The Iditarod series LbNA #45560 (ARCHIVED)

August 2010: These boxes are retired.

These are all the stamps carved for The Iditarod event, hosted by Familyof6 on Saturday, February 7, 2009 in Portland, MI. There are not logbooks in any of these boxes (except box #25 and #27)....but you will have the opportunity to find the official stamp and book. If you find these stamps, it would be appreciated that you do log your finds! Each stamp also has the name written on the back. You will need this for logging your finds.

This event was an Iditarod theme and racers had to choose among five trails to find the hidden stamps. Each trail has stamps done in succession and ALL TRAIL LOOPS require you to start from the main downtown intersection of Kent and Bridge Street in Portland, MI (Specifically, they all start from The Chocolate Moose.)

TRAIL #1: Not in 2008. Perhaps 2012?
Drive up the Bridge Street hill passing all the churches. Turn right onto Lincoln Street and drive to Oakwood School. Turn left and park in the lot. Once you are in the elementary school lot, look for 15'6". Notice the 16 green painted columns. Walk down the dirt road towards these columns, stopping at the 5th one on the right. Look for a wooden square straight up from this column. There is a round hole below it and directly below that is a small square along the shelf. You can cast your ballot here. You betcha!

Go back to the trail head. Begin the incline and stop at the 1st bench by the lone pine. Across the way is another pine on the other side of the fence, long dead, electrified, and tied with wires. Walk up the trail about 10 steps from it to a profusion of trees. What you seek is hiding here. Rehide well.

Now, continue up the hill as it snakes around past six panes surrounded by brick. Stop at the blue 5. Look back. You will see a very straight oak. Go to it and then head to a diamond on a stick. Very close by is a large rock by the fence. Check what's hidden where the wires meet the ground.

Go back to the 5 and continue on the trail, making a crossing and going down, down down the hill until you get to the beautiful trussed bridge (Is this the Bridge to Nowhere?) Find and stand directly between Elon and Anna Goodman and Ken Click. Take a sighting of approximately 240 degrees and go up. Keep an eye out for the outside beam where the blue ends in a hidden corner. Reach up high to the northernmost side of the beam. Make sure you check this one out, just in case.

TRAIL #2: A River Runs Through It
Start on the river boardwalk at the black iron bridge downtown on the backside of the buildings. Walk northerly along the boardwalk, crossing Grand River Avenue and heading towards the big ice cream cone across the river. (This boy is Frosty...and two are doing the twist...peppermint style of course!) Anyhow, walk between the bridge/road and the building to the railing overlooking the river. A 2light pole? Looks like a good place to cast a line. Good thing there's a railing here so you don't fall in, "right"? Check your footing here.

Cross back over Grand River Avenue and walk along Water Street between Toan Park and Powers Field. See the black iron bridge? Of course you do! Pay close attention to the walking man...he only goes one way. Looks like he's walking away from the tree behind him...or maybe the two yews near his feet? Maybe they are "guarding" the curved "rail". I hope there's nothing scary inside.

Continue along a gazebo that confused boxers that traveled around the world in 80 days. (Not sure what this means? Probably good...because those clues were hard!) Anyhow, continue past the gazebo with your "lights" in your eyes. L short, R tall, L short, R tall. Vern Fedewa. L short, R tall. Stop here. 160 degrees at 9 steps to a hollow log near a bumpy tree.

Continue along the open river trail towards a paddled shelter and two more ball diamonds. At the 90 degree black and yellow arrow, go the other way. Take a long seat? "N" at your feet by the tree! Here is the shelter you seek. Isn't it a great view?

TRAIL #3: The Straightaway Stretch
Drive from the Kent/Bridge intersection and turn right at the gas station. Go through the stoplight and turn left at the 1st street past the large white mill (Warren St.) Park at the end and notice the 5 evergreen brothers. Figure out their clue: "It's not in the short, ugly one in the middle of 3 nor in the two that have a friend rocking it out between them. It's also not in the one near the two planters. Perhaps he's linked nearby? Go postal and deliver what you seek on the backside.

Go to the trail system and turn left towards the mill. Walk the trail and go across a historic little black bridge and find Harold and Mary Green (WOW! Can you believe that they have been racing for 60 years?) Stop here and walk exactly 12 steps back onto the bridge. Stop. Look to the eastern side to where 3 metal supports make a pointing arrow down. Go under the bridge at this point and check the support system here. The temperature falls below,

Walk back to the evergreen brothers, except this time go straight along the trail. Pass the blue mailboxes and find the gazebo by the river. To the left of the entrance is a tree with a profusion of sticks at the base. Why don't you check this out.

Continue the straight stretch into the trees. Look for 2 wooden gates. One is LG and has chained a patriotic barrel. Go to the river and take a seat. Is your bottom frozen? Why don't you look, but don't pull too hard!

Go back to the trail and keep going. Find Norman and the dog Holly. A red 4? Take 120 steps (or 60 paces...it's your choice) and STOP! Take a sighting of approximately 25 degrees. About 50 feet off the trail (river side) is a large leaning tree that is broken at the bas with another large tree still standing and growing from the base area. Go there and search the den.

You're not done yet. Go back to the trail and continue on to the end of the tunnel of trees. Race pass Robert and Genet Shattuck and Tom Schrauben. Turn left (and don't go past the "dogi pot") Two more racers? John McClung and an anonymous one. Go to the 4th tree on the left and see another racer nearby? Is he the "captain of the river"? If he's Colby Kesuch, he is. Go and talk to him and take a sighting of 350 degrees to 2 very large trees about 10 feet apart from each other and across the river from an old shack. Stand between these trees that are nearby the fence. Now, take about 10-12 steps into the woods alongside the river looking for some trees that look like they have a cave? Here is
your box. (If you've walked more than 20 steps from the 2 trees, you've gone too far!)

