Wapack Wonders LbNA #42922
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 20, 2008 |
| Location: | |
| City: | New Ipswich |
| County: | Hillsborough |
| State: | New Hampshire |
| Boxes: | 4 |
| Planted by: | Pratt Pond Hooker  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | JASTA 11 |
| Last found: | Oct 22, 2020 |
| Status: | FFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Aug 20, 2008 |
The Wapack Trail traverses some of the last wild and open terrain of the Monadnock Region. The trail usually follows the height of the land and is blazed both north and south by small yellow triangles painted on trees, rocks, and ledges. Where trees are scarce, cairns (small piles of rock) guide the hiker along the trail. The views along this Trail are just wonderful and unlike Monadnock you will be alone with the wonders of nature. To the west are great views of Monadnock and along Stony Top and continuing south along the Trail to the Lookout (Overlook) you'll be able to see east to Boston and the Pru and Hancock towers on the horizon. The Wapack is well trodden and easy to follow in summer and fall so these letterboxes may be pulled before the winter snows. The Trail is not difficult to hike; most of the terrain is considered easy to moderate by the average hiker. Steep,rugged sections are short and infrequent. Hikers should remember that any trail is subject to change without notice due to weather or other circumstances. Various owners of the land have given permission to use the trails so please respect their property and carry out what you bring in. A map of the Wapack Trail may be purchased through Friends of the Wapack, PO Box 115, West Peterborough,NH 03468. The above and some of the below information was taken from WAPACK Trail Guide, Hikes,History and Nature by John E. Flanders.
Directions are given from about 1150-1160 Turnpike Road in New Ipswich near the Windblown Cross Country Ski Area. From the center of New Ipswich,NH follow NH123/124 2.6 miles west toward Jaffrey. Park off the highway or in unmarked turnout on opposite (right) side of highway. Find Wapack Lodge and start hiking south on the Wapack Trail. This is a good long hike so bring lunch and water.
You will go 1.6 miles along the yellow blazed Wapack Trail till you hit Barrett Mt then another 1.4 miles to the first letterbox.
1. New Ipswich Mt Letterbox
The trail follows cairns across barren ledges with lots of blueberries in July and early August beside a well preserved stone wall with fine views of Mt Monadnock. Continue south through the woods upward 300 ft or so to the flat wooded summit of New Ipswich Mt. Look for a large boulder in the middle of the trail. Trail sign that said New Ipswich Mt 1881 feet is missing. From the boulder count 11 steps on Trail to wobbly rock, then another 30 steps down the Trail. There should be a large hemlock on your right.Look at 3 o'clock to a moss covered rock about 10 steps off the trail. Your treasure is in the crevice under the moss covered rock behind a white rock. Please rehide well. Continue south along the Trail towards #2.
2. Pratt Pond Trail Letterbox
Continue another .3 miles downhill after going over a rocky footway through a stone wall. Look for the 2 Pratt Pond Trail signs on your left. Stand on the trail facing south between the 2 signs. Look right at about 2 o'clock about 12 steps off the trail. Spy a large triangular rock. Look in its middle under a rock for your 2nd treasure. Rehide well and go back to the trail and continue south towards #3.
3. Stoney Top
Go a few feet further and cross a brook that may have some water in it but has stepping stones. This brook drains east into Pratt Pond. Continue upward .3 miles till you see more spectacular views looking back at New Ipswich Mt (north) and south into MA. At the top is the beginning of Stoney Top. Find a right angle yellow arrow painted on the ledge. Stand on arrow with views to your back. Straight ahead spy "Medusa" stump about 15 steps off the trail. Walk to stump. Look down about 4 feet to the right of the base of the stump to a moss covered rock. Your Stoney Top letterbox is under this rock. Rehide well, please.
4. The Lookout
(Our last letterbox is another .5 miles along the Wapack Trail and will be on the descent of Pratt Mt).
Go along the trail about .3 miles and you will see Pratt Pond on your left and views of Boston on the horizon and it will be pretty flat. Start down Pratt Mt and go about .2 mile and you will see a sign Binney PD Overlook with an arrow on your left. Pass the Outlook sign and go down the stone steps to the Lookout. Enjoy the great views of Binney Hill Pond from this steep dropoff....be careful! Boston is straight ahead on the horizon on a clear day. Now to look for the letterbox. Turn back the way you came. Go back to face the ledge of steps you came down. Stand facing the oak tree in the middle. Find the knothole in its trunk. Straight down under and behind the loose rocks is your treasure. Hint: It's on the opposite side of the tree having the Outlook sign. Be very careful to rehide well as this is a busy spot with lots of people stopping here for lunch or snacks.
Total miles this way would be 8.2 miles and a full day. Other options below.
