The Scouting Trail LbNA #56945

The “Scouting” Letterbox Trail – Do Your Best & Be Prepared!
This letterbox trail will take you from the first rank of Cub Scouts (Bobcat) all the way through the highest Boy Scout Rank (Eagle).
On the journey you will follow clues to find 12 letterboxes. In each box youwill learn something special about that rank of Cub or Boy Scouts.
Please follow the rules of letterboxing:
• Use the rubber stamp and ink pad in the box to stamp your letterbox book.
• Enter your mark, name and date into the notebook inside the letterbox.
• Wrap everything back carefully inside the ziplock in the letterbox.
• Carefully replace the letterbox exactly where you found it and be sure that it is hidden.
• If the box is missing or damaged in any way, please contact the Miles Family at StephMiles@aol.com
• Enjoy!
Following please find the clues you need to find the 12 letterboxes of scouting!
Letterbox Trail Location:
This letterbox trail is hidden in the park off Old Telegraph Road in Alexandria, Virginia 22315 behind Hayfield Secondary School. Enter the park at the trail entrance off Old Telegraph Road. The trail entrance is marked by large rocks across from the “kiss and ride” exit for the middle school part of Hayfield Secondary School.

Letter Box #1 - BOBCAT RANK
Enter the Park at the entrance marked by rocks. This is across from the “kiss and ride” exit for the middle school portion of Hayfield Secondary School. Walk into the park on the gravel trail. Ahead you will find an iron bridge. Immediately after you cross the iron bridge you will see a fallen tree about 12 paces diagonally off the left side of the trail. This fallen tree has a smaller tree forming a hump over the center of it. The box is buried in the leaves under the larger fallen tree just where the hump of the smaller tree crosses it.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead. You will pass a long black railing on your right.
Letterbox #2 TIGER CUB RANK
Walk approximately 57 adult paces from the end of the long black railing. Look for a tree off the left side of the path that is shaped like a V at the base. This tree is on the hill about 10 paces off the left side of the trail. The extra fallen log leaning against it makes the base also look like an A. The box is buried beneath the point of the V.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead.

Letterbox #3 – WOLK RANK
Continuing on the trail, look ahead to where you will find 4 sawed off telephone poles on the left side of the trail. Look at the base of one the back poles as you face them from the trail, the letterbox is hidden there.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead
Letterbox #4 – BEAR RANK
The path will offer a curve to the left or an exit into Kingstowne apartments. Stay with the trail and curve to the left to stay in the park. (Hint: stay on the gravel trail; do not turn the sharp left onto the grass.)
On the left hand side you will see a second pine tree bent in half. The top of the tree is reaching back to the trail. The letterbox is hidden at the base of the tree. ( Be careful of the brambles near here.)
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead

Letterbox #5 - WEBELOS
Go ahead on the trail and exit into the picnic area. You will see a trail into the woods at the back of the picnic area. Choose the trail on the left near the last picnic table.
17 paces from the edge of the picnic table you will see a sawed off tree stump 6 paces off the left side of the trail. Look under it.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead
Letterbox #6 – Boy Scout “Scout” Badge
You will come to a fork in the trail. Take the right fork. You will cross a small stream (or wet area during the drier months). Look for a large fallen tree on the right side with the top branches heading back over the trail. The letterbox is hidden at its base.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead

Letterbox #7 – Tenderfoot

(NOTE: If you have a stroller with you or are just not comfortable with this very large hill – please do the following – turn around and go back down the path that lead you here. Then follow the clues for #9)
You will come to a super steep path up a hill on the right hand side. Go up it. About half way up the hill you will come to a tree on the right hand side with three trunks. The letterbox is wedged at the base and covered in leaves.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead up the hill.

Letterbox #8 -Second Class
When you reach the top of the hill, take the second trail on your right. This trail goes along the water of the pond. Walk a distance on this trail. Find a tree with 2 trunks ten paces off the right hand side of the path just as the pond trail is about to intersect with the upper trail. The box is located at the base of the tree on the pond side of the trail.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead. When you come to the end of this “pond side” trail turn right and head back the way you came on the upper trail.


Letterbox #9 - First Class
Continue on this path. Turn left onto the path and go back down the super steep hill you came up a few clues ago. At the bottom of this hill, turn left on the trail. Go back across the creek or wet area. When the path forks, choose the path on the right and go up the small hill.
At the top of the hill you will find a tree directly ahead. This tree has 5 trunks grouped together. Look at the base on the water side of the tree. Be careful! Be especially careful in summer months after rain.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue to the right.

Letterbox #10 - Star
As the path curves to the left, you will see a large tree bent way out over the water of the pond. The tree looks like it is ready to dive in with its branches pointed toward the water. Look under the base of the tree on the water side just as it curves out.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead

Letterbox #11 – Life
As the path curves to the right, look off the path to left for a fallen tree with a gnarled stump that looks like it is erupting. Look at the base of the tree to find the letterbox.
Once you have found this box and completed your marks. Return to the trail and continue straight ahead

The 12th and Final Letterbox – Eagle
Take the right fork up the hill. Pass an iron pipe on the right. Pass on iron pipe sticking out of the ground on the left. Walk 35 paces past the iron pipe on the left. Look for a fallen and crumbling tree about 5 feet off the left side of the trail. Tucked up underneath the tree is the final letterbox.
This was your final clue. To exit the park, continue ahead on the path you were on. As you come to any forks in the path – always choose to go to the right. When you get back to the main trail, turn right and exit the park the way you came in.
Congratulations! You have completed the trail from Bobcat to Eagle. We hope you enjoyed your letterbox journey and learned some fun facts about scouting.