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.
East Direction Second Car Parking: From the enttrance to Mohawk State Forest, Head down the hill on Route 4 west to a four way intersection. Turn right onto Route 43 heading north. Look for the second Johnson Road on the right and continue on finding a second entrance to Johnson Road on the right. A blue state trail marker for the Mohawk trail will be on your left. Park on the right side, on the corner, as you take a right onto Johnson Road. It is wide enough for a few cars here. Return in the first car to the entrance to Mohawk State Forest on Route 4 and park to start the search for the East Direction boxes.
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. Folow 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.
East Clues:
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.
East Direction Second Car Parking: From the enttrance to Mohawk State Forest, Head down the hill on Route 4 west to a four way intersection. Turn right onto Route 43 heading north. Look for the second Johnson Road on the right and continue on finding a second entrance to Johnson Road on the right. A blue state trail marker for the Mohawk trail will be on your left. Park on the right side, on the corner, as you take a right onto Johnson Road. It is wide enough for a few cars here. Return in the first car to the entrance to Mohawk State Forest on Route 4 and park to start the search for the East Direction boxes.
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. Folow 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.
East Clues:
Time: 2 hours one way, 3 1/2 to 4 hours doubling back
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous. May have dangerous ice in colder weather.
Please repack and rehide all boxes carefully!!
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous. May have dangerous ice in colder weather.
Please repack and rehide all boxes carefully!!
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
PLEASE READ LOG BOOKS CAREFULLY FOR IMPORTANT INFORMATION/INSTRUCTIONS
From the parking are at the Entrance to Mohawk State Forest, Walk easterly on Route 4 towards Goshen for approx. 1/10th of a mile. Use caution on this road! Cars move fast. Stay to the shoulder. Look for the blue trail head marker to the Mohawk Trail on the left. Enter the trail heading north/northwest. The trail is blazed blue the entire way. Follow the trail as it starts to head up. A stone wall will be on your right. The trail will turn sharply left; turn here following blue and keeping the stone wall on your right. The climb begins to become steeper.
The trail will turn right as the stone wall ends and pass by this ending. From the end of the stone wall, count about 11 steps and look to your right. A twin sister is close off trail. The Abenaki tribal box rests at the base of the sisters on the east side. Stamp in then put back in it's spot, covering well.
Continue hiking on the trail as you were before, heading steadily up. You will hike up for approx. 10 minutes at an average pace. The trail will begin to level out as it is heading westward. Shortly after leveling out, you will come to a large stone slab that you walk over. From the center of the high point of the slab, take a reading of 190 degrees. At this heading look for a tall stump approx. 7 feet high. Walk to the stump and look to your left. Behind a large, flat, upright rock lies the Pequot tribal box. Stamp in as you enjoy a well deserved rest after your climb.
Continue on the trail in the same direction as before, westerly. After a few minutes you will come to a double blazed tree ( looks like three blazes,) marking a right turn in the trail. To the left is a nice view which is, unfortunately, obscured during the warmer months. Veer right at the double blazes, continuing on the blue blazed Mohawk Trail. After a bit of walking you will come to a huge lichen covered split glacial boulder. The trail will wind to the right around this impressive giant. Walk to the first single blue-blazed tree past the rock and stop. Looking back at the boulder at 245 degrees Find the Narragansett tribal box stashed under the boulders base. Proceed with the usual ritual. Rehide the box carefully.
Continuing along the trail, you will come to a clearing over a wide area of rock slab. Quartz rocks can be seen at times. You will pass a fire ring off to your left as you continue on. As you walk, the stone slab is still present. A view emerges that is nice but slightly obstructed. Continue on until you come to a large unobstructed view along a very large, wide slab which is dropping away sharply to one side. As you enjoy the wonderful view, look to your left for a clump of small white birch trees. A white pine above them holds the Maliseet tribal box at it's base under a rock.
