Southwestern Skies LbNA #12629 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | AZJokester  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Dec 10, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Cave Creek |
| County: | Maricopa |
| State: | Arizona |
| Boxes: | 4 |
| Found by: | Amanda from Seattle |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Oct 12, 2005 |
| Status: | FFFFFFaaaaa |
| Last edited: | Dec 10, 2004 |
** I just adopted this letterbox. Please be patient as it may take me some time to get up there and replace/repair the boxes. Thank you so much for understanding. ***
Yours in 'boxing,
~ AZJokester ~
DESCRIPTION: This is a 4 box series, the first 3 boxes being microboxes containing only a small stamp and ink pad. The 4th box is larger and contains the log as well.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Moderate, with some steep and rocky parts.
DISTANCE: 3 miles, roundtrip loop
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is classic desert hiking. Bring LOTS of water, wear a hat and remember to poke the hiding spot with a stick first to alert any nasties who may have taken up residence.
DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of Cave Creek Rd and Carefree Highway in Cave Creek, head west on Carefree Highway. You're looking for "Cave Creek Recreation Area", which should come up on the right after about 1 1/2 miles. This is a pay area, costing $5 for a day pass. The ranger kiosk is about a mile down the road. After stopping at the kiosk, head straight into the area, staying on the main road. You'll come to the Overton Trailhead parking area on your left. Pull in here and get ready for your treasure hunt!
CLUES
BOX #1: Head out on Overton Trail. Shortly, you'll come to a T and a trail sign. Facing this sign, take a reading of 290* magnetic and see a largish bushy tree (I'm clueless about desert flora. Sorry). Take 40 paces off the trail right up to this tree. You'll find the box in a small stone cairn behind it. Remember, it's a microbox with only a stamp and inkpad. You'll get your chance to leave your mark in the 4th box. Rehide well and...
Box #2: Get back to the trail and head west, uphill. At the top of the hill, continue straight, following Overton Trail. In a bit, the trail curves around to the right and the valley below is now directly behind you. You'll start up a rocky incline. At the top, the trail passes through a barbed wire fence. Stop right in the opening. Take a reading of 145* and walk 8 paces up along the fence line. Have a seat on the rock in front of you, look to your right and find box #2 hidden under several flat rocks. Stamp, rehide and get back on the trail, continuing on....
Box #3: Keep going until you see the next trail sign. West Boundary Trail heads off to the left, Overton Trail continues straight. You want to stay on Overton Trail, straight ahead. The trail winds around the back side of the mountain, becoming a little steeper and narrower. Eventually you'll come to the crest and will be standing in a small, flat clearing facing northeast. Stop and take a nice long drink of water. You deserve it. Now continue across the clearing and start heading downhill. Soon you'll come to another T and trailsign. Take the right hand trail, which is now Go John Trail, and count 20 paces from the trail sign. Immediately to your right will be a tall, lone Saguaro. You'll find box #3 hidden at it's base under a small pile of stones. This is a relatively exposed spot, being a three way intersection, so please be discreet and rehide well. Now, continue....
Box #4: Along Go John trail, heading roughly south. Soon you'll be climbing another steep, rocky hill. At the top, the trail goes off to the right and you'll come to an old mine shaft. Check it out, it's pretty cool, but heed the warnings and DON'T climb into it. Standing at the first green post of the fence surrounding the shaft, take a reading of 10* and walk down to the black and white quartz rock. On the downhill side of the rock you'll find box #4. Inside this box will be the log, the stamp and maybe a falling star or two. Rehide well and....
Continue along the trail til it dumps you into a small parking lot. At the end of the parking lot, take a right down the road. A few hundred feet down, on the right, will be a sign for the Overton Trail again. Follow this another 1/4 mile or so and it will bring you to the trail sign you started at, looking for box #1. Go left here and the parking lot and your car are just around the bend.
Yours in 'boxing,
~ AZJokester ~
DESCRIPTION: This is a 4 box series, the first 3 boxes being microboxes containing only a small stamp and ink pad. The 4th box is larger and contains the log as well.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Moderate, with some steep and rocky parts.
DISTANCE: 3 miles, roundtrip loop
IMPORTANT NOTE: This is classic desert hiking. Bring LOTS of water, wear a hat and remember to poke the hiding spot with a stick first to alert any nasties who may have taken up residence.
DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of Cave Creek Rd and Carefree Highway in Cave Creek, head west on Carefree Highway. You're looking for "Cave Creek Recreation Area", which should come up on the right after about 1 1/2 miles. This is a pay area, costing $5 for a day pass. The ranger kiosk is about a mile down the road. After stopping at the kiosk, head straight into the area, staying on the main road. You'll come to the Overton Trailhead parking area on your left. Pull in here and get ready for your treasure hunt!
CLUES
BOX #1: Head out on Overton Trail. Shortly, you'll come to a T and a trail sign. Facing this sign, take a reading of 290* magnetic and see a largish bushy tree (I'm clueless about desert flora. Sorry). Take 40 paces off the trail right up to this tree. You'll find the box in a small stone cairn behind it. Remember, it's a microbox with only a stamp and inkpad. You'll get your chance to leave your mark in the 4th box. Rehide well and...
Box #2: Get back to the trail and head west, uphill. At the top of the hill, continue straight, following Overton Trail. In a bit, the trail curves around to the right and the valley below is now directly behind you. You'll start up a rocky incline. At the top, the trail passes through a barbed wire fence. Stop right in the opening. Take a reading of 145* and walk 8 paces up along the fence line. Have a seat on the rock in front of you, look to your right and find box #2 hidden under several flat rocks. Stamp, rehide and get back on the trail, continuing on....
Box #3: Keep going until you see the next trail sign. West Boundary Trail heads off to the left, Overton Trail continues straight. You want to stay on Overton Trail, straight ahead. The trail winds around the back side of the mountain, becoming a little steeper and narrower. Eventually you'll come to the crest and will be standing in a small, flat clearing facing northeast. Stop and take a nice long drink of water. You deserve it. Now continue across the clearing and start heading downhill. Soon you'll come to another T and trailsign. Take the right hand trail, which is now Go John Trail, and count 20 paces from the trail sign. Immediately to your right will be a tall, lone Saguaro. You'll find box #3 hidden at it's base under a small pile of stones. This is a relatively exposed spot, being a three way intersection, so please be discreet and rehide well. Now, continue....
Box #4: Along Go John trail, heading roughly south. Soon you'll be climbing another steep, rocky hill. At the top, the trail goes off to the right and you'll come to an old mine shaft. Check it out, it's pretty cool, but heed the warnings and DON'T climb into it. Standing at the first green post of the fence surrounding the shaft, take a reading of 10* and walk down to the black and white quartz rock. On the downhill side of the rock you'll find box #4. Inside this box will be the log, the stamp and maybe a falling star or two. Rehide well and....
Continue along the trail til it dumps you into a small parking lot. At the end of the parking lot, take a right down the road. A few hundred feet down, on the right, will be a sign for the Overton Trail again. Follow this another 1/4 mile or so and it will bring you to the trail sign you started at, looking for box #1. Go left here and the parking lot and your car are just around the bend.