Below are information and clues for the first two letterboxes in a
new series. More clues will be added as more boxes are planted.

Trekking for Tracks Series placed by gbheron
Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
Town: Princeton, MA
County:Worcester

Permission to plant these boxes has been granted by the director of
this Audubon sanctuary. However, he did request that he and other
staff members not be approached with questions regarding these
letterboxes. He also emphasized the importance of observing the
sanctuary rules, namely: 1. That letterboxers stay on the trails.
(All boxes are no more than a few paces off trail.) 2. No dogs are
allowed. 3. Cross-country skiing and mountain bikes are not allowed.
4. All non-members pay the $3 or $4 fee. (Massachusetts Audubon
members free.) This sanctuary offers various wildlife habitats,
beautiful views, peaceful viewing areas, and nearly 13 miles of
trails. Be sure to pick up a trail map outside the visitor center
before heading out.

Getting There: From Rt. 2 follow Rt. 31 South to Princeton town
common. From the flashing light intersection of Rtes 62 and 31 (on
top of the hill), [ follow Rte 62 West .75 miles to the Mass. Audubon
sign on the right. Turn right onto Goodnow Road and proceed 1 mile
to the Wachusett Meadow parking area on the left.] From Worcester
area, take Rte 190 from Rte 290. From Rte 190, take Rte 140 North.
In 2 miles, take a left onto Rte 62 West to flashing light
intersection of Rtes 62 and 31 in Princeton center. Follow directions
in [ ] above.

1. The Fierce Fisher
Planted on 3/20/03

Start out heading north through the Visitor center breezeway. Head
westerly on North Meadow Trail. You may want to pay your respects to
the Crocker Maple that was felled by an early winter ice storm in the
Fall of 2002. Pick up the trail that starts at the northern end of
the meadow and head toward the summit for just a bit. Veer off to
the right, looping around Brown Hill. Pass the Otter pond on your
right and wind your way uphill through a forest that is dominated by
shaggy bark hickory trees. An opening in a stone wall is marked on
the left by a large one of these trees. Step between the tree and
the wall. You may notice the empty shells of hickory nuts left on
the stone wall, perhaps by a red squirrel. Beneath a large rock in
the wall, pieces of bark shed from the hickory hide The Fierce Fisher
Letterbox. You will not need to move any rocks to find it. This
predator may look gentle but is fierce enough to deliberately hunt
porcupines! Though she's often referred to as a `fisher cat', she is
a member of the weasel family and is as comfortable in trees as she
is on the ground.


2. Moose on the Loose
Planted on 3/22/03

The Moose on the Loose, an excellent swimmer, wandered to the beaver
swamp on the sanctuary's western border to graze on water plants and
sip tall drink of water. A tree of 7 trunks shaded his left flank
before he plunged in and moved on. To find him, look across the
swamp to the path on the other side. Take a bearing in this
direction, and turn back towards the trail you just came down.
Divide the bearing by 7 and walk this many paces back up the trail.
A large hollowed out tree stump leans toward the trail, giving away
his hiding spot. If you don't find him it's because his keen sense
of smell warned of your coming a mile away!

(Note: The trail to this box, though wide, was virtually a stream bed
for several yards after an unusually snowy winter. Unless you have
watertight boots, or don't mind getting your feet wet up to your
ankles, do not attempt this hike in early spring.)