TRAIL #4:Music At The Rivers
Start at the main downtown intersection and drive north to Grand River Avenue. Turn right and head towards the 1st stoplight (Divine Highway) at the huge white mill. Turn left and go over the bridge. Immediately over the bridge is a parking lot to the left. Park here and get out of your car. Look for a GIGANTIC twin. Wedged between is what you seek. Is it the Haidu hunters?

Now, go to the lot entrance and take the sidewalk north until you get to the trailhead by the flashing pedestrian crossing sign. Turn left on the trail and head towards a double trussed black bridge. Find both Mr. Seal and the Weberts at each entrance. One of them has an answer for you. Mr. Seal is nearly rocking it out while the Weberts are there for support. An old "RR tie" is across the way from one of them, approximately 6 steps from their entrances, offering walled support. What you seek is in a tiny little cave in the end of one of those ties just barely off the trail.

Now, take the trail loop that follows the river by the condos and bends around. Pause at the flags of 9/11 in silent memorial. Continue on when you're done until you come to a choice. A rusty bridge going over or a musical stage? Try the musical side of that bridge. Ten wooden legs support this rusty arch that heads across the way (Perhaps the Natives and Settlers are there for another box? You don't need to check now...perhaps later) Don't go over the bridge just yet! Find the caribou that hides from the haidu hunters where one of these supports meets the base.

TRAIL #5: Exercise Along the Tlingit Trail
From the main downtown intersection, head north to Grand River Avenue. Turn left at the light, go over the river, and turn right at the ice cream store (Water Street). Drive until you see the Red Mill, and then turn right into the Bogue Flats just after it. Find Russman Field and hit a fly ball all the way through the center field gate, stopping at the electric pole that is tied by yellow cables. Stand here, facing away from the field. Turn left. About 25 feet away is a bush with a tree growing right near it. Check where the bush grows from the ground to collect you prize.

Walk along the fence until you see two concrete planters at the end of the drive with the no vehicles signs. This is where the trail starts, going to the left away from the ball diamond. Look for Junior Blake overlooking the pond. Continue on to the Y and black #4. Take the trail that curves to the right and has a diamond on a stick on the left side. Follow this trail until you find Denny Lefke. Stand at his back, sight 270 degrees to the first wild juniper tree that is flanked by bushes. Go to this tree and look in it. What you seek hangs about 5-6 feet up.

Continue on trail. Don't stop for chin ups or step ups. Keep going past the curved black and yellow arrow. A chain link fence. Another arrow? Take 32 steps from here. STOP. Take 9 steps toward the river and check the ripped tree that is the largest one near where the fence ends. Check the river side of the tree. Hope you have good eyesight.

Pass Gladys Miles, and then Merle Todd, and then past a scenic spot where Kenneth and Eleanor Stark are taking in the view. Continue on past Nick and Eleanor Zimmerman, stopping to do a body curl. (I mean it...lay down and do one!) From this curl, sight 245 to a small slanted tree in the bushes in front of you. Check the base.

Continue on from the body curl station. Pass Richard DeMello. Signs...curves left...and left again. At the right arrow head towards the observation deck that you see in front of you. Race past Bob Mayhew and head towards a snaking black and yellow sign in the distance. Pass Albert and Elain R. Thelen. When you get to that sign keep going. You will soon see the back of a sign. Go past it! Just before entering the trees on both sides of the trail again, STOP! See that tree to your left with the hole? The one with the large trunk still soaring high and the other side bent into the river? Check that hole!

Continue on the path near the river keeping the houses on the bvluff within your sight. You will shortly see 6 poles connected by wires. Walk about 35 steps past the last pole on your left. STOP! Turn towards the river and find a mass profusion of trees near it. Your pole is here.

Continue on the trail passing Mark S. MIller, a black #2, the twin Briggs, and sit ups on your right. A large field? Follow along the treeline past the next curve. You'll see two more racers facing the river. (One is a team of four: Hoppes, Hoppes, Schrauben, and Seal...the other is a husbnad/wife team of Richard and Rosemary Simon). Ignore them and keep going, keeping the fenced in dome in the distance within your sight. Notice the trees to your right? Take 16 steps from the 1st tree and stop! Look toward the river. See that tree that looks like a dogsled racing team? Check where the musher would stand about 2-3 feet up. (If you walk to the electric pole with the 4 plug box, you've gone too far!)

Continue on the trail past the dome. PHEW...It stinks here! Walk quickly throught the gate and stop at the last building, looking riverside for orange poles that look like a gate. Nearby are to NO PARKING signs. See the tree that is just past them? Why don't you check it out. (Originally, this box was frozen into a huge block of ice for The Iditarod event and had to be chipped out!)

BOX 25 and 27 are yet to be planted and were official event stamps and logbooks. These are the logbooks that you will stamp into. Email me for directions to these boxes.

Box #1 Tlingit Sled...mush, mush!
Box #2 Tlingit Whale
Box #3 Haidu Dogsled
Box #4 Salmon
Box #5 Snowshoes
Box #6 Glacier
Box #7 Tlingit Pole
Box #8 Eagle Eyes
Box #9 Polar Bear #1
Box #10 Sarah Palin? You Betcha!
Box #11 Igloo
Box #12 Polar Bear #2
Box #13 Polar Bear #3
Box #14 Sarah Palin? Yikes!
Box #15 Balto )
Box #16 Frozen Thermometer
Box #17 Grizzly Bear
Box #18 Mr. Explorer
Box #19 Caribou
Box #20 Moose by the Lake
Box #21 Wolf!
Box #22 Moose
Box #23 Unuit Man
Box #24 Cross Country Walker
Box #25 The Doglsed
Box #26 Wolf Tracks
Box #27 The Iditarod