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WizardLand LbNA #12289

Owner:Indigo Vulture
Plant date:Nov 22, 2004
Location:
City:Philadelphia
County:Philadelphia
State:Pennsylvania
Boxes:1
Found by: Midnight Adventures
Last found:Oct 15, 2008
Status:FFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Nov 22, 2004
WIZARDLAND LETTERBOX

DIFFICULTY: Fairly easy.
TERRAIN: Moderate. Some climbs and rocky trails.
TIME: 45-60 minutes.

I lived in northwestern Philadelphia for several years, and while I was there, I spent a lot of time hiking through the Wissahickon Valley section of the Fairmount Park system. I was repeatedly astonished at the amount of beautiful woods nestled in one of the biggest cities in the country.

A while after I had moved out to the suburbs, I stumbled across a map of the Wissahickon that I’d bought from the Friends of the Wissahickon (www.fow.org). I had used this map extensively, and seeing it brought back fond memories. As I opened it up, I saw the words “WIZARD LAND” scribbled in pen, and a rough arrow pointing from them to a section of the map, around which a frantic circle was drawn. I had no recollection of this “Wizard Land,” and I was shocked even more once I realized that these words were in MY handwriting! I had to know what this meant. I called Whispers, my old roommate from Philly, and told him to meet me there.

I jumped in my car. The map showed very clearly that I was to start at the corner of Cathedral Road and Glenroy Street in the Andorra section of the city. To get there, I headed for the intersection of Henry and Ridge Avenues, and turned east onto Cathedral Road, past the Andorra Shopping Center. I crossed over Old Line Road and Wissahickon Avenue, and then the road made a sharp 90* right turn. At that point, Cathedral became Glenroy, and I found a parking spot.

Whispers met me there, and we discussed what “WIZARD LAND” might mean. He didn’t remember it either, but he did remember being in this part of the park without me once, and he recalled a very eerie feeling there. We entered the woods right at the elbow of Cathedral and Glenroy. This is macabre, but it’s true: right at the entrance to the woods was a rabbit’s head. Whispers mentioned that a rabbit’s foot was good luck. I wondered just what sort of wizard this might be.

We reached the yellow trail, and turned left. We saw a fence on the right side of the trail, and heard the sound of rushing water. As we walked, I saw to the right the strangest tree I’d ever seen. It looked like it was growing out of the top of another tree, but there was something decidedly impossible about it. “The Wizard?” Whispers asked. “I guess so,” I said. We continued, as the trail turned right at a small stone walk. We went over a concrete bridge and turned left, going back up the hill. The whole area was strewn with downed trees, limbs, and debris. “The floods of September?” I asked. “Or the Wizard throwing his might around,” said Whispers. We were both feeling rather spooked.

We reached a brown sign that showed an intersection. We decided to travel left, at about 310*, past a tree with faded blazes of indeterminate color. The wizard was attempting to confuse us, or cover his tracks. As we walked, we saw char-burned crystalline rocks in the path. “The wizard’s footprints,” remarked my friend. The trail wound around, and soon we came to a fork. We stopped there.

One trail on our left, and one on our right, we looked straight ahead, and saw a lone pine tree amid many deciduous ones. I turned to Whispers and said, “You’re the one who’s in tune with nature. Where do you think the Wizard’s power comes from?” “That tree,” he said, pointing that the pine tree. “Let’s go around this way. I think we’re close to where he’s hiding.” We took the right fork (about 330*), keeping the Wizard’s tree in eyesight at all times.

When the Wizard’s lone pine was at 260* from us, Whispers told me to stop. I stood there watching him, as he slowly turned his body, listening to the wind, and reaching out with both hands. With his eyes closed, he pointed into the woods. “There,” he said. “That’s where the Wizard is. He’s hidden himself in the base of a tree.” I looked at my compass: 25*. We walked about 28 paces, and found a tree with a hole in the bottom. Whispers poked around inside. “Not quite right. But we’re close.”

We went another 12 paces at 25*, and found another similar tree. “We’re closer,” said Whispers. “I know it.”

He led me due north for 23 paces, to yet another tree with yet another big hole in the bottom. We looked inside. Nothing. “Whispers...” I said, getting rather frustrated. Just then, he flew to another tree just behind the one we’d come to. He reached inside, and disappeared. And suddenly I understood. Whispers was the Wizard all along. I looked inside, and saw him, smaller and more teal than I’d ever known him. He smiled, and sent me away. I believe he’s still there to this day.

----

To return to your car a bit quicker, continue North through the woods, until you hit a trail. Turn left onto that trail, and continue up the hill. When you reach an intersection, go straight at about 240*. Then continue straight through the next intersection. You’ll soon come out of the woods, and see an enclosure for horses. Just before this enclosure, turn left and head out to the road. Turn left, and walk along the sidewalk to find your car.

Those who played Dungeons & Dragons-style computer games in the early 90’s might recognize the wizard. Those who didn’t might think the wizard looks very strange. Well, I suppose he is very strange.