WHO LET THE DOGS OUT! LETTERBOXES

WHO LET THE DOGS OUT! I confess, it was me. Skip, Rover, Fido and
Spot are leashless and loose in Portland, Oregon's magnificent Forest
Park in Multnomah County. It's up to you to capture their images in
your letterboxing journal! In a 26-mile area, Forest Park is the
largest city park in the USA and well worth checking out.
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DOGWOOD TRAILHEAD, FOREST PARK, PORTLAND, OREGON
Directions: From the bustling street corner of NW 23rd and Lovejoy
in Portland's delightful Northwest Portland urban neighborhood drive
West on NW Lovejoy. Lovejoy turns into NW Cornell Road. You will go
through a couple tunnels on your way up. You'll want to turn right
on NW 53rd Drive. From here go up .9 mile. Go beyond the big
parking and picnic area and not much farther up is the pullout on the
right where you may park for the Dogwood Trail.

Clues: Easy (these clues should take you right to each letterbox).

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Probably counting stamping time this
trail takes somewhere between an hour to an hour and 1/2. It also
depends on the speed of the participants (I'm pretty slow, myself).
There is some uphill, but it's really not too strenuous and it's a
fun place for a nice hike. Please wear appropriate attire (especially
footwear) for mud!
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WHO LET THE DOGS OUT LETTERBOX #1: SKIP
Park at the pullout for the Dogwood and Wild Cherry Trails (No signs
from the road tell you this, though). Just beyond the entrance there
are signs. Follow the sign for Dogwood Trail. Continue straight on
this path, past the large clearing on the left with the High Fire
Danger sign. Keep going straight until you come to a very tall, long
skinny snag on your left-hand side. It's eaten through the middle up
to about 10 or so feet and is just next to the trail. At this snag do
an about face, go seven steps and turn left. You should be looking
at a raised four-foot tall stump, which Skip has claimed as his own
territory.
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WHO LET THE DOGS OUT LETTERBOX #2 ROVER
Continue on the Dogwood Trail till you come to the trailhead for the
Wildwood Trail. Head right and wind on down the Wildwood. Shortly
on down the way you'll go beneath an arch made by a thin, leaning
tree. Just ahead and to your left is a nice low resting spot. Have
a seat. Take your right hand and point to the majestic Douglas Fir
in front of you. Lower your left hand to the side of the log you're
sitting on and be careful that Rover doesn't bite you!
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WHO LET THE DOGS OUT LETTERBOX #3: FIDO
Continue on this Wildwood Trail. Pass one culvert. Pass the second
culvert and high five the blue diamond. Keep going and there will be
a third and forth culvert you'll go over. At the fifth culvert don't
grab the reinforcing stick to your left to throw for Fido. Instead
from this point go 53 steps. Now stand. Fido should be rooting
around the single tree on your right.
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WHO LET THE DOGS OUT LETTERBOX #4: SPOT
After your visit with Fido, keep on going until you reach the trail
junction. At this major fork, go up the Dogwood Trail for a while.
Go beyond a white witness post for a survey marker on your right and
keep going up the trail. You may see the Fremont Bridge from here.
Keep on going. Where things flatten out a bit continue on around the
bends. You may catch glimpses of downtown Portland to your left.
Keep going a ways and be on the lookout for a tree with six trunks on
your left and a trunk of tree jutting slightly onto the trail. From
here go 8 steps ahead. To the right is a tree rearing its
"serpentine" head your way. From here go forward approximately 33 or
so steps. On the left-hand side Spot's back porch has a beautiful
view of the city through the trees on a clear winter day.

Continue up the trail. When you come to the next fork (the large
clearing is ahead of you), take a left back to your original starting
place at the Dogwood Trailhead. Have a great time!!!