King of the Kame
planted by Rubaduc 4-6-03
1.5 mi. round trip

On the north side of Rt. 6 near the New Britain Ave. traffic light is an
old run down pavilion. On it's west side is a sandy driveway where you
can pull in and park. Walk between a big tree and the pavilion (with the
pavilion on your right) and you'll see a faint path which becomes a blue
blazed trial after passing a brown and yellow sign that says Shade Swamp
Nature Trail. The cages you pass by are the remains of an old roadside
wildlife area that was abandoned in the early 60's.
The trails are poorly marked so watch carefully for the blazes. Much of
the trail follows a glacial "kame terrace", a kame being a ridge or hill
formed of gravel deposited by glacial streams during the last ice age,
which is where this box got it's name instead of being some mediocre king
of the hill. After crossing a wooden bridge you'll see a # 4 on a tree
and at the top of a small incline a # 6.
At this tree go left and up a slightly larger incline to the top of the
kame. 15 paces across level ground you'll see the open portion of Shade
Swamp with the Pequabuck River on you right and on your left is a twin
sister tree with multiple blazes. Looking through the V, site 280 degrees
to a log on the ground and at the end in an obvious pile of letterboxing
debris is King of the Kame.
I also left a map for you to memorize or sketch for your options on
returning to your car. If you choose to do both of the loops, be sure to
watch for blazes because the second loop is even more poorly marked. Or
you can return the way you came, by turning right at the tree with the #
6 on it. Have fun.