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:
From points North: From Route 44 in Canaan, take Route 7 South to Junction of 7 and Route 63. Take Route 63 South to Music Mountain Road. You will see a sign for Music Mountain. Follow Music Mountain Road to the intersection with Cream Hill Road. At this intersection, there is a pull off with an empty sign post as used by the State for State Parks and Forests.
Park in the pull off. This is also the trail access for Dean's Ravine.
From points South: follow Route 7 North. Continue on Route 7 when it intersects with Route 112 and cross the Housatonic River. The AT also crosses here. Just past the bridge take the first right onto Lime Rock Station Road. Take a left onto Music Mountain Road to intersection with Cream Hill Rd. Park as above.
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.
Second Car Parking: From the parking area for the start of the trail, head easterly on Music Mountain Road toward Music Mountain. You will pass Music Mountain. The road wil veer sharply to the left after a bit, and at this point there will be a dirt road on your right. This is Yelping Hill Road. Turn right onto this dirt road and continue on. You are looking for a small pull off area on the right with a stone mushroom-looking structure and a pond/marsh area will be ahead on the left. Pull into the pull off area by the "mushroom." Head back to the start of the trail in your first car.
Directions:
From points North: From Route 44 in Canaan, take Route 7 South to Junction of 7 and Route 63. Take Route 63 South to Music Mountain Road. You will see a sign for Music Mountain. Follow Music Mountain Road to the intersection with Cream Hill Road. At this intersection, there is a pull off with an empty sign post as used by the State for State Parks and Forests.
Park in the pull off. This is also the trail access for Dean's Ravine.
From points South: follow Route 7 North. Continue on Route 7 when it intersects with Route 112 and cross the Housatonic River. The AT also crosses here. Just past the bridge take the first right onto Lime Rock Station Road. Take a left onto Music Mountain Road to intersection with Cream Hill Rd. Park as above.
North Direction Clues:
Time: 3 hours one way. 5+ hours doubling back
Difficulty: Moderate due to length and a small, somewhat steep, climb early in the hike.
Follow well marked blue blazed trail the whole way. Recommend checking out Dean's Ravine if you have time.
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
Time: 3 hours one way. 5+ hours doubling back
Difficulty: Moderate due to length and a small, somewhat steep, climb early in the hike.
Follow well marked blue blazed trail the whole way. Recommend checking out Dean's Ravine if you have time.
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
From the parking area head onto the trail into the woods heading northerly. Bear right as the trail forks and turn right at the T heading southeast with Music Mountain Road off to your right. The trail heads back onto the road which you must cross and re-enter the woods at a lovely little waterfall. You will head through some large pines and oaks and soon come to a wooden foot bridge. Continuing on you will cross over some stones and some logs. It gets wet through here at times, so watch your footing. There was also some severe tree damage at the time of planting. Walking on for a few minutes you come to a good size clearing with a large blue-blazed hemlock to the left of the trail. Stop at the hemlock. From this point, to your right, you should spy a 3-sister and a 2-sister tree with the remains of a stone wall between them. No, it's not there. Look to your north and look for a large boulder off a ways into the woods. Walk approx. 20 paces from the hemlock to this boulder. The Oneida tribal box lies on the north side of this boulder underneath a rock. Excellent place to hide and stamp in if needed.
Continue on the blue blazed trail. The trail becomes more rocky and begins a slight incline. You are going correctly if you pass three nice birches on the left side of the trail. Trail getting steeper as you approach a switchback. Continue on with the trail becoming quite steep. Trail switches back left then levels off. The top of this incline is noted by a twin maple with a single blaze. Continue follow the blue blazes. The trail becomes more of a logging road now. You will go over a good dip in the trail. Start looking for a large blue blazed 3-sister oak tree with stones grown into it's base. At 130 degrees from the tree, sight a large boulder topped with a smaller stone at 17 paces. Look behind a leaning stone for the Onondaga tribal box.
