Please post these clues and note that this is the first letterbox placed in Kentucky so please post it on the State First web site as well.
Thanks, Squirrel



Kentucky First Letterbox clues
Red River Gorge area of the Daniel Boone National Forest.
It takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to drive there
from the eastern side of Lexington, KY.
Placed September 2, 2000
twograysquirrels@aol.com

The letterbox hunt begins from the Bison Way Trailhead Parking. To get to
the Trailhead:
* Take I-64 approximately 16 miles east of Lexington from I-75 to exit 98
"Mountain Parkway"
* Take Exit 33 off the Mountain Parkway to Slade/Beattyville
* Cross back under the Parkway and almost immediately, turn left onto Rte.
15/11 North
* After 1.5 miles, turn right onto Rte. 77
* While on Rte. 77, you will reach the hand-hewn Nada tunnel. Open to
vehicular traffic (only one-way at a time), this tunnel is only 13 feet wide
and not lit!! Be sure to pull over to the right of the road before
entering the tunnel and read the historical sign about the tunnel.
* Stay on Rte. 77 for a total of 5.2 miles till it turns left, then go
forward on Rte. 715 for another 3/4 of a mile. You will see the Bison Way
Trailhead parking lot on your left before going over a stone bridge.

Hiking Note: This letterbox is located on the way to the scenic Indian
Staircase and a large rockhouse (cave). If you are in the mood for a longer
hike, you might want to proceed to one or both of these sites. They are not
officially maintained by the forest service, so they are not marked by
signs. You might have a little difficulty finding them on your own, but if
you ask other folks along the trail they can probably direct you.

Sightseeing Note: Before or after your letterbox adventure, be sure to drive
over the bridge just after the Trailhead parking lot and proceed 1/4 mile to
the Gladie Historical Site on your right. There is a ranger station there
with lots of info about the area as well as a historical log cabin and barn
with rustic implements.

Difficulty Note: Our directions aren't too complicated for finding the box,
but be aware that the hike there is a true hike. It isn't so very long -
maybe 1 miles each way - but it does have some steep elevation changes, a
creek crossing or two, and a sometimes rough path. Ladies, leave the
stilettos at home!!

At last, the letterbox-finding info:
* From the Trailhead parking lot, follow the sign for the Bison Way Trail
(Forest Service trail #210). You'll stay on this trail for of a mile.
At one point, you'll seem to be at an intersection with a narrower path
straight ahead of you and a wider path angling down to the right. Stay to
the right - that's still the Bison Way trail.
* Stay on the trail until it comes to a very clear T-intersection with
another trail. There will be a small Bison Way trail sign on your left, but
no indication of the trail that you are turning onto - it is the Sheltowee
Trace.
* Turn left onto the Sheltowee trace.
* Along this trail you may hear jungle screams and hollers. Those are from
youngsters rappelling off the rock face a ways in front of you. Do not be
alarmed.
* Cross over a creek on the washboard crossing of logs.
* Immediately turn right and walk by a "V" tree on your left that has two
trunks growing out of one base. Then walk to the second tree that is just
like it but larger, also on your left.
* From this second "V" tree, walk 10 paces ahead and then hop back over the
creek at the narrow point there.
* At a bearing of 130 degrees, you'll see a big sturdy tree.
* The letterbox is located at the base of this tree.