Camp Arroyo Outdoor School LbNA #40792 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Little Foot 1221  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 11, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Livermore |
| County: | Alameda |
| State: | California |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | fleetwood7 |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jan 24, 2009 |
| Status: | FFr |
| Last edited: | Jun 11, 2008 |
•Camp Arroyo Outdoor School Letterbox•
As of May 2012, this letterbox has been retired. The box has gone missing and I am currently living in OH. I'm assuming the hike is still beautiful, so if you're up for a little adventure- give it a try! Just know that there will not be a box at the end of your hunt.
Hike: 2-3 miles, a decent amount of uphill, bring a bottle of water
Time: 1-1.5 hours
Parking Fee: $3 (gates are open 7am-7pm)- as of 2008
Camp Arroyo is an outdoor school which teaches 4-7th graders how to live more sustainable lives! The school is made possible through a partnership between the YMCA, East Bay Regional Parks and The Taylor Family Foundation. To learn more about Camp Arroyo, please visit: http://www.ebparks.org/activities/daycamps/arroyo or http://www.ymcaeastbay.org/camparroyo/ or http://www.ttff.org/index.html. This letterbox is dedicated to the 2007-2008 staff. Thanks for a year I will always remember!
In order to find this letterbox, you must first locate the staging area (parking lot) on the north side of Lake Del Valle on Arroyo Rd. The easiest way to find this is to Map Quest (or goggle map) the address for Camp Arroyo (5535 Arroyo Rd., Livermore, CA, 94550). Once you pass Camp Arroyo on Arroyo Rd., the parking lot for Del Valle Regional Park will be on your left. As you enter the lot, there will be a yellow box to pay your $3 parking fee.
The hike you are about to take is similar to the “Cresta Blanca” lesson that we do with the students who come to Camp Arroyo. Once you park your car, enter through the gate (by the green recycle bin) and start walking along the gravel fire road. Almost immediately, you will notice a wooden kiosk on your right. Feel free to read the wildlife warnings and pick up a Del Valle Regional Park brochure. Then continue on the gravel fire road.
As you walk, you will notice a HUGE exposed area of rock on the hill in front of you (or slightly to your left). This is Cresta Blanca! It actually used to look like the rolling hills surrounding the area up until the great flood of 1872. That winter, it had rained for over 3 months. The hillside couldn’t handle the weight of all the rain water and eventually gave way, resulting in a landslide. While walking, you might also notice the dam on your right hand side. This was built in 1948 to prevent flooding and to create a recreation area on the other side of Lake Del Valle.
The path you are on will take you to a bridge over Arroyo Creek. As you cross the bridge, look to your right—do you see the long, green, tubular reeds growing in the water? This plant is called Tulle and was used by the Ohlone to make baskets and many other things. Once you have crossed the bridge, continue on the gravel fire road.
Shortly after the bridge you will come to another cattle gate—go through it! Once you have closed the gate, start counting your paces (pace = 2 steps). After 60 paces, you should come to a smaller path on your left. Take that path—you will immediately walk under 5 Buckeye Trees. Shortly after the trees, there will be 2 smaller paths (on your left) that join your path—do NOT take them. You will stay to the right on your current path. Your path will lead you along the right hand side of the canyon that was formed during the Cresta Blanca landslide. As you continue, the path will start getting a little steeper—make sure you stop to drink some water! (At NO time should you cross over to the left side of the canyon.)
Once you get to the open area that looks upon Cresta Blanca, sit down and catch your breath. This is where we stop to teach the students about the three different types of rocks. Look up at Cresta Blanca—do you see the different layers of sedimentary rock called sandstone?
Time to get up, but don’t worry—you are ½ way to the top already! After stopping- you will continue on the dirt path that curves slightly to the right and goes uphill. In a little while, you will get to a steep part that has a few “steps” carved into the dirt—keep on climbing! Once you’ve climbed the “steps” and turned the corner—STOP! Look to your right—about ½ ways up the hill across from you is Camp Arroyo! You should be able to see the yellow cabins and dining hall (all with metal roofs that can be recycled when replaced).
Almost there! Continue on the dirt path—you will go up and down a few small hills. When you come to a four-way intersection—take a left. Then take a few more steps so that you are on top of the hill and able to see Lake Del Valle. After taking in the view, head back to the four-way intersection and make a left. You should now be on the same path as you were on a few minutes ago (we just took a little site seeing detour). Continue on the path towards the lonely tree with a bench under it! By any chance do you hear a bird that sounds like R2D2? If so- it is called a Western Meadowlark.
When the path that you’re on meets the gravel fire road, continue walking towards the lonely tree. Feel free to take a rest on the bench, but then continue on! As you get to the highest point on the gravel path it will turn to the right. As you turn the corner, you will see a wooden post sticking out of the ground. When no one is watching, look at the base of the post—your treasure awaits you under the rocks!!
After stamping in, continue down the gravel fire road. This will take you down the hill, through the gate, over the bridge and back to your car.