These letterboxes can be accessed from parking area near Mt Watatic on Rt 119 to the south but it will be 5 miles to the first letterbox (The Lookout) and another 1.1 to New Ipswich Mt letterbox for a total of 12.2 roundtrip .
If you can find Binney Hill Road in New Ipswich and drive up the mountain you could probably park along the dirt road and access the Trail that way. DO NOT try to get to Binney Hill Road from Rindge as it is impassable even by bicycle from that direction.
The Wapack Trail follows Binney Hill Road (in New Ipswich) 1200 ft then turns right (N) to reach Binney Pond (lovely spot to walk by) and would the total hiking distance would be 4.2 miles roundtrip. You'd have to reverse your letterboxing directions. Hope you try these letterboxes. This is a beautiful and almost unknown part of NH.
Directions are given from about 1150-1160 Turnpike Road in New Ipswich near the Windblown Cross Country Ski Area. From the center of New Ipswich,NH follow NH123/124 2.6 miles west toward Jaffrey. Park off the highway or in unmarked turnout on opposite (right) side of highway. Find Wapack Lodge and start hiking south on the Wapack Trail. This is a good long hike so bring lunch and water.
You will go 1.6 miles along the yellow blazed Wapack Trail till you hit Barrett Mt then another 1.4 miles to the first letterbox.
1. New Ipswich Mt Letterbox
The trail follows cairns across barren ledges with lots of blueberries in July and early August beside a well preserved stone wall with fine views of Mt Monadnock. Continue south through the woods upward 300 ft or so to the flat wooded summit of New Ipswich Mt. Look for a large boulder in the middle of the trail. Trail sign that said New Ipswich Mt 1881 feet is missing. From the boulder count 11 steps on Trail to wobbly rock, then another 30 steps down the Trail. There should be a large hemlock on your right.Look at 3 o'clock to a moss covered rock about 10 steps off the trail. Your treasure is in the crevice under the moss covered rock behind a white rock. Please rehide well. Continue south along the Trail towards #2.
2. Pratt Pond Trail Letterbox
Continue another .3 miles downhill after going over a rocky footway through a stone wall. Look for the 2 Pratt Pond Trail signs on your left. Stand on the trail facing south between the 2 signs. Look right at about 2 o'clock about 12 steps off the trail. Spy a large triangular rock. Look in its middle under a rock for your 2nd treasure. Rehide well and go back to the trail and continue south towards #3.
3. Stoney Top
Go a few feet further and cross a brook that may have some water in it but has stepping stones. This brook drains east into Pratt Pond. Continue upward .3 miles till you see more spectacular views looking back at New Ipswich Mt (north) and south into MA. At the top is the beginning of Stoney Top. Find a right angle yellow arrow painted on the ledge. Stand on arrow with views to your back. Straight ahead spy "Medusa" stump about 15 steps off the trail. Walk to stump. Look down about 4 feet to the right of the base of the stump to a moss covered rock. Your Stoney Top letterbox is under this rock. Rehide well, please.
4. The Lookout
(Our last letterbox is another .5 miles along the Wapack Trail and will be on the descent of Pratt Mt).
Go along the trail about .3 miles and you will see Pratt Pond on your left and views of Boston on the horizon and it will be pretty flat. Start down Pratt Mt and go about .2 mile and you will see a sign Binney PD Overlook with an arrow on your left. Pass the Outlook sign and go down the stone steps to the Lookout. Enjoy the great views of Binney Hill Pond from this steep dropoff....be careful! Boston is straight ahead on the horizon on a clear day. Now to look for the letterbox. Turn back the way you came. Go back to face the ledge of steps you came down. Stand facing the oak tree in the middle. Find the knothole in its trunk. Straight down under and behind the loose rocks is your treasure. Hint: It's on the opposite side of the tree having the Outlook sign. Be very careful to rehide well as this is a busy spot with lots of people stopping here for lunch or snacks.
Total miles this way would be 8.2 miles and a full day. Other options below.
These letterboxes can be accessed from parking area near Mt Watatic on Rt 119 to the south but it will be 5 miles to the first letterbox (The Lookout) and another 1.1 to New Ipswich Mt letterbox for a total of 12.2 roundtrip .
If you can find Binney Hill Road in New Ipswich and drive up the mountain you could probably park along the dirt road and access the Trail that way. DO NOT try to get to Binney Hill Road from Rindge as it is impassable even by bicycle from that direction.
The Wapack Trail follows Binney Hill Road (in New Ipswich) 1200 ft then turns right (N) to reach Binney Pond (lovely spot to walk by) and would the total hiking distance would be 4.2 miles roundtrip. You'd have to reverse your letterboxing directions. Hope you try these letterboxes. This is a beautiful and almost unknown part of NH.