Hat City Series #11 LbNA #6751
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Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | N/A |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 1, 2003 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Ridgefield |
| County: | Fairfield |
| State: | Connecticut |
| Boxes: | 4 |
| Planted by: | Louise
  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | Team Rogue (2) |
| Last found: | Oct 5, 2025 |
| Status: | FFaFFFFFFFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Jun 1, 2003 |
HAT CITY SERIES #11
Formerly part of HAT CITY SERIES #1
Location: Seth Low Pierrepont State Park
Placed by Peteltrbx@aol.com
Lowest elevation (main parking area): 580’. Highest elevation: 950’.
Several outcroppings offer excellent views, especially when leaves are off the trees.
All boxes REMOVED 9/23/09.
Some pens are missing. Sorry.
1 pace = 2 steps = 5 ft.
When you stamp in, be careful if there are hikers or other letterboxers about. You might need to move away from the letterbox site before stamping. Unfortunately, deer have eaten so much undergrowth in CT that there is little to block your visibility.
Please be sure to reseal baggies and boxes carefully so that they stay dry and rehide boxes in their original location, hidden from view.
The HAT CITY SERIES reflects nearby Danbury’s serving as the center of the hat industry from 1790 until the 1950s.
_______________________________________________________________
Number of letterboxes: 4
Allow 1 1/2 hours for the loop, including 15 min from the main parking area to the point at which the BLUE/YELLOW/WHITE loop begins (and 15 min return).
Hiking difficulty: mostly moderate but with very steep sections
Elevation: Lowest point 580’. Highest point 880’
_______________________________________________________________
It is possible to find all 8 letterboxes in HAT CITY SERIES #1A, #1B and #1C by walking one long loop, repeating only the spur from the main parking area to the Blue/White intersection. In this case, allow 3 hours. If finding all 8 in one hike and parking in the main parking area, the letterbox order will be the BAKER, FIREMAN, CLOWN, WITCH, SUMMER HAT, COWBOY, EASTER BONNET, GRADUATE.
_______________________________________________________________
Directions to the park's main parking area:
From the north side of Ridgefield’s center from the corner where CT #116 begins at CT #35, drive 2.2 mi. on CT #116 North
OR from the New York State line, drive 2.0 mi. on CT #116 South
Turn north onto Barlow Mountain Rd
In 0.3 mi. Barlow Mtn Rd turns left/north (Note a sign to a boat launch on Pierrepont Lake) 100 ft. from that corner turn into the parking area for Seth Low Pierrepont State Park
Parking lot location: N 41 deg 19’ 15” W 73 deg 30’ 35”
There is an old house foundation dating from the 1720s at the boat launch area.
On the White trail near the main parking area find a signboard on which there is a map of the park. Here you can study the connectedness of the trails/loops.
______________________________________________________________
BLUE/YELLOW/WHITE Loop
Near the boat launch the White trail heads toward 70 degrees. In 34 paces you reach a sign-board on which there is a map of the park.
Follow the White trail, keeping Pierrepont Lake on your left. You might take advantage of several short trail spurs to enjoy the lake. At one point the trail squeezes between the lake on your left and private housing on your right.
During the 8-9 min. walk from the signboard/map, the terrain on your left will change from lake to swamp. Cross 2 successive wooden boardwalk/bridge combinations over the swamp.
Head 130 degrees, ignoring an unmarked trail heading 320 degrees. Now the swamp is on your right. Walk 155 paces to the beginning of the Blue trail.
[You will eventually return to this Blue/White junction before returning to the main parking area.]
Follow the Blue trail, heading 120 degrees. Almost immediately cross 3 sections of a wooden bridge.
20 paces from the far end of the wooden bridge, pass through a stone wall.
In 70 more paces find a pit/depression 10 paces to the S. Stay on the Blue trail, here relatively flat.
Walk 66 paces to pass through the opening at the corner intersection of an “L”-shaped stone wall. Note the vertical metal pipe, which stands about 18” high. The wall perpendicular to the trail runs EW. The section parallel to the trail runs NS.
Walk 36 paces to a passage between a tree with blue blazes on one side of the trail and a short stone wall parallel to the trail on the west. Immediately north (2') of this tree is a smaller double tree. Starting at the blue-blaze tree walk 7 paces heading 290 degrees to a tree in front of which 2 thick vines cross. Find a rock 6’ long by 3’ high behind this “vine” tree.
Look between the tree and the rock for the BAKER.
Stamp in. Repackage the contents of the letterbox, secure plastic bags and the lid and replace the box as found.
Soon you’ll climb a serious uphill on the Blue trail to the top of the cliff ahead. Almost at the top, walk mostly on granite outcropping and note the huge drop-off on left.
Continue to the first overlook (which looks from SE to SW) and 29 more paces to a second overlook (which faces SW). From this 2nd overlook return to the main Blue trail.
Then walk 36 paces to a passage about 2 yards wide between an outcropping and the roots of 2 parallel dead trunks. A third dead trunk lies parallel to the others and 6 ft away.
