Letterboxing is an intriguing “treasure hunt” style outdoor activity. Letterboxers hide small, weatherproof boxes in publicly-accessible places (like parks) and post clues to finding the box online on one of several Web sites. However, clues to finding some of the most highly-sought boxes are passed around by word of mouth.

There are about 60,000 active letterboxes listed on LbNA alone. Individual letterboxes usually contain a log book, an often hand-carved rubber stamp and occasionally contain an ink pad. Finders make an imprint of the letterbox’s stamp on their personal log book, and leave an imprint of their personal stamp on the letterbox’s logbook.

1. BPL + GS Troop 3533 Bucyrus, OH
2. BABE the BLUE OX Oscoda, MI
3. AC Frua Coupé ???, GA
4. NRHP: Palmer Island Light Station New BEdford, MY
5. Pail of Possibilities Eatonville, WA
6. America's Highest Brewery Leadville, CO
7. DSP&P Nathrop, CO
8. Broken Compass Brewing Breckenridge, CO
9. Colorado State Fish Rye, CO
10. Spanish Peaks Cuchara, CO
11. Colfax Ale Cellar Raton, NM
12. Capybaras are my favorite! Windham, CT

More new letterboxes

1. 75th Anniversary CCC Letterbox Trail Wendell, MA (2/6)
2. Letterbox Vincent Wendell, MA
3. Antoine de Saint-Exupery Wendell, MA
4. Dr. Ned Wendell, MA
5. The Wickett Mare Wendell, MA
6. The Beast in the Cedar Woods Pesque Isle, MI
7. The Wickett Mare Wendell, MA
8. Dr. Ned Wendell, MA
9. 75th Anniversary CCC Letterbox Trail Wendell, MA (2/6)
10. El Corazon Wendell, MA
11. Letterbox Vincent Wendell, MA
12. Antoine de Saint-Exupery Wendell, MA

So you find a letterbox and open it up and there are TWO logbooks and TWO stamps! What the heck, right? Relax, odds are that one stamp and logbook are a "hitchhiker".

You can exchange stamp images with the hitchhiker just like the letterbox. The difference is that you have the option to take the hitchhiker with you. The catch is that a) you have to remember not to let is gather dust in the bottom of your letterboxing pack, and b) you should exchange images between the hitchhiker and the letterbox where you drop it off.

Do not feel that you HAVE to take a hitchhiker when you find one. It’s your call!