Return to the trail to re-enter the forest. The trail is gradually descending now. Continue on, passing a 3 sister oak on the right and keep going until you come to a blazed 2 sister oak with a black birch cousin behind them. From this point sight 330 degrees and look for a large triple oak. The Nipmuc tribal box lies in the middle of the three trunks under some forest debris.
The trail continues steadily downwards. You will cross over an old logging road. Woods primarily hardwoods. Shortly, you will cross over the logging road again. As you walk, you may spy a hunter's tree stand up in a tree on the right. Continue down and you will notice a number of blow down and storm damaged trees. Look for a huge multi trunked, partially dead pine on the left side of the trail. At this tree, look 250 degrees to an old blown down tree. The Micmac tribal box is located at the stump end. Stamp in and rehide the box.
If using one car, turn back and return the way you came to the enttrance to Mohawk State Forest. If you have parked a second vehicle for a one way trip, you now will continue on the trail for another 15 minutes or so to Johnson Road. Turn right onto Johnson Road and continue on to your car.
The trail will turn right as the stone wall ends and pass by this ending. From the end of the stone wall, count about 11 steps and look to your right. A twin sister is close off trail. The Abenaki tribal box rests at the base of the sisters on the east side. Stamp in then put back in it's spot, covering well.
Continue hiking on the trail as you were before, heading steadily up. You will hike up for approx. 10 minutes at an average pace. The trail will begin to level out as it is heading westward. Shortly after leveling out, you will come to a large stone slab that you walk over. From the center of the high point of the slab, take a reading of 190 degrees. At this heading look for a tall stump approx. 7 feet high. Walk to the stump and look to your left. Behind a large, flat, upright rock lies the Pequot tribal box. Stamp in as you enjoy a well deserved rest after your climb.
Continue on the trail in the same direction as before, westerly. After a few minutes you will come to a double blazed tree ( looks like three blazes,) marking a right turn in the trail. To the left is a nice view which is, unfortunately, obscured during the warmer months. Veer right at the double blazes, continuing on the blue blazed Mohawk Trail. After a bit of walking you will come to a huge lichen covered split glacial boulder. The trail will wind to the right around this impressive giant. Walk to the first single blue-blazed tree past the rock and stop. Looking back at the boulder at 245 degrees Find the Narragansett tribal box stashed under the boulders base. Proceed with the usual ritual. Rehide the box carefully.
Continuing along the trail, you will come to a clearing over a wide area of rock slab. Quartz rocks can be seen at times. You will pass a fire ring off to your left as you continue on. As you walk, the stone slab is still present. A view emerges that is nice but slightly obstructed. Continue on until you come to a large unobstructed view along a very large, wide slab which is dropping away sharply to one side. As you enjoy the wonderful view, look to your left for a clump of small white birch trees. A white pine above them holds the Maliseet tribal box at it's base under a rock.
Return to the trail to re-enter the forest. The trail is gradually descending now. Continue on, passing a 3 sister oak on the right and keep going until you come to a blazed 2 sister oak with a black birch cousin behind them. From this point sight 330 degrees and look for a large triple oak. The Nipmuc tribal box lies in the middle of the three trunks under some forest debris.
The trail continues steadily downwards. You will cross over an old logging road. Woods primarily hardwoods. Shortly, you will cross over the logging road again. As you walk, you may spy a hunter's tree stand up in a tree on the right. Continue down and you will notice a number of blow down and storm damaged trees. Look for a huge multi trunked, partially dead pine on the left side of the trail. At this tree, look 250 degrees to an old blown down tree. The Micmac tribal box is located at the stump end. Stamp in and rehide the box.
If using one car, turn back and return the way you came to the enttrance to Mohawk State Forest. If you have parked a second vehicle for a one way trip, you now will continue on the trail for another 15 minutes or so to Johnson Road. Turn right onto Johnson Road and continue on to your car.
# posted by Mark and Sue @ 8:32 PM 