Moving along now, you pass large rock ledges off to your left. You will eventually come to an intersection with a larger gravel/dirt logging road. Turn left here continuing to follow the blue blazes. A stone wall starts and ends quickly on your right. After a short while a turn off on the right reveals an AMC shelter with outhouse. Good place for a break. Back on the trail, just after the you pass the turn off, you should notice a small knoll off to the right with a small rock outcropping at the top. Look on the north side of the outcrop under a small pile of stones for the Mohawk tribal box.
You know the drill... continue on the blue trail. You will pass through a pine forest area with many blue markings on the trees. Road/trail comes to a T. A double blazed pine tree is at the center of the T here to show that you should go left. The trail begins a slight climb over rocky terrain and you will pas through a mountain laurel gauntlet. The trail opens up and you should notice a large rock face on the right. Trails begins to descend now over some slippery flat rocks. Cross over two small streams (The size has varied depending on the rain lately. May be a wet crossing at times.) You will come to an area with many stone walls and foundations. Find the fire ring in the trail as it turns left. From the fire ring, continue north on the trail to the first blue blazed tree on the right by the ending of a stone wall. On the north side of this stone wall, count approx. 15 paces to another fire circle. From this second fire circle, sight 100 degrees and walk 17 paces in this direction. You should have a pyramid of stones packed between two boulders in front of you. Look below for the Three Fires Tribes tribal box.
If you are doubling back to the start, do so now. If you parked a second car, continue back onto the blue blazed trail until you come to a well traveled dirt road (watch out for cars.) Turn left onto the dirt road and you will come to your parked car.
Continue on the blue blazed trail. The trail becomes more rocky and begins a slight incline. You are going correctly if you pass three nice birches on the left side of the trail. Trail getting steeper as you approach a switchback. Continue on with the trail becoming quite steep. Trail switches back left then levels off. The top of this incline is noted by a twin maple with a single blaze. Continue follow the blue blazes. The trail becomes more of a logging road now. You will go over a good dip in the trail. Start looking for a large blue blazed 3-sister oak tree with stones grown into it's base. At 130 degrees from the tree, sight a large boulder topped with a smaller stone at 17 paces. Look behind a leaning stone for the Onondaga tribal box.
Moving along now, you pass large rock ledges off to your left. You will eventually come to an intersection with a larger gravel/dirt logging road. Turn left here continuing to follow the blue blazes. A stone wall starts and ends quickly on your right. After a short while a turn off on the right reveals an AMC shelter with outhouse. Good place for a break. Back on the trail, just after the you pass the turn off, you should notice a small knoll off to the right with a small rock outcropping at the top. Look on the north side of the outcrop under a small pile of stones for the Mohawk tribal box.
You know the drill... continue on the blue trail. You will pass through a pine forest area with many blue markings on the trees. Road/trail comes to a T. A double blazed pine tree is at the center of the T here to show that you should go left. The trail begins a slight climb over rocky terrain and you will pas through a mountain laurel gauntlet. The trail opens up and you should notice a large rock face on the right. Trails begins to descend now over some slippery flat rocks. Cross over two small streams (The size has varied depending on the rain lately. May be a wet crossing at times.) You will come to an area with many stone walls and foundations. Find the fire ring in the trail as it turns left. From the fire ring, continue north on the trail to the first blue blazed tree on the right by the ending of a stone wall. On the north side of this stone wall, count approx. 15 paces to another fire circle. From this second fire circle, sight 100 degrees and walk 17 paces in this direction. You should have a pyramid of stones packed between two boulders in front of you. Look below for the Three Fires Tribes tribal box.
If you are doubling back to the start, do so now. If you parked a second car, continue back onto the blue blazed trail until you come to a well traveled dirt road (watch out for cars.) Turn left onto the dirt road and you will come to your parked car.
# posted by Mark and Sue @ 2:51 PM 