Thank you for taking the time to find this letterbox and enjoy the hills of Livermore! I hope you had fun and would love to hear about your experience. Please log your find on www.atlasquest.com and/or www.letterboxing.org.
As of May 2012, this letterbox has been retired. The box has gone missing and I am currently living in OH. I'm assuming the hike is still beautiful, so if you're up for a little adventure- give it a try! Just know that there will not be a box at the end of your hunt.
Hike: 2-3 miles, a decent amount of uphill, bring a bottle of water
Time: 1-1.5 hours
Parking Fee: $3 (gates are open 7am-7pm)- as of 2008
Camp Arroyo is an outdoor school which teaches 4-7th graders how to live more sustainable lives! The school is made possible through a partnership between the YMCA, East Bay Regional Parks and The Taylor Family Foundation. To learn more about Camp Arroyo, please visit: http://www.ebparks.org/activities/daycamps/arroyo or http://www.ymcaeastbay.org/camparroyo/ or http://www.ttff.org/index.html. This letterbox is dedicated to the 2007-2008 staff. Thanks for a year I will always remember!
In order to find this letterbox, you must first locate the staging area (parking lot) on the north side of Lake Del Valle on Arroyo Rd. The easiest way to find this is to Map Quest (or goggle map) the address for Camp Arroyo (5535 Arroyo Rd., Livermore, CA, 94550). Once you pass Camp Arroyo on Arroyo Rd., the parking lot for Del Valle Regional Park will be on your left. As you enter the lot, there will be a yellow box to pay your $3 parking fee.
The hike you are about to take is similar to the “Cresta Blanca” lesson that we do with the students who come to Camp Arroyo. Once you park your car, enter through the gate (by the green recycle bin) and start walking along the gravel fire road. Almost immediately, you will notice a wooden kiosk on your right. Feel free to read the wildlife warnings and pick up a Del Valle Regional Park brochure. Then continue on the gravel fire road.
As you walk, you will notice a HUGE exposed area of rock on the hill in front of you (or slightly to your left). This is Cresta Blanca! It actually used to look like the rolling hills surrounding the area up until the great flood of 1872. That winter, it had rained for over 3 months. The hillside couldn’t handle the weight of all the rain water and eventually gave way, resulting in a landslide. While walking, you might also notice the dam on your right hand side. This was built in 1948 to prevent flooding and to create a recreation area on the other side of Lake Del Valle.
The path you are on will take you to a bridge over Arroyo Creek. As you cross the bridge, look to your right—do you see the long, green, tubular reeds growing in the water? This plant is called Tulle and was used by the Ohlone to make baskets and many other things. Once you have crossed the bridge, continue on the gravel fire road.
Shortly after the bridge you will come to another cattle gate—go through it! Once you have closed the gate, start counting your paces (pace = 2 steps). After 60 paces, you should come to a smaller path on your left. Take that path—you will immediately walk under 5 Buckeye Trees. Shortly after the trees, there will be 2 smaller paths (on your left) that join your path—do NOT take them. You will stay to the right on your current path. Your path will lead you along the right hand side of the canyon that was formed during the Cresta Blanca landslide. As you continue, the path will start getting a little steeper—make sure you stop to drink some water! (At NO time should you cross over to the left side of the canyon.)
Once you get to the open area that looks upon Cresta Blanca, sit down and catch your breath. This is where we stop to teach the students about the three different types of rocks. Look up at Cresta Blanca—do you see the different layers of sedimentary rock called sandstone?
Time to get up, but don’t worry—you are ½ way to the top already! After stopping- you will continue on the dirt path that curves slightly to the right and goes uphill. In a little while, you will get to a steep part that has a few “steps” carved into the dirt—keep on climbing! Once you’ve climbed the “steps” and turned the corner—STOP! Look to your right—about ½ ways up the hill across from you is Camp Arroyo! You should be able to see the yellow cabins and dining hall (all with metal roofs that can be recycled when replaced).
Almost there! Continue on the dirt path—you will go up and down a few small hills. When you come to a four-way intersection—take a left. Then take a few more steps so that you are on top of the hill and able to see Lake Del Valle. After taking in the view, head back to the four-way intersection and make a left. You should now be on the same path as you were on a few minutes ago (we just took a little site seeing detour). Continue on the path towards the lonely tree with a bench under it! By any chance do you hear a bird that sounds like R2D2? If so- it is called a Western Meadowlark.
When the path that you’re on meets the gravel fire road, continue walking towards the lonely tree. Feel free to take a rest on the bench, but then continue on! As you get to the highest point on the gravel path it will turn to the right. As you turn the corner, you will see a wooden post sticking out of the ground. When no one is watching, look at the base of the post—your treasure awaits you under the rocks!!
After stamping in, continue down the gravel fire road. This will take you down the hill, through the gate, over the bridge and back to your car.
Thank you for taking the time to find this letterbox and enjoy the hills of Livermore! I hope you had fun and would love to hear about your experience. Please log your find on www.atlasquest.com and/or www.letterboxing.org.