Monday, September 06, 2004
Disclaimer:
The placers, contributors, or any participants of this series assume no responsibility or liability related to this letterbox series. It is assumed that common sense and good judgement will be exercised by those who search out these letterboxes. These boxes are along generally well-blazed trails but on some rugged territory. It is advised to wear Blaze Orange during hunting season whether in hunting permitted areas or not. Parents should consider the abilities of younger children.
It is highly recommended that you search these letterboxes by having 2 vehicles; one at the start, and one parked at the end of the trail. There are NO loop trails. All clues have a "Second Car Parking" instruction. Going out and back adds considerable time to the hike.
Directions to East & South Directions:
From points East: Get on to Route 8 North or South to Torrington, CT. Take Exit 44 into Torrington and follow signs for Route 4 West. Follow Route 4 West through Torrington, heading toward Goshen. Continue on Route 4 West through Goshen. Just after leaving Goshen, look for entrance to Mohawk State Forest on your left. Park in lot by the "Fire Danger" sign for the East Direction.
Continue on the Forest Road if heading to the South Direction. From the north, follow Route 7 South to Route 63. Take Route 63 South to Route 43 heading toward Mohawk Mountain Ski Area. At intersection with Route 4, turn left (East) towards Goshen. Mohawk State Forest entrance will be on your right.
From points West: Take Route 4 East as above.
From points South: . . . Can't get here from there.
The placers, contributors, or any participants of this series assume no responsibility or liability related to this letterbox series. It is assumed that common sense and good judgement will be exercised by those who search out these letterboxes. These boxes are along generally well-blazed trails but on some rugged territory. It is advised to wear Blaze Orange during hunting season whether in hunting permitted areas or not. Parents should consider the abilities of younger children.
It is highly recommended that you search these letterboxes by having 2 vehicles; one at the start, and one parked at the end of the trail. There are NO loop trails. All clues have a "Second Car Parking" instruction. Going out and back adds considerable time to the hike.
South Direction Second Car Parking: From the entrance to Mohawk State Forest, drive west on Route 4 down the hill. At the intersection of Routes 4, 43, and 128; take a left to continue on Route 4. You will pass Mohawk Ski Area on the left. Continue on past a cemetery until you come to an intersection with Route 125 on the right and Pine Street on the left. Take a left onto Pine Street. Continue through little Cornwall Village to the end of Pine Street at Jewel Street. Turn left and follow road to a fork. Bear left here onto Essex Hill Road. Just up the road is a small pull off parking area with a large sign "Cathedral of Pines." Park your second vehicle here and return in the other vehicle to Mohawk State Forest to the SOUTH DIRECTION starting point.
Directions to East & South Directions:
From points East: Get on to Route 8 North or South to Torrington, CT. Take Exit 44 into Torrington and follow signs for Route 4 West. Follow Route 4 West through Torrington, heading toward Goshen. Continue on Route 4 West through Goshen. Just after leaving Goshen, look for entrance to Mohawk State Forest on your left. Park in lot by the "Fire Danger" sign for the East Direction.
Continue on the Forest Road if heading to the South Direction. From the north, follow Route 7 South to Route 63. Take Route 63 South to Route 43 heading toward Mohawk Mountain Ski Area. At intersection with Route 4, turn left (East) towards Goshen. Mohawk State Forest entrance will be on your right.
From points West: Take Route 4 East as above.
From points South: . . . Can't get here from there.
South Direction Clues:
Time: 2 1/2 hrs one way, 4 1/2 hrs if you double back
Difficulty: Moderate. Strenuous if doubling back
Caution: Poison Ivy and electric fence warnings.
A Compass is essential to these clues
Note: Some of the stamps contributed are large and will require a paper to hold a stamp 5-6 inches in diameter.
PLEASE READ LOG BOOKS CAREFULLY FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS
Start at the Strattman Homestead site in the Mohawk State Forest. From the outhouse (use it now,) head northwest on the blue blazed trail (This is the Mattatuck trail) for approx. 50 yards until you come to a T intersection. A sign post directs you left or right onto the Mohawk Trail. Go left (WSW) and continue to follow the blue blazes as you will for the whole trail. After approx. 4 minutes, the blue blazes direct you left into the woods. You will notice the area has many blown down trees. Continuing along the trail, you will step down over a stone wall. You will note another stone wall parrallels the trail on the left. Keep an eye on this wall as you walk and look for an opening in the wall just to the right of a large pine tree. Walk to this opening to the other side of the wall. Look to your right for the rock protruding out from the wall. Here you will find the Lenape tribal box.
Go back on the trail and continue on the same direction as before, gradually heading down. The trail turns left over a wall and under a tree. Go down a bank and over a stream. Climb back up the bank on the other side. At the top of the stream bank stop. Turn right and sight 350 degrees. Take 6-7 paces and turn right towards the stream. To the right of a long rock/boulder, lies the Creek tribal box.
Continue on the blue trail as it follows the stream on the right. The trail becomes poorly maintained at this point and the poison ivy warning may be understood here. You will come to farm land with electric fencing on either side. Please stay to the trail. Continue on until you come to a main road. This is Great Hollow Road. Turn right onto the road and follow to your next left onto onto Essex Hill Road. Walk down Essex Hill Road until the blue blaze directs you right into the woods again. The trail is wide and almost appears to be an old logging or farm road. Shortly you will come to a large blue blazed boulder to the right of the trail. Just before the boulder on the right you will find the Nanticoke tribal box at the base of the stone wall.
