Mt. Baker Letterbox LbNA #32717
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jul 3, 2007 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Saranac Lake |
| County: | Essex |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Chembaker  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | seswhoses |
| Last found: | Jun 28, 2009 |
| Status: | FFFFFaa |
| Last edited: | Jul 3, 2007 |
A somewhat challenging hike with kids, but my 5 and 8 year old did it in ~75 minutes, stopping for snacks/rest/water every 15 minutes. Less than a mile up, but steep in places. Some nice views at the top, but keep a close eye on the little ones as there are some rocky drop offs. Bring your own ink.
Go to the Mt. Baker trailhead. (A feat in itself, since some of the road names have changed!) Short directions here: From Main Street in Saranac Lake, go past the Hotel Saranac (right) and the library (left). Go straight through the stoplight and bear right at the triangle park (before the RR tracks). Make a right on Stevenson Lane and in 100 yds. turn left on Forest Hill (formerly East Pine Rd.). You should cross a wooden bridge over train tracks. You will soon see Moody Pond on the right...look for the trailhead on the left side and park on the right side of the road.
Clues:
Once at the summit, there are 2 USGS circular markers at the top. Find the marker that is near a twisted red (?) pine with a limb so dead and twisted it touches the ground. With your back toward this tree, find the rocky outcroppings to the left and walk down towards them. From this vantage point you will get some nice views of the high peaks. (There are lower ledges that can be explored as well, but don't go looking for the letterbox down there.) Standing or sitting on the large boulder with views of the peaks, notice a boulder ~4' x 3' slightly behind you on your right. Just behind this boulder is a small cluster of maples. Between these maples and the boulder, under 2 small-ish rocks and a pile of pine needles, you will find your treasure.
Be discreet...enjoy the view while waiting for muggles to move on...
If you go past the twisted red pine I mentioned earlier, you will find a trail different than the one you came up. If you follow it, you will come to another smooth rock face that gives nice views of the town of Saranac Lake. You can return by this path...it will rejoin the path of ascent close to the foot of the mountain, where a yellow arrow pointed you to the right on your ascent. (There is nothing wrong with returning the same way you came up.)
If you find this box, please, Please, PLEASE let me know how you found it!! I only get to the ADK's once a year, and I can't guarantee that I will climb Mt. Baker every year...so I would be most grateful for any reports on this box. Oh, and if you would like to "adopt" this box, let me know!
Go to the Mt. Baker trailhead. (A feat in itself, since some of the road names have changed!) Short directions here: From Main Street in Saranac Lake, go past the Hotel Saranac (right) and the library (left). Go straight through the stoplight and bear right at the triangle park (before the RR tracks). Make a right on Stevenson Lane and in 100 yds. turn left on Forest Hill (formerly East Pine Rd.). You should cross a wooden bridge over train tracks. You will soon see Moody Pond on the right...look for the trailhead on the left side and park on the right side of the road.
Clues:
Once at the summit, there are 2 USGS circular markers at the top. Find the marker that is near a twisted red (?) pine with a limb so dead and twisted it touches the ground. With your back toward this tree, find the rocky outcroppings to the left and walk down towards them. From this vantage point you will get some nice views of the high peaks. (There are lower ledges that can be explored as well, but don't go looking for the letterbox down there.) Standing or sitting on the large boulder with views of the peaks, notice a boulder ~4' x 3' slightly behind you on your right. Just behind this boulder is a small cluster of maples. Between these maples and the boulder, under 2 small-ish rocks and a pile of pine needles, you will find your treasure.
Be discreet...enjoy the view while waiting for muggles to move on...
If you go past the twisted red pine I mentioned earlier, you will find a trail different than the one you came up. If you follow it, you will come to another smooth rock face that gives nice views of the town of Saranac Lake. You can return by this path...it will rejoin the path of ascent close to the foot of the mountain, where a yellow arrow pointed you to the right on your ascent. (There is nothing wrong with returning the same way you came up.)
If you find this box, please, Please, PLEASE let me know how you found it!! I only get to the ADK's once a year, and I can't guarantee that I will climb Mt. Baker every year...so I would be most grateful for any reports on this box. Oh, and if you would like to "adopt" this box, let me know!