Sssurprise... Hop To It! LbNA #9754 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | Corbinsmom  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Aug 1, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Owego |
| County: | Tioga |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 2 |
| Found by: | Banjoman |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Aug 1, 2009 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFr |
| Last edited: | Aug 1, 2004 |
Oakley Corners State Forest - Hullsville Rd, Owego NY
DIRECTIONS: Use MapQuest or Yahoo! Maps direction programs to get directions to the intersection of Hollister and Hullsville Roads in Owego. Just north of this intersection is a parking lot. (If you are driving north on Hullsville to this intersection, the lot will be on your right; if you are driving south, the parking lot will be on your left before the intersection.) Park in this lot to begin your hike.
HISTORY: Oakley Corners State Forest was established between 1933 and 1947. Most of the property was formerly poorly managed or abandoned farm land. The 1042 acre forest is now full of pine, spruce, cedar and larch. There are 15 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and cross country skiing. In addition, the forest can be used for hunting, boating, fishing and camping. All trails are designated by circular trail marker signs. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails. Beginner trails have very gentle slopes and are fairly short. Intermediate trails have gentle to somewhat steep slopes and are moderate in length. Advanced trails have gentle to steep slopes, with some section having difficult side slopes; these trails are usually longer than intermediate trails. Yellow trails are southerly; blue trails are northerly. As there are quite a few moist areas in the forest, you will probably want to bring bug spray.
ESTIMATED HIKE TIME & DIFFICULTY: Approximately an hour and a half, more or less depending on your fitness level. All trails traveled on are beginner level.
CLUES: You begin your hunt by taking a left onto Yellow Trail 1 (Y1) from the parking lot. Follow this trail slightly downhill and cross over a trail that leads to a pond. Continue to follow Y1 over a bridge over a small stream. The trail will continue slightly uphill. Hike through a section of forest that is mostly pine and continue through a section of fruit trees. Cross another small stream, following the trail past a clearing on your right. Follow the trail until you come near a road (this is the intersection of Hullsville & Dutchtown Roads).
There will be a wooden map on your right and a log book for the forest. You can sign in if you like before continuing past the sign to continue on Y1 on your right. (DO NOT GET ON THE ROAD - stay on the forest trail.) You will stay on this trail through the forest, past a swamp on your right. You will see three other trails (Y2, Y6, and Y7) veer off to the left, but continue to stay straight on Y1. You will come out of the woods and cross a bridge over a stream. A large pond with an island will be on your right. This is a great place to take a rest and eat a snack.
Follow the trail uphill from the pond towards a clearing circled with tall pines. The Y1 trail widens here to act as an access road to your right. Follow this road for a short distance until you see the Y4 trail to your left. Head uphill on Y4 past a fire ring on your left. You will pass several fallen trees on your left and follow the trail around a bend to the right. This portion of the trail should be slightly uphill. At the top of the hill, you will come to an intersection of trails. Y5 will be on your left, Y3 to your right and Y4 will continue straight on ahead.
*** Follow Y5 along the edge of the small pond. Notice all the large ant hills on your left. You will come to a small wooden bridge over a small stream. Cross over it and continue on Y5 into the pine forest, passing large ant hills on both sides. Eventually you will see two large multi-trunked trees on your right and another just ahead on your left. You are getting closer. You will notice that trail Y6 appears on your left - just stay on Y5. You will soon be able to see the water again through the trees on your right. Stop and look to your left. Several VERY large trees have toppled over, ripping a large section of earth from the ground. On the trail near the upturned root end of these trees, you should see a medium sized flat rock on the left side of the trail. Step on the rock and turn to face the pond. Take 4 paces forward to a rotted tree stump. If you look inside, you should find your Sssurprise....
*** After rehiding the box, follow the Y5 trail until you come upon the intersection of Y5, Y4, and Y3 again. Follow trail Y4 to the left just past this intersection. To find your next quarry, look for the quadruplets. They safeguard our amphibian friend.
