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NY - A Winter Wonderland Box #1- Snow Flurries LbNA #12037

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Nov 7, 2004
Location:
City:Vestal
County:Broome
State:New York
Boxes:1
Planted by:Songchick
Found by: The three-D's
Last found:Aug 21, 2010
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFU
Last edited:Nov 7, 2004
The NY Winter Wonderland series celebrates the weather that Upstate NY is famous for ... snow, snow and more snow!!!!

Box #1, Snow Flurries, is located in Stair Park, Vestal NY. When originally placed, I considered it moderate in difficulty, due to the rocky terrain and the creek that you will have to cross twice during your search. Since the floods of 2006, the terrain has altered a lot, and there is a tremendous amount of downed trees and storm debris on and around the trail. The ski trail was NOT cleared after the flood, so the trail is difficult to follow in places. To be honest, I'm very surprised that the clues are still able to be followed with the amount of damage we witnessed in the replanting of this box. But all the relative points are still in place! And despite the storm damage, it's still one of the most beautiful places in Vestal to walk.

I would now consider this a difficult hike. The terrain is NOT stoller-friendly, small children will have trouble due to having to climb over debris on the trail in a couple places. Older children should be able to handle the trail just fine. You will definately need heavy sneakers or hiking boots, and I'd recommend a walking stick to help move overgrowth out of your way. Dogs are not permitted in any Town of Vestal Parks.


Directions to Stair Park
From 201S, go to SR 434E.
Go .5 miles, to Murray Hill Road.
Turn right onto Washington Drive
Take an immediate left onto Lehigh Ave., AWAY from the Binghamton University entrance gate
Go to the end of the street, and park. Don't park anywhere that "No Parking" is indicated (VPD will ticket), or on BU Campus. My suggestion is to park on Lehigh Ave.
To your left will be a large sign "Stair Park - Town of Vestal"

Directions to Snow Flurries
1. Cross the footbridge going into the park. You will see a creek to your right along the edge of the park. Walk towards that creek, passing the playground area and picnic pavillion. Continue to walk alongside the creek towards a large wooded area at the "back" of the park.

2. Continue walking next to the creek. Soon you will see yellow circular markers indicating the beginning of the X-country ski trail. Follow the markers until they cross the creek. Carefully cross the creek and continue to follow them until you come to a second crossing of the creek. Cross the creek again - be careful as the second crossing is STEEP (results of flood damage). Also look sharp for the yellow markers - the ski trail is very overgrown in spots, and a couple of the markers are on trees that were knocked down in the flood.

3. On the opposite side of the creek, count 50 paces until you come to a slender tree bent across the trail. Unless you're very tall, you should be able to walk under this easily as you continue down the trail, still following those yellow markers.

4. After roughly 200 paces, you will come to a set of double-trunked trees arranged in a triangle. These will be found to the left side of the trail. Stand in the center of the triangle and face directly into the woods.

5. 12 paces behind the triangle is a VERY large double-trunked pine tree. Walk to this tree. Be very careful where you step - this is a well-used deer path, and the deer tend to leave "poop pellets" behind. If you are letterboxing with your children, this will probably fascinate them - I know mine thought it was pretty cool while we were planting the box.

6. Beyond the double-trunk pine tree, you will see a fallen tree on the ground. This tree resembles a centipede with all the broken branches. Walk to the base of this fallen tree. Hidden under some rocks and leaves you'll find Snow Flurries.

Please avoid being spotted and carefully return the box to it's hiding place under the fallen tree for others to enjoy.