Walk 57 paces on the trail to a double tree. Note a dead tree (diameter 4”) that leans across the trail about 11’ above your head and makes an angle of about 35 degrees to the ground.
Look 9 paces away at 190 degrees toward the largest boulder in the area. The FIREMAN is under rocks at the base of boulder, on the opposite side.
[For info about a nearby geocache, see geocaching.org]
Continue 150 paces through another stone wall, then 86 more paces (more uphill) to the end of the Blue trail to find a telephone right-of-way (AT&T, buried fiber optic cable) that runs in direction 300 – 120 degrees.
Elevation at the peak is about 880 ft.
(HAT CITY SERIES #1A and #1B share this next section, except that #1B heads uphill.)
Walk (very) downhill 300 degrees on the AT&T right-of-way, following the White trail for 61 paces to where the White trail heads due south. You stay on the right-of-way and walk toward 300 degrees for 45 more paces, then head 210 degrees on the Yellow trail.
Just inside the woods you’ll find a pile of discarded cable on the right side of the trail.
Take 61 paces on the Yellow trail to a dead tree alongside the trail, about 80’ long and lying 300 – 120 degrees.
Continue 18 paces to step over a 6"-7"-diameter log that lies across the trail. Walk 15 more paces to stand closely encircled by 3 substantial trees. Then walk yet 44 more paces to a triple tree with yellow blazes on both sides of one of the trunks.
Walk about 11 paces toward 128 degrees to a tree (diameter 14”). Look in the hole on the SE side and about 14” off the ground to find the EASTER BONNET.
Return to the Yellow trail and walk about 110 paces to find the White trail.
Turn 240 degrees to follow the White trail downhill
Walk 58 paces to a double tree (that is, 16 paces very steep + 16 paces rest-time + 26 more very steep). Stop.
The double tree has 2 white blazes on the south side only.
Bushwhack 12 paces heading 280 degrees to a grouping of 3-4 large trunks.
Walk 4 paces due west to a tree grouping of 5 small trunks apparently growing out of rock.
Without leaves on the trees there is a good view from here.
Look below and behind this 5-grouping at the side of a rock face lying 140-320 degrees.
About 3’ below the top of the rock and at foot level under a ledge find the GRADUATE. Please seal all plastic bags and the lid, and re-cover the box with heavy rocks.
Back on the White trail, walk about 4 minutes (180 paces) to complete the Blue/Yellow/White Loop and return to the Blue and White trail junction. Do NOT cross the obvious boardwalks here, but retrace your steps around Pierrepont Lake on the White trail to main parking area. Be careful to stay on the White trail.
Any problems? Confusion? Success? Contact Peteltrbx@aol.com.
Formerly part of HAT CITY SERIES #1
Location: Seth Low Pierrepont State Park
Placed by Peteltrbx@aol.com
Lowest elevation (main parking area): 580’. Highest elevation: 950’.
Several outcroppings offer excellent views, especially when leaves are off the trees.
All boxes REMOVED 9/23/09.
Some pens are missing. Sorry.
1 pace = 2 steps = 5 ft.
When you stamp in, be careful if there are hikers or other letterboxers about. You might need to move away from the letterbox site before stamping. Unfortunately, deer have eaten so much undergrowth in CT that there is little to block your visibility.
Please be sure to reseal baggies and boxes carefully so that they stay dry and rehide boxes in their original location, hidden from view.
The HAT CITY SERIES reflects nearby Danbury’s serving as the center of the hat industry from 1790 until the 1950s.
_______________________________________________________________
Number of letterboxes: 4
Allow 1 1/2 hours for the loop, including 15 min from the main parking area to the point at which the BLUE/YELLOW/WHITE loop begins (and 15 min return).
Hiking difficulty: mostly moderate but with very steep sections
Elevation: Lowest point 580’. Highest point 880’
_______________________________________________________________
It is possible to find all 8 letterboxes in HAT CITY SERIES #1A, #1B and #1C by walking one long loop, repeating only the spur from the main parking area to the Blue/White intersection. In this case, allow 3 hours. If finding all 8 in one hike and parking in the main parking area, the letterbox order will be the BAKER, FIREMAN, CLOWN, WITCH, SUMMER HAT, COWBOY, EASTER BONNET, GRADUATE.
_______________________________________________________________
Directions to the park's main parking area:
From the north side of Ridgefield’s center from the corner where CT #116 begins at CT #35, drive 2.2 mi. on CT #116 North
OR from the New York State line, drive 2.0 mi. on CT #116 South
Turn north onto Barlow Mountain Rd
In 0.3 mi. Barlow Mtn Rd turns left/north (Note a sign to a boat launch on Pierrepont Lake) 100 ft. from that corner turn into the parking area for Seth Low Pierrepont State Park
Parking lot location: N 41 deg 19’ 15” W 73 deg 30’ 35”
There is an old house foundation dating from the 1720s at the boat launch area.
