*** NOTE: Already posted on the new web site but I'm sending anyway to the
talk lists because I don't know what people are relying on more during the
transition. Please excuse the redundancy. ***

The Fingers Letterbox Series (Four boxes, five if you count The Thumb)

If you place your right hand, pointing south, on an appropriately-sized map
of upstate New York, your fingers might rest on four of New York's
"fingers," and your fingertips near four boxes. But where to put your
thumb?

THE PINKY
Placed by: JeLyBean
15 April 2003
Location: ?
Terrain: Moderate to challenging - some steep hills and less-traveled
trails
Clues: ?

Clues for this box: The name of this lake is derived from the Iroquois
word "Kanandarque" which means "chosen spot." It was the legendary
birthplace and site of the principal village of the Seneca Indians. On the
southwest side of this lake is a county park; the county shares its name
with a Canadian province. Go to this park and follow the drive until you
get to the "jump off" point. Follow the orange blazes until the trail
begins to veer left away from the valley. From here, continue to hug the
edge of the ridge by following the white blazed trail. Soon it will
descend into a streambed. This was flowing in the spring, but I don't know
if it will be dry in the summer. At the streambed, leave the trail and
follow the stream NNE about 150 paces. North of the stream, about 10 paces
away is a large piece of red granite with a flat, lichen-covered top.
Have a seat near the rock's north end, I did.

Clue for The Thumb: Once you find this box and stamp in, you'll see a
picture of a critter well known in these parts. Where would its home be if
you misspelled it by changing the second "e" to an "a?" There's a place
named this in New York as well, on the edge of the lake you seek.

THE RING
Placed by: JeLyBean
03 May 2003
Location: ?
Terrain: Moderate - some uphill and a stream crossing
Clues: ?

Clues for this box: I have read that the name of this lake may mean either
"canoe landing" or "crooked" in Iroquois. Perhaps someone can set me
straight. (Excuse the pun, please.) South of this lake, Back Valley Road
intersects 54 twice, take the northeastern of these two, and head up
Winding Stairs. It quickly becomes a dirt road. At about 0.7 miles, pull
off near the small yellow sign for the Finger Lakes Trail (See Finger Lakes
Trail Conference Map M12, http://www.fingerlakestrail.org) and follow the
white blazes of the main trail into the woods. Cross the stream and
continue uphill. Where the white blazes leave the old road, follow the
color of the sky to the end. From the fire pit, look about for the lone
paper birch. If you don't know what a paper birch looks like, the white
should stand out at about 140*. From this tree, 30*, 30p, is a pile of
rocks. You should be able to see the lake from here.

Clue for The Thumb: Once you find this box and stamp in, you'll see a
picture of something that grows well in this region. On what does it grow?
In the place described in THE PINKY's Thumb Clue there's a street with
this name. Follow it west to the lake.

THE MIDDLE
Placed by: JeLyBean
05 May 2003
Location: ?
Terrain: Easy - literally a walk in the park
Clues: ?

Clues for this box: The name of this lake is shared with one nation of the
Iroquois confederacy, who call themselves "People of the Great Hill,"
although the hill in question is located at another lake. Off the main
highway that runs along the southern shore of this lake, there is a small
park dedicated to Warren right on the lake shore. This park is popular, so
please be discreet. Park in the lot (possibly a fee), and head all the way
to the far eastern end of the park. A few steps into the brush is a large,
many-trunked tree. Debris covers a flat rock at its center.

Clue for The Thumb: Once you find this box and stamp in, you'll see a
compass heading. From the object mentioned in THE INDEX's Thumb Clue, the
willow tree is at this heading. Another tree may be in the way.

THE INDEX
Placed by: JeLyBean
07 May 2003
Location: ?
Terrain: Easy - less than 1 mile round trip on wide level paths
Clues: ?

Clues for this box: The name of this lake is shared with another nation of
the Iroquois confederacy. In their language, it means, "the mucky land."
On its southern shore is Stewart Park, and south of this, the old Wildwood
Sanctuary. Park along the road near the southern corner and head for the
bridges. Cross the first and head straight into the woods on the path at
140*. After a few paces, there's a T intersection, go left and follow the
path with the waterway along your left until it comes to another T, with a
wide mulch-covered path. Go right and follow the path all the way to the
end, where the ruins are; an arch and a couple of pyramids. From the arch,
notice a tree about 20p at 32* back along the path so massive two people
couldn't get their arms around it. Behind this tree, under the center of
three logs, under a rock. You can return the way you came or follow the
other path from the arch. Look for signs of deer, beavers, lots of birds.
I saw a couple of Northern Ribbon snakes here as well, they're
non-venomous but please exercise your usual caution when sticking your
hands into holes or under logs.

Clue for The Thumb: Once you find this box and stamp in, you'll see a
picture of an object that's familiar because of this region's tourism
industry. In the park at the end of the street mentioned in THE RING's
Thumb Clue, you'll see one of these by the water's edge. Go there.

Notes:
- No ink pads in the boxes, make sure you bring your own since clues to The
Thumb are on the stamps of The Fingers.
- These stamps are designed to be stamped together on the same page so they
form a picture. In case you decide to do them in random order, here's how
to make a template so you know where each stamp goes in relation to the
others. Draw a rectangle about 4-3/4" long by 2-3/4" high. From the upper
left corner draw tick marks along the top at about 1-1/4, 1-3/4, 2-1/2, and
3-5/8. From the lower left corner, draw tick marks along the bottom at
5/8, 1-1/2, 2-1/4, 3-5/8. Draw straight lines between the top ticks and
bottom ticks. Pinky on left, Thumb on right.
- Please email me with notes about these boxes: jelybean@stny.rr.com.