Continuing on, you will be heading uphill through a pine forest. As the trail levels and shys away to the left a bit, look for a split boulder just off the left of the trail. A blue blazed tree will be to the right (If you come to a double blazed tree, you have gone too far). At the base of the split boulder, on the west side, you will find the Choctaw tribal box.
Hiking on, the trail turns sharply left and heads into deeper woods. You will step over some large boulders until you reach a large blown down tree on the right that has had to be cut to walk through. This tree has a large root ball exposed. At the root ball, turn around facing back up trail. Take 9 steps back up the trail. Look left to a Hemlock just off trail with roots growing over a rock slab that appears like 2 steps. Below these slabs lies the Cherokee tribal box.
Move on down past the blown down tree along the blue trail again. trail descends into the Cathedral of Pines. You must pass under one of these fallen giants. You have to check out the enormous girth of some of these trees! You will begin walking up an obvious hill next. At the top of the hill, stop at the first blue blazed tree. Sight 260 degrees and take 12 steps to #161. Head 350 degrees to #175. At 295 degrees, go to #174. Head 0 degrees to #357. Head 90 degrees to #348. Sight 305 degrees and go to #350. Head 270 degrees to #353. Head 240 degrees to #343. Sight 250 degrees and go to #192. Finally, at 185 degrees, go to #131. Turn to 100 degrees, take 3 steps and find the Caddo tribal box under a fallen tree.
If you are doubling back, head back the way you came. If you have a second car, and you'll be glad you do, continue on the blue blazed trail down and out of the Cathedral of Pines to your car.
Time: 2 1/2 hrs one way, 4 1/2 hrs if you double back
Difficulty: Moderate. Strenuous if doubling back
Caution: Poison Ivy and electric fence warnings.
A Compass is essential to these clues
Note: Some of the stamps contributed are large and will require a paper to hold a stamp 5-6 inches in diameter.
PLEASE READ LOG BOOKS CAREFULLY FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS
Start at the Strattman Homestead site in the Mohawk State Forest. From the outhouse (use it now,) head northwest on the blue blazed trail (This is the Mattatuck trail) for approx. 50 yards until you come to a T intersection. A sign post directs you left or right onto the Mohawk Trail. Go left (WSW) and continue to follow the blue blazes as you will for the whole trail. After approx. 4 minutes, the blue blazes direct you left into the woods. You will notice the area has many blown down trees. Continuing along the trail, you will step down over a stone wall. You will note another stone wall parrallels the trail on the left. Keep an eye on this wall as you walk and look for an opening in the wall just to the right of a large pine tree. Walk to this opening to the other side of the wall. Look to your right for the rock protruding out from the wall. Here you will find the Lenape tribal box.
Go back on the trail and continue on the same direction as before, gradually heading down. The trail turns left over a wall and under a tree. Go down a bank and over a stream. Climb back up the bank on the other side. At the top of the stream bank stop. Turn right and sight 350 degrees. Take 6-7 paces and turn right towards the stream. To the right of a long rock/boulder, lies the Creek tribal box.
Continue on the blue trail as it follows the stream on the right. The trail becomes poorly maintained at this point and the poison ivy warning may be understood here. You will come to farm land with electric fencing on either side. Please stay to the trail. Continue on until you come to a main road. This is Great Hollow Road. Turn right onto the road and follow to your next left onto onto Essex Hill Road. Walk down Essex Hill Road until the blue blaze directs you right into the woods again. The trail is wide and almost appears to be an old logging or farm road. Shortly you will come to a large blue blazed boulder to the right of the trail. Just before the boulder on the right you will find the Nanticoke tribal box at the base of the stone wall.
Continuing on, you will be heading uphill through a pine forest. As the trail levels and shys away to the left a bit, look for a split boulder just off the left of the trail. A blue blazed tree will be to the right (If you come to a double blazed tree, you have gone too far). At the base of the split boulder, on the west side, you will find the Choctaw tribal box.
Hiking on, the trail turns sharply left and heads into deeper woods. You will step over some large boulders until you reach a large blown down tree on the right that has had to be cut to walk through. This tree has a large root ball exposed. At the root ball, turn around facing back up trail. Take 9 steps back up the trail. Look left to a Hemlock just off trail with roots growing over a rock slab that appears like 2 steps. Below these slabs lies the Cherokee tribal box.
Move on down past the blown down tree along the blue trail again. trail descends into the Cathedral of Pines. You must pass under one of these fallen giants. You have to check out the enormous girth of some of these trees! You will begin walking up an obvious hill next. At the top of the hill, stop at the first blue blazed tree. Sight 260 degrees and take 12 steps to #161. Head 350 degrees to #175. At 295 degrees, go to #174. Head 0 degrees to #357. Head 90 degrees to #348. Sight 305 degrees and go to #350. Head 270 degrees to #353. Head 240 degrees to #343. Sight 250 degrees and go to #192. Finally, at 185 degrees, go to #131. Turn to 100 degrees, take 3 steps and find the Caddo tribal box under a fallen tree.
If you are doubling back, head back the way you came. If you have a second car, and you'll be glad you do, continue on the blue blazed trail down and out of the Cathedral of Pines to your car.
# posted by Mark and Sue @ 5:44 PM 