After rehiding the box, backtrack to the intersection of Y3 and Y4. The Y3 trail will now be on your left. Follow this short trail straight through a section of pine until you come to an intersection with a larger access road. Turn left onto this road. There are blackberry and raspberry bushes along the left side of the road. Follow it until it ends at the parking lot where you began.
DIRECTIONS: Use MapQuest or Yahoo! Maps direction programs to get directions to the intersection of Hollister and Hullsville Roads in Owego. Just north of this intersection is a parking lot. (If you are driving north on Hullsville to this intersection, the lot will be on your right; if you are driving south, the parking lot will be on your left before the intersection.) Park in this lot to begin your hike.
HISTORY: Oakley Corners State Forest was established between 1933 and 1947. Most of the property was formerly poorly managed or abandoned farm land. The 1042 acre forest is now full of pine, spruce, cedar and larch. There are 15 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and cross country skiing. In addition, the forest can be used for hunting, boating, fishing and camping. All trails are designated by circular trail marker signs. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced trails. Beginner trails have very gentle slopes and are fairly short. Intermediate trails have gentle to somewhat steep slopes and are moderate in length. Advanced trails have gentle to steep slopes, with some section having difficult side slopes; these trails are usually longer than intermediate trails. Yellow trails are southerly; blue trails are northerly. As there are quite a few moist areas in the forest, you will probably want to bring bug spray.
ESTIMATED HIKE TIME & DIFFICULTY: Approximately an hour and a half, more or less depending on your fitness level. All trails traveled on are beginner level.
CLUES: You begin your hunt by taking a left onto Yellow Trail 1 (Y1) from the parking lot. Follow this trail slightly downhill and cross over a trail that leads to a pond. Continue to follow Y1 over a bridge over a small stream. The trail will continue slightly uphill. Hike through a section of forest that is mostly pine and continue through a section of fruit trees. Cross another small stream, following the trail past a clearing on your right. Follow the trail until you come near a road (this is the intersection of Hullsville & Dutchtown Roads).
There will be a wooden map on your right and a log book for the forest. You can sign in if you like before continuing past the sign to continue on Y1 on your right. (DO NOT GET ON THE ROAD - stay on the forest trail.) You will stay on this trail through the forest, past a swamp on your right. You will see three other trails (Y2, Y6, and Y7) veer off to the left, but continue to stay straight on Y1. You will come out of the woods and cross a bridge over a stream. A large pond with an island will be on your right. This is a great place to take a rest and eat a snack.
Follow the trail uphill from the pond towards a clearing circled with tall pines. The Y1 trail widens here to act as an access road to your right. Follow this road for a short distance until you see the Y4 trail to your left. Head uphill on Y4 past a fire ring on your left. You will pass several fallen trees on your left and follow the trail around a bend to the right. This portion of the trail should be slightly uphill. At the top of the hill, you will come to an intersection of trails. Y5 will be on your left, Y3 to your right and Y4 will continue straight on ahead.
*** Follow Y5 along the edge of the small pond. Notice all the large ant hills on your left. You will come to a small wooden bridge over a small stream. Cross over it and continue on Y5 into the pine forest, passing large ant hills on both sides. Eventually you will see two large multi-trunked trees on your right and another just ahead on your left. You are getting closer. You will notice that trail Y6 appears on your left - just stay on Y5. You will soon be able to see the water again through the trees on your right. Stop and look to your left. Several VERY large trees have toppled over, ripping a large section of earth from the ground. On the trail near the upturned root end of these trees, you should see a medium sized flat rock on the left side of the trail. Step on the rock and turn to face the pond. Take 4 paces forward to a rotted tree stump. If you look inside, you should find your Sssurprise....
*** After rehiding the box, follow the Y5 trail until you come upon the intersection of Y5, Y4, and Y3 again. Follow trail Y4 to the left just past this intersection. To find your next quarry, look for the quadruplets. They safeguard our amphibian friend.
After rehiding the box, backtrack to the intersection of Y3 and Y4. The Y3 trail will now be on your left. Follow this short trail straight through a section of pine until you come to an intersection with a larger access road. Turn left onto this road. There are blackberry and raspberry bushes along the left side of the road. Follow it until it ends at the parking lot where you began.