s Cache is a celebration of the crow’s attraction to stashing small shiny objects. Inside, you’ll find a cache stamp and at least 2 hitchhikers if everyone plays by the guidelines. There is also a small box within of actual shiny objects. Feel free to bring along something to trade. Plan to wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots. It is probably less than a mile to the cache on moderate to steep and rocky trails. You might want to bring along trekking poles if you have them.
To find this letterbox, go to Highland Park off Highland Avenue in Greenfield. Pass the tennis courts as you drive in on a dirt lane. As the lane bears left towards a parking area, notice the trailhead on the right. This is where you’ll want to enter once you park.
Take the main trail southward that follows the contour of the land below the ridge. There should be a sign within a short distance that points the way to Sachem Head. In any case, walk along until you notice a stairway on the left. Take those stairs up, and then follow the trail left again as it continues up to an open viewing area with a wooden platform. Pick your way carefully and watch for loose rock underfoot. The going is steep.
After you enjoy the view and rest up a bit, continue northward on the main trail, following this footpath in gentle ups and downs along the ridge top. There will be intermittent views west and the trail continues to be rocky. You’ll notice a wider area with a campfire in a hemlock grove next to a rocky wall. At a smaller rocky view west you might notice a metal stake vertically set in the rock. Keep going for a few more ups and downs. When you come to a trail intersection marked by a 3 sister oak on the left and two blue blazes on a tree straight ahead, you are close.
Turn right and take 15 steps down trail to a large oak on the left. Notice a fallen tree immediately to your right. Take a few more steps forward in the same direction you were going to step over the top of this fallen tree. Now turn right and walk a few steps parallel to the fallen tree. Stop and look straight ahead. See a thicker fallen tree on the hillside in front of you. The base of the tree is on the uphill end. Curious Crow’s Cache is in the hole where this tree once stood.
As you pick your way up to this spot, be aware that you are still quite close to the main trail. Once at the letterbox, other hikers are very likely to see you and have a view overlooking your activity. You might want to be a bit secretive and cautious, like a crow.
Once at the hole, look for a root that projects from the base of the tree along the ground in a westward direction. There is a rock that protrudes in about the center of the hole at this spot, which will help mark it when the leaves fall. The cache is under that root, under a rock.
You can return the way you came or continue on to make a loop experience. To complete the loop, continue northward along the ridge. After roughly 10 minutes or so, there is a trail left (west) at a good sized oak tree. (It may not stand out strongly if a lot of new leaves have fallen to the ground so be attentive, but it should become more obvious a dozen steps into it.) This un-marked trail cuts straight downhill (again, watch your footing) to the building next to a pond along the dirt road you drove in on. Once at the building, turn left and return to your vehicle.
In honor of the hundreds of crows that make Greenfield their winter roost, this letterbox was placed along the forested ridge on the east side of town. From late fall through early spring crows fly in from miles around before dark each night and gather noisily to sleep together. Their actual location varies each day, but they can usually be found on or near this ridge.
Curious Crow’s Cache is a celebration of the crow’s attraction to stashing small shiny objects. Inside, you’ll find a cache stamp and at least 2 hitchhikers if everyone plays by the guidelines. There is also a small box within of actual shiny objects. Feel free to bring along something to trade. Plan to wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots. It is probably less than a mile to the cache on moderate to steep and rocky trails. You might want to bring along trekking poles if you have them.
To find this letterbox, go to Highland Park off Highland Avenue in Greenfield. Pass the tennis courts as you drive in on a dirt lane. As the lane bears left towards a parking area, notice the trailhead on the right. This is where you’ll want to enter once you park.
Take the main trail southward that follows the contour of the land below the ridge. There should be a sign within a short distance that points the way to Sachem Head. In any case, walk along until you notice a stairway on the left. Take those stairs up, and then follow the trail left again as it continues up to an open viewing area with a wooden platform. Pick your way carefully and watch for loose rock underfoot. The going is steep.
After you enjoy the view and rest up a bit, continue northward on the main trail, following this footpath in gentle ups and downs along the ridge top. There will be intermittent views west and the trail continues to be rocky. You’ll notice a wider area with a campfire in a hemlock grove next to a rocky wall. At a smaller rocky view west you might notice a metal stake vertically set in the rock. Keep going for a few more ups and downs. When you come to a trail intersection marked by a 3 sister oak on the left and two blue blazes on a tree straight ahead, you are close.
Turn right and take 15 steps down trail to a large oak on the left. Notice a fallen tree immediately to your right. Take a few more steps forward in the same direction you were going to step over the top of this fallen tree. Now turn right and walk a few steps parallel to the fallen tree. Stop and look straight ahead. See a thicker fallen tree on the hillside in front of you. The base of the tree is on the uphill end. Curious Crow’s Cache is in the hole where this tree once stood.
As you pick your way up to this spot, be aware that you are still quite close to the main trail. Once at the letterbox, other hikers are very likely to see you and have a view overlooking your activity. You might want to be a bit secretive and cautious, like a crow.
Once at the hole, look for a root that projects from the base of the tree along the ground in a westward direction. There is a rock that protrudes in about the center of the hole at this spot, which will help mark it when the leaves fall. The cache is under that root, under a rock.
You can return the way you came or continue on to make a loop experience. To complete the loop, continue northward along the ridge. After roughly 10 minutes or so, there is a trail left (west) at a good sized oak tree. (It may not stand out strongly if a lot of new leaves have fallen to the ground so be attentive, but it should become more obvious a dozen steps into it.) This un-marked trail cuts straight downhill (again, watch your footing) to the building next to a pond along the dirt road you drove in on. Once at the building, turn left and return to your vehicle.