Sign Up  /  Login

Scary Vegetables NY LbNA #18722

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Oct 15, 2005
Location:
City:Endwell
County:Broome
State:New York
Boxes:8
Planted by:BibliochickMS
Found by: Vestal4 (7)
Last found:Apr 28, 2013
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Oct 15, 2005
IBM Glen, an Educational Preserve of the Waterman Conservation Education Center
Robinson Hill Road, Endwell

So you think those vegetables on your dinner plate can be pretty scary? Wait until you see the peas, beans, potatoes, onions, tomato, corn, squash and lettuce that lurk within the IBM Glen… This series is an homage to our all-time favorite letterboxing series: Scary Vegetables in Allentown, PA, which was created by Lightnin Bug. We highly encourage you to visit if in the area.

There are eight letterboxes in this series, which can be done in one afternoon or broken into two legs and done on two different days.

Distance: Approximately 3 miles
Vocabulary: SPOB = Suspicious pile of bark
SPOR = Suspicious pile of rocks

Directions:
Harry L. Drive to Watson Blvd.
Turn right onto Country Club Road
Turn right onto Robinson Hill Road
The entrance to the Glen is 1.2 miles up Robinson Hill Road on the right

******************

Park your car on the side of the road near the entrance to the Glen. You will see a sign for the Waterman Conservation Education Center.

1: Pernicious Peas
Continue down the trail and pass the gates where you will come to a fork. Choose the trail to your left. On your right and across from an open field, you will note an “informal” trail crossed by a fallen log. From this log count 8 steps along the trail and then head left towards a fallen tree. Tread carefully, because near the base of this tree, beneath a SPOB, waits the Pernicious Peas.

2: Bloodcurdling Beans
Continue on the path and choose left again at the next fork. Find the second set of 4 posts and walk 50 steps; you will note a fallen tree on your right. (If you walk over a painted white arrow, you've gone too far!) Walk approximately 18 steps to its base (where Beans used to reside) and then head due south, down the hill and look on the far side of a termite-eaten tree. Listen for those bloodcurdling screams…

3: Prickly Potatoes
Ready for more vegetative horrors? Well then return to the path and continue along. You will soon pass a “reduce speed ahead” sign. So put on the brakes and begin to descend the hill towards the bridge and small waterfall. Ahh, but don’t relax too long because just beyond this bridge marks the terrain of the prickly potatoes! From the center of the bridge, walk 48 steps and look to your right for the second large maple (from this vantage point, the tree will obstruct your view of the fire place). At the tree’s base and under a SPOR hides those creepy ‘taters.

4: Ornery Onions
Continue on a ways to the next fork and stay right (the left will take you to the other side of Robinson Hill Road where there is another entrance). Stand at the southeast corner of the lean-to and walk approximately 27 steps at 250 degrees until you spot the lair of the Ornery Onions. They reside near a stump and under a SPOB. Watch out, they’re pretty cranky when they’re disturbed.

At this point you can turn around and head back to your car or continue on to find more Scary Vegetables. Please see Option 2 if you plan to do this series in two days. If you choose to continue on today you should be forewarned that at the time of planting there were several large downed trees obstructing the upcoming path. It is still passable, but requires some climbing over or under large branches. We recommend this option if you feel physically able. If not, please see Option 2 at the end of these instructions. You will find special instructions for finding the fifth letterbox there and then can resume the normal instructions for the remainder of the boxes.

5: Terrible Tomato
After bidding farewell to those Ornery Onions, please head south down the hill towards the speed limit sign. You will continue for approximately ½ mile until you reach the edge of a golf course. Go around the gravel pile on your right and cross the bridge into the Traditions parking lot. Walk through the lot and up the hill towards the pavilion.

You may want to rest at the pavilion before continuing on. If you do, please note another photo opportunity as a waterfall flows past this site as well. Walk towards the end of the parking lot and towards the entrance back into the Glen. The sign there reads “Heritage Members only” but you are re-entering the Waterman Conservation property. Choose the right path and hike uphill along the guardrail. Stop at the last guardrail marker and from this post, walk 28 steps at 280 degrees towards a SPOB near the base of a fallen tree. The Terrible Tomato claims this as his domain.

6: Crazy Corn
Return to the trail and continue up the hill until you reach the next fork. Turn left and head up, resting at the bench if you like, where you can swing your legs and admire the foliage. Continue southwest up the trail and stop at the second post with peeling white paint. From this point, walk 22 steps at 230 degrees until you spot a SPOR at the base of a tree. Here you will spot Crazy Corn tucked inside – but watch out, they don’t call him crazy for nothing…

7: Squeamish Squash
Continue heading up on the trail and at the next intersection hang right and stop at the wooden post that marks the northern point of the intersection. March 75 steps up the path and then turn 50 degrees towards the tree with the blue X. Count 34 steps in and look for that volatile vegetable nestled among some sprawling roots, under a SPOR no less!

8: Lethal Lettuce
The deadliest vegetable has been saved for last… Lethal Lettuce still awaits you as continue along the path. This next intersection should look familiar – this is where you started. From the gate posts, walk 80 steps and then head 240 degrees towards a large, messy dead pine. You will note a SPOB at its base, which is the hideout of the Lethal Lettuce. Approach with caution.

Congratulations on braving those Scary Vegetables! If Mom asks, tell her you already had your five servings of vegetables today. Continue on up the path to find your car.


OPTION 2:

* First day, safer route: If you want to find all eight Scary Vegetables today, but don’t want to use the path with the downed trees, follow these directions. After finding Ornery Onions, retrace your steps past the bridge and waterfall until you come to an intersection. Take the trail to your left and continue along this path for some time. You will connect with another intersection, but remain straight on the path. Look for a guardrail which should appear on your left. At the first post of the guardrail that is connected, walk 28 steps at 280 degrees towards a SPOB near the base of a fallen tree. The Terrible Tomato claims this as his domain. Follow the clues for 6-8.

* Second day: If you are finding letterboxes 5-8 today, begin at the Robinson Hill Road entrance and walk down the path. Choose the first left and wave to those Pernicious Peas you already found. At the next intersection, choose right and continue along this path for some time. You will connect with another intersection, but remain straight on the path. Look for a guardrail which should appear on your left. At the first post of the guardrail that is connected, walk 28 steps at 280 degrees towards a SPOB near the base of a fallen tree. The Terrible Tomato claims this as his domain. Follow the clues for 6-8.