Beaver Lake LbNA #2424 (ARCHIVED)

BEAVER LAKE NATURE CENTER LETTERBOXES (3)
BALDWINSVILLE, NY



Beaver Lake Nature Center is one of several Onondaga County Parks found in Central New York. For a map, see: http://www.co.onondaga.ny.us/Parks/mainmap.html

(For a calendar of events, click on Beaver Lake). Located a short drive from the cultural, commercial, educational, medical and recreational center of the city of Syracuse, Beaver Lake Nature Center provides a 600-acre park for discovering one’s self. Whether you choose to bird watch, canoe, XC-ski, snowshoe, walk the nine miles of trails, or attend such events as maple sugaring in the spring or the Golden Harvest Festival in the fall, the forest, meadows and wetlands are guaranteed to provide you with an outdoor experience that you will pleasantly recall. The nature center, being on the Atlantic ‘flyway’ for the migration of the Canada Goose, also provides even more wondrous entertainment in the spring and fall when geese whiffle in for a spot on the lake.

Since this is a county park, letterboxers are asked to be discreet by not disturbing other visitors to the park or revealing the nature of their activity. Also please remember to follow the park rules: there is a carry in – carry out trash policy; bikes and motorized vehicles are not allowed on the trails; pets, fires, collecting, fishing and swimming are prohibited. It is also requested that when you have completed your quest you return the letterbox to the hidden site to the best of your ability.

Telephone: (315) 638-2519

Hours: Dawn (7:30 AM) to dusk. The main lodge opens at 8 AM.

The park is open all year long with the exception of Christmas Day.

There is a $2.00 exit fee per automobile.

DIRECTIONS

The major east/west access route is I-90. Take Exit 39 and proceed on Rt. 690 North. Within 5-6 miles you will come upon signs for Beaver Lake Nature Center.

The major north/south access route is I-81. Exit at Cicero and proceed west on Rt. 31. At the second traffic light in the village of Baldwinsville stay in the right-hand lane.

Proceed west on Rt. 370. Approximately 3.5 miles from the center of town you will come upon signs for Beaver Lake Nature Center.

THE BEAVER LETTERBOX

“An house not made with hands.”
II Corinthians 5:7


Placed by: Marilyn J. Breakey
Clues: Moderate
Terrain: Easy
Hidden: 4/19/01

Beaver, originally wide spread throughout Europe, northern Asia and North America, have rapidly disappeared in many locales as civilization encroached upon their environment and they became decimated due to their temperament and lack of adaptation for survival subject to being easy prey. A beaver lodge is seldom seen, short of the wilderness, and often all that remains is a place name. Such may be the case at the Beaver Lake Nature Center: twenty years ago a beaver dam could be observed at the lake’s outlet; today overgrown shrubs obscure the view of the channel.

CLUES


1. With the eastern face of the ingle - [nook] vent directly behind you, set your compass for 86 degrees and strike out for the pine meadow.

2. You pass a small pond on your left and immediately change your mind - and your direction! You head into the deep woods.

3. As you proceed through the maturing forest, extensive blow down devastation as a result of the 1998 Labor Day storm may be seen on your left. Over 500 trees at Beaver Lake, many of them giants, were toppled by the severe winds during the one night storm.

4. Continue on uphill ‘midst the evergreens. If you look carefully to your right you may spot several piles of ‘middens.’

5. As you crest the ridge, off to your left and down the hill is the nature center’s ‘sugar bush.’

6. Continue your walk downhill through a dark stand of conifers that will bring you to a short boardwalk allowing passage over a wetland. Several species of ferns may be seen, two of which are the sensitive and cinnamon ferns. If weary, rest awhile at Patrick Murphy’s site and ponder the years with which you have been blessed: if you are alert you may see a white-tailed deer as it browses the under-story and traverses the myriad ‘herd paths’ that crisscross the 600 acres of the nature center.

7. As you come upon the following intersection, set off at a bearing of 320 degrees. Shortly you will come to the bridge spanning the outlet. To the right one can no longer attest to the presence of beaver, but other delights may await the visitor: varied plant life; a wood duck in flight; a Great Blue Heron standing silently on guard.

