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Timberland Tigers - Box #1 LbNA #6864 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Jan 4, 2004
Location:
City:Guilford
County:New Haven
State:Connecticut
Boxes:1
Found by: Rubaduc
Last found:Dec 30, 2007
Status:FFFaFFa
Last edited:Jan 4, 2004
The Timberland Tigers – Box #1
This is the first in a series of letterboxes managed by members of the Bobcats Den #1 (Tigers when they found their first letterbox) of Cub Scouts Pack 475 Guilford, CT planted Jan 4, 2004.

Location: Timberland Trails Guilford, CT
Maps are available at Town Hall and are essential for this 600-acre color-coded and well-maintained trail system. Open year-round to hikers, bikers and day-trippers.

Difficulty: Easy hike with one small 20-foot vertical climb (scale of 1 to 10, this is maybe a 2) and a small climb on the way back.

Time: 2 to 3 hours, all depends on your ability and mph.

Essential Trail Items: trail map, compass, your stamps, your notebook, binoculars (optional), trail mix (optional), H2O, a cell phone (off on your hike)and waterproof footwear are always good too.

Directions: From the South – take I-95 to exit number 58 Guilford - Rt. 77. Take Rt. 77 North, go 1.7 miles and turn right at the light onto Stepstone Hill Road. Go straight at Stop sign, past stores (good deli and refreshments), go past school, and just past the Guilford Lakes Golf Course take a left onto Lakeside Drive – turnaround if you went over the bridge. Follow a short drive and you will find a corner parking area for three cars at the next lake (Third Lake).

Directions: From the North – take Rt. 77 south of Rt. 80, another 2 miles to a traffic light and turn left onto Stepstone Hill Road. Go straight at Stop sign, past stores (good deli and refreshments), go past school, and just past the Guilford Lakes Golf Course take a left onto Lakeside Drive – do not go over the bridge. Follow a short drive and you will find a corner parking area for two to three cars at the next lake (Third Lake). Please respect the neighboring private properties.

The Hike begins as you enter on the “main (one swath of color) white” trail, follow up the hill a short way and take a left at the “white x” trail, (“x” signifies a crossing trail to that color). At the top of the hill take a left on the “main white” trail and follow this as it loops south then back north before intersecting a “blue x”, which you will follow in a southwesterly direction until you come to a four way blue intersection. Continue on a southwesterly route following the “blue main” trail into the small rocky ravine ahead. At the bottom you will follow, the “blue main” trail as it leads you up the cliffs. Off you go – its not bad - just watch your step at the top. Enjoy your hike along the ridge – this is a good place for a quick drink - you have now completed the most difficult part of your hike and past half way toward your goal. Continue due north along the “main blue” trail for a few minutes until it intersects the “main orange” trail. Take the “main orange” trail north walking along the exposed rock ridge – careful the leaves and the rocks can be very slippery at times – stay low to be safe. As the rocky ridge ends and you start down hill – keep an eye out for an “orange swath” on one of three trees marking the trail. If you make it to the stream – head back, you missed it. The box is almost in site from here. Now stand at the “orange” marked triple trunked tree. At 320 degrees, you will find a small tree with roots growing two feet off the forest floor, go forth. You are getting close; continue venturing to the left around the large pile of rocks at 300 degrees. Head down into the valley floor below and you will find a trail – look north and advance your team to the tree with an “orange x” on it. Stand with your back to the tree, take 18 steps due southwest - STOP - LOOK 250 degrees, see the four large trees (clue - one is dead, hopefully it doesn’t fall) jutting out from the rocks up on the hill side – your treasure is around the top side, tucked in a hole. Congratulations if you found it, if not we hope you enjoyed your hike to this point.

To get back, do as you please, or follow the “orange” trail north and cross the small stream. Go up the hill and head north until the “orange” trail intersects the “white” trail, take a right and follow it to your car.

Please respect the forest and its creatures by leaving it cleaner than you found it. Please respect all private property and follow all trail rules.

See you at our next letterbox.