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Lunch Box Series (4) LbNA #25811

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Sep 24, 2006
Location:
City:Chicago
County:Cook
State:Illinois
Boxes:4
Planted by:Rishy
Found by: Jaxom and Sharra (2)
Last found:Apr 28, 2013
Status:FFFFFFFaFF
Last edited:Sep 24, 2006
Not only is this the far East edge of the city, the state line actually runs through the park! The William W. Powers Fish & Wildlife Reserve is home to a war memorial, hunters' blinds, and a playlot. Rain shelters near public grills make the park a great place for picnics and group gatherings. The park is open from 6am to sunset.

George Washington High School is right down Avenue O, making this a former wonderland for teens at lunchtime. The introduction of 'closed campus' put an end to this tradition, but many of us are old enough to remember strolling along the lake before running back tardy to class.

One of the unfortunately truths about this area is, the natives do not value the area properly. Be prepared for a LOT of trash. I fill a bag every time and bring it back to the cans that our ranger empties every night. Won't you help, too?

This series may be done as mostly drive-by (box 1 is about 15 mins from available parking, the rest are considerably less from parking spots) or as a true hike. If you like the walk, it's about an hour round trip for me when I park at the turn-in to the park.

Stamp #1 is placed out the furthest from the road with the other three intended to be gathered on the way back. Enter the park at the North entrance and make a left hand turn North as soon as convenient. Do not drive into the lake!

Continue North at 15 MPH or less and follow the road as it gently curves. Cross the bike trail (mostly visible to the left). Continue on past the Hunters Only warning if it's between Jan 14th and Oct 14th. If not, turn back and park or reschedule this trip.

The road will continue to curve. Cross the train track and keep going. The road will begin to swing South. Park somewhere along this stretch, but not at the very end. On foot, you now cross the bridge. The road is now gravel and puddles. Lots of puddles. Choose the second gravel path on the left. Look on the left-hand about 10 paces down and you'll spot a large concrete slab standing on it's end. It's about knee-high. Keep going. 100 paces down the road, another trail curves to the left (this should be the second turn-off). Stand still and look for a small cairn. If you hold still with the factory to the right and the lake to your back, you should see it slightly to the left. Inside the cairn is the first box! [The last three finders located the box with these directions. I went out today, 9/20/09, and found them mostly useless. The terrain has really changed in three years! Today, I took the second path on the left, but found no slab. 110 paces down the road was a Y intersection. The brush has grown many feet forward, so the cairn is no longer at the edge of the road. Look about 2 feet in. PLEASE replace the stones!!!]

Be aware, this part of the world has snakes. Snakes like holes. Keep this in mind!

It’s time to head back. The very last parking lot is your destination. The lines in the lot are obviously painted with boat trailers in mind. Park at the North end of the lot, furthest away from the water.

The past few years the park has had a serious beaver problem. Whether the beavers actually built what you see now, or if it was human hands, I'll never know. Stand facing the natural materials construct. At the right hand end is a large tree. Look around the base. This tree is the 2nd closest to the parking lot at that end of the mound. [The beaver mound has grown enormously over the years since I planted. The original plant is somewhere under that pile. I didn't go looking.] REVISED DIRECTIONS: there is a slight path leading to a very small clearing in front of the beaver pile. Follow the path as it curves right. You won't be taking more than a few steps. Step off the path and turn yourself around the 2nd tree until the lake is at your left hand. A small cairn is at the base of the tree. PLEASE put the rocks back!!!

Still working our way towards the entrance; Watch for a sign that says "Do Not Feed The Wildlife". You've already passed this road sign once. Keep your eyes open as you return. It'll be on the left side of the road.

Behind the sign is a slight path. Step behind the 'twinned' tree that seems to support its brother on the left. Nestled at the base is the box with Stamp #3. After having been muggled at least six times, stones have been laid over the box. If you don't put the stones back, it will be muggled again. Please cover COMPLETELY.

Keep heading back towards Avenue O. Park near the playlot and let the kids romp awhile. When they’re just about worn out, turn your back on the lake and walk. Aim for the last possible picnic table and park the kids while you duck down the faint path behind the table, into the treeline. Lean slight left. At chest level a tree is blocking the path. Duck under and immediately turn around to face the tree limb. Follow the limb down to a cluster of trunks. Under the bent trunks, you'll find a cairn. This is a high traffic area. Please hide entirely and be careful of the rusted wire fence nearby.

Be aware, this IS a wildlife preserve. There may be hibernating critters or other creepy crawlies tucked into the loam. Keep this in mind!

If you gathered all the stamps, you now have a reasonably balanced lunch on the page. Don’t forget that this is a heavily populated area and diligence in re-hiding the boxes is a must!