8. As you retrace your steps back to the intersection, look for ‘turkey feathers’ on fallen logs! When you reach the intersection, take a bearing of 216 degrees and proceed until you are within 15 paces of the large sentinel stump that heralds the first blind spot.

9. Forty- two paces on a bearing of 260 degrees will bring you the second blind spot; 17 at 330 will bring you to a blind spot worth investigating.

10. At a distance of 1 pace of the blind spot within this last blind spot, check your bearing for 260 degrees. You are within 3 paces of a man made beaver lodge – in dry dock! Pay a visit. May you find the beaver be at home.


NOTES

All bearings are magnetic, and all bearings at intersections are taken from the center of the intersection. Presently, 8/00, much logging of the 1998 blow downs is occurring. Ignore any intersections that appear to be service/access/logging roads.

A pace is taken to be the average an adult moves forward in one step - approximately three feet.

Due to being placed within the ‘lake effect’ snow- belt area south of Lake Ontario, this box will be removed from snowfall to snow melt. It should be in place from mid-April through mid-November. [All Beaver Lake letterboxes are in place for 2004].

Before you set out, please read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

This letterbox is #2 placed by “St. George.”


THE CANADA GOOSE LETTERBOX

“And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!”

Lewis Carroll

Placed by: Marilyn J. Breakey
Clues: Moderate
Terrain: Easy
Hidden: 4/20/01
Status: Missing

To ‘whiffle’ means to move erratically; a whiffle ball and bat are recreational items; a whiffletree is part of the harnessing apparatus for draft animals; the Jabberwock “came whiffling through the tulgey wood;” a Canada Goose comes whiffling in to Beaver Lake.

During the spring and fall migration of the Canada Goose, mostly at sunset when they return to the lake from the nearby corn fields, Beaver Lake is the place to be if one wants to see ‘a goose come whiffling in.’ The lake, often dotted with thousands of geese, may provide little available landing surface. By dropping a wing, and in many cases doing a quick lateral somersault, a goose can quickly lose altitude and land on open water. Not every goose does this, but if you spend an hour near the shore at sunset during the migration season, you’ll surely see more than one goose whiffle!

CLUES



Lakeview Trail, ‘expressway’ to the shore,

‘Tis not very long, less than point four.

There is much to see, and much to read,

But you’re on a goose chase, and I’m in the lead.

But bear with St. George, and do take the time

For you’ll find all the sites belabored in rhyme.

Enter the gate and bear to the right,

Each post makes a boast that draws your sight

To that community seldom seen

Less one looks closely at the verdant green.

Retrace thirteen paces from hummock and hollow,

A direction is made for you to follow.

Look down at your left and you will learn,

A bit of folklore ‘bout the Christmas fern.

A yuletide stocking each pinna appears,

And wondrous of all, it stays green all year.

Past hummock and hollow is Casey’s bat of ash,

Nearby, no doubt, a red squirrel’s stash.

At lake’s edge hidden from view,

Perhaps you’ll see a deer or two.

Bear right at the junction, round the point you go,

Take time to look, and do go slow.

Blow downs and turkey feathers, and bracken abound,

And little grey squirrels scurrying over the ground.

Do stop for a moment and admire the view

As did that American so long ago, too.

Next stop is a miraculous in-earth kettle,

10,000 years does test one’s mettle!

Openly serene, quietly palatial,

Not quickly formed, but slowly glacial.

Look upwards to expanse of sky,

Perhaps a goose will whiffle by.

May apples and ferns in abundance galore,

And a soggy supermarket ‘tis a strange kind of store.

A desert in the forest with light so dim,

Only shade loving flora can thrive within.

As you exit the gate, bear right and you’ll see

The Three Meadows entrance; just follow me.

Straight through you go at the roads of four,

‘Till poets whisper at 70 hiking paces more.



“I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.”
Joyce Kilmer


“Neath the white spruce boughs I shall be
Where St. George lovingly sheltered me.”
Marilyn J. Breakey


NOTES

I consider my normal walking pace in the woods a hiking pace.

Due to being placed within the ‘lake effect’ snow-belt area south of Lake Ontario, this box will be removed from snowfall to snow melt. It should be in place from mid-April through mid-November.