On the White trail near the main parking area find a signboard on which there is a map of the park. Here you can study the connectedness of the trails/loops.
______________________________________________________________
BLUE/YELLOW/WHITE Loop
Near the boat launch the White trail heads toward 70 degrees. In 34 paces you reach a sign-board on which there is a map of the park.
Follow the White trail, keeping Pierrepont Lake on your left. You might take advantage of several short trail spurs to enjoy the lake. At one point the trail squeezes between the lake on your left and private housing on your right.
During the 8-9 min. walk from the signboard/map, the terrain on your left will change from lake to swamp. Cross 2 successive wooden boardwalk/bridge combinations over the swamp.
Head 130 degrees, ignoring an unmarked trail heading 320 degrees. Now the swamp is on your right. Walk 155 paces to the beginning of the Blue trail.
[You will eventually return to this Blue/White junction before returning to the main parking area.]
Follow the Blue trail, heading 120 degrees. Almost immediately cross 3 sections of a wooden bridge.
20 paces from the far end of the wooden bridge, pass through a stone wall.
In 70 more paces find a pit/depression 10 paces to the S. Stay on the Blue trail, here relatively flat.
Walk 66 paces to pass through the opening at the corner intersection of an “L”-shaped stone wall. Note the vertical metal pipe, which stands about 18” high. The wall perpendicular to the trail runs EW. The section parallel to the trail runs NS.
Walk 36 paces to a passage between a tree with blue blazes on one side of the trail and a short stone wall parallel to the trail on the west. Immediately north (2') of this tree is a smaller double tree. Starting at the blue-blaze tree walk 7 paces heading 290 degrees to a tree in front of which 2 thick vines cross. Find a rock 6’ long by 3’ high behind this “vine” tree.
Look between the tree and the rock for the BAKER.
Stamp in. Repackage the contents of the letterbox, secure plastic bags and the lid and replace the box as found.
Soon you’ll climb a serious uphill on the Blue trail to the top of the cliff ahead. Almost at the top, walk mostly on granite outcropping and note the huge drop-off on left.
Continue to the first overlook (which looks from SE to SW) and 29 more paces to a second overlook (which faces SW). From this 2nd overlook return to the main Blue trail.
Then walk 36 paces to a passage about 2 yards wide between an outcropping and the roots of 2 parallel dead trunks. A third dead trunk lies parallel to the others and 6 ft away.
Walk 57 paces on the trail to a double tree. Note a dead tree (diameter 4”) that leans across the trail about 11’ above your head and makes an angle of about 35 degrees to the ground.
Look 9 paces away at 190 degrees toward the largest boulder in the area. The FIREMAN is under rocks at the base of boulder, on the opposite side.
[For info about a nearby geocache, see geocaching.org]
Continue 150 paces through another stone wall, then 86 more paces (more uphill) to the end of the Blue trail to find a telephone right-of-way (AT&T, buried fiber optic cable) that runs in direction 300 – 120 degrees.
Elevation at the peak is about 880 ft.
(HAT CITY SERIES #1A and #1B share this next section, except that #1B heads uphill.)
Walk (very) downhill 300 degrees on the AT&T right-of-way, following the White trail for 61 paces to where the White trail heads due south. You stay on the right-of-way and walk toward 300 degrees for 45 more paces, then head 210 degrees on the Yellow trail.
Just inside the woods you’ll find a pile of discarded cable on the right side of the trail.
Take 61 paces on the Yellow trail to a dead tree alongside the trail, about 80’ long and lying 300 – 120 degrees.
Continue 18 paces to step over a 6"-7"-diameter log that lies across the trail. Walk 15 more paces to stand closely encircled by 3 substantial trees. Then walk yet 44 more paces to a triple tree with yellow blazes on both sides of one of the trunks.
Walk about 11 paces toward 128 degrees to a tree (diameter 14”). Look in the hole on the SE side and about 14” off the ground to find the EASTER BONNET.
Return to the Yellow trail and walk about 110 paces to find the White trail.
Turn 240 degrees to follow the White trail downhill
Walk 58 paces to a double tree (that is, 16 paces very steep + 16 paces rest-time + 26 more very steep). Stop.
The double tree has 2 white blazes on the south side only.
Bushwhack 12 paces heading 280 degrees to a grouping of 3-4 large trunks.
Walk 4 paces due west to a tree grouping of 5 small trunks apparently growing out of rock.
Without leaves on the trees there is a good view from here.
Look below and behind this 5-grouping at the side of a rock face lying 140-320 degrees.
About 3’ below the top of the rock and at foot level under a ledge find the GRADUATE. Please seal all plastic bags and the lid, and re-cover the box with heavy rocks.
Back on the White trail, walk about 4 minutes (180 paces) to complete the Blue/Yellow/White Loop and return to the Blue and White trail junction. Do NOT cross the obvious boardwalks here, but retrace your steps around Pierrepont Lake on the White trail to main parking area. Be careful to stay on the White trail.
Any problems? Confusion? Success? Contact Peteltrbx@aol.com.