Live and Breathe LbNA #74484

A triple, designed to help connect the dots between several letterbox series placed at Arcadia Management Area in Exeter, Rhode Island. 4.5 miles, fairly rugged, with 2 miles on the road and an optional 1 mile extension.

From the hiker's parking lot on the south side of RI Rt. 165 at Beach Pond, head south on the yellow blazed Tippicansett Trail. Down near the southeast end of the pond you'll pass between the pond on your right and stunning ledge on the left, to the Deep Pond Trail intersection. Go left, up and around the trailing edge of the cliffs, and then left again through a cleft in the rock to the VIEW. Exalt in the vista, one of the finest in southern New England (a near-life experience). The Live Letterbox is appropriately just behind you: from the promontory sight a chest high glacial erratic due east. 10 paces further east past this boulder is a small ledge: turn right and take 10 more steps to find your reward behind a small rock in the laurel on your right.

Returning back down the cliff to the intersection, turn left (southwest) on the white blazed Deep Pond Trail. Soon pass a fork with an optional right turn to some more spectacular ledges. Continuing left with the white blazes, cross a metal bridge and then pass a minor overlook on the right before the trail widens into a jeep road. The next path on the right simply leads back to the bottom of that little overlook: ignore it. But a short way farther is a highly recommended option, a singletrack trail leading to the right that shoots due south to isolated Deep Pond (one of two isolated Deep Ponds in Arcadia: we don't know if either deserves the name). Near the end of this southern path you'll find an intersection for the Dye Hill and Bushy Brook Trails. Continue south to a sharp left in the trail and pass through a rock garden. Where the trail bears right, go left at 035 degrees on a faint dear trail (this is actually the old Deep Pond Trail, long since re-routed). A few steps down to the pond and quiet peaceful views, and a waist high rock on the left (north) with the Deep Pond Letterbox in its northern side. Back at the main white-blazed jeep trail, continue onward, generally north, to the road at Rt. 165.

Turn right, east, for an unavoidable two-mile stretch of highway walking. Sorry: there are just no trails connecting here yet. At least you'll make good time.

At the top of a long hill, just past a driveway on the north side of the road, spot the trail that marks the end of Feathers in Your Cap. Cut back in to the forest by turning right (south) on this white-blazed trail. Hike over Mt Tom with good views, and then continue a short way through a rocky area with several perfectly placed zen-erratics. Climb a second small nubble of a hill, up a vein of quartz in the path. Branch right at a fork and find a lighthearted/hardseated charming stone chair with a wonderful view to the northwest. Sit and relax in the chair, taking a deep breath. Spot the Breathe Letterbox 10 feet to your right, one of our most perfectly sited boxes.

Continue on the white blazed trail to the RI Fish and Game Check-in station parking area on Rt. 165.