Before you set out, please read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

This letterbox is #3 placed by “St. George.”

THE BOG LETTERBOX

“A desert that floats -”
Janine M. Benyus

Placed by: Marilyn J. Breakey
Clues: Whimsical
Terrain: Easy
Hidden: 4/20/01
Status: Missing

Plant life in desert and bog environments has one thing in common – survival. Based upon a need for water and nutrients, species indigenous to each habitat have adapted accordingly.

Within the bog environment, which floats, is nutrient poor and lacks little water flowing in or out thus slowing organic decomposition, certain plant species have overcome the obstacle of obtaining essential nitrogen. One such example is the Northern Pitcher Plant. It feeds directly on insects! Be sure to look for it on your visit to the bog.

CLUES

The Glacial Retreat is a five-star restaurant for letterboxers. The beautifully kept grounds of lacy green, long known as The Epicurean Delight by its frequent visitors, the Odocoileus virginianus, beckon you towards the entrance. You notice the hours are flexible; the prices reasonable; the menu is posted.

Appetizer

Terrapin chowder with assorted vegetables

Salad

Sautéed fiddleheads with sliced mushrooms vinaigrette

Entrée

Fried legs of Rana septentrionalis

Served with

Crepes of ground Typha latifolia

Relish

Delicately stewed Vaccinium macrocarpon

Dessert

Pie of Vaccinium angustifolium, a la glace


You enter the retreat entrance; you dine; you enjoy your meal. The tab is brought to you; as you prepare to pay, you wonder where the after dinner mints are kept. You look at the tab once more. It reads: ‘The mints are kept in the pitcher plant’!


1. With the southern face of the ingle- [nook] vent directly behind you, start your quest ‘twixt the Isles of Owl and Lonely Tree; before traversing a small wooden bridge, if you bear off in the right direction you will soon come to the grounds’ gate for The Epicurean Delight. Do watch for the Odocoileus virginianus!

2. The waiting line is not long, and if you follow the right grounds’ path you will come to the retreat entrance very soon.

3. Upon entering The Glacial Retreat get your bearing right as you pass the first hallway. A short distance on and you come to the Terrapin Pool. Shortly thereafter your footing becomes more substantial and within a few paces you can see the Vaccinium macrocarpon on your left. Continue in this direction until you reach the next hallway. It is the exit you will take as you leave the restaurant.

4. You have heard that the third hallway leads to that lovely balcony, The High Point. The entranceway decorated with luscious green ferns, some of them royal, entices you. Once there you anxiously look about. It has been said that during spring migration one can see thousands of Canada Goose from this vantage point. What a strange phrase: a thousand Canada Goose! Why can’t they be like blackbirds? One Canada Goose; thousands of Canada Gooses! The lake is quiet today; there is nothing in sight.

5. You hurry down the stairs and head for the highly acclaimed, glacially formed wooded island known as The Terrace which offers an even more commanding view of the lake. Perhaps the one thousand Canada Goose Geese were out of your range of vision while at The High Point!

6. Closing hours are fast approaching. Reluctantly you leave The Terrace.

7. You reach the exit hallway, turning right, and within four paces of the corner you note the most spectacular décor display: a grouping of tiny green pitchers filled with water. A life-like insect is poised on one of the contrasting edges. Why of course, it is the Northern Pitcher Plant! It has been said that during the winter season these are reminiscent of miniature skating rinks for the tiniest of woodland fairies.

8. You dare not linger and hurry on across the bridge

9. Shortly you come upon an unmarked hallway to the left. As you proceed down
this corridor you think, ‘This must surely be the exit.’!

10. But no! It’s the lobby furnished with the most rustic settee you have seen. Sit a while and ponder the décor.

11. As you prepare to leave, and within five paces of the settee, on your right you notice the most charming ‘potted cedar.’

12. At the base of the ‘potted cedar’ is a dish. Aha! The mints!


NOTES

Due to being placed within the ‘lake effect’ snow-belt area south of Lake Ontario, this box will be removed from snowfall to snow melt. It should be in place from mid-April through mid-November.

Before you set out, please read the waiver of responsibility and disclaimer.

This letterbox is #4 placed by “St. George.”