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Cascades LbNA #2301

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:May 10, 2002
Location:
City:Hamden
County:New Haven
State:Connecticut
Boxes:1
Planted by:Rubaduc
Found by: SherlockMiles
Last found:Feb 26, 2017
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:May 10, 2002
The Cascades Letterbox
Hamden, Connecticut
Placed: May 2002 (by Lobsta Lady)

This box is being adopted by Rubaduc on May 23, 2006. We are moving to VT, & this was my very first plant.
Happy Trails! Lobsta

SLEEPING GIANT STATE PARK
HAMDEN, CONNECTICUT
(Easy Clues, Moderate uphill climb, about 1 mile round trip)

Directions: Take Exit 10 off I-91, this is a Long exit ramp (~2 miles). At the end, turn Right on to Whitney Ave (rte 10), & go for a couple of miles, passing through the Mt. Carmel section of Hamden. Then you might want to stop & pick up a Park map first at the main entrance to Sleeping Giant off Mt. Carmel Ave (Traffic light & sign for Quinnipiac College to your Right). Just be aware that you will be charged a State Park fee ($5) on weekends, May through October (?), & everyday during the week in the Summer if you park inside the gate, many people (fishermen in particular) park along side the road for free. Continue on Whitney Ave beyond the main Sleeping Giant State Park entrance, until you come to the next street on your Right, Tuttle Ave. (It's just beyond Wentworth's Ice Cream, well worth the stop after). Go about one mile past beautiful fields with horses, to a small pull-off on your Right, which has room for about 3-4 vehicles. You will notice a white on black "X" symbol for cross country skiing, and a similar "U", which is a horse shoe, indicating it is a horse trail, and a Red Circle.

Park and go a short ways in on this trail until the Red Circle trail takes off steeply uphill at 90 degrees. Follow this steadily up hill over many exposed tree roots (Hemlocks, Beeches, etc.). The trail follows a stream on your Left, which drops off steeply in places, & contains the cascades the trail is named for. The trail will level out a bit, then will cross a small stream coming in on your right, (there is a double blaze indicating a left turn). The trail continues to roll up & down, with the stream coming back close to the trail & many fallen trees across the stream. When the stream snakes into an "S" curve, & start looking for a large 3 sister's tulip tree on the right edge of the trail. You are getting closer now, the trail rolls up and down some more, until you notice (looking uphill), another double blaze, again indicating a left bend in the trail. On you right you will see a heavily graffiti scarred beech tree (give it a loving pat as you stand next to it). Then go 6 steps at 270 degrees, & look for the AH (!) tree, search for the sign of the cross. Lobsta Lady just sent new clues to the box (06/01/07) so option #1 From the sign of the cross 17 steps at 260 degrees to a "V" tree, under ledge. Option #2 From the skinny healthy tree with the double trail markers that nearly touch each other, go about 17 steps at 240 degrees to a "V" tree, under ledge. After carefully stamping in, return to the trail & just a very short 1 minute hike further brings you to the second "big" waterfall of the cascades, which almost has a cave carved out of the rock on the far side. From here you can go back down to your car, or continue a short ways up to the Violet trail and make a loop with other side trails back to your car. Don't forget the Ice Cream at Wentworth's on the way out if you are so inclined!

Enjoy! Lobsta Lady